The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-04-28
new TYPE AUTO.
EORESEEN
lContinued from 10 I'd


two to sixty or more miles an hour
without shifting gears.
He takes 1t as q natural thing
that when he slows down he must
go through the geaT-box, and the
idea of driving a long hill without
changing his gears never occurs 70
him.
TO an American any car that will
not take q good sized hill on top
speed is a poor performer, and he
puts In the same class any motor
that will not accelerate In one speed
over a wide range. To achieve
this flexibility American engineers
have depended on horsepower, while
the European engineer. to get WnaL
he required, devoted his attention
to torQue. which, / might. character
lie untechnica1ly. as pulling power
at the wheels ct low speed Win
minimum fuel expenditure.
The absence 81 & big home mar.
ket las been q decidedly beneficial
factor In the development OF the
efficient European motor car. 70
produce cars for g. big market
high degree Of Standardization -
absolutely necessary, and uniformity
requires special tools. jigs, paILsaIas
ana dies. which are very expensive
+ K s
Changes Costly
have been told by American
manufacturers that to introduce
= vu,hare from a half million t0
two million dollars in new tools ana
,,,a ~. ,.aafranr ernent No such PROB
lsn1 faeea the average European
80 -, - cfnrers for hardly one PRO-
5,,nas an what Americans WOuiu
term production basis. ,.,
Nat having to make TINS neavy
;,uaatmey,f in plant, Europessn
| 49,, =, ,aar,,fanfurers have been
hefter position to accept cnansss
ana their engineers have not psen
handicapped by your prOuucelvs Z
men with the cry. # cannoI
100 hiC !" Hence they have IOl-
lowed natural lines and nave y.
ccrnorated changes az rapiday
fhey have been developed:
The result 10 that European
r,othra have changed much more
ranigIiy and are today more rerineo
and 6uite more efficient than are
fha American products, might
sIn,ost saw that the European car
- hand.hlIilt while the American
rar II machine built. And 4 think
that IN the whole they are, from
4 ynechanicaI standpoint, better cars
ana win outIast the average Amerl-
Your new type car win probably
~ fO-vear car. That, too, -
quite IN keeping with the charac-
feriatics of the peoples OF the dit
ferent countries and another re-
snonse to the differences in the
national wealth.
A european buys his car on the
same principle as he buys his home
and the furniture he puts into It
to keep until It wears out. Price
alone is not the main factor. Quail
ity, and economy are always con-
sidered.
Americans buy their cars always
with the thought in mind of their
resale value and really do not ex-
pect to keep them long. After they
have their new type they viii keep
them longer at q great saving In
the long run.
Now this state Of affairs in the
different countries might be quito
all right II the peoples did no.
know what was going on across the
water and II conditions remained
unchanged.
u. 8. Too Wasteful
But people do travel and things
do change. Europeans have ridden
in American cars and have admired
greatly many points, especially the
comfort features. while depioring
their lack Of economy. And at tho
same time Americans are growing
conscious Of their wasteful habits
and are realizing that there IL an
end to all things. even OF great
natural wealth.
Your organization for the elimina-
ton OF waste is evidence Of this,
and, further, you, who pride your.
selves on your efficiency, have come
to appreciate that wastefulnees IL
not efficiency. And so your manu-
facturers and engineers have been
coming to US to take a leaf from
our book.
Because I am naturally more
familiar with British cars I am bet
ter able to use them as compare.
tives. Your engineers have found
that they, aside from certain
mechanical features, are not suited
to American requirements. They
are far too small to fit your sup
posed needs. Your vehicles are
roomier and there is much greater
comfort all around.
British bodies, therefore, viii not
do in America, but on the other
hand, American bodies, with only
slight notifications, will do In
Great Britain, and, should say,
the whole of Europe. The length
Of your cars 10 a bit too much for
us and / think that If you were to
make a really serious effort to
capture European markets, some
thing which you really haven't done
on the right lines. you would COM
promise on length.
Then, as to body styles, think
you would go to European de-
signers more than you do, although
must admit that you have been
rather alert In this direction.
More Economy Near
have discussed the problem Of
q real universal car with many
American manufacturers and that
is why am so confident that
changes are imminent In America.
Here Is what 1 think the new car
will incorporate:
It will have to a large degree
the feature of economy of opera
ton in fuel without sacrifice Of
horsepower and with the added adj
vantage Of greater torQue. That
will mean the same freedom from
excessive gear shifting that you
have enjoyed for SO long. The
engine will be better built and will
thought possible in mass produc-
ton.
The problem Of Incorporating
MANY Of the Euronean refinenants