Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-30

!
! 30. 600. 600 motor owners.
| Cork is another substance used as
| a weapon in the fight for automobile
| quietneSs. However. it has not at
! tanned the prominence that is given TO
rubber.
There is no evidence that one engine
design is gaining popularity over an
other L-head types predominant
| throughout the industry, however but
| it has made no particular inroads
where the manufacturer was con-
WINGED that the overhead or sleeve
| valve type was superior. AT the Ma
tional Automobile Show, L-head en-
gines were offered by seven four-cyl-
inder cars, "A siX-cylinder machines
and 16 Fights" One -four" IL
"sixes" and three lights" used the
overhead valve engine. The sleeve
valve type is confined to the knight
cars in three cylinder classifications.
Cone Clutch Passes Out.
The latest cars indicate the passing
Of the coneclutch from the automo-
tive picture forever. 1t has been re-
placed almost entirely by the multiple
disc and single plate types.
Other mechanical trends seen in the
newest motor cars show that:
Cooling tends toward the positive
OpSldliOH VI the pump lNpS-
Semi-elliptic springs are used more
generally although users of the other
types are not few in number.
Every variety of rear axle is used.
| There are semi floating, three-quarters-
| floating and full-tioating types and en-
phasiS is laid on no especial form.
Probably no other part of the auto
| mobile has undergone so many de-
tailed changes as the body. The
effort to enhance the comfort and
convenience of driver and passengers
and to improve the general appear
ance of the car has resulted in great
err consideration of this feature than
ever before has been given to it by
the manufacturer.
Many Trends Apparent.
Trends that are designed to add to
the appearance of the car include the
use of colors on superstructures, on
roofs, window reveals, tenders and
splashers; nickeled cowl bands used to
support cowl lamps, spare tires, etc;
low overall height, trend facilitated
by the use of worm drive, very fiat
springs or drop aXles: roofs of closed
models left unfinished to give a
beamed effect; unconventional treat
ment of sun-visors; all-steel bodies
which permit the use of narrow pill
lars throughout the car as well as
in front; unconventional arrange
ment of hood louvres; universal adop&
ton of the radiator emblem replacing
the heat indicating devices formerly
fitted to the radiator cap but now
found on the instrument board.
Refinements that contribute to the
comfort of the car occupant which
are especially noteworthy are:
Ventilating caves; rumble seats of
coupes and roadsters operated from
the front compartment: front seats
adjustable as to back angle and as to
distance from the steering wheel and
foot controls: convertible cars, equip
ped with glass side screens which may
be raised even when the top Is down;
remote control door handles which are
within easy reach OF the car occu-
pants: increased rear treads to pro-
vide greater rear seat width; simply
controlled windshields: indirectly
lighted instrument panels and light
switches placed on the wheel or floor
where they may be operated by foot.
The rumble seat has achieved a
considerable vogue during the past
year. but 1t remained for the designer
to make II easy to operate before
gaining its full measure Of popularity.
The seat now is spring suspended and
raises when unlocked from the front
seat. 1t no longer is necessary for
the driver to leave the car, fit key
into an awkwardly placed lock and
tug away at the seat to raise 1t.
Thief's Task Made Harder.
Double locking devices are com.
greater protection from the thief.
One aspect of the new car has not
been touched upon. That Is it's safety
There is no questioning the advance
made in this direction. In addition
to the wider use OF four-Wheel brak-
ing systems, there has been con-
siderable progress made in improving
the efficiency Of both hydraulic and
mechanical types.
Undreamed of simplicity Of opera
ton, greater fiexibility and visibility
and improved stopping are the four
main factors in making the latest car
far superior to it's predecessor from a
safety perspective.
Probably the swing toward the
eight.cylinder engine is the most sig
nificant single gesture on the part
of the industry. Not the eight" that
we have had with us in the past--the
big. powerful. machine that every
one knows and almost every one has
longed to own. The new Fights
are small ''in-line" types. They rep
resent the conviction of their makers
that there Is a fine opportunity to
capture business from the skies"
selling in the 81 400 to 81 900 class by
putting out a motor car that will per-
form like an eight" but cost like
q six"
Names Already Well Known.
q
makers OF fine six-cylinder cars who
are not going to be caught mapping If
| the eight" begins to cut In on the
popularity OF the six"
| Eight Fights" seven of them of the
| light type, have made their formal
| debuts since 1927 crossed the horizon.
| Some OF them had bowed their way
into life informally before, but their
real coming outs were delayed for the
Winter auto shows. The new prod
| nets will bear names that mean some
thing to the public. None of them are
| manufactured by newly orga nized CON
| Germs. as can he seen from this list
| of their producers:
/ Marmon. Paige, Chandler, Stearns.
knight, Auburn. Elcar, Kissel and
| Gardner.
| The specifications of the Little Mar
| mon-the new companion piece To d
product that already is well and favor
| ably known-retiect the physical
stature of the light Fights. This car
| is powered by an overhead valve en-.
CINE. developing 65 brake horsepower
at $500 revolutions per minute. The
engine has a bore Of IN inches and a
| stroke Of inches giving a total piston
displacement of 100 cubic inches.
| These dimensions are significa mt
They eliminate one of the features Of
! the eight" that. to many, is disad.
vantaseous In certain conditions
that Of length. Length In the new
| Fights" has been reduced to a mini