Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-08
Auto Plants Rushed
Preparing for New
Model Season
All Companies to Put
Cars on Sole Well
Before Show
BY DAVID J. WILKIE
Associated rrsss Ausomo,ixs Editor.

DETROIT, sept. Z. - Assembly
lines Of virtually every motorcar
maker are rolling on 1871 models;
shipments to retailers are being
pushed; the last Of the press pre-
views" have been scheduled and
some of the first to switch over to
new model production already have
made formal public introduction of
the bigger and better" automobiles
with which the industry expects to
attract greater volume Of demand
than it did in the model year Just
closed.
Latest to make its Nationwide
public presentation Is Buick which
introduced five new series of cars
today. featuring compound carbure-
ton, new aerodynAmic bodies, new
modern4stic treatment of radiator
grilles, hood and front end sheet
metal. It previously had held for
NAL presentations in . limited num-
Der Of cities.
As additional producers speed up
Anal assembly programs on their
194l models. 1t becomes increasingly
evident that all the new cars will
have had their formal public pres
entation and will be on sale well in
advance of the National Automobile
Show at New York's Grand Central
Palace October IL to 20.
Previews Arranged.
Private showings for news writer's
during the coming week have been
arranged by Chevrolet, Ford, Chrys-
Ter, De Soto and Dodge. Chevrolet's
preview Is set for September 10;
Fords for September II and that Of
the Chrysler, De Soto and Dodge
units for the following day. Pack
ards preview Is scheduled for Sep
TENDER 16.
Throughout the motor industry
commitments already made for the
purchase Of materials and supplies
run into several hundred millions Of
dollars in addition to the heavy in
vestment in plant re-tooling for the
production Of the new models.
Exact figures on these commit
ments are not yet available, but q
typical example is provided in the
program Of the Buick Division Of
General Motors Corp. Buick, which
built 283,204 cars during the last
model year, has set its ls4l model
objective at 800 900 units and already
has contracted for 500. 900 900 worth
nf m q Aria1c and
In the model year Just ended
Chevrolet produced 1,051,755 cars;
Ford s10.050 and Plymouth All 26o.
Each Of these producers expects to
assemble at least as many units
during the coming model year, with
expenditures for raw materials and
supplies in proportion to those Of
Buick and others in the volume pro-
duction field.
Ford Engine Awaited.
A subject Of keenest speculation In
trade circles at the moment con-
Germs the six-cylinder engine Ford
has had in the making for many
months. The guessing generally has
had 1t that the new motor is to be
used to power a new kind of car to
compete with anything other pro-
ducers may introduce in the lower
priced field.
One widely quoted authority In
the industry recently suggested that
the new Ford six would not be
brought until later in the 1871 model
year Still others have specialized
on the possibility that the six
cylinder engine, already being pro-
duced on a limited scale at Dear
born, is to be made an optional in
stallation In one Of the regular 1941
Ford models.
This writer's guess. ventured
hastily before next Wednesday s
press preview imposes a fortnight
Of secrecy until the public showing
Is held, is that the six will not be
brought out until around next jan
uary !.