Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-27
AUTO EYES Center
UPON NEW YEAR
Cars Being Absorbed at Rate
of 10000 Per
Week.
Special Dispatch to The star.

Special DiSpatch 70 Tne star.
DETROIT, September 26.-The on
cial eyes of the automobile industry
are now centered on the new year and
the national automobile shows sched-
uled for January. Meanwhile, the Ma
ton, grinding alcng under hard con-
ditions, appears to be absorbing new
cars at the rate of approximately 49,
900 every seven days.
This is 1000 cars or so below the
total weekly production of the factories,
which are rationing output and work.
ing hours in strict accordance with
needs of distribution the country over.
One year ago today the united vol
ume OF all factories was $4,000 cars
week, but due to seasonal changes
in factory operation this figure is hard
ly a criterion of present quantity out
put. At present there are only two
plants in which output is held up, and
in one instance the pause Is for in
ventory preliminary to fresh start in
October.
Planning 1882 Changes.
At the same time the executive forces
OF all plants soon will complete the
planning for 1882, including model
changes and merchandising. Both are
subjects Of intensive work because all
manufacturers are faced with new
conditions which readjustment has
brought about. Those who do the
thinking for the automobile build
ers no longer question the fact
that the buying habits of the people
are undergoing change which will
have to be provided for in future
offerings
The days Of easy money and I'M
earned income from stock market and
other sources having passed, the COM
panies are confronted with the Job of
building cars for a public that will
spend its cash for essentials and value
and that only. Consequently, the new
models of 1882 will have to meet the
challenge Of low prices and bettered
values in new ways that must be found.
simultaneously, the producers for the
flrst time next year will be operating
under unwritten agreement to concen-
trate new-model introduction Just prior
to the period of the national shows
A group of half dozen or more OF
the companies already is complying
with the understanding and has with
held what ordinarily would be Mid
summer introductions until show time
Principal among these are Buick and
through and faring well under pre-
vailing trade conditions.
Not Behindhand.
Other makes which are committed tc
the new plan, however are not going tC
be behindhand for the new wear and
the big parade of new stuff that i;
promises to bring. To stay in the COM
petitive game they are almost certain
which already have come from the
plants during July and August.
More viii hinge upon what the low
priced division will do fol- next year
than ever before, because the excess
value already embodied in them is
| likely to be increased, and competing
cars that sell for more money will have
to shape their offerings with this in
view
The regular period of Chevrolet
| change is the year-end period, and one
year ago this maker advanced its regu-
lar date one month 10 swing its huge
volume into line with the rise OF the
| show curtains in New York and the
! other large centers. The Ford plans.
Tor which there is no set rule, are sui
matter OF official mystery, although
1t is certain that an improved mooel
A will be forthcoming.
What model changes in general are
TO consist of will keep the wisest OF
the fraternity guessing until de1lnitsiy
known. The high spot OF the lSoz
models in their present form Is ITee
wheeling, now standard on seven MAKES
| and optional with IL others. =
The cars on which free Wneelnls IL
standard are Auburn, HupmoDlie, LII
coin, Pierce-Arrow, Plymouth, feerIess
Tin custom cars) and in StuoenakeI
which pioneered the principle a HUE
more than one year ago.
Optional Free wheeling.
Optional free wheeling is provided IN
the Chrysler six, De Soto' Dooge
Duesenbcrg, De Vaux, Essex, SrahaH
| Hudson, Marmon. Nash, WHY'S ana
Wllys-Knight. .,,
General Motors has its syncnro-mesn
mechanism which simplifies gear sniiC-
ing. and may gain wineneo use NJ sv .,,e
corporations cars OF next ye1 -
chro-mesh Is exclusive with ". IVA. ~ ~
and there exists no argument ss 70 ~
value from the standpoint OF SAFETY
and other advantages that IL DrinsS "
Clutch control. as introduced by the
~, jiw organiza ton, which Is animated
with c;eneraI Motors. is applicable A
anv make OF car as extra equipment.
Other changes yet in store for 1882
generally are TO bring cars that are
ic,rer siunr. color finishes Of better
hIsnd IN contrasting flues, with uphol-
go, ~ ir,arroyed quality inside, lum.