Evening star., 1931-12-18
NEW AUTO MODELS
READY FOR MARKET
lndustry Follows Out POLICY
of Presenting Cars in
Winter.
BY DAVID ]. WILKIE.
Written for the Associated Press

DETROIT December 18.-JuSt what
the Winter introduction of new models
is going to do for the automobile in
dustry remains somewhat uncertain,
although a large number Of the various
manufacturers already have brought
out their 1882 cars.
When the proposal TO bring out new
cars in the normally poor business sea-
son of the year first was suggested it
had three definite objectives. First of
these was to avoid the disposition of
buyers to withhold purchases in the
Spring while waiting for new models
in Midsummer, the second was to i'm
prove employment conditions in the
normally slack period. and the third
was to enable the manufacturing di-
vision of the industry to clean up all
current stock toward the year end and
start the new trading season With
cleared decks.
First Objective Realized.
Supporters of the plan say the first
of these obiectivCS has been realized
es shown by a relatively good volume
of business recorded last Spring in a
year that was anything but normal
While employment conditions are far
from satisfactory, sponsors OF the VIM
ter introduction CT new cars say they
are far better than would have been
possible under the former plan of pre-
Senting new models in the Summer
months with consequent contraction
of output toward the year end.
So far as surplus stock is concerned
the industry probably never was in
better shape in this respect than it i
at present The reduction of stocks in
dealers hands has been going on for
weeks in preparation for the new model
sntroduction. and the industry finds
itself at the opening Of the new year
with no surplus to carry over.
A few new models were brought out
during the past Summer, out in most
eases these already had been planned
before the new policy was decided upon
Whether the manufacturers of these
cars will carry on through 1882 without
further model changes before the year
end has not been determined.
An interesting fact in connection with
the Midwinter new model policy Of the
industry is the fact that the Ford
Motor Co, either by design or accident,
also is bringing out its new Car a the
end of the year. Generally the Ford
company does not go along with men,
bers of the National Automobile Cham
Der of Commerce. which sponsored the
new policy.
RumorS About New Ford.
RumorS regarding the new Ford car
continue to cover a wide range Of posi-
bllitieS. One report that has gained
considerable circulation in recent weeks
is that the new car will be of the eight
cylinder type. The report lacks official
cognizanCe by the Ford company being
based like many other rumors concern
ing the companys plans upon gossip
exchanged between Ford car owners and
workers in the plant
That there viii be radical change
in the new Ford when it makes its ap-
pcarance within the next few weeks IS
generally accepted. The rumor given
O. the most credence IN automotive circles
is that the new car will have a "
radiator, will be 4 inches longer, with
gas tank in the rear and that 1t will in
clude a new departure in motor mount
ing designed to further reduce vibfa-
ton.
While the design of the new motors
still is being kept secret, it is learned
unofficially that they already are being
made at the Ford plant and that the
final assembly will be under way within
few days
Studebaker and Graham-Paige brought
out their 1882 models during the past
week. The Cadillac Motor Car Co. also
has its 1882 modes ready for formal
presentation.
While the year-end activities in new
model production have brought numer-
Gus workers back to the plants, the in
Custry does not intend to step produc-
ton up to the point where any great
surplus of cars will result The Michi-
gan Manufacturer and Financial Rec
ord, discussing the outlook for the next
few months, says in its current issue:
1t is believed that motor car COM
panies will continue to adhere TO pro-
ductionS schedules based on actual
dealer sales for the remainder of the
Winter.
Test of Buying Power.
The present offerings, combining
with orders expected from the January
auto shows. will be regarded as merely
the test of buying power before the big
rush Of buying next Spring Dealer
display stocks of cars are being held to
a minimum. Chevrolet dealer stocks of
new cars average less than two cars to
each sales room. The 1881 models in
all lines are practically cleaned up"