The Washington times., 1929-06-12


exactly like the rear appearance Of
the car? Would he be amazed II he
should suddenly look upon a hood
whose frontal terminus was not a
straight radiator shell but gentle
outward curving surface that paral-
leled the lines of the front fender?
Then, according to one Of the In
dustry's crystal gazers, he may as
well get ready to be surprised and
amazed.
In one Of the foremost body de-
signing laboratories, these designs
already are current. Technically
speaking, the style which Is at its
best in a roadster model, is known
as a saddle design" There Is no
mystery about the designation. 1t
is so plain that even a man who
never had seen q saddle would
recognize it.
The design at present bears the
custom label. II it suddenly were
to become stock no one would be
surprised.
Front Wheel Drive
Front.wheel drive, of which three
specimens. two by veteran organi.
cations, are anticipated before the
close of 1929, is expected to produce
some radical changes in bodies. 1t
will mean q marked departure in
the chassis which always has been
limiting factor in body design.
Many are hoping that the engineer
will take full advantage Of the op-
portunity to do something different
insted of merely trying to adapt
the current body to fit the new
chassis. Many others are confident
that he win.
Whether the general lines Of the
present body, the gently arched
roof, curved window reveals, wide,
shallow windows set above deep body
panels, and wide holdings common
to most cars these days. are changed
with the first front-drive cars un.
doubtedly will not affect the fact
that overall height will be consider
ably reduced. In the case of the
front-dr1ve car, due on the market
in July, this is the most significant
feature. 1t is so low that the little
girl from the chorus who frequently
poses with new automobiles can look
over the top without practicing her
toe dancing.
Others who like to wax more or
less eloquent upon the future BODY
point to Segrave's 231-mile-an.hour
special as opening up the question
OF streamlining. In spite of the long
ana frequent use Of the term as an
piled to passenger car bodies. II is
pointed out that streamlining. as
measured by the possibilities in this
direction, is virtually an unprac.
ticed art.
Get Rid Of Resistance
Aviation, which is boosting it's per.
formance constantly by taking the
rough edges off its designs, also Is
serving to focus attention on this
aspect OF the future motor car body.
Ihere admittedly is a great deal of
resistance about the present body
that could be eliminated with an ad.
verse erect upon eye appeal, the
everything OF today's car buyer,
1t may Or may not be recalled.
but 1t Is true, nevertheless, that q
famous airplane designer recentlv
built a trailer for his super.sport
car, paying especial attention in its
design to streamlining. As a re.
suit of reducing resistance, he was
able to add 1900 pounds to the
total weight of the car not onIv
without adversely affecting ner.
formance, but actually improving n
A big lesson taught in a very small
way!
To the significance seers, this was
significant, indeed.
AS to the materials of which
bodies are made-and will be made
many are looking into the future
and speak unhesitatingly of what
they see. 1t does not take long.
however, to determine that IL is NOT
always case Of seeing eye to eve.
For instance, some see the proh.
lem of a perpetually silent BODY
solved by the use of seamless steel
Others see the present composjte
body improved and perfected to
point that will keep it in its
present pre-eminent position.
aluminium To Be Used
Still others admit that they would
not be surprised If aluminium were
to become the material for motor
car bodies, especially in the case of
nlgher priced cars. They concede
that this material Is expensive but
point out that it has Hghtness and
strength and probably will be
cheaper.
There is a fourth group and.
believe 1t or not, 1t is made up of
those who have not given up hone
for the fabric body which. as every.
one knows, never did SO wei in
this country despite its popularity
abroad.
Anyone who wants to play that
he Is a seismograph sounding out
the industry on the future body
learns very quickly that there are
Copyright 1921
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