Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
MANY MOTOR SURPRISES DUE
IN FORTHCOMING AUTO SHOWS
Complete New Lines and Innovations and
IL and 16 Cylinder Engines to
Be Features.
Be Features.

| such announcements seldom materialize.
| Where, for instance, Is the Mayfair.
the Frontenac. the Balboa and other
| cars that were announced some time
ago? 1t is considered very unlikely
that the new straight eight with rotary
valve action, announced as the offering
OF Detroit millionaire whose name is
carried on the radiator Of one of the
best sellers, will appear.
| A new front-drive car. however, will
make its appearance, bringing the total
OF American-made cars OF this type TO
three. The newest one will be more
popularity priced than the others and
should, accordingly. create even greater
interest In this type. 1t is reported that
the front-drive development has been
splendidly encouraged in America
and sportSmen to give the 'puller" type
car tryout. In one small manufac-
turing city nine of these cars were sold
the day they were announced.
New S-Cylinder models.
Eight-cylinder cars will be increased
In number by the addition of several
new models carrying familiar name
plates. This will be in line with the
general custom on the part of manufac-
turers to offer customers q choice Of
engine type and does not necessarily
indicate that the six-cylinder brand Of
engine has outlived its usefulness even
for high-grade equipage Unless there
are seven new eight-cylinder lines of
fered by the time the curtain goes up
on the 1880 exhibitions the six-cylinder
cars will still lead in the number Of
makes carrying this type motor.
At this time there are 80 makes with
six-cylinder power plants, as against
"A with Fights. The elimination of one
or two of the makes that are In strait
ened financial circumstances at the
moment would not alter the relation
ship, since these makes are offered both
in six and eight cylinder version.
The four makes of four-cylinder cars
are expected to stand, although they
Will be changed both in appearance and
in mechanical details. The most i'm
portant revision will be along lines Of
increasing body dimensions and lower
ing the chassis through the use Of
smaller wheels.
II the two baby cars come into pro-
duction as early as anticipated there will
be an increase in the number Of four
cylinder cars. The foreign car to be
produced In Pennsylvania will, Of
course, add one to the list of skies.
The new season will be the first In
the history of the automobile when
stock cars will be offered with four, six,
eight, twelve and sixteen cylinder
power plants. In price, engine type,
wheelbase. color, style and equipment
the American car buyer will have the
greatest latitude he has ever known.
1t Is understood that the gas-electric
passenger car will not appear at the
shows. although 1t Is creating consider
able interest in engineering and busi-
ness circles. More than anything else
1t typifies the industry's struggle TO per-
feet more simplified, more versatile
type of transmission of power from en-
CINE to wheels.
Topping everything at the shows will
be the story Of the new gear sets. They
will be of all types from herringbone
and internal gearing to four-speed spur
and three-speed synchro-mesh types.
Truly, motorist will have to survey
the whole range of shows to get the
complete picture of what's what In 1880.
(Copyrisht, 1879, by the Russell service.O