Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-09
8-CYL|NDER AUTO
SHOWS PROGRESS
4-Speed Transmission and
Front WheeI-Drive Types
Being Developed.
BY T.. Y. WATSON.

BY Z. Y. WATSON.
Special Dispatch to The Star and North
American Newspaper Alliance.
DETROIT, Mich, June 8.-The mid
season introductionS of new cars nave
begun, and they disclose three we'll
Defined trends that are bringing
changes in the present lineup OF makes
and models.
One is the eight cylinder engine,
the second is the four-Speed transmits
sion and the third is front-drive opera
ticH. OF these, the eight-cyilnder
pow plant is showing the most
progress
OF approximately 43 companies which
may be claSSed as passenger car pro-
ducers it is estimated that Al per cent
are represented by either straight
eight or a V-type eight, with the Tor
mer much in the majority and gaining
IN adoption.
Is Producing Plants.
In five years the straight Fights nave
increased to such an extent that now
more than 16 plants produce them.
Five years ago II plants were turning
out straight Fights, but the volume was
only a fraction Of what it is today. Even
now the Fights have Jar to go before
they make any appreciate dent in the
output of the SKIES, which command the
medium priced field.
Engineers will tell you the six
cyclinder engine principle possesses.
what they call inherent balance,
which they say can be duplicated by
no other power plant: at least tnlS pc
lief held good until recently. ProgIesS
however. changes viewpoints, and IL
would be idle to try to discount the
progress the Fights are making.
The fault found with the first
straight Fights was that their unusual
length made 1t dificult to get salts
factory carburetion in the cylinders at
the extreme ends. These cylinders,
one and eight, had habit of carbon
izing. This fouled spark plugs ana
caused spark knocks under accelera-
ton or at high speeds, although under
average conditions the acceleration and
fiexibility Of the eight often was the
envy of those who drove skies.
Manifolding Is Improvement.
Chief improvements in straight Fights
have been in manifolding which dis
tributes the explosive mixture evenly
to each cylinder. the use OF down.
draft" carburetion. and water Jacketlng
which gives better cooling between
cylinders.
This has been problem. because
the cylinders in the Fights have to be
crowded closer together than in the
skies. That is the reason some OF the
larger straight Fights look all hood.
Then, too, manufacturing costs have
been cut down until Fights are COM
peting In the 81 900 class, with the aim
Of giving the skies run for it. That
they will eventually there is no doubt.
In the four-speed car the change Is
less rapid. Although the four-speed
%,.o, woe pnpnp0Y1v known for
years, and was used in one or two
American cars Of high price. it took on
new life when one firm inherited 1t
from former management and after
development brought it into the lime
light again. Since then it has gained
adoption by one other maker and re-
ports have it now that one of the
largest of the Detroit producers will
adopt 1t for his 1929 line.
Adopted for Truck Pull
Four-smed transmissions also have
been adopted for several widely known
trucks, but the extra shift necessary Is
rather an extra low speed range for
lifting heavy loads, getting heavy loads
started, or hauling out of holes, rather
than being extra high"
The decision of the engineers Of the
newest Detroit factory to sponsor four
speeds, however, will attract more at
tention to this principle. 1t will be sub
n1itted in a form different from those
already seen. The result should stin1u-
late others to see what they can do.
The front-drive trend possibly will
be slower than either eight cylinder
operation or four speeds Two pro-
ducers are committed to it now. One
has a model on exhibition and the
other is soon to reveal a line which will
repreSent limited production
The prices at which these models are
10 be marketed, according to advance
reports place one of them at $4,000
and the other at $1,000. This will
mean that they will come into COM
petition with some of the present eight
cylinder rear drives at $2,500-among
the best America has ever seen-and
the going will be hard for the new cars
until they can build up volume.
Ford and Chevrolet Battle.
Factories have been sending out pro-
duction figures for May. Ford and
Chevrolet are still going great guns
Ford is credited with world output
of 200,903 cars and trucks. This in
put with export. The total compares
with 190,388 for April. Ford has man
ufactured l.750,644 cars and truck
units since model came into being
In May all monthly records Of
Chevrolet were broken when I6o.595
cars were shipped. The previous record
was 157,l37 units. in April. Total ship
ments so far this year Of Chevrolet
SKIES amount to 627,723 cars and
trucks. During the corresponding
period last year the company shipped
61s,791 units.
With the exception of two or three,
the other plants showed increases for
May. Among those registering gains
were Hudson, Buick, Chrysler in all
divisions, Graham-Paige, Packard, Mar
mon, Oldsmobile-V Viking, Oakland Pom
tiac, Nash, Studebaker and Pierce
Arrow.
Copyright, 1922