Years ago the target figure for a cheap new car that would bring motoring to the masses, the great marginal class of owners who could, long ago, buy a car in all its resplendent newness, was £100.

Nowadays the target figure seems fixed at £300 to which one must add 'inclusive of tax'.

Two moves in this direction have been announced this week.

One, revolving around the almost legendary figure of Mr Harry Ferguson, the tractor king, is very much a thing of the future.

The other, a real, under £300, four-wheeled motor car, is a thing of the present in the form of the Rodley to be made by the Rodley Automobile Co.

Looking to the future we find Mr Ferguson resigning from his tractor interests with the intention of making a 'people's car' costing less than £300 including tax.

I believe Mr Ferguson is thinking around a five horse-power, four seater car with a petrol consumption of about 50 miles to a gallon.

It has been a very long time since anyone in this country set up a new motoring manufacturing company on a large scale.

The Rodley is the brain child of 31-year-old engineer Mr henry Brown.

Its basic features are a 750 cc V-twin, air-cooled side-valve JAP motor located at the back driving the rear wheels through a three-speed and reverse gearbox, a roller chain and a frictional differential.

There is a bench-type adjustable front seat and a fruther rear seat for two.

Steering is by an endless racked cahin, the wheels are 15in. in diameter, the electrical system, including a self starter, has a 12 volt battery and front suspension is by independent coil springs.

The Rodley will sell at 13s. 4d. under the £300 mark, including tax. The company will have no agents.