Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-25
LUXURIOUS ARE
LATEST MODELS
INTERIOR OF MODERN AUTOS
LIKE PALACE CAR
A Touch of the Button and Chauffeur
Is Directed at Pleasure of Owner,
Who sits in Electric
Lighted Body

Greater comfort for the passengers
| is the distinguishing feature of the
1906 models turned out by all automo-
bile manufacturers. Instead of featur-
ing motors, control and transmission
In their catalogues the makers give
hrst place to suspension, springs and
coverings. The limousine touring car,
the acme of luxury in land travel, has
replaced the speed car as the proudest
offering of the dealer.
Some of the Limousine bodies turned
out by the manufacturers of high
grade cars are sumptuous. Inside the
weather-tight leather-padded passen-
ger compartment every conceivable
convenience is at the hand of the trav-
eler. Window shades, which shut out
the rays of the sun can be raised by
touching a button.
Have Incandescent Lights
Another button flashes on a set of
incandescent lights which make the
shaded interior as bright as any IL
brary or drawing room. other buttons
communicate with the drivers seat and
at touch tell him to turn to the right
or left, stop, increase or diminish speed
and turn the car homewardS. For more
detailed instructions a speaking tube
is at hand. Lockers under the luxu-
riousy upholstered seats provide safe
stowage for robes, baggage, parcels and
travelling buffet
Close behind the limousine in COM
fort is the perfected cape top. This
covering, with its side curtains, cellu-
loid windows and glass wind shield,
affords almost as much protection
from the elements as the limousine.
1t has the advantage of less weight and
can be folded away in pleasant weather.
thus reducing the wind resistance and
giving the tourist chance to get the
full freshness of the sun and air.
1t is a noticeable fact that where
last year even the best machines had
to be especially fitted to take the cape
top they are now fully ironed for it
so that the purchaser may order the
hood and curtains from the maker or
may have a set constructed to suit his
particular fancy.
Wood still leads in popular favor as
the body material for high-priced cars,
as it is not subject to the unsightly
dents which diSfigure a metal body af-
ter a seasons running and are prac-
tically ineradicable. The lighter cars
are built almost entirely with alumi-
mum or sheet steel bodies, which COM
bine the advantages of cheapness and
light weight.
Spring suspension has reached what
appears to be absolute perfection. Sew
eral makers are SuSpendlng the Douy
and chassis from separate sets of
springs, thus relieving the passenger
from the vibration of the machinery.
Greater power in proportion to the
weight is another distinguishing char
acteristic of the 1906 car. Where last
season seven horsepower was consid-
cred sufficient for runabout, ten
horsepower is now considered the
proper thing, and light touring cars
are being increased from sixteen horse
power to twenty horsepower motors
and controlling gears are little changed
from last year, greater efficiency being
the aim of the makers rather than in
novations of any sort
Tire Question Solved
The tire question, which last season
seemed to threaten the future of the
motor car, is apparently solved. The
improvement in springs has decreased
the strain upon the tire. Tire makers
are abandoning the machine process
for hand work and the better tires pro-
duced this way promise to eliminate
the bulging, blistering and bursting
which made a long trip last season a
gamble against 1.-THE innate perversity
of things"
There is no distinctive 1906 type of