The Washington herald., 1908-06-14
GOSSIP OF The AUTOS
Foreign Makers Catering to
American Buyers.
REDUCING THE PRICE OF CARS
Imported Products Now on n Better
Competitive Basis-Interest Of Auto
World Centercd in the Touring
Events-VnnderbiItR Race May Have
Difficulty In Getting Entries.


The bulk Of what might be called the
spring schedule Of races. hill-climbs.
speed trials, and other meetings having
passed into histor.,. interest now seems to
center on touring events. The Clidden
tour and the recently announced owners
tour to be conducted by the Automobile
Club Of America. and still other tours by
the Bay State and similar clubs. are
| looming large on the horizon A few of
the special events, including the CIeve-
land hill-Climb and the interesting Monroe
County festival. which includes tours.
parades, two hiil-climbs, and speed trials.
yet remain 10 be run off.
The rival international races, the Van
derbilt and the Grand Prize, are being
exploited with a vehemence unparalleled
| in mOtor-racing history. Unprejudiced
observers are OF the opinion that the pro-
noting organizations behind each race
will have difficulty in getting entries.
As to whether there is room for two big
road races Of this sort remains to be
proved
( Price reductions in foreign cars have
placed the imported article on a better
competitive basis. Considerable sales OF
! foreign cars for delivery TO Americans
abroad have been reported. Rather less
numerous have been the sales OF high
/ priced American cars TO people going
abroad. on the other hand, the sales
/ Of poDular-priced cars have been much
/ heavier during the past week Registra-
tions have increased perceptibly, and the
/ weekly average is now running heavier
than FOR the same weeks last year.
! Construction Of the Acme racer which
was planned TO compete in the Vanderbilt
Cup race is going forward rapidly at the
| Reading factory. The car will be along
/ the lines Of the familiar Sextuplet. the
six-cylinder car which has made such an
impression on the automobile world this
/ season. II will. however depart from
/ stock model details In avoiding heavy
/ frame construction, and the wheel base
/ Will be shortened 10 some degree. A
number Of clever innovations in construc-
/ tion are being jealousy guarded by the
Acme officials but it is known that the
/ car viii approximate 90 horsepower. and
| Will be so flexible Of control that il can
/ be brought down TO q very slow speed
I from the throttle. while its ability 10
/ pick up" after turns or other danger
\ Gus spots have been passed. will be little
short Of marvellous. The selection Of a
/ driver has not been made. Negotiations
/ Nth
| on account Of his absence in France. The
Acme company would have liked 10
/ see the Vanderbilt race held IN Savan-
/ nah. but win vary construction sufi-
! ciently to meet the requirements OF Long
/ Island roads.
Foreign steeIs and imported materials
I with construction along the most ap-
/ proved European lines, adapted 10 the
best American practice. characterize the
I new Hol-Tan cars, which will be shortly
put upon the market by the Hol-Tan
/ company. OF New York City The
product will prove a surprise to own.
/ ers on account OF the high grade
Of construction The comparison between
the former Hol-Tan cars and the new
vehicles which will be put out under the
same name will be greatly IN favor oil
the new product The price will be ad.
vanced over the former Hol-Tan cars. anC
the new Hol-Tans VIII be sold at upward
OF $4,000 in the tohring car types, with
/ somewhat less cost for runabouts. c. II
Tangemsn believes that in the new Hol
Tan he has one OF the best sellers pu
upon the market this season.
f. B. Gallaher recently spent two week.
in Europe, visiting France. Germany, anC
England. Although the trip was a hur.
ried one, Mr.. Gallaher had an opportunity
to study carefully the European situation
and the effect upon the American market
He pronounceS II as clear that foleigr
manufacturers have not by any mean.
given up the American market Hereto
fore they have looked upon the American
demand as subject TO the fancy OF III,
buyer 10 a large extent and have mad,
no effort to meet the price situation with
adjustments which would put the foreign
cars into favorable competition with tn,
best American cars. which they now con
cede 10 be legitimate competitors. For
eign manufacturers no longer laugh a
the claims Of the Packard, Pierce. Peer
less, LOcOmobile, Acme. and similar high
grade products. The method to be pur
sued In the future, says Mr. Gallaher
will be the making Of allowances for du
ties and the placing OF the cars in IN,
hands Of American buyers at prices whicl
will be so attractive that they canno
help but pay attention TO them.
Anticipating this movement, Mr. Gal
laher made arrangements go that he ha!
been able 10 place the Naja car on tn,
American market at a price Of 81 200 70
the 35-horSepower chassis. With reason
able prices for five and seven passenge
body equipment. lamps, tools, horn, &c.
the price is thus made a competitive on
and gives chance for the purchase o
a remarkably well-built car for very littl
money. The new price arrangement Il
effective only in America. Abroad tn,