The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-18
! MOTORING AND GENERAL SPORTING NEWS
Motoring Notes,
Good Road News
and Trade Matters

~AA&&e SA&4~
The used car" problem has caused
a Cleveland man TO evolve the follow
ing solution in the difficulty:
A corporation II organised to en-
gage in the business Of buying and
selling used cars, to be financed and
controlled by the dealers and factory
branches, doing q retail business in
the community This company 10 to
be managed by a competent and dis
interested nun, who Is capable OF
appraising the market value Of any
used car, and the capital stock to be
an amount sufficient to conduct the
business without embarrassment. The
company would then be clearing
house" operated for the mutual bSne-
fit OF it's stockholders.
The owner Of q used car, negotiating
for the purchase Of new car wcula
be referred to the clearing house,
where a price would be set on his car
and a credit memorandum for the
amount issued to him, to be honored
by any dealer or factory branch for
a like amount, IN part payment for
new car. The purchaser would then
have the option Of accepting the value
or selling his car privately and pay
ing cash for the new car.
Monthly settlements could be made
to stockholders on cars sold. and quar-
terly or semi-annuai dividends de-
clared from profits.
The advantages of this plan are
manifold:
FIRST. ALI competitive bidding on
used car will be abolished
Second. The practice Of buying
pile OF junk" for the purpose OF turn
ing It In on a trade will be abolished.
Third. Used cars will find ready sale
because they will be priced accordins
to actual value and not according W
allowance. a. at present.
Fourth. salesmen can concentrate
all their efforts on the sale OF new
cars. doing away with the necessity oi
making two sales for one.
Fifth. Dealers will maket he fun legit-
innate proht to which they are ea'i''eo
on every sale.
yarious modifica tons OF this plan
and details Of operating 1t would have
to be made to adapt 1t to local conoi-
tons. The automobile industry Is OF
such dignity and proportion that It can
we'll AFFORD to give serious Thought 10
the adjustment Of its greatest evil
the "used car probiem"--and the above
ptan affords an absolutely satisfac-
terry solution Of this same. a=a~4-'
About Body Design.
Perhaps in no one particular 10 there
a moro distinct line of Cleavage pc
tween the American automobile TINS
lew
lin bcdy building tendencies. ASIDE
from minor differences in motor and
chassis construction, points of varla-
ton In fabrication and ignition. lignt-
ing, starting. and cooling. which are
of manner rather that OF matter. there
IN a close approximation between the
mechanical portions OF motor cars
built on opposite sides of the Attain
tic.
But in the matter OF bodies. Of coach
building and Of the lines assumed py
the exterior Of the cars. 1t 10 . dner.
snt story. One or two American
builders have followed the foreign sus
gestions; others say experts on TINS
side OF the water. are sure to 90 %
In the near future. 1t Is mel y
question Of time. these men hoid. foi
they believe that in this department
OF automobile activity Europe 10 the
leader and the United States the irni-
tatof.
lust now. however, the two tenden'
ciaa are FAR apart The crux OF ths
contrast lies in angles. In Europe mo-
tor cars are markedly things OF siops
and curve. In America, speaking een.
orally, they present series OF skn'
lines and rectangles. In the oio woTlo
the bodies are streAultke. ROWING eA'
panding into full dimensions a. tnss
run from front to back. Here they
ar. square. broad -shouldered, abrupt
II is a contrast as strong az that De-
tween the feminine and the masculine
and somewhat Of like nature.
The point Of departure-the pivota'
potnt--of foreign bodies 10 the raoia-
| tor. This surface of metal mesh ns.
| been modified In several ways IN tne
| foreign types. Most Of the moolncA'
tons aim at wind resistance. Tnua
the radiator ia brought to = potnt
| either from top to bottom or from sios
to side. presenting = sharp nose 70 .ns
wind. or else It has become muc'
narrower and longer than IT. Amer.
can cousin. Tho bonnet BACK OF y
heiwhtens the rakish effect and tns
senss Of boring into the air by oeinl
An the form Of modified funnel OF
come, f,aring toward the back. IN son'
makes II slopes sharply down; II
others Il 10 dorned no that cross sec
ton would look like q tall, Mario"
arch.
! From the back Of the bonnet tn
dashboard carries out the general Ell
| feet, forming, with the bonnet. on
sweeping line or curve. to harmonic
with Il in Z graceful torpedo ehect
This tendency 10 a. noticeable in tn