Evening star., 1936-11-15

ers once more have crept within the
focus of engineering attention. The
telescoping, double-acting type Of abb
sorber, so long a feature Of airplane
design, has been adapted to automo-
tive requirements. It is to be found on
quite a few of the new cars.
Independent suspension Of the front
wheels, better known as knee action"
holds its own this year in contrast
with the fate which found several
early users abandoning it when the
1886 models we're introduced IL months
ago. It has undergone but few
changes, one of them the dropping of
the housing which previously con-
cealed the coiled spring mechanism.
An-Steel Body Used.
The all-steel body has swept the
field for 1887. but with respect to body
mounting the industry shows a diff
ference Of opinion that is more marked
than in the case Of any other new
car feature.
While some manufacturers are her.
aiding the practice of mounting the
body on "out-riggers" heavily in.
sulated with rubber as one of the
most significant developments Of the
year, others are adhering to the
'frameless' pattern; that is to say,
design which combines body and frame
into a single unit. In the face of a
demand for sitter construction in the
interest of safety, both schools Of
thought insist theirs Is the ideal prac-
tice. The difference between them
would appear to be an academic one
with which the public will not be
greatly concerned.
OF deeper interest to the prospec-
tive car buyer than the relative merits
of one type of construction or another
Is the fact that one Of the heretofore
noticeable shortcomings Of the all
steel body. namely, its tendency to
produce irritating drumming noises
under certain conditions, has been
eliminated. The variety Of sound
deadeners used In the latest models
is imposing. These insulating medi-
ums, of course, also serve to exclude
exhaust gases from the body Of the
car and keep out heat and cold. The
steel roof and other large metal panels
have received special stlencing treat
ment that Is instantly apparent In
driving one Of the newest cars.
Overdrive Not Spreading.
There have been no new converts
to the use Of the overdrive trans
mission, but all of last years users
of this feature retain 1t with modifi-
cations designed to make 1t more eff
cient. Current practice seems to be
to bring the overdrive into play at
slightly lower speeds than was the
case last year-at IS miles an hour
instead of 40 and As. The purpose OF
the overdrive, Of course, Is to reduce
engine speed at high car speeds,
achieving at one and the same time
a reduction in fuel and oil consump-
ton and in wear upon the engine.
| Another transmission feature, COM
paratively rare, but interesting, is the
hill-holder and automatic device which
prevents the car from rolling back
ward on inclines. A cruder version
| Oh ILLS ShIIl6 1ChLAC dPpCaAO0 VA SAAS
high-priced car several years ago. 1t
returns now in a much more efficient
guise and on cars in much lower price
classes.
Steering mechanism changes are
concerned primarily with steering
geometry, which means that motorists
will not be greatly concerned with
them. Ratio changes are designed to
provide q more effective compromise
between the requirements OF easy
movement in parking and precise con-
troll at high speeds. In the frst, OF
course, the demand is for reasonable
softness; In the latter for reasonable
stiffness. The current compromise,
like its predecessors, seems destined
to be eminently satisfactory to the
buyer of a 1887 model.
Most appealing Of the easily visible
features of the latest automobile Is
its spaciousness. The erstwhile i've
passenger car has acquired six
passenger capacity. streamline de-