South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-30
MILLIONS SPENT
BY new OWNERS
OF AUTOMOBILES
Estimate 5000 Local People
Have Bought New Cars at
Cost of S4.000,000.
Business is good in south Bend.

Business is good I'm south Bend
That Is the only logical az well as
only possible conclusion 70 be drawn
from a survey made OF the sale OF
automobiles In the city since the be-
ginning of the year.
In the past six months period ap-
proximsteIy 1000 cars Of all makes
have been sold in South Bend. and
approximately 100000 has been
invested in these new cars by local
purchasers
Ford Sales Largest.
The magnitude OF the business in
GALES OF automobiles in the city in
sbe past six months may be further
shown by the fact that the total sales
figures for that period mean that an
average Of 20 cars have been sold In
the city every week day Of the pres
Iont year. and an average OF SIS. 900
has been spent every week day OF the
present year in the purchase OF new
cars BY local people
q
Ford cars. OF course. take the lead.
but Studebaker cars lead in point
OF total investment. Up 10 the pres
ent time $50 Fords have been sold in
the city. with the Studebakers. all
models, running a close second with
621 so far this year Investment IN
new Ford cars represents approx
mately half a million dollars, while
the Investment in the Studeoaker
cars Is close TO the million dollar
mark.
Increased Business
The sale OF FOrds and Studebakers
make up approximately half the total
number Of cars OF all makes sold
and embrace slightly more than one
third Of the total investment in new
cars. Dealers in other makes o.
cars sold IN the city report a very
steady increase I'm business. and as
a whole, all expressed themselves as
very we'll satisfied with the improve
rnent that has been steadily mani
Testing itself In the upturn In bust
ness since Jan. 1. A number of
dealers stated that their sales have
been slightly less than they would
have been II il had been possible 10
secure deliveries on cars when need
ed. liability to secure Immediate
deliveries IN a number Of cases re-
suited in loss Of sales.
This loss Of business from inability
TO secure deliveries on cars was most
noticeable with W r. Hinkle, Inc.
local Ford agents. They stated that
$50 orders have been cancelled since
Jan. 1 on account Of inability TO
secure cars. and that at the present
time they have untitled orders for
about 200 cars. Their estimate OF
the number Of cars for the year was
1850. and from sales In the first half
OF me year this estimate appears 70
be about 20 percent under what the
actual demand will be
Not Used Cars.
In the survey OF the number OF
cars sold and the total amount OF
the investment made In them. no
attempt has been made 10 secure an
estimate on the sales Of used cars,
bu, rough estimates secured on this
phase OF automobile sales are 20 the
effect that second hand cars bought
since Jan. I represent an investment
OF arywh-re from 500. 900 TO $25O.-
900 as exact figures on the total are
almost impossible 10 be obtained
4 very striking fact that this was
brought out in the survey Of local
conditions is that there is a very
marked trend toward choice OF closed
car bodies on the part OF purchasers
OF new cars. This trend ranges from
about Is percent in Ford cars 20
about 50 percent in sales OF Cadillac
ears and 40 percent = held TO be a
very approx mate average for al
makes OF cars
Many New Owners.
Another striking fact brought out
by the survey OF local conditions
has been that there have been a
Alarge number OF purchasers OF new
Years who had not previously owned a
car. or who had not owned n car
within the past year This fact is
especially true in the case OF pur-
chasers OF Ford cars. but il is equally
true. but 20 a less extent with pur-
chasers or higher priced cars.
70 is estimated that about 900 OF
the 1000 purchaser OF new cars
since Jan I bought automobiles FOR
the first time Dealers have not
exact figures on this point. but they
stated that from the number OF cases
IN which purchasers had TO be IN
Etructsd IN how 90 run car Il was
believed that there are az least 600
owners or cars In the city at the
present time who did not own a car
these new owners are found In pur-
chasers or the moderate priced cars
According 10 figures recently com
piled there were 100000 cars OF a.
makes sold throughout the United
States during the month or May. or
az many as were sold IN the L. $
during the entire year 1919 ASsum-
ing that the sale OF 5000 cars In
South Bend was spread equally over
the past six months period so that
500 were sold here during May and
this Is considered low. estimate for
that month Soutl Bend with about
1-I40eth OF the total population OF
the United States purchasing 1-4OO
OF the total number OF automobiles
sold during that month IS most
forcibly demonstrating that 'Busi-
ness IS good IN South Bend
The sherrif's office ut St Joseph.
Mich. notified local police yesterday