New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-12
AMERICAN CARS ABROAD
Their Popularity in Great
Britain ArouSeS Comment.
MEET LITTLE OPPOSITION
Foreign Makers Being Criti-
cised for Failure to Meet
Growing Competition.

The rapidly increasing number OF Amer
I lean built automobiles I'm Great Britain Is
| causing the utmost alarm and there has
been fresh outburst of criticism for the
manufacturers who fail to meet the evil
dent demand OF the British public for
low priced cars. Whether or not this can
be done remains TO he seen. as much Of
the reduction In the price of cars built
on this side has been due 10 quantity
/ production. \ writer In The Field"
comments on the situation as follows:
The manner In which the American
motor car. selling at from $1,000 TO 1850,
equipped with a 2)-horsepower engine,
has secured a market in this country, Is
leading to large amount Of uniformed
criticism Of the British manufacturer and
a considerable amount of undeserved
praise of the American. To begin, the
average cheap American car rated at 20
horsepower develops no more power than
the average British or Continental made
ear rated at l2l5-horsepower.
The difference I'm their prices Is ac-
counted for by the fact that the Ameri-
can manufacturer turns out his cheap
models by tens Of thousands, whereas the
British manufacturer. apart from more
careful and finished production, has TO
be content with planning for an output
of five hundred or less in any particular
model, so that there Is actually less manu-
featuring profit on the sl,I5o British car
than on the sll25 American. That the
American maker has specialized In ~
horsepower model, while the British has
10 spend himself largely on three or four
types, T. not in itself due either TO one
or the other. but simply arises on. OF
their customers.
"The American car manufacturer has
had a public to deal with almost totally
ignorant OF motoring or motors. The
conditions OF acceptance by IL have been
simple enough. The car was 10 be cheap,
TO be able to traverse the bad roads gem
cral in the United States. and 10 require
no skilled attention. These were not the
conditions imposed on our own manu-
facturcrs The latter had FOR years sim
ply 10 follow In the wake ~ the Cont
q mental constructors. who had secured cur
| market and had educated our public In q
! manner and 20 a degree antithctlcal &c
J American conditions and ideas. Tbs
proof OF this is that the earlier American
motor trade invaders here met with dls
aster from tack Of appreciatlon-promp'
or eventual.
1t does not follow, as some appear to
conclude. that all that IS necessary to
restore British prestige and industrial
supremacy here IS TO initiate American
methods The Drltlsh-mado imitation
American car is not acceptable. even u
the people who will purchase an Amerl-
can runabout. unless It's price is even
lower than the original II is not our
purpose 10 decry the American car, but
We may at least ask those who severely
cr,iclse the British manufacturer for
failing to compete with the American
importer on the latter's lines TO furnish
evidence that the cheap American car has
stood the wear and tear and usage that
is expected Of the British model
In our experience American cars are
nursed In a way not the fate Of any other,
and IL II also our experience that these
cheap Americans, when once they begin
TO give evidence OF wear and disintegra-
ton. detcriorate extra rapidly. Their
makers. II is said. build them for a short
life and "A merry one That fits In with
the American idea OF economy. but II Is
not the policy Of the average British
manufacturer.
1T generally happens that failure IN
the British car is confined 70 certain por-
t!ons which II is worth while 20 replace
and 10 continue the car IN commission
long after the American would 30 due