New-York tribune., 1922-01-08

new ones. it can be seen that the value
of the "traded-in" car is automatically
reduced to minimum.
Problem Requires Time
Now, it is merely case of "Can
the new car dealer afford to take in
any more used cars" If he cannot
them, even al loss, his chances Of
| doing business longer are very slim.
If he elects to "do no more trading"
he cannot sell many new cars until
every other dealer for competing
makes in his community has taken the
same stand. 1t will require some time
for this condition to adjust itself, and
in the mean time it is difficult for the
manufacturer to regulate the volume
of his production. That is why it is
now impossible to estimate, with any
tion Of cars in 1922 will be.
Several new cars. including The Am
baSsador. Rickenbacker, Durant Earl,
Goodspeed, Kelsey, Leach Bltwcll,
Gray and Handley Knight, are on cx-
hibtion in New York this week, most
of them being in the National Show.
New Engineering Features
There are numerous now engineering
features shown among the exhibits Of
the standard makers, and as was to
be expected, the new makers are nearly
all claiming decided departures in
either chassis or body design. Moth
ing stands out as radical, at least
nothing of Importance, which is liable
to upset accepted practice.
Departure in body design predom
mates above chassis Improvement. The
trend OF the body design is merely an
! 1o,x. |, oo<
which has been creeping in for several
years. There are many fine examples
of closed cars, which were not ready
when the New York dealers held their
closed car show during the past faI;.
Fashion in trim and upholstery reveals
some advance, largely in new mate
rials and patterns. The latter are
modest and conservative.
Doors Much Wider
A decided advance is being displayed
in the width and wide swing of doors,
particularly on the closed jobs; also in
the amount of leg room in front Of
seats. More leg room is allowed for
the driving seats on cars which are
thoroughly up to date. and rear seats
are built very low and wide.
In chassis Improvement the exhibit
also reveals about what was expected.
racing price war ana q pOSSiDle cur
tailment a production, the car maker
this year has added only necessary re-
fnements. Like his banker, he is play
ing safe.
Carburation "assisters" show up in
different forms, but they are pretty
general where any changes at all have
been made in the chassis. They are
catalogued, of course, under a variety
of names, but all aim to do the same
thing, which is to vaporize the heavy
commercial fuel. The fuel is attacked
at various points as it passes to the
explosion chamber. sometimes in the
intake manifold and sometimes beyond
| it. One or two treat the fuel between
the carburetor and the manifold. An
other type of "assster" does not en-
ploy any outside manifold. but has all
Of the intake tunnels within the cyln-
der block.
Accessibility of oling and ignition
devices is another feature which looms
tendency, in fact, to make everything
about the chassis, which requires con-
stant attention, very "get-at-able," to
! save trouble for the operator.
From the standpoint of size the Ma
tional Show this year is impressive.
| There are thousands Of interesting new
things in the accessory section, and
more complete cars are displayed than
ever before. The visitor leaves with a
fair idea of how rapidly the automotive
industry has developed since the war,
and also receives an excellent idea of
how it is preparing to boom again
when general business conditions i'm
prove.