New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-05
COACH WORK
FEATURE OF
AUTO SALON
Exhibition of Motor Cars de
Luxe at the Astor Declared
Finest Ever Seen In
This Country.

Il seems 20 be tho unanimous opinion
OF visitors TO tho Automobile Salon, bc-
| ing held this week In the grand ball
room OF the Astor, that this exhibition
has the fncst collection Of motor cars
do luxe and the most beautiful array
of custom-made bodies OF exclusive de-
sign. ever assembled in this country.
Rivalling the handsome cars and
GLASSES and the magnificent setting IN
which they are exhibited is the brill
lance Of the attendance TO be found In
the Astor's great ballroom all day and
all evening.
Tho list Of those present yesterday
would read like pages from the social
register and could be started with Mr.
and Mrs. william X. Vanderbilt, who
attended in the morning, and termi-
mated with William Rockefeller. The
evening session was especially brilliant
from social standpoint, with formal
evening dress prevailing and womens
gowns and hats rivalling in style, col
ors and workmanship the best crea-
tions on view Of the coachmakers'
genius and skill.
Much interest is being shown in the
excellent GLASSES on exhibition, both
of foreign and American design and
construction, and, of course, such feat
ures as multi-cylinder motors, OF which
there are lights" and "twelves," as
we'll as "sixes," and magnetic transmits
sions stand out prominently. The prih-
cipal attention, however Is paid to the
coach work, and there are some sixty
complete cars each with custom-maae
body Of distinctive design.
One of the new tendencies In high
grade automobile coach work, az dis
closed by the Salon, pertains to the
upholstery and fittings OF all types OF
bodies, but reaching its best effects in
the closed types. Il Is that Of combin-
ing colors and materials, and the re
suits achieved are both novel and
highly pleasing. Even the choice OF ma
terials in this combination tendency IS
wide. and includes tapestry velvet, cor
duroy, broadcloth, whipcord, suede
feathers, etc-nearly all being import
ed materials. There is also marked
tendency to upholster open touring
cars as well as convertible types IN
cloth combinations instead OF leather,
as heretofore.
Two very interesting body jobs at the
Automobile Salon are 20 be found az
the Singer exhibit, both mounted on
the 50-horsepower chassis. One is
special runabout convertible TO four
/ passenger roadster, in cream color, wlth
enameed wire wheels and bicycle mud
| guards. II is upholstered in blue leatn-
/ er, has dovble cowlS and wind shields
and a unique set OF mahogany cabinets.
/ The other is Sedan OF remarkable ap-
pearanco, which results principally
/ from accentuated stream lines. 10 Is OF
steel gray and upholstered IN dark
brown plush, with gold plated fittings.
/ Sliding silken curtains, inlaid dark
circassian woodwork, a monogram head
light, and a roof that opens 10 permit a
view upward of aeroplanes or noun
tains are other features.
Visitors to the Salon show much in
terest in the exhibit of Locomobile
cars, with custom designed bodies. One
is n sem-touring car, convertible from
a completely inciosed landaulet by one
man in about two minutes, with no
part detachable. II is finished in green,
with red wheels. Another is gunboat
four-passenger roadster. aluminium
plated by the brush process, while a
third is a convertible three-passenger
cabriolet, with inclosed drive. The
growing tendency toward convertible
types Of bodies, which adapt a COM
plete car to year-round service, intro
duced at last years Salon, is found at
its highest development in the de luxe
exhibition now at the Aston. II is one
of the many features which appeal 70
the class Of wealthy, discriminating
motor car owners comprising the at
tendance.