New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-04
Expert Picks
"All-America"
In Automobiles
Selects from Each the
Features He Thinks
Are the Best
His Car ultimate"
Fancy Unrestrained, He
Puts Together Some
thing Wonder
His Car ultimate"

Remarkable results followed visit
confirmed football expert made to the
Automobile Show.
He went to see all the cars lined up
for the 1917 scrimmage season. lie
thought he might pick out car against
which he could trade in his eight-cylln-
der windsplitter. that only too recent
~ was up to date. And as one car OF
the other offered a feature that APP
pealed to him he gave the ooliglng
statesmen his name and address, THINK
ing that on study Of the cars details
IN its literature he might md that II
was the desired all around car.
There was an awakening. Two days
later he found he was an indoor sport,
much liked by statesmen. The more he
heard them point out the various
merits of their vehicles the more con-
fused he became as to which one he
could choose.
His state of mind was such that he
began to get away from all the regular
fellers and take an interest IN steam
car. The reason? Once he had driven
steam car that had achieved the re-
markable feat Of running fifteen miles
without forced stop.
To the relief of the perpleXed person
came an idea. Go back to the begin
ming of this story and you will find the
statement that he was once a football
expert. Now, the principal occupation
of football expert is, after sizing up
all the teams at the end of the season,
TO figure out an "All-America
Elevcn.p made up of the best players
for each position, chosen from all the
teams.
The idea was distinctly traceable TO
A Arna
lea Car. Why couldn't car be made,
thought ne, that would combine not
merely three or four good features as
selling points. but all the good features
found on the various cars. He felt sure
that if by building this car con paper
no failed to stir manufacturers TO
achieve it he would at least pro
vide ammunition whercwith he could
fond off the insistent statesmen. All he
would have TO do would be to show
them his little list Of what he wanted
in his car.
So be composed that's the precise
word his All-America Car. which is
spread upon the records here for All
Engineerdom 10 jibe at Undoubtedly
it has serious faults. this car, due to
its composers lack Of experience with
some factors in this dream car. How
ever. he has just enough knowledge OF
automobiles to think that his basic
ideas can't be far wrong. Engineers
could adapt them with changes of pro-
portions and relations to a real car
But will they?
More likely they will jape about
being ahead of the times and recall
to him the history Of the first maker
of the car our All-America man drives.
The first maker of that car was the
first user here Of the centre control
and the cantilever spring, hut that was
when other men were talking about
four cylinders as against double op-
posed and no one was interested IN
anything so progressive as centre con-
troll. The engineers probably will re-
ply TO the dreamer that such n car as
his All-Amcrica could not be sold.
"It's five years ahead Of the indus
try" one engineer already has said.
"Time the industry caught up" was
the saucy reply.
Is he right or is ho wrong? Is it
time that the automobile travel in one
bound instead of by painful limps the
distance between the present car and
the ULTIMATE CAR. Opinions on this
point and on the proposed features Of
the All-America car are solicited. Per-
haps out of them. the work of many
progressive minds. can be built con
paper) a Greater All-Amcrica Car
And if that greater car, or something
resembling it. is once built on paper
it will some day be achieved in alumni
mum and iron. How soon? That's
the question.
Our All-America enthusiast thinks it
will be soon. And he presents an ar
gument in support Of the theory.
people are beginning to know cars"
says he. "They are beginning to show
appreciation of real merit. The crowd
is getting wise. A really big car at a
reasonable price will sweep the coun-
try. There's no reason why a car with
twenty selling points, instead of two
or three. shouldn't capture one-fourth
Of the class demand for cars to-day.
L. might get one-half That would
mean from 100000 cars IN. With
such production the All-America car or
something similar to it could be made
for $4,000 or less"
Is he wrong?
In planning this car the All-America