The New York herald., 1920-01-04
HOW STUDEBAKER
TESTS ITS CARS
Company Early Adopted Policy Of
Trying Out All New Models on
Hardest Mountain Roads.
By M. F. WOLLERINC,
Vice President in Charge Of Engi-
neer;ng and Production The Stude-
baker Corporation.

The Pacific coast, and California in par
ticular, have new title in tho Stude-
baker vocabulary. Henceforth as far as
We arc concerned, they will be known as
the acid testing ground for new models.
We are the first motor car manufactures,
believe, TO adopt the Golden State for
that purpose, and the only wonder TO me
is that nobody ever thought of it before.
As those familiar with the situation
know, II has been customary in the past
TO test out new models Of various manu-
facturers in the East Pennsylvania,
with its. historic Unontown Hill. has been
the favored state fer this purpose in the
past California being so far distant
from the centre OF tho automobile indus
try. its ideal advantages as testing
ground were entirely lost sight Of.
In line with the studebaker policy to de-
eide what the public wants. and TO pro-
duce just that sort OF a car. we spared
no experimental expense IN working out
the design OF the new light six. The de-
tails Of this new car. which IS probably
the worlds finest light six automobile,
were given months OF study and concen-
tratlon by our engineers and metallur-
glsts. with the result that lightweight
six cylinder motor car embodying the
most modern features Of high priced
quality cars was evolved to meet an in
sistent public demand
We we're more than satisfied that the
now light six as designed was absolutely
the best Stulebaker car we had ever pro-
duced. but quite naturally we submitted
several sample cars 10 the test of real
service The familiar trial in the East
came first The car was driven over the
roads OF Eastern Canada and tho United
States. through the mountains and over
tho steepcst grades. IL came through
splcnddly and was quickly pronounce
10. Is. by our engineers and executives
But that was not enough. Mr.. Erskin..
the president Of the StudebalSer Corpora
ton and an enthusiastic observer OF many
OF our Eay arn tests told me to subject
the car 10 most arduous tests possible
Ho said we should stop a nothing
that wou contribute IN any way possible
10 the thorough testing Of this new car.
He wanted 20 make assurance doubly sure,
realizing that tho sixty-eight year old
reputation OF the Studobaker Corporation
was at stake in the production Of this new
light six So | sent the car across the
continent over the Lincoln Highway and
the Rockies and. as climax, the famous
test in California.
Now. just what makes California and
tho far West the logical testing ground
Of the country? what IS there in particu-
lar that makes II so obviously superior
TO the Eastern States? You can sum II
all up In these few words-bCcause an au-
tomoblc is subjected 20 every sort ot con-
dition TO be found in every State in the
Union. and Car that makes good under
such circumstances must necessarily be
tit for owners in every part Of the world.
BY way OF elaboration upon this point.
Studebaker engineers under my personal
supervision drove our new light six over
peaks that stretched into the heavens to
an elevation OF seven thousand TO eight
thousand fect. and down into tho Imperial
Valley. where you are hundreds OF feet be-
low tho sea level, and across the deserts
OF New Mexico and Arizona. where the tor
rid conditions put carburetion and cooling
to q severe test