The Washington times., 1927-12-07

tirely new conceptions in car styles
1t Is no secret that the early birds
this year caught the worm and that
those who lost out have been forced
to make many changes.
The present uncertainty by no
means Is due exclusively to the de.
lay which marked the introduction
of the new Ford product, but II
can be traced to competition In gen.
eral. At present, one Of the new
cars calculated to make a tremend'
Gus impression upon the automobile
show audience has not been named.
Another one of the leading manu-
facturers is undetermined whether
to scrap a car only recently of.
fered and still more recently i'm.
proved. The chances are that II
it remains in the running its name
will be changed.
Many developments are going to
be of the last-minute variety and
there are observers who prophesy
that some of the new cars to be
shown in New York will be
changed before they actually are
put on the market. 1t is known
that one OF the leading manufac-
turers will display a new and
powerful straight-eight upon which
production is not anticipated before
March. In three months. the en-
gineers. of the company may be
epected to devise improvements for
the new car before the plant is
fooled to produce 1t.
Some Going Ahead
While in some quarters Of the
industry there is an attitude of
waiting for the competitors move,
several organizations are going
ahead with their plans, confident
they can give rivals the second
guess and still capture the prize
of public favor.
One of the latter IL a concern
Of long standing and excellent repu.
tation. 1t will have two straight
eights and a six. all with smart
bodies and advanced mechanical
features. Another is a time.hon-
ored unit Of great corporation
which has been for a new eight.
Another is one of the old timers
who came out last year with
line eight that has set the fashion
in small cars. Next year will be
the most active in the firms his.
tory for 1t is prepared to enter the
low priced field with a car that
is calculated to be sensation.
The first impression one has from
survey of the general lineup
for 1928 is that there will be a land.
slide toward stright.eights. -Four
factories will be, producing nothing
but eights, while at least Is will
be featuring eights during the
show season. In all there will be
nearly 80 eights of both v and line
types, since a number of factories
are producing two eight-cylinder
lines either under different names
or in chassis of such varying di-
mensions and characteristics as to
be wholly different cars.
Speed Car Mystery
A real mystery to the industry
Is a new straight eight said to be
able to deliver 81 miles per hour
which will sell at less than $1,000.
The comparative silence of the
Durant camp has led to the sus-
picion that one of the biggest sur
pr1ses of the show may carry the
stamp Of this organization. There
is almost equal silence in the Gen
eral Motors ranks. 1t is under
stood, however, that the plan of
this corporation is to offer at least
four current makes in new designs,
one of which will be an entirely
new car-and an eight. Improved
body styles on the rest of its
products, of course, will be shown.
Among the powerful independents
there is unprecedented activity, but
with it all, there is an element of un-
certainty. Plans are so designed as
to be subject to immediately revision.
One unit in this group organized q
subsidiary company some time ago
for the purpose of developing q new
car. Everything now is set for a big
campaign on the new product.
Another large Independent will
offer a lower priced six to tie up
with its line of fours and medium.
priced skies.
The smaller independents are d.
vided into two groups: one well
satisfied with the outlook, the other
plainly worried. There are several
makes of cars with comparatiyely
small production which are in con.
siderable favor, sales running at de.
sired speed and profits piling I'm in
pleasing fashion. These cars are
sponsored by wide-aweke concerns
that are content TO cater to limited
groups Of buyers instead Of seeking