The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-02-27
FINAL AUTO
WILL BE A
COMPROMISE
II Will Not Be Perfect, But
There Will Be No Guess
work About 1t
LOTS OF TESTS MADE
Nothing Is Left to the lmag-
inatiOn - Everything
Based on Facts
LOTS OF TESTS MADE

up nope OF creating the perfect car,
have turned their attention to con-
structf6n of the perfect compromise.
They have come to realize that
the demand Of certain autOists con-
flict with the requirements Of
others and so they have to make
the best of the conflicting demands.
This they are doing in a remark
able way. They're far from the
finished compromise, yet their pro-
gress is swift. They're putting the
cars of today under severe tests in
their anxiety to learn real facts
about them and plan their improve
ments on the basis of these facts.
One of the greatest concessions
made by automotive engineers has
been the fact that they are just as
fallible as the rest of us. They had
been theorizing mostly and form
ing conclusions on their beliefs.
Put Autos on Test
Now the engineers are coming
down to earth. They're learning by
rigid tests what their products ac-
tually can do under various condi-
tions, their advantages and their
faults.
Knowing these and setting aside
personal beliefs, they expect to
produce cars best suited for motor
ing under the conditions existing
today. /. NJ -
For this purpose large fact
finding laboratory has already been
established. It's the "proving
ground" of the General Motors
Corporation, about 45 miles west
of Detroit.
Here is field Of 1925 acres with
about II miles of private highway
laid out so as to represent every
road condition that the average
driver ordinarily meets. There are
hills ranging from Z per cent grades
to as high as "a per cent.
There are concrete and gravel
roads, representing the average
types of highways we meet today.
And there are many other props"
for testing the performance of an
automobile.
Nothing Is Overlooked
Cars are being driven over these
II miles of road day and night at
the total for all exceeding 100000
miles month. No conceivable fac
tor about a car is taken for grant
ed, no beliefs or theories permitted.
Everything, even though known for
a certainty, is tested for actual
facts about it.
Certain facts being discovered
about the cars on test have been
gathered apparently with no end in
view, except that they would be on
record when engineers want them.
Then they might form the basis for
an improvement long desired in the
auto world.
A list of the tests being conduct
ed on this proving ground reflects
the innumerable avenues possible
for the development Of the modern
auto. Here are some Of the more
important items being tabulated by
figures and graphs:
Acceleration, declaration, rolling
friction, riding qualities, fuel econ
omy at fixed speeds, minimum and
maximum speed, endurance, hill
climbing, braking, drivers vision
q =, ISAlCCtlOLS uS0OIl&uIluk,
steering effort, vibration, noises,
brake and clutch pedal pressures,
crankcase dilution, ventilation, APP
pearance. -
Allowances Are Made
The facts obtained here are mere
~ set down in convenient form, for
the guidance Of the General Motors
engineers, in planning their new
models. How they are compared is
suggested by O. T. kreusser, en-
gineer in charge Of the proving
ground.
Here are two cars providing the
same amount of leg room and seat
ing comfort" he points out. Zone
car can steer in . circle of 10 per
cent less diameter than the other.
Assuming everything else being
equal, it can be deducted that the
one steering the shorter has the adj
vantage, from the customers point
of view.
Here again are two cars. the
driver in one has vision through
the windshield and past the corner
posts that is 20 per cent greater
than the other. Again the one pro-
viding the greater area Of vision
has an advantage II everything else
is equal.
Unfortunately out Of necessity
the automobile must be compro-
mise involving q great many fac
tors, any one Of which may be Of
major Importance to . particular
customer. The car mentioned g.
having . shorter turning radius
Continued on Page 49,