Evening star., 1923-10-21
BY WILLIAM ULLMAN.

Widely hefalded In advance as an
exhibition to be unique in the dis
play OF automobiles, the fourth an
nuai fall closed car show opened
last night at Convention Hall and
took the early visitors by surprise.
Every one rather expected just an
other automobile show, but the jaded
appetite found no fewer than forty
-FOUR different makes represented by
1Ss models, each with more new ideas
In engineering and body work than
have been displayed in any three
previous years,
Old timers who have witnessed
every automobile show since the
motor car was in its infancy, gener-
ally are agreed that the exhibition
unfolded last night sets a new mark
In show value. This was felt to be
the result or the new low prices, the
interesting mechanical improvements
and the amazing Values in addition
to the appeal of the latest in the
ail-weather type of car. One saw
instantly that tha show would be
an interesting AFFAIR tor the reason
that every Car on the bill had some
thing new to offer.
AS usual, the show is sponsored by
Association, which is assura zee
enough that nothing has been spared
TO make the display not only inter-
estfng, but easy to inspect. Much
thought has been given to the mat
ter of allowing free movement of
those attending so that every car can
be critically examined, the show COM
mittee having learned through pre-
Hious experience what obstacles to
avoid in the floor plan. Last night s
marked
throug of first nighters," who came
early and stayed late.
SmartneSS typifies the external ap-
pearance of the new models, but
there is a new note of praItibility
which is Immediately impressive. The
closed car has passed from a speciality
to what is now sene.a..y agreed to be
the ideal all-year-round type of car.
Naturally there are models which
more clearly typify this trend than
others.
Comfort with Economy.
Smartness is achieved through
skillful use of lines, attractiveness
in paint work, and simplicity in the
use Of accessories and fittings. 1t
apparently is recognized that the
average motorist now Is turning to
the closed car because he wants COM
fort together with performance and
economy, not merely comfort alone,
The manufacturers have added dash
tical closed jobs as smart as they are
comfortable
Many models which have been ad-
vertised widely IN the newspaper and
national publications during the past
few weeks are displayed for the first
time the dealers having made spe-
ctal arrangements In many cases to
complete their lines SO that Wash
ington autoists might come and see
and be conquered.
An advantage of this years exhibit
ia that the cars are neW-sea5on
models. not fag ends of the current
former years. Sales of 100000 cars
during the first three quarters OF the
year have put the manufacturers in
e position to launch into the 1924
models earlier than usual.
Closed cars having been In demand
right through the entire season, are
now on a new-season production
basis, which means that the prospec-
tive purchaser who buys now saves
several months deprec alton, in ad-
dition to having his all-weather ear
at a time when 1T can be of greatest
service to him.
Novelty models are much in evil
dence, despite the fact that virtually
every exhibitor is displaying r con-
ventional sedan model. 1t Is at once
apparent to those who go to the show
that more important than the trend
toward the closed type of car is the
will offer advantages formerly found
only in the open vehicle.
There are. of course, and probably al
ways will be. the closed cars for
special purposes, such as the bust
ness coupe, the business sedan. the
limousine, the seven-passenger sedan,
the true brougham and the racy
models for show purposes, but the
average motorist is interested partic-
ularly in the standardized type very
q q ri =
as the preferred open car.
All eyes, therefore, turn to the So
called close-coupled car, which may
range anywhere from a three-seated
adults comfortably. There are all
varieties of these cars, with all va
rifles of seating capacity, style, color.
size and number of doors. But the
type Is plainly marked, and the price
tags are the most attractive feature.
Open Car Passing.
Apparently much effort has been
tity production methods are observ-
able mainly In the very low prices
Throughout the trade 1t is believed
that the popularity of these cars
marks the beginning of the end of
the popularity of the open car as the
standard type, and the important i'm
pPovements made In these cars dur
ing the past year gives much weight
to this opinion.
The need for transporting more
than one or two passengers in a car
Ia disappearing, since nowadays
every one buys car as early as pos
sibie. But the first examples of. the
new type of closed car were a bit
too chummy for comfort, and most
of the improvements noted at Con-
vention Hall show that more room
has been provided for passengers
without sacrificing luggage space
Methods of getting into and out
of these cars also have been revised
with satisfactory results. In short,
most of the manufacturers have been
able to smooth out the rough spots
in this type so that the buyer who
wants closed car at but very little
above the cost of an open model can
have the advantages without the OBJ
jectionS.
The general opinion is that these
quantity-produced closed cars are going