Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-10
BIG GAIN IN SIS
IN 1880 INDICATED.
Advance Expected to Menace
Position of Six-CyIinder
Cars in Few Years.

As another year wanes discussion L
brought to bear upon q significant de.
velopment which will occur in the au-
tomotive industry In 1880, according &c
B. H. Cram, president Of Grams Auto
motive Reports, Inc. Reference Is made
TO the encroachment Of the eight-cylin-
der motor upon the favor which has for
some time been bestowed largely upon
the six-cylinder engine. Plans INDUCED
by a number of the larger automobile
manufacturers disclose that Fights will
be present in the coming years market
In greatly increased numbers.
Since its inception the industry has
experimental with cars powered by en-
gines equipped with ! to is cylinders,
with varying success In satisfying the
public demand. In the pioneer days
cylinders were used, until at length the
four came to be the engine enjoying
most popular usage. Dominance was
held by this motor for nearly 20 years,
when the six-eylinder motor, thrust
into top position by an eXigency in low
priced car production, succeeded in
maintaining this ascendancy to the
present time.
Advance Getting Under Way.
The advance of the eight-cylinder
motor car has been getting under way
during 1929. Numerous additions of
this type of automobile have been made
to the lines of several companies. But
witness the tremendous gain in public
1880. So aggressive is the step which
the industry viii take in this direction
that the time when this line OF cars
will menace the position OF the six at
the top appears to be not far distant,
provided the advance continues In the
years following.
Virtually every company producing
cars in the $1,000 price class or above
will be represented with one or more
eight-cylinder lines In 1880. At least
five companies, whose output heretofore
has been confined exclusively to six
cylinder cars, will add this type Of car
to their lines in the coming year. It is
reasonable to believe that as the next
year progresses still other concerns will
include an eight in their production
program.
This apparent tendency of the pub
lie to favor to shift, like most such oc-
currences, is for the most part mex
plicable. It may be attributed in part,
however, to the evident desire of the
average purchaser for automobiles
equipped with larger and more power
full motors and to the concurrent in
crease In the average purchasers buy
ing power.
VIII Be Watched Closely.
Combined, these two factors produce
q condition which the manufacturers
must and evidently are taking cog
nizance Of That the public should
wish to own motor cars Of greater
power and speed may seem an unwar-
ranted and even foolish desire to some
observers. But If the manufacturers
recognize that this desire does exist it
is not for them to deliberate upon its
logic or lack thereof.
Therefore the rise of the eight in
favor during 1880 will be a develop
ment which viii be watched closely and
with much interest. 1t is fact that
as regards economy of operation and
upkeep the eight-cylinder motor will
match the six-cylinder engine of light
horsepower, thanks to the efficiency of
modern engineering practice, but will
have greater speed and power.
Elevation Of the speed limit in many
States and improved road conditions
have given the public the opportunity
to drive faster and farther with o
greater degree of safety, and the public
evidently wishes to take advantage Of
this opportunity.