Evening star., 1924-03-09
AUTO SHOW OPENS
TO record THR0NG.
Marked improvements in
Models Feature Display.
Values Are Notable.
by WILLIAM ULLMAN.


by WILLIAM ULLMAN.
Staged in a colorful and appealing
setting of rambler roses and dreamy
music, Washington's annual spring
automobile show opened in ConNen-
ton Hall last night to an attendance
that represented a record, both in
numbers and enthusiasm.
Heralded as an event that would
be unusually interesting and profit
able to local car owners, the reason
was at once evident TO those who
made preliminary survey last eve
ming in preparation for additional
visits during the coming week.
1t is the first motor car exhibit in
several years that has shown such
radical improvements in models. And
it is the first year in the entire his
tory of the automobile that such out
standing values have been offered.
Realizing that the public Is thor
oughly sold on the advantages of
car ownership. the show committee
of the Washington Automobile Trade
Association, which, as in former
years, is sponsoring the event. has
directed it's attention toward simpli-
Tying the process of car selection.
That it felt the publics pulse cor
rectly was demonstrated clearly last
evening when virtually every exhib-
itor reported that local motorists
were buying as we'll as looking.
Designs Attract Notice.
There were many visitors at the
show last night who had never been
to an automobile exhibit before
From the questions they were asking
of statesmen 1t was apparent that
the 1924 models have caught the at
tention of the general public. There
was pronounced desire to learn the
facts about all the new features, and
this interest was shared by old-timers
As WELL
While balloon tires and four-wheeI
brakes were widely discussed. the
enthusiasts were surprised to find
that the new features for 1924 were
by no means confined to these in
novations. Every make has at least
three important features to reveal
to the mctoriSt, some of these being
OF very great Importance to the man
the most out of an automobile with
the least amount of effort.
More Service. Less Cost.
Motorists who looked under the
mood found air cleaners, oil filters
vibration dampners inclined valves.
patented firing chambers and enough
detailed improvements to furnish
definite assurance that automobiles
are going to be ever so much more
serviceable at considerably less cost
Raised hoods revealed clean de-
sign. Several high speed. high eff
cheney power plants of remarkable
gaso!ine economy and performance
caught the attention OF those who
mad previously identified economy
with sacrifice of power. Light
iESSN =
assurance of actual increase In road
ability through improvements in
spring suspension. apporrionment of
weight and tie use OF rebound check
ing devices Economy was also the
keynote OF even thr high powered
models with much OF this true
economy accomplished through elimi-
nation OF unnecessary weight.
Practical motorists were pleased
with the elimination of frills on both
open and closed jobs. The car owner
Will always demand good looking
car, but he has already demanded a
good looking machine that will stay
good-looking. This explains why
Convention Hall this year are those
with class" built into them rather
than attached to them. This is ac-
complished through better lines and
more skillful use of nickel
Polishing Is ELIMINATED.
Several mode Is were finished in the
new "bucC process which, it is con-
tended, eliminates the necessity of
washing and polishing the car. 1t
gives the body satin finish, which.
while not as striking when the car
is brand-new, will obviously look ex-
tremely we'll after several years Of
hard usage.
The lines on many of the new
models are SO inherently striking
that they do not actually need a
striking paint job to recommend them
to the buyer, and accordingly there
was considerable interest displayed
In paint work that would last
The spring time show differs from
the fall closed car exhibit in that it
offers number of smart roadsters
and colors flying. The closed ear is
apparently here to stay. but lot IF
people last evening We're looking at
the inviting open jobs.
1t is significant to note from the
models on display that the eclosed
car. is being perfected so as to in
clude' the advantages of the open
car, and vice versa. Blind spots have
been greatly minimized in sedans,
broughams and coupes, ventilation
improved, upholstery made more
serviceable. And on the other hand,
open cars have been fitted with per-
Inenent tops, while side curtains have
shown remarkable Improvement.
AS LOT anu NdlueS tno pres
ent show stands out in glaring con-
trast. There has been the kneenest
sort of rivalry among manufacturers
for the past two years; and it is
evident to those who go to the auto
show that the motorist is being of
fered the advantages of the result.
1t is a case of survival of the fit
test with the motor car makers, and
qualification for fitness rests entirely
with satisfaction to the car buyer.
Great Accessory Display.
Attractive decorative schemes, a
wide assortment of accessory dis
plays. including safety devices, SOU
yenirs, booklets and interesting
demonstI ations of chassis, music by
Goldman's Orchestra and special
programs for each day as announced
throughout the week help to make
this event a show of shows.
Also there Is an interesting dis
play Of trucks and light delivery
wagons AS a result of this busi-
ness men can make use of the op-
portunity to get a line on what the
market offers in the commercial
type.