Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-28
BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL.

Will the new models introduced this
Summer set the pace for the industry
and dictate design for 1880?
Hundreds of thousands of motorists
who wait for the Summer release OF
new products from Detroit are asking
this question. They are the buyers who
endeavor to shop with an eye to the
future They forego the pleasure Of
ha ing a new car in the Spring in or
der to see which way the wind blows,
but If history repeats itself they may
have to do the usual amount of guess
ing. Probably more.
Front Wheel Drive Gains Favor.
The front wheel drive impetus is I'M
der way and four-speed transmisSions
are gaining in popularity, but the
shrewd observer cannot use these as in
fallible guides to the future. because
many manufacturers are proceeding
with improvements in those features
which are designed to make rear drive
and three-speed gear sets more efficient.
A double-high, three-speed transmits
sion is just around the corner. Never
before in the history of the automobile
have trends been so conflicting.
Four-wheel brakes and balloon tires
came In on a wave of new Summer and
Fall models, but last year a number Of
versal adoption proved to be sports"
Change itself seems to be the only de-
velopment that the Summer shopper
can bank on.
While it is true that high compress
sion and two-way hydraulic shock alb
sorption received an important impetus
last Summer. number of other de-
velopmentS remained innovations with
their several sponsors and did not in
stigate trends. The year passed with
out any other manufacturers adopting
the twin-spark plan of one popular
car and without the narrow radiator of
| another being initiated. The Teutonic
lines Of another popular car offered
last Summer found no manufacturers
interested in picking up the style. while
a SynchroniZed method of shifting
gears was not adopted by other makes.
In the light Of these facts 1t might be
poor prophecy to believe that the offer
ing of any unique feature this Summer
will constitute landslide in the direc-
ton OF that particular design.
Eight Cylinder Popularity Gains.
! Eight-cylinder motors are increasing
in popularity, but the prospective buy
err Of 1880 model will do better to
consider the Improvements that 60 with
the multi-cylinder type of engine. New
features in manifolding, the adoption
Of automatic choking and improved
fuel speed, for instance. are of greater
significance than the mere adoption OF
two more cylinders if car has been
six previously.
If a motorist wants to read the fu-
ture in the light of the earliest of the
new models he can do this best by
observing the relationship between
various features. If several straight
Fights are offered with four speed
transmiSsions, for instance, 1t will mean
that the normally greater cost of OPP
Grating and servicing additional cylin-
ders IS being Offset by the economy of
higher gearing and q wider selection
Of gear combination.
Those who buy their new cars In the
Summer or Fall in order to have the
very latest are cautioned against taking
the introduction of any one model too
seriously. In some cases one particu-
lar feature of design is seized upon to
stimulate interest because of the belief