Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-29
EXPERTS CHOOSE
IDEAL MOTOR CAR
Best Features of All Autos
Combined by Technology
Teachers.

WHAT is the ideal motor car?
Leading engineers throughout thu
country in response to QUESTIONABLE
sent out by Percival White. New Yorl
consulting engineer, gave opinions O
great interest as TO what the ideal ca
would be. Mr.. White in sending on
his inquiry asked:
DO YOU agree with me that safet.
and protection for motorist and public
could be improved through the develop
ment of a motor car with an UNUSUAL,
low center OF gravity. due 10 having tht
body and frame in one solid unit, m
stead of the conventional practice 81
mounting the body on sill. which II
turn rests on the frame?
DO YOU agree With me that double
steel construction tbattleship typel OF
the body would be a helpful factor ii
producing such greater safety?
DO you not agree that the pubic
today Is demanding more and nort
speed and that the efforts OF the cal
manufacturer. therefore. should b(
directed toward making the car as
safe as possible?"
Responses to Inquiries.
Some of the responses to the above
inquiries and published in Mr.. White:
symposium are as follows:
In answer TO your first question.
agree with you that safety and protec-
ton for motorist and public could be
improved through the development OF
a motor car with an unusually low
center of gravity During the last four
years I.have driven three different cars.
and the latest one has been built with
an unusually low center of gravity.
find that it can be driven with higher
rate of speed than either of the other
two. that II is very much safer in TAX
ing turns on the road at high speed and
in general is a much safer car than
those with higher center of gravity
In answer to your second question, /
believe that the double steel construc-
ton or battlesh!p typo. as you call it
of the body would be a helpful factor in
producing greater safety In answer 70
your third question l believe there is
no doubt but that the public is today
demanding greater speed. and it is
necessary that the car manufacturers
should direct their efforts toward max
Ing cars that will be safe in taking
higher speeds"
Edward II. Rockwell dean. College OF
Engineering Rutgers University:
Il expect the outstanding advantage
OF low center of gravity would be in
creased safety In taxing curves Many
lives would no doubt. be saved by con-
structing the body so that cave-ins will
be prevented"
Henry A. Erikson. department OF
physics. University of Minnesota
Regarding the suggestion of double
steel construction for sile body. be-
iieve that would add an element o!
safety. There is no doubt in my mind
that the public is demanding greater
speed and that il is important thai
manufacturers should stress safety fea-
lures. Indeed. the three points you
mention appeal TO me as matters worthy
OF very careful study in the design Of
motor cars"
Low Center Endorsed.
z. J. McCaustiand, dean and director
of the University of Missouri:
First. agree that for the sake o.
safety and protection of motorists the
center of gravity should be as low a:
practicable The method which you sug-
gest seems TO be a good one. Second.
am OF the opinion that the double steel
construction would be a helpful factor
IN producing greater safety. especially
in the case of collisions or tlirnoger3
Third / agree that the public Is de-
ulanding more speed than formerly and
this demand is reflected in an increase
an speed limits as designated by the sew
f-al States that have the same. ! fur
her agree that manufacturers should
consider this demand and direct their
efforts toward making the car as safe
as possible"
L. L. Vaughan. professor OF mechani'