The Washington times., 1928-08-08


special tastes are being offe
in custom work.
This is being emphasized by max
ers OF higher priced cars whose
prospects are financially able to
make the additional expenditure re-
uuired for fitting cars to their own
special needs. but the plan can be
adopted BY the buyer Of the very
lowest priced cars on the market.
This salutary trend is due to the
recent extension OF custom tailoring
rs All parts Of the car. Even
springs now are given the custom
treatment.
Latitude Is Wide
Never before has the buyer en-
loved such latitude in the selecllon
of cars. He can have them diLI lI.s,
any way he wants. not mercy Win
resnect to external appearances ana
fic,IIaTlv to performance, speed,
mower ana riding qualities. One OF
fI4e leading manufacturers features
the fact that no two Of his cars
are alike. !.
If 4 motorist wants speed he Is
given high geared ratio IN the
rear axle. If he wants power ana
hill climbing ability he - gwen
invvAr reared car Almost anything
s, the line Of riding qualities can be
s,,nnlied and it is interesting TO
note that the pubIic's taste varies
quite radically IN this respect. but
is the new era OF car ownership the
most fastidious motorist can have
things exactly to his own liking.
Comfort In Riding
some very significant custom work
/. heinr done In the line Of riding
rAnfort. 1t Is not generally ap-
nreciated by the average car owner
that automobile seat cushions play
n, important part in determining the
riding qualities. This was well
Illustrated IN one case where a
Ynanufacfurer decided to obtain some
very new effects by making the
hacks 81 the rear seats dip back
wards, something on the order OF
Morris chair.
Presently he was receiving COM
uiafnts from customers that the cars
did not ride well. Puzzled. and dis
appointed that his experiment was
not proving satisfactory, the manu-
facturer made further investiga-
cation and discovered that the an
pearance Of the seat was such as
to encourage the average person g
SLOUGH down so that shocks from
the road were transmitted direct
to the shoulders.
Jnaccustomed to feeling road
shocks at this point most peopie
who experienced ii thought the car
was not riding properly. BY sitting
IN ag In the average car, however,
! reraarkablv fine ride resulted
IL car is given the custom
treatment. therefore, the springs
and seat cushions may be stiffened
or made to compress easier, de-
pending upon the individual taste
Of the particular buyer. Seats also
are dipped In various ways So ~
to be more comfortable for those
who will ride on them. Often q
read iustment OF the foot rail will
result In making a ear much more
comfortable for passengers.
satisfaction Ii Object
Just as details have resulted in
making the modern automobile en-
CINE the wonderfully efficient power
plant it is, so details in the car In
general mark the difference be-
tween one that Is reasonably salts
factory to the buyer or user and
one that suits him to perfection.
The custom specialists are trying
To obtain higher levels Of satisfac-
tinn for those buyers who want to
get the most out Of their cars.
For instance. il car does not
seem to ride ais soft as the owner
would like to have it, 1t is only
necessary to take the machine to q
specialist In custom springs. Here
the car will be weighed in order TO
see whether the springs are of
sufficient flexibility to ease under
the weight. II there are the proper
number OF leaves OF the right size.
and the springs are Of sufficiently
flexible steel, the custom worker
then removes them from the car
and polishes the leaves. This serves
TO remove high spots so that there
is smooth action between the leaves
and ample opportunity for equal
distribution of fabrication.
Manufacturers and automobile
dealers now know that the perfecI
automobile is the one that satisfies
the individual user. Thus, there
must De HlHUOnS Oh perfect auto
mobiles in order to satisfy every
body. The more progressive auto
mobile salesman tries to ascertain
just what it is that prospect de
sires In the car. Very often he car
make such changer In his demon
strator 10 that, BY bringing 1t bach
Tor q second demonstration, he sue
cesds in satisfying the prospect.
Devices on Springs
With many spring control devices
the riding qualities Of a car can b
changed considerably simply by on
seemingly minor adjustment.
In some cases it il possible Il
change the characteristics Of an en-
CINE by careful and delicate adjust
ment OF timing and tappet clear
ance. More significant changes cal
be made by altering the size Of tn
ring gear in the rear axle.
Just as many manufacturer
whose products are assembled from
miscellaneous group OF products
are able TO obtain combinations tina
stand out prominently in motto
mart, SO the individual car owne
Is able to select a car which bes
meets his needs and then expert
ment with it along custom line
until he gets it exactly right.
Copyright 1929