The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-03-10
MODEL
CHANGE
SLIGHT

Production has resulted in cheaper
manufacture, but in 1917 this has been
largely overcome by the increased
cost of material and labor. The av-
erage 1917 motor car will cost the pur-
chaser $1,6S7. This is $S7 more than
the 1916 car cost and 1913 less than
the 1915 cost. Thus. though the cost
Of materials has mounted to new high
levels, though the cost of labor is
considerably greater than in any pre-
vious year, the actual cost of the fin
ished product displayed by the dealer
is only slightly more than last year.
Three years ago the average car cost
$2,6S5, the highest figure. This price
was obtained by taking the average
price Of over 100 different models. No
recognition has been taken of the
quantity in which they are produced,
but the conclusion is based solely on
the number of models.
Nor does this paltry increase Of SGT
give any indication of the lettering of
the production: 1t represents increas-
ed cost of materials and labor; 1t is
not possible to put a dollar and cents
value on how much better the car is.
creased; quality OF materials has in
creased: there have been engineering
advances-and all these things COM
bine to make the 1917 car q consider
ably better car than that of 1916. 3
Appearance Much Better.
In external appearance the most
striking feature is the increase use
of the, doubIe-cowl body. and what
may almost be termed q landslide to-
ward the slanting windshield-both
selling features because they improve
the appearance. make the car more
comfortable and attractive. and both
OF vital interest to the dealer.
Equipment. too, steadily is becom-
| ing more complete. With several
makers clocks now are standard. and
others are including the Boyce moto-
meter; engine driven tire pumps are
on more cars than ever before; cigar
lighters are more numerous; several
cars have warm hand steering wheels;
some cans now have bumpers.
AS for several years, the four sand
the six cylinder motors still hold su
pEemacy. There are more Fights and
twelves, but there has been no land
slide to them. And among the fours
and skies, theA four greatly outnum-
bers the other4it outnumbers all 9TH
ers combined.
There is a decided movement toward
the overhead valve motor; the rise in
it's favor Is easily distinguishable. OF
all the listed models produced by var
ious makers. 20 per cent have over
head motors. The efficiency OF this
type Of motor has never been Ques-
toned, but its progress has been de-
layed due to the greater noise as CONF
pared with T and L designs. This
has been overcome by improvements
in housing the valve parts and in bet
ter fabrication.
With the rise Of the overhead valve
motor the Tshead has fallen off ap.
probably and now 10 at its lowest ebh.
Nevertheless, what with both Stutz
and White on the Market with new
Tshead jobs ii may not be surprising
II the Tshead returns somewhat 70
favor before long. One feature which
has helped make the overhead valve
engine popular In the detachable head
this Is now used on nearly every new
engine, and In q number OF cases has
replaced the onespiece Lshead,
The size Of the individual cylinders
has not come In tor any great change,
Taking over 100 different models, the
average piston displacement Is 222
cubic inches, which is only slightly
more than would be obtained with six