Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-09-25
New York
Letter

NEW YORK-In . triangular lot
lust behind q lunch wagon, where
sixth Avenue. Eighth, Christopher
and Greenwich streets form . con-
| fusing traffic hub, the city Of New
York has been selling off at auction
some Of the most i~ngeniously con-
trived automobiles one might care
to gaze upon
They are the cars seized from
racketeers, g~angsters. b~ootleggers,
rum-runners and assorted law
breakers.
Some are given q certain coll
lector's value because OF bullet
holes in their sides. Others might
serve as models for auto-makers
who 20 In for tricky gadgets. ! have
visited innumerable auto shows, but
never have I noted so many trap
doors and vacant recesses where
bundles may be tucked away. These.
of course; have been conceived for
the purpose Of hiding quantities OF
liquor.
Lift the seat and . yawning hol-
low Is presented. Slide q leathered
door and an apparently solid a
becomes q mere framework, q shell
behind which can be carried many
cases Of Illicit booze. They all had
the appearance of being made to
order. "A curious public crowded
about to bid for these interesting
items of modern social history. And
one could not help but wonder
whether representatives Of bootleg
gers and gangsters were not among
those who picked up bargains for q
dozen dollars or more.
And speaking OF tricky cars re-
minds me that Loring Peede. Of the
Importers Motors. Inc. tells me
that the heavy-spending section Of
the public continues to seek the
fantastic and unique in ordering
especially designed autos.
Recently q sweet young thing,
dropping In with q design for q car,
insisted on a special seat for her
prize swimming dog. The seat, OF
course, was convertible, but the cars
price was SIS, 900. Another order
called for a complete buffet, with
cocktail shakers, ice chest, glasses
and a tiny, convertible bar. On
second thought, q miniature bath
room was added, with wash basin
and other appurtenances.
Something like II especially-made
bodies are turned out a year Ii New
York workshops for those wishing
to pay around 5000. Many mor
~are built in European plants and
are as made-to-order as O tailored
suit, with the purchaser frequently
supplying the complete plans. The
Mercedes-Benz I learn. is partic-
ularly desired 70 rspeed, despite the
much-discussed depression.
But some Of the best bargains In
motors to be found in New York
are second hand cars OF super-ex-
pensive make. The average buyer, IL
seems. while not unwilling to make
a purchase, fears for the upkeep
cost thereafter. Particularly fearful
is the rank-and-file that some day
he will meet with an accident on an
out-of-town road only to find that
certain parts fo- his swank-car are
unobtainable.
The al which Tex Guinan took
with her to France last spring at
tracted particular attention there
because of its appearance. Author
tiles asked whether or not 1t was
one Of the famous bullet-proof gang
cars Of which so much had been
heard.
Originally, this car had been
made for the king Of Belgium and
PROBABLY cost around SIS. 600. The
tale goes that 1t was bought by
Texas for $4,000, and~fts resemblance
to an armored car continues to at
tract attention on the Manhattan
highways.