San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-23
NEWEST MOTOR
PLACED OVER
\ REAR AXLE
70-inch Wheel Base Autos
to Park in Triple Decks,
Get 40 Miles Gallon.
By ROY c. HAYES

Universal Service Automobile Editor.
DETROIT, Aug. pa number of
companies are working on mosquito
cars; that is, cars of extremely light
weight, short wheelbase, high gaso-
line mileage, low oil consumption and,
most important of all, very low price.
The theory behind these efforts is
that several million city folk would like
to have a second car to use in traffic
fCi short city rides, which can be cast
ly parked and represent very mod
crate investment. It is believed that
q great many people would like to
leave their good cars at home, saving
them for real pleasure riding. One
Detroit company will have such q
model on the market about automobile
show time hcxt January, which is I'M
derstood will carry two persons COM
fortably, runs 40 miles to the gallon
and cost less than $500, by placing
the engine in a compact space over the
rear axle, several hundred parts are
eliminated.
SAVES PARKING SPACE.
This company believes also that
while the present market will be with
persons already owning automobiles,
many thousands can be sold to people
who cannot now afford even the cheap
est cars now made. A Detroit garage
proposes to park these cars of about
70-inch wheelbase at the rate Of 50 a
month, because of their lightweight il
is planned TO park them in double and
triple decks in outdoor parking
spaces.
The trade expects within the next
ten days an important announcement
in regard to new models by a four
cylinder manufacturer, also there will
be introduced two new light skies, one
to sell for about $500 and the other
in the $4,000 class. These new skies
2Sill have four-wheel brakes, balloon
tift2s and all late features.
PRODUCTION UP.
Production of cars and trucks for
the last half of this year will be great
err than it was estimated go days ago.
Probabilities are now that 1925 will
show something over 100000 cars
and trucks, or about 10 per cent great
or than the year 1924. Some Of the
more enthusiastic motor people believe
1928 will pass 1928, when 100000
cars and trucks were produced.
Despite the fact that the public still
clamors for cars and most of the au-
tomobile factories are taxing their ca
pacity to meet a seemingly Unsuitable
demand, price cutting continues among
the larger producers.
Although the Dodge Brothers cut of
$40 to $50 and the Hudson-Essex cut
OF S55 and 500 just about cleans up
the list. in the view of leading execu.
tives these cuts have clarified the at
mosphere for the time being. for with
the new low levels established. it seems
doubtful that further cuts will be made
by those companies who have already
made reductions.
Not since Ford so drastically cut
prices below cost in the postwar de-
preston has the price situation re-
ceived such close attention as today.
The industry in the past has found
that the giving of greatest possible
value at the lowest cost is sound pol
fey. Manufacturer, who lowered prices
found increasing orders and output
was effected sufficienteconomies not
only to offset the price reductions, but
actually to increase earnings.