New-York tribune., 1912-01-02
FOREIGN AUTOS ON VIEW
Importers Salon Will Open IN
Hotel AStor To-day.
LIGHT CARS A BIG FEATURE
Factory Representatives for the
Garden Display Will Soon
Be Installed Here.

Be Installed Here.
without ceremony the Importers Auto
mobile Salon. at which will be displayed
the latest products OF Europe's factones
will omen In the Hotel Astor about noon to-
day. II is on record that the salon opening
OH one occasion at least. was consioefeu
Of enough Importance TO attract seVera
foreign representatives from Washinstoh'
but that was in the old days. since 'nen
the industry has lost much OF the spec
tacular and has come to strictly business
basis During the week. possibly, oflc'ai
Washington will be represented. but 1t will
cause no particular furry. The salon Is
TO last until January 10. thus overlapping
the Garden display. which will open on
Saturday evening.
There is every prospect that this year
foreign show will be successful. Artisu-
cally Il is certain to be So for the cars on
dIsplay are the most elaborate produc-
tions, mechanically and In fittings. OF
score of factories. among which are the
pioneers of the industry. From business
standpolnt there is also reason to believe
that the results will be gratifying. Not
only do the European manufacturers cater
TO tho type OF American who wants class
regardless Of cost, but this year especially
they have begun to meet the universal
call for light cars that are inexpensive 10
maintain.
1t is In the light type field that America
has made such giant strides in tf9 last
few years; in fact, the domestic maker
by invading Europe with inexpensi3) ma
chimes OF low upkeep, has compelN the
foreign constructor TO produce the rame
type in self-defence. At the curren, ~-hlon
will be displayed a De Dion OF only lO-
horsepower. The same concern goes TO the
other extreme with a car OF 100 horsepower
other exhibitors will show cars OF lower
power and cost than ever before. and for
these types they expect TO find the greater
number OF customers. so radically have
the foreigners gone in for low powered
light cars that the recent Berlin exhibi-
tlon brought out a machine OF only 6-horse-
power.
Much OF the attractiveness OF the snow
that opens to-day will lie in the body
work. Nearly every exhibitor will have
al least one complete car from abroad. the
body by one OF the famous body builders
OF Europe. One display will have nothing
but foreign built bodies. Little has been
seen Of these examples OF the builders art,
but II Is understood that they will be
devoid OF many Cf the trappings OF the
last year or two. II this proves TO be the
case Il will mark a return TO sanity. for
the foreigners have been the worst offend
ers in fIling up costly limousines with APP
purtenances that properly belong In the
home or the hotel
II has not been announced that any OF
the makes 10 be shown at the Astor Will
display a self-starting device. II any are
TO be displayed they are beirg kept as a
surprise for the public The lack OF self
starting devices will he one OF the points
OF difference between the foreign and
American shows this winter No innova-
ton in tho last FIVE years has caught on
so quickly. and some prominent makers
on this side OF the Atlantic predict that
within two years the car without means to
start itself from the drivers seat viii be
utterly out OF date. IL may be argued, Of
course. that the self-startsr has not been
brought TO perfection. but, for that matter.
neither has the automobile-nor will lt ever
be Several OF these devices have proved
10 be positive In action in more than ~ per
cent out Of thousands of tests. and Il IL
claimed that driver with a clear knowl-
edge of the principle and mechanism can
start almost invariably.
With the two big holidays out Of the way.
the exodus Of factory representatives from
the automobile centres Detroit. Cleveland,
Buffalo. Indianapolis. Chicago and other
Western cities-will get under way For
months they have been studying the fine
points or the new models, with view to
demonstrating them TO the Eastern public
during the New York shows. They Will
come here primed with ngures and logic
10 show that the automobile Of 1871? IL the
best ever.
And they will be talking plain facts. The
American automobile Of 1912 will be the
best value ever offered to the public From
the small car at 500 10 the stately limou-
sine at S.60o there win be excellence TO a
greater degree than ever before. Never
has the purchaser been able TO get 80
much for his money From top To bottom
the three requisites-sturdiness, beauty and
cornfort-wlli be found, and there appears
TO be firm ground for the optimism that
tinges the antlcipations for the year to
come.
H. j. Koehler. the local representative
of the Hupmobile. who has charge OF the
reception to the homecoming tourists who
have safely circled the globe during the
last year, has chartered II special tug for
the accommodation OF the officials OF the
Hupp Motor Car Company. and the dele
gatlon OF Detroit business men who will ac-
company them to New York to greet the
world tourists. The tug, laden with the
Detroit delegation and a number of promi-
nent New York motorists, will meet the
Insitania down the bay when she arrives
at Quarantine on Friday morning. The tug