Evening star., 1923-03-11
AUTO SHOW OPENS
IN RIOT Of COLOR;
OF|RMS EXHIBIT
Striking Feature This Year
Is Large Number of Sport
Models.
RIGID TOPS FINDING
MUCH FAVOR IN CITY
Period Of Refinement Reached as
Shown BY Displays at
Exhibition.
Bl THEODORE T.. MOVES.


With Convention Hall u riot of
color and thousands of motor lovers
on hand. the 1923 spring edition of
tho Washington automobile show
opened last night. The show, which is
ocing held under the auspices Of the
Washington Automotive Trade Asso-
clation. will close Sunday. but resume
sessions Oh Monday for the rest Of the
week.
With moro than fo-;y car exhibits
as well IS many accessory booths the
local motortst may revel in the latest
and best Of the manufacturers art.
Each year the rnotorist thinks that
the ultimate has been reached in the
perfection OF motor cars. Each year
and each show he is surprised at the
many Improvements.
Rehnements in Order.
Automobiles have now reached that
stage Of perfection where refnements
Instead OF radical changes are in
order. The manufacturers know, as
% the motorists. that practically
every engine on the market will take
YOU there srd get YOU back" and are
now concentrating on the niceties
which make motoring the pleasure it
s. Naturally there is no attempt
10 sit still and state that the per-
it'"t motor has been made; changes
are being effected constantly. but
sAese changes generally are minor
ones which give greater reliability
ana greater service to the owner
\ striking feature OF the spring ex-
motion Is the large number OF tops
which cannot be lowered. .Iany Of
non-coilaPsib top In the last year
Although these rigid coverings pres
eflt decidedly neat appearance, and
are all that could De desired~in the
lists who still find delight in wilizzins
cred. :
All Adding sport Cars.
1t is to be hoped therefore. that the
manufacturers Will continue to make
few OF the collapsib!e variety, 80
that this class of motorist may still
enjoy himself.
With almost no exceptions all manu-
facturers are now building one or
more sport cars to their regular line.
Some OF them object 10 the term
sport" and call them "speedsters
foursters. and all variations of names
deslgnating the snappy, low-slung
;yne of automobile.
This type Of car is especially proni-
tAid - lflpluiS IaSCT. Ine
writer can remember easily the time
when there we're only two real sport"
cars on the market. Stutz and Mercer
but times have changed nd now each
man acturer is competing with his
rivals in the matter OF how many
bumpers. clocks. cigar lighters, wind
collectors. lights and motorneters he
can get on the sport model
Many Automatic Devices.
In connection with reflnements. how
many motorists five years ago could
SIT In the drivers seat, snap on his
hcadfights with his foot have the
windshield cleared for him by an au-
fomatic windshield cleaner, maintain
the proper temperature of his motor
by automatic closing and opening of
his radiator device. step on his brake
and have stop. right or left" appear
IN a small device on the rear az his
car. push a switch to keep the. car
warm, and so forth, indefinitely? He
could not; SO that by all standards.
the motorist of today is "sittin'
pretty and has all the comfort and
'uxuries in the world compared to his
brother of j few years ago
Verify. we VIII soon have automatic
steering devices. automatic breaking
coatrlvances, clutch operations and
even automatic opening and closing
Of yentilating devices, SO that the
notortst can sit back in perfect and
complete Indifference to the running
Ol the car.
Perfect Glassed-In Car.
With closed cars running the open
variety 2. close race for supremacy,
all manufacturers are seeking beauty
and utility in the glassed-in car
Prices have been SO arranged that in
many cases there is little difference,
startling change from few years
ago when the closed car sold at a
much higher price.
Several makers are now building
models with rigid tops onto which
glass sides can easily be installed.
These sides cost only a fraction more
than the regular price of the car In
this way the motorist is assured OF
open car in the summer and all
the comforts of the closed one in the
colder weather. 1t Is marked ad-
vance in body building and has met
with instant favor.
Go to the show by call means and
feast your eyes on the very latest"
in autodom.