Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-01-10
SHOW BR|GHTENS
BUSINESS HORIZON
Auto Industry Reveals I'M
pressive List of Surprises
for 1888.
BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL.

BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, January 10.-Deter-
mined to put America back on its
wheels" with the stimulus of rakish
styles, unprecedented values and in
genious unprecedented. the automobile
industry. after several months of fever
ish planning. came out of its huddle and
put on the automotive counters of the
Grand Central Palace the most signifi-
cant array of cars ever conceived. At
no previous national automobile show
have there been SO many innovations
yet such clear-cut trends. The 1888 car
is both irresistible and within the pub
lies means.
Ought to Take Heart.
American business ought to take
heart because of the motor industry's
achievements. There have been times
when cars were tempting but beyond
the public's buying reach. Some years
found the public flush but the cars lack
ing in appeal. This year the industry
has hit on the perfect combination.
The car with the most sensational
streamlined body sells for 1895. A
brand-new make has a base price Of
1855. Both cars have four-cylinder
engines designed to deliver 30-mile-to-
the-gallon economy. A new straight
eight with popular nameplate sells for
$685.. One of the 12-cylinder creations
appears with its price tag clipped 81 200.
Another brandnew IL with a famous
nameplate is offered with base price
of S2,7OO.
They have done away with the brake
pedal on one of the high-grade jobs,
substituting a "treadle" which brings
mechanical toot" into action. Three
makes of cars offer the co-incidental
starter wherein the accelerator pedal Is
ingeniously combined with the starter
switch. Power booster brakes, solar ig-
milton and an ingenious improvement In
automatic clutch control involving
pendulum valve show the engineers de-
termination to put over the 1888 auto
mobile.
New Transmissions.
Something that will not be fully ap-
preciated until the cars are taken out
for demonstrations is the new type Of
transmission, quiet in all speeds, includ-
ing reverse. The inertia controlled
shock absorber is another of the years
mechanical sensations. The steering
arm on one Of the new offerings runs
parallel to the front axle instead of to
the frame. 1t is found on a car that
presents doughnut tires as standard
equipment.
Quite q number OF cars feature the
automatic choke. You open the throt-
tie about half way and switch on the
ignition. A special thermostat in the
downdraft carburetor attends to the
choking process more successfully than
could the expert driver. There is also
automatic carburetor heat control on
some of the cars.
Thermostats play an important role
in making this years automobile so
automatic. One car carries three of
them in the motor alone. In addition.
thermostats are being used to control
shock absorber adjustments. There ere,
as a consequence of these automatic
fuss with. Some cars have appeared
without radiator shutters
Far-Reaching Effects.
1t Is putting it mildly to say that the
changes mechanically are in the nature
of innovations. They are apt to have
far-reaching effect on future design
In fact, the changes are SO numerous
few visitors to the Palace seemed to
trends. There were few comments on
the complete absence of cars with front
drive and sleeve-valve motors.
Those motor enthusiasts who dabble
in speculation found keen enjoyment
in browsing around French car that
featured independently sprung wheels.
One OF the de luxe cars was shown in
special egg-shaped body, which its
makers anticipate will be the vogue
eight years hence. The sealed cooling
system, however, was not in evidence.
Automotive prophets will have to be
consoled. They have been guessing
all, all wrong. They had the four
cylinder car completely out of the pic
ture, yet the national show offered
three American makes with this type
motor The wiseacres predicted that
sixteen cylinders were unnecessary. Two
makes of sixteens were at the show and
both are understood to be selling well.
The prophets saw little room for de
luxe cars in an era Of financial read
juStment, yet this year the public IS
offered more straight-eights than ever
before and six makes Of V-twelves.
Doughnut Tires.
Dough or no dough the public seems
ready for doughnut tires. They we're
seen on a number of the smart models
at the show. Combined with new
styles in wheels, the new deep-skirted
tenders and new steering layouts these
tires ought to be popular.
At any rate this years buyer can have
just about what he wants, from ban
tam to a JOB with 320-horse-power
motor, with any kind of motor from
floating powered four to a supercharged
air cooled twelve.
The most striking development In
body features is the no-draft system
seen on a group Of cars. The arrange
ment looks like a combination of wind
shield wings with split windows that
lower into the doors. Advanced ventil-
alton without the usual drafts is claim
ed for this development. In addition,
it adds to the smartness of the gen.
eral body lines. Several makes offer
hood louvres parallel to the frame in
stead Of perpendicular. Virtually all
the cars have pointed or scooped radi-
ators. Body designers were fearless.
Motorists are going to buy the 1888
car. They are enthusiastic over 1t
and will be able to afford it.