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No.1 THE ENGINE.
The series opens with a cutaway drawing of a typical petrol engine. The reverse side explains the four-stroke engine cycle, and also sheds light on carburation and the ignition system. |
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No.2 HOW A CAR MOVES.
Card two discusses the inner workings of a car's gearbox, and the rear axle, at a time when many new cars still employed a rear-wheel-drive arrangement. |
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No.3 OFF YOU GO.
Happy family is shown cheerfully motoring along in their shiny red car. None of the cars that feature in the illustrations are of a particular make or model, although influences are clear. The car shown here has echoes of Hillman Hunter in its boxy lines, while overleaf are details about car suspension and brakes. |
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No.4 SO IT WON'T START.
Cars break down, and in the 1960s it was not an uncommon experience, even with a relatively young vehicle. The poor chap in this image pushes along his unreliable car, while his wife sits in the car, in an attempt to bump-start the engine. Faults, such as a sticking starter motor, and damp electrics (of use to Mini owners at the time, for example), receive a mention on the flip-side of card number 4. The car reminds me of a Minx crossed with a Trabant 601 and a Simca Aronde. |
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No.5 MAINTENANCE.
Tips on weekly underbonnet checks are given next, these handy hints include checking the oil level in the engine (while wearing a smart jacket), keeping an eye on tyre pressures, topping up the battery as necessary, and ensuring that all the lights are working correctly. |
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No.6 KEEP IT ON THE ROAD.
Sound advice. Tips on driving in poor weather conditions are given, as are explanations of terms such as aquaplaning, and skidding. |
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No.7 MUD AND SNOW.
Card seven continues the theme of driving in dodgy conditions. A chap skilfully slides his 1966-registered car through a farm gate in this action-packed illustration. Help on using tyre chains is just one of the topics dealt with on the reverse side of this card. |
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No.8 PUNCTURE.
Back to potential roadside maladies again, this time dealing with a puncture. |
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No.9 SPONGE AND LEATHER.
"Maintaining a sound, shining paintwork not only reflects the owner's pride in the car, but pays off in a higher secondhand exchange value" - wise words. Note the letters "K E" visible on this car's bonnet, a subtle reference to the issuers of these cards. The car looks a bit like a Ford Taunus 15M, crossed with a Humber Hawk. Tough work requires the removal of one's jacket and tie. |
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No.10 SECONDHAND.
This card was aimed at anyone planning to take the plunge, and buy a secondhand car. The vehicle illustrated has echoes of "big" BMC Farina about it, closest being the MG Magnette version with its proud, distinctive, grille attached to the front of the boxy BMC saloon body. |
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No.11 INSURANCE.
Two cars become entangled in this scene, while a London bus heading in the opposite direction (note the "K" advertisements) dives for cover. The poor bloke in the brown car is bound to get some earache from the blonde lady in the passenger seat, if he was the one that pulled out on the pale blue car. |
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No.12 DON'T LOSE IT.
Then, as now, the risk of having your car stolen was one to always bear in mind when leaving a car. The illustration shows a toe-rag leaning in through an open quarterlight to grab this car's keys. |
