A Havers

I'm sure you're all itching to see a Havers so here's one courtesy of Rob Morris in Idaho. Check out Rob's great blog Untold Valor, which is also the name of one of his very good books.

The Cost of a Car

I just chanced upon a piece from 1953 discussing who made the cheapest motor car in Britain. Austin claimed to have stolen a march on Ford by releasing a two door version of the A30 for £475. Ford then struck back by offering the Ford Popular at just £390. So I thought how does that compare to today?

Based on the RPI, the A30 would have cost £9,150 today and based on average earnings it would be a whopping £26,580. The Ford would have come in at £7,515 and £21,820. Makes today's cars look pretty cheap.....

A Hyundai Amica is £4,600, a Ford KA is £4,986 and a Fiat Panda is £4,995

UPDATE

My sister who is always on the case has just sent me this. News to me too!

The Havers was an automobile built in Port Huron, Michigan by the Havers Motor Car Company from 1908-14. The Havers were conventional in design, except they had a long chassis. Most were equipped with a six-cylinder engine, the 1914 engine being of 6.2L capacity producing 55 hp. The 1914 Model 6-55 Speed Car with two passengers sold for $2,250.

Amazing Statistic

We all think the roads are less safe today than they were years ago, but are they?

In 2005 there were 3,201 deaths in road traffic accidents. I've just found out, from a book about 1964, that there were 7,820 deaths just over forty years ago. That's 144% more - a staggering statistic given the fact that there are vastly more vehicles on the road. In fact in 1964 there were a little over 9 million and today there's over 33 million.