The Washington times., 1932-01-30

1dESGSL 1I1OOoG1J al AOAE cAA+0
sprang to the front by 1923:
Since then it has maintained
the first position.
that much discussed tear drop"
body.
Outstanding among the fea-
lures of front-end design this
year is that which brings the
sharply sloping windshield and
more sharply crowned roof.
The purpose of these is to pro-
vide a smoother air flow around
the front of the car and thus
increase power, speed and gaso-
line economy by reducing wind
resistance. Other factors con-
tributing to the same end are the
more positively Weed radiator
AMI air-foil type tenders which
are common to cars OF all price
classes.
In addition to the greater
silence assured by reduced vibra-
ton, engines have been quieted In
three notable respects. One OF
these is the adoption Of radically
different types of fans. The
others are new means OF car
buretor silencing and a widely
used improved type of muffler.
Engineers have resorted to
many design devices to bring cars
closer to the ground. In the
popular price field, the method
most commonly employed is the
simple one of using smaller
diameter wheels. Departures in
frame construction are used to
the same end in the medium price
class, one of the most notable
instances being provided by the
trick of eliminating the kick-up
over the rear axle. This Is
achieved by running the axle
through instead Of under the
| frame.
What the new frontal appear
ance and increased lowness leaves
undone in suggesting the fleet
ness characteristic of the new
models-and it is very little,
indeed-is achieved by wire wheels
and new types of artillery wheels
with heavy short Spokes and
large hubs. Wire wheels are
standard equipment in nearly all
cases and one of the Strangest bit
of reading in the specifications
of many new cars is artillery
wheels at slightly extra COST"
It was just the reverse not long
ago.
Brakes are more powerful.
Brake Improvements have not
stopped here, however. New ma
terialS are used to reduce drum
distortion under conditions of
high temperature and brake cool.
ing devices are employed to a
large exent, particularly among
medium and high priced cars.
While shock. absorber control
is the most impressive of the
features assuring stability Of the
car at high speeds. it is not the
only one. Front-end wobble is at
tackled from variety of other
standpoints.
Bodies, have acquired roomi.
ness not merely through in
creased lengths. From the lowest
priced models to the luxury prod.
ucts, widths have been in
creased, some of the most not
able examples to be found in the
case Of the least expensive where
of course. the call for more space
was most emphatic.
Ventilators are features of the
body Of cars in all price classes
and those in the luxury products
are screened.
One body feature worthy Of
more than passing interest even
among the many outstanding
changes is the windshield wiper.
The conStantspeed type with the
vacuum now provided by the fuel
pump appears on many Of the new
models.
Bandit-proof doors are another
widely employed novelty this year.
Without being greatly changed, In
Strument panels of all cars have
been made easier to read.
Viewed broadly the 1882 model.
whatever its price may be. is the
most complete automobile ever Of
fered. The industry conservatively
expects 2,750.000 editions of it to
sell during the next IL months.
If this estimate is not exceeded
and proved entirely too conserva-
tive, it will not be because the car
fell short Of being the greatest
value ever offered. =