Evening star., 1933-04-07
GAIN IN AUTO SALE
RECORD INDICATED
Inquiries for New Cars Have
Been Increasing in
Large Cities.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
DETROIT, April 7.-An increasing
retail demand for motor cars is being
noted in reports to home Offices by the
distributing units in various parts Of the
country. The increase is still some
what "spotty'-heavier in some sec
tio- than in others-but the trend has
led not few of the sales directors to
begin talking o. the possibilities OF q
buying wave"
Rebound in Demand.
Be 1t a wave or just wavelet" sta
tistics compiled by authoritative agen-
cies show that a gratifying rebound in
consumer demand began Immediately
after the lifting Of the banking restric-
tions in most sections Of the country.
The greater proportion of the sales re-
ported were of the replacement type,
involving the trading in OF q used car
rs part payment on the new one, but
the industry expects this form of trans
action in most of the current retail
sales.
Not a few of the industry's sales di-
rectors are again sending out word to
the dealer organizations to use care In
the appraisal Of used cars offered by
the prospective new-car purchaser.
Exorbitant trade-in allowances was one
Of the factors that brought trouble to
the retailers in 1929, when an unusual
scramble was under way to keep up
with a factory production that exceeded
ell previous records and which for
some time was virtually out OF control.
Most sales directors confidently ex-
pect an upturn of sizable proportion
will be shown by the new-car regstra-
ton figures for April. Aside from the
trend Indicated in the reports received
from the merchandising outlets, they
point out that a seasonal expansion Is
due at this time and that, barring un-
foreseen developments, 1t should be re.
flected In the upward revision OF most
factory production schedules already
announced.
So far as factory schedules are con-
cerned there probably is nothing IN the
industry quite as flexible as these have
been for many months past. Tne cur
rent practice in this connection diners
sharply from that prevailing during the
earlier months Of the last three years
in that the start is on q minimum re-
o,,irement basis with the revision up
ward. Three years ago it was customary
to announce large output schedules ana
curtail them if hoped for demand failed
to materialize.
Down Payments.
+ In urging renewed caution in the ap-
praisal Of used cars offered for trade
In, sales directors are citing the fact
that when the real replacement wave
starts to roll in many thousands OF cars
long overdue in the scrap heap will be
brought forward as down payments on
new vehicles. Many of the late rs
and "late '27" models that have been
kept in operation under the stimulus
of no little coaxing will have to be &C
cepted, the sales directors explain. solely
on the basis of their scrap metal value.
Significant OF the manner In wnicn
the rebound in retail demand snapped
back is the fact that every unit OF the
industry is at present in production.
All the production schedules, OF course,
are conservative, but In every instance
material, equipment and personnel are
available for expansion to whatever de-
gree retail demand dictates.