San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-08
Practically All Makes
Have Added Refine
ments This Year.
LIGHT SIX is POPULAR
Enclosed Car Continues to
Find Favor With In
= creasing Number.
BY II. A. TARANTOUS
Member Society of Autemotive
ENGINEERS.

Pr0ductl0n was the Dls 1V-- leo-
ture in the motor car industry. The
year witnessed a regrouping OF manu-
facturers which, if not spill u, in 1928
will lead ID the severest competition,
with pronounced overproduction, be-
fore six months of the new year
have passed. The light six, selling at
$1,000 and under, and the low-priced
closed cars are partly responsible for
the condition. There is a decided IN
crease in skies of low price, due main
ly TO the effort If Continental in pro-
6ucing its new model 6-Y engine. With
n six at 5000 or theresbouts the max
ers of fours have had something TO
think about. =.
Practically every manufacturer OF
note has a low-prieed closed car which
sells from SO TO $3.50 more than the
standard touring car. This tempts the
buyer who wants the closed car with
open-car money. He gets it either in
four or a six at about the same price.
Thus we have an industry that in
1923 will produce a major iy Of closed
models, with the open type consisting
principally of so-called sport cars. For
a long time to come these will be the
two types produced, and the touring
models, of years gone by will be as OBJ
solete as tie fabric tire.
There are now approximately 10
well-established automobile manufac-
turers. They provide about 900 mod
els, the open and closed styles being
about equal. The average price per
car will fall around 500. A good
guide to relative price values over
period of years is gained from the
average of list prices of all touring
models. For 1928 the average list
price is S2,100. Last January it was
S2350. In January, 1921, it was
S2700. The lowest mark ever reach III
was in 1916, when the average list
price was $1,000. The. price curve
is quickly dropping to that level, and
If the anticipated production figures
of the manufacturers are any indicG-
ton of coming competition, we shall
very quickly see a lower list price.
This will result purely from produc-
ton, because material and labor prices
do not seem to come down.
In the engine field 81 manufactur-
ers produce their own. This is more
than 80 per cent. Only 80 produce
their own clutches, ~ produce their
own transmissions, 40 their own axles.
20 their own universal joint, and IL
their own frames. Ia a few cases
concern will buy units and pay ex-
ira to the parts maker to have GER
tain refinements.
All Cars Improved.
Out of 40 different chassis on the
market for 1923 every one shows
some mechanical betterments, mainly
/, in the frame, brakes, crankshafts and
other parts which affect balance and
smoothness. Front-end drives and
springs have come in for some atten-
ton, but clutches, transmissions and
rear axles have had little, If any at
tention. The smaller items of the
chassis-lubrication, body mounting,
controls, etc., have been improved
in many cars. In few instances are
the cars altogether new or is the
design startlingly different. The pub
lie will doubtless soon hear of the
new air-cooled General Motors prod
uct, which is expected to be built by
the Chevrolet division. Air-cooling is
being and has been studied by every
manufacturer capable of doing expert
mental work.
Another interesting announcement
will come soon from at least one
manufacturer with respect to four
wheel brakes. During 1923 there will
be four concerns, at least, to an
nounce this form of construction. One
large producer intended to announce
his four-wheel brake model at the
show and then decided to withhold it
a maker of medium-priced cars did
the same thing.
The engine situation Is interesting.
There are eighty-three six-cylirder
cars ranging in price all the way from
S975 to 10000, and only about thirty
three four-cylinder cars ranging from
1898 to $4,000. This represents a
gain Of about 3 per cent, for the six
cylinder class, and carries out the
predictions made a year or two ago
that the six would gain. While it
looks as though the low price of the
six might crowd out the four, it i
hardly to be expected that the four
ever will 60 out because of the i'm
mense number of buyers who choose
a vehicle on an economy basis alone.
On a production basis the four is SUI
preme because of Ford. Dodge. Over
land. Chevrolet, ETC., the production
of these constituting more than 20 per
cent OF the industry's total. But The
six seems TO be crowding a certain
class Of four-cylinder cars. There is
no doubt about the six being smoother.
easier to fandle, and in most cases
II is faster. 1t costs a little more to
operate, but the bu-er is satisfied TO
par the slightly added cost to get the
freedom from vibration. 1t is pre.
dicted that the four-cylinder car will
in few years be made solely in the
lowest-price class. Here IRE the per-
centage figures as regards the num-
Der Of cylinders:
1918 1919 1920 1921 1920 1922
Tours.. 32.3 $40 300 371 All oso
Sizes. 800 $50 $50 500 5S.5 81 g
Fights. 1874 10 10 100 SO SO
Twelves. 4.3 40 2.3 90 1.3 OF
reduee Motor Troubles.
Nearly every manufacturer casts
fne cylinders in one block. except in
the case Of Fights and tweives. where
divided blocks are simpler. The cast
ings are much better than ia years
past. especially with respect to uni
sormitv Of material The blocks have
been further improved by more care.
yul manufacture TO get the cylinder
(. bores nerfectlv frua NTH tha ha.o