The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-12-29
PRODUCTION RECORD
OF 100000 CARS
IN 1926 SURP ASSED
Chevrolet Six and Ford's Re.
turn to Mass Manufacture
Were High Points
THREE NEW CARS APPEAR
Expanded Export Trade, High
Grade Features. and Buick
Change Among Factors
THREE NEW CARS APPEAR

SndiiSe AItloiIS dCIOIS
The year 1928 will be known in
future history as the merger year IL
the automobile industry
Yet. outstanding as this develop
ment is, 1t isn't alone in Importance
among the achievements of this great
field. For close behind come such
significant factors OF 1928 as:
|. A new high record III automo-
tive production.
2 The new Chevrolet six. marking
the departure Of General Motors
from the four-cy!inder field.
3. Return of Ford to mass produc-
tion.
a. Introduction Of at least three
rev cars and promise OF more by
the first Of the year
Decline of Smaller Car
5, Tendency Of small cars to be-
come larger.
g. Great expansion of the export
trade.
T. Introduction of an elgft-cylin-
der automobile IN the price field be-
low $1,000
8 Use of high-grade features IN
low-prlce cars.
g. Innovation of a radically new
type of body by Buick.
TO- Appointment of & ear for
the rubber industry.
Besides these Developments that
mark 1928 as an important year in
automOtive industry, there are other
factors only second in Importance to
them. For example, we might
remember that Nash introduced his
400 series and dual ignition. that
Dodge dropped the four for the six.
that Duesenberg came out with a
brand-new straight eight of 265
horsepower. that Velie definitely
went over to aviation. that Auburn
brought out six below the $1,000
mark and that another European
for American production to keep the
Rolls-Royce company.
1928 Record Year
As result Of all this 1923 will be
remembered as the record year of
ALL even surprising 1926 in all its
glory.
In 1926, production took the high
peak of more than 100000 pas
senger cars and trucks But this
years production up to Dec. passes
the mark set in the first II months
of 1926 and needs production of less
than 100000 cars to pass the pre-
vious record. This is certain. for
Chevrolet alone is going full blast at
rate of production exceeding 5000
day.
That new Chevrolet marks a turn
ing point in automotive history. It
puts General Motors. greatest prod
ucer of automobiles in the world. al
together out of this field and leaves
it open only to Ford, Whippet, Plym-
outh and Durant.
The narrowing Of the four -cylin-
der field by so great margin as
Chevrolet has left it even further
threatened by the encroachment Of
the six into the price class Of the
four.
Despite this threat, however. Ford
is steadily increasing his production.
To an average demand of 1000 Of
production until now he is putting
out $500 day and soon will pass the
daily demand for his product. In
order to break even, it is said. he has
to produce and sell 5000 Model AS
daily.
Mergers Still Mystify
Some authorities believe that 1t
was Ford's and Chevrolet's mass
production that forced the mergers
We have witnessed in the past year.
These may be traced partly to this.
but many other perhaps more inn
pcrtant factors led to merging OF the
large automotive firms.
The first great step in this direc-
ton was the merger of Chrysler and
Dodge. involving perhaps half bill
lion dollars. Later on in the year
came the wedding of Pierce Arrow
and Studebaker. and only lately We
have heard of the merger Of Hupo-
mobile and Chandler.
Several parts manufacturers also
have joined forces, while the two
great trade OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and
Accessory Manufacturers association
and the Automotive Equipment as
sociation-now are one.
What all this means and what the
mergers are leading to are ques-
lions that still puzzle independents
in the automotiye field. And it is
yet too close to their consumnation
to make any sort Of guess or predic-
tion.
''8' Under $1,000
Despite these mergers. however,
those still left out continue to show
their independence by the introduce
ton Of new models of far more am
bilious scope than has ever been
shown before. Perhaps the most
striking example is that of Marmon.
which has Just announced its inten-
ton to introduce early next spring
. new eight-cylinder automobile.
with all modern improvements for
less than $1,000. The car is to be
named the Roosevelt.
In addition. REQ has come out
with the Mate to the Flying
Cloud Auburn with new six for
1896. while we shall be introduced
to ct least two more entirely new
automobiles at the New York show.
In the face Of this two cars have
dropped by the wsyside in 1928.
velie discontinued automotive pro-
duction for aviation, for which he
has developed Z motor that gives
him greater promise than he had