Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-04-21
The MoTORIsT
ny Special p.rnss.len from No.


attention and such remarks as 'DidnI
they use 70 make queer looking carsT
you're probably getting ready to buy
q new one.
The old car still has more service tc
give and the price II win bring on the
secondhand market doesn't express
the value you attach 70 II. II II can be
altered TO suit the fastidious taste ol
the younger members Of the family II
will take much of the wear and tear
which would Otherwise fall 10 the loi
OF the new car, according 10 Windsor
Reed Davis, n Motor Life. Take II al
In all. you'd like 70 remodel II you are
sure that the car Is worth H.
Now, It's an easy matter 70 omit all
consideration Of the cars worth and
say, Go ahead. Drop the frame, lower
the seat, change the color Of the steer.
ing column, buy this and buy that. :
lgut when the Job IL all done and you
discover that blocking over last win.
ter's hat cost you as much as new
one or that the new car Is good shell
over poor kernel, you won't feel par.
ticulariy grateful for the good advice
II you can prevent q man from spend.
ing money fooiIshly you have served
him as well as n you told him how TO
spend that much wisely. A few words
Of warning are necessary.
An inexpensive car may. be good
car. but " Isn't likely 70 be q sound
basis for further investment at the end
OF three or four years. II probably has
begun 20 wear out all over. Every bear.
ing In the car Is q source OF noise. the
pistons slap against The cylinder walls.
the worn steering knnckles are getting
dangerous, and the wabbling wheels
eat up tires rapidly. The car Is worth
only what you can get out of II with
out putting more into Il. IL may. sat.
isfy you fairly well as Il Is. but once
you have changed Its body lines you
are going 10 invite comparison with
new carr. You can't fall back on the
statement that 'lts d good old car :
and you VIII tel that in performance
and freedom from trouble Il must
measure up well with ears made today.
Good Engine EssentlsI
The car that cost $4,000 or more and
has always glyen rood eerTies may be
worth the price of Alteration. But no
matter how much the car cost bear
this n mind 1,Qisy Ncrhpu q engine
is no nncieuI tbout which u build a
new body: 4 dollar 1ovement In .
fifty dollar case doesn't make q better
watch. So -,
The construction Of some cars may
lend itself readily 10 retnodeling or
may be such as 10 preclude right at
the start any chance OF success. You
must first picture the chassis dosing,
to see whether or not II win permit
the change; Alteration Of the chassis
will almost always be necessary, and
II Is the extent TO which alteration
must be carried that determines the
practicability OF remodeline
II we all had the same opinion on
the same subject we'd all buy the
same car and 80 manufacturers could
discharge their help. when you change
the design Of your ear you express In
II your personal conception Of what a
car should BE- The result is that
everybody feels free 70 criticise Il, and
IL rs an object OF cnrbstone comment
and garage comment ~
When you are ready 10 sell 1t you
may get another shock. II Il expresses
too much personality Il probably won't
suit the first man who looks ct IL with
the intention OF buying, and In spite Of
the money you have put into IL may
have lower secondhand vaine, The
moral 10 this: III you remodel. re
model wen and not too radically. Your
personality may look like .''freakish.
ness" 10 your neirbbof.
90 Work Thoroughly
You decide that 10 90 the car JUS
tice you must have q self-starter and.
OF course. q battery. Since you need
the battery, II Is only q step further to
electric lights and modern ignition
and finally you have added another
$3.50 to the remodeling cost II you
intend TO remodel do Il with your eyes
open and recognize that II Jour car ID
worth q complete reuiod Sling Il. de-
serves whatever up TO date equipment
the change involves s
The body design Of the old car has
no eye appeal because Il q unnatural
Surfaces break abruptly. without any
reason FOR the break. The body sur
face is cluttered ND With equipnien,
and ornamental sccess6ries The new
car obtains its gracefnl appearances bs
the use Of continNelis horizontal lines
and surfaces which low together WITH
out any break or sudden fevetse
curves. The eye Il attracted 70 TIE
front OF the Ger and follows the strteh,
lines 10 the rear. Lowness and Length
stand out predominantly. These ktt
the proportions for which YOU nasi
strive when you change the old. cAl
TO one Of up to date design.
The appearance OF the car can often
be improved by making q few syefy
simple changes. Remove the brass
side lamps. the horn. the tool box On
the running board and any other trap
pings that ornament the exterior. II tbs
windshield 60 bulky. heavily framed
affair. supported stay rods. Il mus
come off or be replaced The slipshod
way in which tires are mounted on eths
running board Of the old car does much
10 injure is appearance. II possible
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