San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-04-25
BABY AUTO To.
MAKE DO "
IN j. 8.
Foreign Design Will Help
Solve Traffic
Problems.
BY ROY c. HAYES
Universal Service Automobile Editor.

nfyer>al service autonobhe boAoI'
DETROIT, Mich, April 23.-The
baby" automobile viii be Offered the
American motoring fraternity by two
o. three manufacturers before the
pFcsent year is over.
Spoken of a year ago as the mos
quito car and later as the "bus,' the
newest and most widely heralded en-
tEant into the automobile field, seems
destined to have the backing Of a
number Of leading companies.
Briefly, the baby" car is very
short wheclbase job-1OO inches or
less: narrow trcad-4S TO 30 inches;
small. high compression motor, offer
ins 20 miles an .nour speed; IL is cx-
eeptionally low hung. close 10 the
ground: gasoline economy is one of
the outstanding features. some makes
promising as high as 30 miles on a
gallon Of gas. Prices will range from
$500 TO $1,000.
HELPS TRAFFIC.
The '-baby" car has been in use in
Britains-and on the continent for
Years. 1t owes its favorable reception
OF the moment in America to the ever
increasing traffic congestion. which
its use viii partially alleviate here,
is hackers declare.
The baby" car aspires TO find
place in The middle and better class
garages as a companion car to the
larger, heavier and more expensive
automobile. il is being designed to do
d. errand duties, golf club runs. bad
weather and seIyice and all-arOund
de- as a second automobile.
Two events Of last week cOnSpired
to give the little car the greatest
prominence that il has yet enjoyed
in American motor circles. First Of
these was a lengthy and meaningful
Statement by Sir William Let's. presi-
dent Of the Motor Manufacturers and
Traders. Ltd. of England. and r
British distributor for a well-known
American automobile. that America
would see the baby" automobile in
the very near future.
SMALL CAR ERA.
Tn predicting the coming Of the
small car in America. Let's explained
its advent in Britain.
1--WE have gone in for an era ~
small cars, light in weight, engineered
10 give ear owners relief from our
heavy taxation, which is based on
horsepower. very economical in fuel
consumption to give us relief from
the high cost Of fuel and surprisingly
agile and fast on the road 10 meet
our driving requirements, be. spid.
Il am certain that the high speed
motor. small in bore. long in stroke.
viii be the motor Of the future in
American light car design
PEUGEOT MEN HERE.
The other factor of the moment that
gives prominence TO the small ear idea
at this time is the presence in De-
troit Of several officials Of the Peu-
geot Automobile company Of France.
who are here 20 interest Detroit capt.
tai and Detroit motor leaders in the
production here Of the famous Peugeol
.'Cinq." Two models of the baby
Peugeot are being displayed in the
bobby of the Statler hotel and are
arpusing no end Of interest.
Lucien RosengGrt. vice president Of
the Peugeot company and leader Of
the delegation expressed surprise that
America has not already been com
PEELED to take 10 the baby car al
least in metropolitan areas.
''The small car offers tremendous
possibilities in relieving traffic con-
zestion." he said. in Paris. GO per
cent Of all our cars are quite small
and the effect on traffic is instantly
apparent. in New York for example.
enormous skyscrapers are built in the
effort 10 conserve space but by that
,.rery fact you crowd your streets to
the limit The streets are jammaa
with huge cars. some containing only
the driver or perhaps one ar two pas.
.eengers and occupying SO much street
space.