Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-03
BY WILLIAM CLLMAN.

tutomotiVe seasons:
Automobile manufacturers have de-
'ided to be themselves for the beneflt
If the buyers, who are as different
n their taste and their demands as
lay is from night.
There still is a car for every purse,
nd few purses are f1attened by the
jtractive prices on the modern auto
motive offerings, but the purse idea
= now secondary. This is the year
IF n car for every taste.
Imitation in motor car design and
construction appears to be on the
down grade after having reached a
dangerously high point. The pro-
-sressive manufacturers have dedi-
,ated themselves to building what
heir customers want, and not neces-
"a rily what the general public wants.
several manufacturers have a million
customers each. Why should they
adopt another manufacturers idea,
even II it is producing results for
him?
The trend toward greater individu-
ility is clearly illustrated in the case
If the new Locomobile bodies. One
of the closed Jobs reveals an entirely
new idea in lines, smashing at one
bold stroke the stream line effect.
which has become the rule.
Uses a Boxed Deck.
Franklins coupe uses a boxed deck
that also signifies the manufacturer $
decision to follow his own ideas.
When abandoning its former indi-
vidual lines in favor of new bodies.
he general opinion was that this
company would fall in line with other
manufacturers. The change was
made, but there was no imitation.
Particularly individual are the new
offerings which many motorists will
inspect closely for the first time dur
ing the first two months of the new
year. In addition to being Nash
Duilt, and carrying such features as
1our-wheel brakes, full balloon tires.
seven-bearing Six-cylinder engine,
Duco finish, force feed fabrication
md other features formerly associated
with cars listing for more than S 1000,
he new Ajax carries one OF the
most unusual ignition and lighting
switch arrangements ever displayed
on an automobile. Turning the
switch clockwise first turns on the
ignition. An additional turn gives
lin and bright lights while maintain
ing the ignition. Reverse motion taxes
are of the parking lights, which a
iriver naturally attends to after
switching off the ignition.
Not satisfied with the distinction
Of being the only car with its novel
hood stripping effect, Auburn Will re,
verse precedent by offering a new
four-cylinder model. If the Durant
interests are excluded, Auburn Will
then be one of but two American
companies turning out fours, SKIES
and Fights. The other lndivldual
manufacturer turning out the three
r,rIy E,lrQr
Offers Something Different"
The new and smaller Jordan Line
Eight offers something different in
tho way Of an observation sedan
steel closed body with such narrow
windows and door posts that dreaded
blind spots" are virtually eliminated.
cleveland, now furnished in two
chassis sizes with a number of refine
ments on each, continues to pioneer
with the lone shot chassis lubrlca-
ton idea. Pressing a small plunger
with the foot automatically luhrlcates
g points on the chassis. Diana, the
new Moon product. is a protest
against conventionality. And how
many motorists stop to consider that
the new Dodge models carry feature
that has been typically Dodge Tor
years. The size and arrangement OF
the Dodge starter-motor makes 1t the
quickest and quietest starting engine.
Both Oldsmobile and Chevrolet,
among closely priced cars, are note
worthy because of their many refine"
ments. Chevrolet is the only four
cylinder car benefting from the dis
coveries Of the General Motors Re
search Laboratories; Oldsmobile is the
lowest priced six enjoying this dis
tinction. The valves, piston pins, pls-
tons, oiling systems and other detailed
parts of the motors of these cars are
frequently different from other cars.
The Pontiac, the new G. Nj. {. prod
uct, will reveal what can be accom-.
plished when a gigantic corporation
experiments with both its financial
and engineering resources.
Stick to Their Ideals.
1t is of interest to note the way
manufacturers Of standard makes
stick to their ideals. Pierce-Arrow
has unlimited. faith in the low-speed
type Of motor and, in the larger
model, in the dual valve idea as well.
Tho same rugged construction which
has always marked Stutz reliability
IS still its distinguished feature.
Btutz is the only American automobile
generally recognized as a mans car.
Despite the popularity of straight
sights, Cadillac pins its faith to the 30
degree Wight which 1t has recently
raised to a higher point of efficiency
whereby through an arrangement OF
special ports in the cylinder walls the
Hir pressure built UP by the rotation
of the crankshaft Is utilized TO blow
gas vapors into the valve compart-
inent before they can cool enough to
coudense and dilute the engine Oil.
iincoln's policy makes 1t the stand:
erdized high-grade car. This Is
unique for cars of this class where, In
most instances, owners have been Will
ing to assume big losses when models
were changed. Star four is the lowest
priced assembled car. The new star
six is the shortest six-cylinder car In
America.
Der Of manufacturers brought out
coach models the early part of last
wear it began to look as if motordom
was headed for an era of imitation.
but manufacturers quickly discovered
that imitation was the sincerest form
of f1attery and that it paid to be
original. All through the coach era
REQ took the position that this body
type was the invention and province
OF the Hudson Essex interests. REQ
stands out for a f1ve-passenger sedan
ON us StdHudIu SiA-SShiioei SASAS
and for its exclusive combination sery-
ice brake-clutch idea as well. Hud'
sons brougham, incidentally. pioneers
with the bullet-shaped body.
Striking individuality Cited.
individuality is pronounced in en-
CINE design. The new Marmon. for
instance, has the only engine with two
spark plugs to the cylinder. There
are many straight Fights, but Pack
ards engine is distinctive for its nine
bearing crankshaft, not to mention its
oil rectifler. Rickenbacker has inter-