The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-02-27

But run II did. in fashion. and
thus was born one Of Americas
greatest industries. Born too. but
realized 1t at the time, was
great American industry
the marketing of used cars!
Lost in antiquity is the record
OF Ellwcod Haynes first automo-
bile. 1t mayhaps turned up as a
used car. but that's doubtful. 1t is
easier to believe that the grand
pappy Of all automobiles finally
went to pieces like the one boss
shay. Anyway, it isn't causing any
traffic jams on our highways to-
day.
Millions In Use
Millions of used cars are scoot-
ing here and yon nowadays. Hay
wire chunks, ash cans, sleek late
model beauties, sport jobs-every-
where over the land you see these
used automobiles. Yet try as you
might, you can't tell them from
their more sedate brothers-those
cars which have been sold but once
and then as new cars.
We in modern America take the
used car for granted; seldom do
we hear the used car business
spoken of as one Of the country's
big businesses, yet it is.
All of which brings us down to
the question; What part does the
used car play in the industrial
progress Of Tacoma?
LAUNDERING, farming, transpor-
tation, in fact, almost every indus
trial endeavor in our community
on automobiles-and auto
mobiles mean used cars. Nine out
of ten new cars sold brings the
used car into the transaction, prin-
cipally as the down payment on
the new vehicle. 1t is safe to say
that there are billions of dollars
in potential down payments on
new cars running about the coun-
try in the guise of used cars.
Many of these units are in Ia
coma, owned by you and you and
you. Their value to the commu-
nifty in dollars and cents -. +. well,
it's so staggering as to seem fam
tastical.
Complicated Business
Millions of dollars change hands
locally each year in used car deals.
Many are private deals, another
portion are through independent
used car sellers, but the great bulk
IF them are contaminated through
the new car dealer. 1t is big bust
ness, complicated in all its ramifi-
cations, and a business that calls
for expert marketing ability. Rep
utations are at stake first be-
cause just as the factory's repu-
tation is the unseen passenger in
every new car sold, so it is the
Dealers reputation out for a ride
to rise or fall in every used car he
sells.
Used cars sold by our local rep
utable firms are marketed in most
cases with full guarantee. Before
the cars reach the showroom
floors for the public's inspection
they are reconditioned inside and
outside thoroughly. Motors are re-
bored, new pistons and rings are
installed and when necessary the
cars are reprinted and reshod with
new tires and adorned with new
accessories. Often units are sold
to buyers "as is"-that is, with
out any reconditioning whatso-
ever. These "as is" cars most
generally are to be had below the
going market price.
Tacomas first used car has long
since been called to its happy hunt
ing ground. but few old timers
well remember its antics on the
then unpaved avenues of the town.
II. A. DOC" Sanford, genial Nash
dealer and president of the Ia
coma Automobile Dealers associ-
alton, has come a long way with
the automobile around these dig
gings. He was queried about Ia
coma's No. / used car and used
cars in general.
Basis of Prosperity
well, that first used car sport
ed our avenues around the turn
of the century" Sanford reflected.
But that oldtimer isn't important
any more. Highly important,
though, is the magnitude and inn
portance of the used car situation
in Tacoma today.
Upon the used car depends the
prosperity Of the whole automobile
industry as we know it nowadays.
1t is estimated that approximate
ly 4,000,000 new automobiles will
be manufactured in 1910. Some
two and one-half used cars will be
sold for every new car delivered
or some 10000. 900 used cars will
have to be sold in 1910. Bringing
this down to dollars and cents
well. you can do that.
Anyway, there's a lot more in
volved. Reconditioning these cars
viii require new materials-radios,
batteries, tires, pistons, rings,
spark plugs. Thousands of men
will be employed in this work all
over the country.
Buy With Confidence
The used car is big business
right here in Tacoma" continued
Doc Sanford. land unless these
cars are sold we can have no
healthy new car business. For
tunately, the used car buyer has
come to realize what the used car
means and they now know they
can buy them with confidence and
assurance that they are getting
many thousands OF miles of unused
,-1r-r..artr 80 - . errhrf initial re-