Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-11
1871 AUTO MODELS
DISCUSSED BY EXPERTS
Foredoor Type Is Practical and
Well Suited to Mod
ern Needs
BY Charles E. Duryen. NJ. D.

It is indeed a striking commentary
on the growth of the automobile indus
try that this year double snow must
be held to show the products OF the
A. L. A. Nj. members at Madlsoh
Square Garden. Eleven years have
swept over the industry since the Irst
automobile show was held in the gar
den, and more than fifteen years since
the first self-propelled vehicle proved
its ability to travel American roads IN
public competition. This short period
of time has proven almost ages long
in the development it has brought TO
the now great industry.
The automobile was then a matter OF
curiosity to most people and matter
of contempt to many. Only the faith
ful few pioneers saw, even dimly, lts
great triumph. But great as the busl-
ness has grown and magnificent as are
its creations, it's progress has not
stopped. Each slackening in the rush
of orders and the production OF goods
is filled in by the designers eHofts TO
better the product, and with the lntro-
duction of new ideas from time to time
interest is kept keen. Vehicles larger,
speedier. more luxurious and practical
than horse-drawn vehicles ever could
be are now the popular type. The pro-
duct has created the demand, tnus
completely reversing the rule that tne
demand brings forth the device whlch
fills it.
Most people are familiar with the
nrogress of the automobile~of the last
few wears. but only those who have
watched it's progress from Its Inception
realize how wonderful has been its
growth One really needs to know the
great progress made in the decade
represented by the Garden shows 10
fully appreciate the present state OF
- nd itQ parf1in future
growth.
CHANGES IN BODY DESIGN
The first sign of change is to be seen
i'm the body design. The sloping fronts
of ten years again are being revived,
not in the same form, but lensthened
and proportioned to suit the structure
to which they are applied. This change
is due partly to the lapsing of patent
prohibition In the foreign market and
partly to the better arrangement OF
the cooling radiator as well as to the
influence of the boat and airship, which
demonstrates that speedy structures
should not be square ended. Certain IL
is that thing which Is not right does
not continue to look right, but the
eternal fitness wins out in the end.
This is clearly noticeable by the gem
eral adoption of doors to the front
seat. Just why there should be doors
to the rear and not to the front has
never been satisfactorily explained.
On the other hand, there is noticeable
a distinct growth of the idea that Tor
certain uses and users, the seats do
not need doors to either front or rear.
This is following practical sound sense
in vehicles intended for short trips and
business uses. The side door affords
protection from the cold, mud and dust
It's only bad features, If they can be
l. al TVa h0
fact that 1t adds weight and interferes
with free and easy mounting. The
rumble seat is fast growing in favor
and with this the side door is not
used.
VARIETY TO CHOOSE FROM
ONLY a few years back it was con-
sidered out of the fashion If one did
not have a red tonneau with rear
entrance The wide range of power of
the motor vehicle fits it to wide
range of uses. In order to meet these
a wide variety of styles and shapes
must be provided. Chiefly because OF
this the public will see a greater va
riety of body design at the Garden
show than ever before. The closed
body designs are housing the operator
more than was the case in the past
The owner now drives his car more
than ever, because he is better mechan-
ically informed and his vehicle less
complicated in construction.
The racing automobile also has left
it's mark on the 1911 body in the
rounded rear end of the torpedo" At
first sight 1t is q hideous crudity, but
its reason for existence is that it les
sens the suction and dust raising
which has made the motor car so much
disiked by the roadside dweller. The
activity of agents and buyers points to
1911 as banner year for the motor
car business. and Madison Square gar
den will be the exchange for business
next January.