Evening star., 1937-04-04


3,946,934 were sold in 1885. Figures
just released for February of this year
show a total sales of 363,930, COM
pared with 379,843 in January Of this
year. In January and February, 1886,
there were sold 1854 ,OO4 and 287,6O5,
respectively.
Therefore, if the present rate of in
crease continues, the forecast Of ban
ner year will be fulfilled. If 1t is full
filled Americas march on to pros
perity will be unimpeded Production
and sales are held equivalent to each
other. Car sales reported from Can
ada and American machines assem-
bled from American-owned plants.
Production OF 100000 cars and
trucks in the United States and Can
ada during 1897 is forecast by Auto
motive Daily News, trade newspaper of
the industry, in its midWeek survey.
The prediction is based on a first
quarter output Of 1,158,548 units, a
new all-time high for the industry, de-
spite labor difficulties
Estimated production for the cur
rent week, ended April 3, IS placed at
104095 units, up slightly over the re-
vised total Of 103,858 in the previous
week.
During 1896, the first year affected
by earlier model introduction, the first
quarter accounted for 1,117,l72, or rs
per cent of the years total. II this
ratio holds true, the final 1887 figure
would be around 4,7500O units. How
ever, due to the uncertainty caused by
strikes, heavy backlogs Of orders have
been amassed, and this is expected to
well past the usual drop-of and thus
enable plants to turn out the antici-
pated 100000 units before the
switchover to next years models.
The record first-quarter output Is
based on estimates for the last three
days OF March and revised figures for
last week. This brings the March out
put to 500,370 units, compared with
438,992 in the same month year ago.
OF this total the General Motors group
accounted for ,490, as against l76,-
857 units in the same month in 1885,
This large increase is due in part to
curtailed output during the six-week
strike which ended the middle Of Feb
ruary. General Motors flrst-quarter
figure, therefore, is only BIT 1888, COM
pared with 45l 1859 in the same period
a year ago. OF these totals Chevrolet
turned out $4,000 in March, as against
127,598 year ago. and 10000 in the
first quarter, as compared with 325, 1874
IN the same period in 1886. Pontiac
had 10000 in March, compared with
1882 year ago, and 1926 in the
first quarter, as against $50 in 1885,
Figures Of the other General Motors
divisions were: Oldsmobile, 28,380 and
1858 in March, 1887 and 1896, re-
spectively, and 1920 and Al OBI in the
first quarters of 1887 and 1895, respec-
lively; Buick, 25,910 and 1882 and
S5,462, compared with $1,000; Cadil-
lac-La Sale, 5000 and 1882 and 9,975,
against 6,666.
Leading producer during the first
quarter was Ford, with 391550, plus
1855 for Lincoln. for combined to-
tai Of 5,O65 units for the quarter,
compared with 303 900 in the same
period In 1886. For March Ford turned
out 150,550 units, as against 10000 a
year ago, while Lincoln accounted for
3,515.
Of to flying start, Chrysler divi-
sions were hit by labor disputes early
in March and as result rolled only
$4,000 units of the assembly lines dur
ing the month. This compares with
80,993 in the same month a year ago.
Due to this shutdown, the Chrysler
group produced 202,110 units in the
responding period in 1886. Plymouth |
turned out $4,000 units in March be- |
fore the strike, compared with 47,145 |
in the same month last year, and 97,- |
300 for the first quarter, as against !
l21,745 in 1886. Dodge had 10,O50 in
March. compared with 24,340 in the |
same month last year, and 67,650 for |
the quarter, as against 63,290 last year.
De Soto's March total was 1900, COM
pared with 4,341 in 1896 and 1850 in |
the first quarter, as against 1897. |
Chrysler produced 1885, as against |
5,l67 in March, 1896, and 1890, COM
pared with 1852 in the first quarter |
last year.
Packard leads the independent
groups, with IL, 140 as against only |
$3.50 units in March a year ago, and
1858 compared With 16,379 in the
first quarter in 1886. Others are as
follows: Nash, 9,9l8 and 5.e43 for
March, and 28,604 and 1874 in the
first quarters; Studebaker, 8,064 and |
9,247, and 29,748 and 2O,5l1; Hudson
Terraplane (also shut down by
strikes, 3,244 and 12,5l9, and 26,76s
and 3o,322; WHY'S, 9,7l7 for March,
1887, with no figures available for last |
year, and "a, 103 compared with only |
1897 in the first quarter last year;
Graham, 2,425 and 2143, and 5,825 |
and $500. Cord, not in production |
last year, turned out 1877 units in
March and $50 in the first quarter. |
The miscellaneous group accounted for
Al ,140 in March as against 20,416 |
last year, and 1929 in the first quar-
ter, compared with 54,216 in the same
period last year
The current weeks individual leader |
Is Ford, with $4,000 units. With Lin |
coin turning out IT'S units, the Ford |
group is expected to produce 33,775 |
units for the week, according to esti-
mates. Led by Chevrolet's 10000, |
General Motors divisions head the |
group estimates with total of 50,500, |
up slightly over the 5O,325 produced
during the previous week. Pontiac
which has gradually increased it's out
put, holds second place, with $500 |
compared with SITS the previous ses-
sion; Oldsmobile ranks third with |
$500, followed by Buick with $500 |
and Cadillac-La Sale with $500. |
Packard is the largest producer in the |
Independent class, with approximately |
$500 units off the assembly line this |
week. Studebaker has 2,470 sched- |
uled; Willys, 2,265; Graham, 525, and
sn Irn1vv b.