New-York tribune., 1909-12-19
MOTOR CARCHANGES
WHAT SEASON SHOWS
More Room and More Comfort
an Nert Years Models.

fft ~ tL II tfN y ~'A otttD'
Charles z Dulrvea. mechanical expert OF
the American Motor Car Manufacturers
Association. in an article on the tendencies
In motor car construction for 1910. says
Motorists always wait with inpstience
the opening OF automobile shows. as at
that time the new offerings OF the motor
car makers are divulged for the first time
Just what the big list sf exhibitors at the
Grand Central Palace show will unfold IN
new wrinkles cannot be conclusiveiy told
until its opening on New Years Eve
Several things have conspired. however
10 force the season OF 1919 20 tire front and
permit at this date a better view Of the
coming year than usual The shortage cf
goods iast Sumner cleared the factories
and permitted the new product 10 come
out sooner. The absence Of vehicles on the
safes floors OF agents caused them 20 ask
for the new product instead Of asking that
IL be held back till the old cars were sold
Several interesting and pleasant things are
to he seen In this early view Of the in
dustTy.
The gloom that fen In the MIDDLE Of a
national show two years ago. and for
which the shew itself was condemned. was
due to the financial depression. The old
demand for highest grade and most lux
uTlous automobiles has now returned The
designer is again free 10 do his best rather
than to trim the vehicle to the most eco
pomicsl production point. even at the sac
rihce OF features that were OF pronounced
value and likely to be desired by the public
But this change. although felt last sum
rler. could not be taken advantage OF at
once. The new design had to be waited
for. The 1910 market was the first that
could he utilized Rising prices IN many
lines permitted better quality and larger
numbers in the automobile line. This opti
nlistic feeling has been expressed IN sew
eral ways. but the increased quality OF
the goods, the increased quantity OF the
equipment. the increased number of max
ers and the large number of low priced
cars are some of the plain expressions.
"A reversal of policy is shown in many
cases. Instead Of striving TO get the prod
uct down 10 the market. as seemed 20 be
necessary year ago. the market is now
in such a condition that the product is
being pushed upward both in quality and
price. The country buyer who feared 10
buy or had not the money TO buy the pneu-
matte tired touring car a year ago was
then looking for some cheaper substitute.
With the return Of prosperity the buyer
is looking for service. style and luxury
and everything that is best IN motor car
construction.
Still another element enters. The for
eign market has been undergoing more or
less of a revolution. and France. once the
centre of automObiling. has given way TO
England, and turned her attention TO aero
nauties or other sports. England in turn
has set a new pace by introducing num-
product. hut rather to add TO the cost and
luxurinusness- So. on every hand, the up
ward tendency Is 70 be seen
The ecouomizing period through which
the industry has Just passed taught the
value OF light weight The reduced tire
and maintenance expenses OF the lighter
cars have been marked and have done
much to WIDEN the range Of buyers.
I'VE ind the wheel base again moving
forward. II seemed as though this had
reached the extreme and would follow a
downward course, but aside from the short
coupled town cars this seems not to be the
case. This lengthening of base has gone
forward with a shortening OF motors in
many cases. The tendency seems to be
toward lighter motors and with all the
cylinders cast in a single piece. instead OF.
as In most cases, separately. This makes
the motors shorter aud does not require so
much room in the bonnets. This leaves
more room for passengers.
In some eases the bodies have been
heightened and more leg room provided
In others the seats for the rear passengers
have been brought forward and placed in
front Of the rear axle, where the riding is
easier. This also makes room for wider
doors and more easy entry to the tonneau
In other cases the extra room has been
given TO hooded Gas aes. which by extending
backward over the drivers feet and legs
protect him from the weather and wind
and add comfort as we'll the sporty look
SO much affected by some users.
In many cases the added length has
been utilized 10 introduce longer springs,
which have in turn softened the vibrations
and betteTed the riding qualities OF the re-
spective ears. The lighter weight Of the
last two years has also done much TO bet
ter the spring action. and there is evidence
that in future, comfort rather than mere
speed will take precedence