Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
MANUFACTURERS TEMPT
POCKETBOOKS OF PUBLIC
New Ideas Embodied in New Models to
Lure Many Customers
Into Buying

Convinced that the public will open
up its pocketbook If the appeal of the
new car is sufficiently strong, the auto
mobile industry has set itself to the task
of producing new ideas in motor cars
Detroit and all of the cities affiliated
with it in the creation of automobiles
have never been more deeply engrossed
in the business of speeding plans for a
series of surprises at the annual auto
mobile shows.
The new offerings are to mark a new
era in motoring. They will represent
the logical outcome of reduced saleS-a
sort of challenge to the motorist who
won't buy because his old car is good
enough. They will range from new IL
and 16 cylinder jobs to new types of
front drive, with bodies equally as ultra
modern Automatic coasting will be
very much in the limelight.
Departure Not New.
This departure from the usual method
Of constant improvement without rad
ical revision in models is nothing new
to the automobile industry. On several
occasions febirth has been stimulated by
unsatisfactory sales. This time the eff
fort to revamp motoring standards Is
being accelerated by the belief that the
public has more money to invest in cars
than appears on the surface. Detroit
Is on the threshold of demonstrating
that making current cars obsolete is one
way to stimulate business and promote
progress.
The tentative lineup Of cars for the
new year Is sufficient to keep old-timers
in theme songs for some time to come
At least three new V-type 12-cylinder
cars are rumored for immediate produc-
ton, while there are two more 16-cylin-
der of the v type in the offing. An
other leading producer of h;gh-grade
cars Is all set to launch a straight IL
which has been in daily use in New
York City for over a year. This sug-
gests the possibility of there being eight
different chassis models of American
makes available this coming Spring with
engines Of IL or more cylinders.
One OF the new twelves is said to be
alr-cooled, while another Of the water
cooled v twelves Is expected to make
its appearance in a front drive. Two
additional front-driye jobs are in process
Striking Changes in Fights.
There will be a striking change in the
lineup Of Fights, revealing new trends
In the battle of the cylinders. The long
rumored low-priced straight eight by the
worlds chief exponent of the 4-cylinder
type Of engine doubtless will head the
list in point Of public interest. A close
second. however, will be the leading
competitor in the form of popular low
priced six which will carry va engine
This latter car, like the rest of the
group of which it is a conspicuous part,
will carry hydraulic valves.
One OF the leading skies will not ac-
quire two additional cylinders for the
time being. although numerous other
Improvements are being offered Just
how long it will be before this car goes
eight" doubtless will depend on the pub
lies reception of the two large produc-
ton. ow-priced sights mentioned above.
More cars are TO be discontinued than
the public suspects. In fact, some of
the changes are to be surprise to the
trade itself. The present count indi-
Gates that there will be 10 names absent
from the 1891 sales drive. This does
not. coincide with the announcement of
exhibitors as given out by the National
Automobile Chamber of Commerce, but
1t must be understood that some of the
names to be dropped must be done grad
ually In fact some OF the drop-outs
are being vigorously denied, although
students of these processes profess to
have the correct inside information.
Many Names Dropped.
The 1891 season will reveal the fact
that during the boom year 1929 many
new names were created in an effort to
widen sales channels and to use up sur
plus stocks of engines, chassis and
bodies. Having served their purpose,
these cars have either been dropped al
together or merely have taken the name
OF the parent company. The companion
car idea still remains the sound mer-
chandiSing plan it was before the indus
try overdid it, and one of the pioneers
in this line will feature it more than
ever before
Several well known makes will ad-
vance to a greater number Of cylinders
and will automatically become the re-
incarnation OF other models which are
being dropped in name only. Such
changes represent the industry's deter
mination to clean house and to revamp
the furnishings In such a way as to
make a special appeal to the more
thrifty buyers
One of the most surprising situations
in the industry is the way the 4-cylinder
power plant continues to be represented
by four makers. While one of these is
being dropped and another advanced to
the 6-cylinder fold, there Is one addi-
tionai four already on the streets and
another in process,
For the first time in automotive his
tory Fights will lead the procession, botn
in the number of makes and the number
of chassis models. At the last automo-
bile show Fights seemed to predominant,
hit a careful count revealed that the