Evening star., 1932-03-13
AUTO TRADE looks
FOR TURNING POINT
IN NEW CAR SALES
Latter Half of This Month Ex-
peCted to Mark Seasonal
Pickup.
LATEST MODELS READY
FOR DEALER DELIVERIES
Competition in Low-Priced Field
Promises to Be Keen Through
out Spring.
BY EDWARD w. MORRISON.

| Special Dispatch to The Star.
| DETROIT, March 12.-The second
| half of March promises to bring the
turning point in the automotive year.
With the movement of new Ford
| models into dealers hands underway
| at last, the attitude of impatience which
has been evident among the other
manufacturers Of low-priced cars may
De expected to disappear. Each manu-
facturer will know, finally, the cards
that his competitors hold, and the
scramble for buyers signatures will
start.
New Models.
1t Is revealing no secret to say that
the nrst two months of 1882 were a
disappointment to the industry. The
gauge OF sales Is to be found in the &C
ton Of cars that sell below 81 900. When
Ford was compelled from week to week
TO delay the appearance of his new
eight and four, he cast a huge question
mark across the automotive screen. The
buying wave that was expected to inau-
gurate 1882 was suspended, as If in
midair.
The delays that Ford encountered
were not caused by engineering mis-
takes or inferior workmanship. They
were simply the result Of Henry Fords
personal zeal in testing every part that
goes into new model. When he has
performed test after test, the car is
ready for production-not before.
But Ford competitors found no solace
IN the carefulneSs that was exhibited at
Dearborn. They heard prospective buy
erS tell statesmen, I'VE want to wait for
look at the new Ford" Other buyers
indicated they wanted to compare val
ues after the new Ford had been placed
on the market and readjustments in
prices, II any, had been made. Still
other buyers were canny enough to say
they thought used-car allowances might
be larger after the battle in the low
priced field waxed hot along in the
Spring or Summer. Small wonder that
competitors became impatient to see
the new Fords
The appearance of the new models
from Dearborn may be greeted with
huzzahs from all the Ford dealers. but
there will be almost as many cheers
from Chevrolet, Plymouth and WHY'S
Overland dealers. The question mark
VIII have disappeared
OF course, none of the Ford COM
petitors Is without a program. Each
Is prepared to meet the new eight In
his own way. In at least one organiza-
ton there is disposition to watch
closely the early public reaction to the
eight before mapping a final program
Trade Rumors.
Nevertheless, one may learn in De-
troit almost any day that: ID Chev-
rolet Will counter with an eight of its
own; (2) Chevrolet will stand pat on
its six; 90 Chevrolet will resume
manufacturing four. maintaining a
four and a six to meet Ford competi-
ton of a four and an eight. And any
one may take his choice.
A new Plymouth will be on the mar
ket early in April 1t will be a four,
of course, but it will be dolled I'D so
much that its old friends will hardly
know it.
The wheelbase will be heightened
from ITO to 112 inches. The engine
will be increased from 56 to IS horse
power. The body will be streamlined.
The radiator will carry q heavy nickel
shell, with the vanes in the artificial
front sloping well toward the base.
Free-wheeling and floating power"
will be retained from the present
models. The new line will consist of
seven body types
Meanwhile newcomer in the low
priced field is cutting swath that has
compelled other manufacturers to rub
their eyes. This is the Rockne, spon-
sored by Studebaker. The company
shipped its 5000th car this week and
now boasts of a dealer organization of
l,l00. Plants in Detroit and South
Bend are now in operation, with De-
trolt production 200 units a day. Pro-
duction in both plants is expected to
reach 5000 units for March.
(Copyright, 1922