The New York herald., 1920-01-04
LAFAYETTE
WE ARE HERE
New Eight Designed by Well Known,
Cadillac Engineer Unveiled to
Public at Commodore Hotel.

The new La Fayette was shown for the
first time yesterday at the Commodore
Hotel. Coincident with the raising Of the
curtain for the twentieth annual auto
mobile show at the Grand Central Palace
ID. McCal1 White. designer of English
Napier and Daimler and OF the eight
cylinder Cadillac. presented his postwar
ear in the main lobby of the hotel.
The company building this Car is headed
by Charles W. Nash and is located in
indianapolis. Every detail OF the La
Fayette is Of Mr.. Whites own design, and
it is the intention Of the company to build
all units III its own plant.
The private OF the Lafayette is made
imperative by the practice of the Ma
tional Automobile Chamber of Commerce
to bar any car that has not been in pro-
duction for at least year from partici-
patton in the national show.
The Lafayette is an eight Of advanced
high speed design, the engine embodying
many novel adaptations of aircraft prin-
ciples. The shaped motor is of the high
(, speed type, with bore and stroke measure
ments Of 81 by 5l4 inches, giving a piston
displacement of 34s cubic inches The actual
horse power rating is in excess Of 80. and
the maximum engine speed is 1900 revo-
lutions per minute.
In addition to silent and flexible opera
tion and the other inherent qualities of the
eight the Lafayette engine is distinguished
by capacity for tremendous car speeds
and was designed for a long lifetime oi
unerringly dependable service and for ex.
ceptional accessibility as well.
While five body styles are to be Offered
on the Lafayette chassis, which measures
132 inches from hub to hub, only one car
a touring sedan-is being shown at the
Hotel Commodore. This model is finished
in black, with a fine ivory body line and
white wood wheels of small diameter. The
interior is upholstered and trimmed in
black and brown velvet mohair. The sill
yer tonneau appointments are of the Louis
XVI period design, while the hand carved
walnut woodwork expresses the Italian
motif of the eighteenth century.
The Lafayette was designed primarily
as a closed car in order that hte coach
builder would meet with no limitations
automatically imposed by chassis design
in the creation of closed bodies The wis
dom of such policy which is totally al
variance with common practice, has excel
lent eNenpllIlcdllOH III tHS Ldr dy CIV
touring sedan.
The low chassis, for example, permits OF
body that has an overall height of only
seventy-seven inches, while the unusually
long cowl due to the compact design OF
the engine. allows for added body room.
The Lafayette touring sedan, in fact
gives an instant impression of co-ord1nat-
ing dimensions and artistic balance. The
car is so low, in fact that the line of
vision of a passenger is approximately
that of a person Of normal stature walk
ing along the street. Yet the road clear
ance is ample.
Salient style features are the high
rounding radiator, fitted with vertical
shutters that are regulated by thermostat
and mechanically located; the large head
lamps of distinctive cylindrical design,
rgidly mounted on a rod connecting the
front tenders; the long, high bonnet, with
Iouvres running its entire length, and the
double crowned tenders.
Unusual thought and care apparently
have been given to the selection and de-
sign of the appointments and equipment
The dash instruments are q unit, time,
speed, mileage, ammeter reading and oil
and gas pressure all being indicated on a
, single glass covered oval dial. The clutch
and brake pedals are rubber covered un-
derneath as we'll as on top to prevent the
scratching of shoes. The tonneau carpet
is luxuriously padded. Five cord tires,
@ by inches in size, are standard, the
selection Of castings of such unusual width
being only one of the many reflections
OF the European influence that are evi-
dent in the design of the La Fayette
throughout.