Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-22

motor car. Whether a man in
vests $500 or $1,000 in a motor car,
he gets the maximum in tranSpor-
tation. He gets the tranSporta-
ton, which is the basis of Ameri-
can life as it is lived today. He
cannot get along without this
transportation, because he has or
dered his life in accordance with
the efficiency it gives him.
IF any one thinks that a mod
ern American is going to give up
his needed transportation because
1t costs him $525 in 1880 where it
cost him $500 in 1929, or because
he must pay $50 for it this wear
where he paid $4,000 last year. he
is badly mistaken.
ION the other hand, an average
increase of $25 per car sold in 1890
gives the manufacturer a factor
OF leeway which will obviate his
pressing his dealers. It will give
the dealer a factor that will help
him attack the always difficult
used car problem and it will ac-
tually benefit the owner, who must
pay the extra $25 when he comes
to turn in his used car against a
new purchase"
Word of Comfort.
A word of comfort for the 1870
purchasers of automobiles comes
from those who will handle New
York'S coming show at Grand
Central Palace. It is stated that
the operation costs of the new
models will be considerably lower
than those of former years.
Should this be so, it will in a large
way compensate for the increased
prices.
With the promise of more
power, more cylinders and more
everything, it is rather difficult
to perceive how operation costs
will be reduced. However. adj
vances in mechanical improve
mentS may cut down gasoline
consumption and oil uses, as well
as reduce repair costs on wear
and tear. If this be so, more
power to you' can be said for
the producers as well as to the
buyers.
Let's hope that the following
press agents reports are not too
exaggerated:
1T will not be sad news to visi-
tors to learn that the 1880 model.
regardless Of size, should cost less
to maintain than it's predecessors.
This is not a mere idle Surmise.
but the verdict of expert service
engineers, service mechanics, de-
SignerS and parts makers, who.
after careful study of leading 1880
models, offer convincing proof
relative to the many component
parts OF a car, as well as its per-
torrance as a whole. Service eX-
pertS base their statements upon
the better design, of the units in
the new model and simplicity and
accessibility of those parts likely
to require attention after many
miles of operation.
Upkeep Costs Lower.
Few car owners realize that
upkeep costs have been declining
for several years past. Labor. !
which takes the big slice of the
dollar spent for maintenance,
still gets its share, but with the
of better shop |
and machines, it costs
much less for service operation
than heretofore. Parts are not
only better quality, but cheaper.
Standardization and interchange
ability of units and parts between
different chassis models of the
same manufacturer have reduced
replacement costs. AS an example
of the declining costs of automo-
bile upkeep the figures of a prom
inent manufacturer show that re-
parts costs per car
have declined over 20 per cent in
the past few years. Indicative of
the low cost of maintaining an
in these days are the
figures supplied by a manufac-
turer and dealing with the aver
age cost per car for a year in his
service station in a large city. |
The figures showed that the 1929 |
models cost much less for upkeep
than did the 1928 and 1927 mod
els. The figures we're compiled
on the cost of these models for
the first IL months of operation.
Little Service Attention.
1.-THE 1880 engine will require !
the minimum of service atten-
ton. Those items making for ex-
pense in the older models, such
as inaccesSibility of parts requir-
ing periodic adjustment and at
tention have been eliminated.
Better carburetion and treatment
Of fuels, efficient fabrication with
filters and ventilatorS spell lower
and upkeep costs.
Better spring suspension and
functioning brakes
mean longer tire life and less
tire service costs. Improved
steering gears and linkage means
less adjustment after much serv-
ice. From radiator to rear axle
the aim of the manufacturer has
been to simplify, strengthen and
so design that each and every
unit will need the minimum of
attention. This coupled with the
fact that the average car manu-
facturer is spending thousands
Of dollars to improve and perfect
his dealers service means lower
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