New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-01-05
PRAISES FOREIGN CARS
Henry Ford Says Current Salon
ExCeIS Previous Shows.
BRISK BUSINESS REPORTED
Presentation Of Glidden Trophy
Climax of Long Effort by
Maxwell to Win II.

From the standpoint Of attendance and
sales the Importers Automobile Salon now
running at the Hotel Astor IS far ahead OF
any previous exhibition Of foreign built
motor cars ever held in this country. The
number of visitors ls increasing with each
session, and already many sales have been
reported. Included among the purchasers
are dozen or more persons we'll known In
social. financial and professional circles.
AT the present salon IS the finest lot OF
high grade cars yet staged In this coun-
try" was the assertion made b. Henry
Ford the we'll known American manufact-
urer after he had completed two-hour
examination OF the various exhibits yester-
day afternoon. THE foreigners are our in
structors I'm building motor cars" he con-
tlnued. land the rapid growth Of The
American industry is due in no small meas
ure TO their lead"
Mr.. Ford also spoke OF the marked con-
trast between quality manufacturing. as
represented by the high grade foreign cars,
and quantity production, which is. perhaps,
best represented in his own business. He
also made the startling statement that he
hoped to be able 10 increase the output Of
Ford cars for the current year from 300
which had originally been planned, TO near
" 5000. Either figure will exceed by
considerable margin the combined output
OF all the foreign manufacturers.
Several OF the exhibits at the salon are
10 be increased to-day by the addition OF
! chassis and completed cars which have ar
rived on steamers docking since the salon
opened. Among these will be two 6-cylin-
der Clement-Bayard chassis, the first
models OF this make 10 come 10 America.
They will be shown at the exhibit OF the
| Paul Lacroix Automobile Company Other
exhibits which will be added to to-day are
those Of the Renault, Metalurgique and
| Panhard.
As II to accentuate the contrast between
| the early motor car types and those Of the
new year. as the latter are represented at
the salon. the first Benz car and single
cylinder vehicle built in 1884, is also exhIb-
tied That this pioneer motor vehicle was
practical is evidenced by the fact that It
was driven from the pier to the salon under
| its own power and that 1t has a record Of
10000 miles OF service TO its credit
The Benz Company, which has probably
the largest number OF cars in the Salon,
reports the sale OF cars since the exhibition
opened to Judge Z. II. Gary. Frank NOgel.
Spencer Goodwin, Charles Goodwin and
Marshall Williams, the last named, a San
Francisco man. ordering touring car for
use in Europe. The biggest attraction in
the Benz space is a limousine by Quinby.
II is finished in purple and the upholstery
is in mauve broadcloth All the mountings
and fittings are gold plated. A touring
torpedo In purple leather is also a striking
exhibit
The Fiat Company is showing only a
four-cylnder 2O-horsepower town car. and
two chassis. The town car is remarkably
short in wheel base and can be turned with
out reversing in any street. 1t has made
twenty miles TO a gallon Of gasolene. All
the Fiat motors are Of monobloc CONSTITUTE
ton and the s!x-cylinder engine IS said to
be the largest of this type ever built.
A cabriolet by Brewster is the interesting
feature OF the Lahcia exhibit 1t is a spe-
cial design, and can be closed up to re-
semble a lardaulet or a touring car, as
desired The Lancia is also a monobloc
motor. Adams & Co. are looking for new
type Lancia In which some radical inno-
cations are embodied including the placing
of the gear box on the rear axle.
team won the Glidden trophy and the exec
utives Of the company received the big
prize from the donor, Charles J. Glidden,
at the lunchroOm in Rector's on Wednes-
day In accepting the trophy Benjamin
Briscoe reminded his hearers that the Max
we'll had once before finished perfect, but
had not been the winner because OF the
price clause in the rules. He said that the
Glidden of 1911 had demonstrated the sturdi-
ness Of the low priced American car and
expressed the hope that the contest will
continue to be an annual one. A. G. Batch
elder acted POSTMASTER.
Fred ]. Wagner Montgomery Halloweu
and Orlando. Weber left New York yester-
day for Chicago, 10 be present at the fu-
neral OF Joseph E. G. Ryan, who died on
Monday Mr.. Ryan had made arrange
ments TO be IN New York last night for the
SHOW season.