New-York tribune., 1912-01-03
AUTO DISPLAY At ASTOR
importers Show Their Newest
Cars in Gorgeous Setting.
SOME SUPERB BODY WORK
Novelties Galore in Interior Fit
tings, but Mechanically the
Changes Are Few.

By far the most representative display of
foreign automobiles ever seen in this city
was placed on view with the opening OF the
Importers Salon in the Hotel Astor yes
terday morning. The array Of cars In the
beautiful ballroom even surpasses that OF
1905, when the importers chose the Macy
building for their annual show. On that
occa sion the beauty of the decorations eN-
cited comment everywhere, but there could
be no finer background for tho cars than
that furnished I'm the current salon.
Hundreds Of enthusiasts spent hours yes-
terdsy afternoon and evening inspecting
closely the typos that stand as representa-
tive Of Europe's best for 1912 II Il ndica-
tive of the present stage Of the industry
that there are few changes In mechanism
from the designs Of twelve months ago
Here and there can he discorned slight re-
fnements but I'm the main the power plants
remain the same. II IS In body work and
design that the widest divergence can be
found, and the now types were the attrac-
tion for the opening day throng.
Mechanically. the novelty of the show is
the Darracq, shown by Ducas5e & CO.. and
equipped with a new type valveless motor.
This Is even more of a novelty than was
the Knight motor year ago, for the de-
tails of the latter had been anticipated,
while the Darracq engine comes as sur
prise In the new type one rotary sleeve
having an inlet and exhaust port for each
cylinder. serves for all four cylinders. eN~
tending lengthwise along the top and nav
ing but two bearing points Such con-
structon allows of remarkable compact
ness 1t is said that the engine is abso-
IuteIy noiseless at a distance of feet
There are other interesting points about
this particular car. One Is Its equipment
with tho Golde top, a German invention
! Any one who has struggled ten or hfte'h
! minutes In rainstOrm to fix III place an
ordinary top will appreciate the value OF
top that can he placed In position IN zen
| seconds by ono person standing III tne
! tonneau Folded tho top differs In no wise
| from the ordinary type. Also tho car ls
! equipped with the Victor cement bumper
I which. II Is said. will resist the most severe
collision without breakage.
| Probably the most complete display IN
the salon Is that OF Dc Dion-Routon wmcr
consists OF half dozen complete cars ana
| two polished chassis. The most mover o.
these il a collapsibc inside drive landauie'
built in this country from Ideas plckeu up
| bv Mr. Lascaris general manager or th'
he Dion In America while on visit u
| Iordou and Paris last summer. While ap'
parsntIy a closed car as IL stands, the on
fire top folds back smoothly, leaving an
open car TO all intents. The best feature
NJ the car. from the standpoint of comfort
is that the tonneau seat Is placed wen lot
Vi eliminating
| An limo, alton in body building shown by
Dc Dion IL the use Of cloth upholstery foI
touring cars. This is shown on two cars
ono bv Burr and the other by Demarest
That cloth can be kept clean in an open
car may be doubted. but Mr. LaycariS SAYS
that slip covers will obyiate this difficulty
| while the owner will enjoy greater comfort
Renz 4, Co. as usual show n very fine
| line OF cars with various body types ol
the highest class. This Is one Of the for-
eign makes Of established reputation In TINS
country. and the exhibit was one of the
centres OF attraction throughout the Day
| In a Rcnault chassis, shown In the Renauit
Freres space Is new idea, the employ
ment OF twin tires on the rear wheels. THIS
idea has proved so successful in CONNER
cial work that the Mlchelin company has
| adopted IT for heavy passenger use. Ac-
cordng TO Wally owen, assistant sales
manager OF Renault Freres. tires I'm twin
form will last four or five times as Ions as
when used sngly.
| The most impressive OF the Rcnault closed
cars at the Astor is Limousine fitted with
Kellner body. The interior is finished In
inlaid mahogany and the extra seats are In
chair form, which gives the appearance OF
small room rather than an automobile.
| This body Is a special and has been feat
ure at all the big foreign shows. Renault
construction this year is practically the
| same as that Of "a year ago.
Naturally there is much interest In the
Metallurgique exhibit, due to the novelties
shown at tho 1911 Salon. Nor Is the visitor
disappointed, for the cars represent every
thing I'm the way of luxury. Among the
cars fitted with Van den Plas bodies is a
landauIct which is novel I'm that no bows
arc shown on tho outside. The interior Is
finished IN Louis XV style, with citron and
palsande, two rare woods. The fittings
include a folding escrltore and cabinets,
with brushes. vacuum bottles. ctc.
Another remarkable car is Colonial