Posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett on November 19, 2007 at 11:38:12 from 217.33.157.34 user ACB.
I think that WH is the first book in which the protagonists travel in a motor car, although the motor car gets a mention in SD ("the road of the Aztecs" and crossing the road near Beckfoot).
The Doctor has a car, and carries eight children in it, on an icy road, (although he does have chains on his tyres). It was evidently not a "doctor's coupe"!
Mrs Blackett hires a car to visit Holly Howe.
We may note at this point that, if Rattletrap exists, Molly Blackett may choose not to drive in snow. But, looking at things the other way, the motor car has entered middle class childhood as a routine adjunct to family life between SD and WH!