THE Scottish Motor Show opened 30 minutes early yesterday as several

hundred people gathered impatiently at the gates of the Scottish

Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow.

To the sound of Flower of Scotland, the car buffs flooded into the

#15m show, delighting officials of the Scottish Motor Trade Associations

who are putting a brave face on a depressed new car market, down 20%

over the first nine months of this year.

But the industry was advised to transform its ''lousy image'' by

eliminating price haggling and providing good consumer services by

Vauxhall's sales and marketing director, Mr Peter Batchelor.

Mr Batchelor contrasted the generally negative image of car sellers

with the public's perception of retail companies like Marks & Spencer

and Boots.

Vauxhall, with a clear run as the major high-volume manufacturer at

the SECC due to the absence of Ford and Rover, used the show to launch a

fixed-price maintenance and service scheme.

This involves two or three year contracts with equivalent 40,000 and

60,000 mile cover guaranteeing servicing, repairs, and replacement of

wear and tear items.

The company claims a Vauxhall Nova can be covered for the same price

as three packets of cigarettes a week, equal to a two-year Master Cover

payment of #699.

As the industry braces itself for the Monopolies and Mergers

Commission's report on car retailing, a leading official blamed high

prices on the ''real villain'' -- the 10% special car tax.

Mr Colin Hope, president of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and

Traders, called on Chancellor Norman Lamont not to hit car builders and

sellers with a second adverse budget, particularly in relation to

company car tax.

Mr Hope said that, while vehicle manufacturing industry was massed

south of the Border, there remained considerable opportunities for

Scotland to exploit its engineering heritage. His own company, T & N,

which supplies motor components, is investing #18m in a new plant at

Whitehills, West Lothian.

Scottish motor sport success was recognised by British Open rally

champion Colin McRae's appearance on the Subaru stand.

But his father, Jimmy, a five-times winner of the title, failed in his

unfamiliar role as navigator by delivering Colin late for a press

photocall after falling foul of rush-hour traffic delays.