Evening star., 1940-10-13
AII-American Autos
Displayed in Show;
Emphasis on Styling
Cars Are All Longer,
Wider and Lower; Most
Are More Powerful
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Oct. IA quarter
of a million dollars worth of l941
model automobiles, commercial
vehicles, accessories and gadgets
were placed on display by the Auto
mobile Manufacturers Association
today in a setting designed to en-
phasize hemisphere unity and the
productive resources Of American in
dustry.
1t was the 4lst annual National
Automobile Show-an "all-American
presentation" for the first time in
many years because of the absence
of any foreign exhibitor and par
ticipation by Henry Ford for the
first time in more than three
decades.
Four floors of Grand Central
Palace were devoted to the show
ing. There were l8 makes of pas
senger cars and eight of commercial
vehicles.
In addition there were 40 old-time
cars, veterans OF some famous speed
contest or endurance tour, to dra-
Matte the progress made in four
decades.
President Sends Greetings.
The show opened this afternoon
with greetings from President
Roosevelt, who wrote to Alvan
Macauley, president of the Automo-
bile Manufacturers Association,
that 1T is a tribute to this Ma
tions productive ability that the
automobile companies. now joined
in mass production of armaments
for defense, at the same time are
providing improved vehicles to meet
the needs of our population"
The new models, all longer, lower
and wider, with more emphasis
than ever on EYE appeal" were
displayed against a background OF
the national colors Of the Americas
the red, white and blue OF the
United States and the flags Of %
American nations.
For the industry the show marks
the formal Inauguration of the l94l
model year-a year which the car
makers generally believe will see
the production of approximately A.
100000 vehicles with a wholesale
value in excess of $4,000 900, 900.
During the model year just ended
the industry assembled 4,285 900
units with a wholesale value of ST..
1927, 900 900.
Sweeping Lines, More Power.
In the l94l models long, sweep
ing lines give renewed emphasis to
the impression of speed to spare.
Engine power has been stepped up
in most models, automatic trans.
missions have been extended to
additional models and little has been
left undone in the way of styling
refinement.
Predominating in styling, of course.
are two-toning trends, interiors de.
signed to harmonic with the out.
side paint job, wider seats made
possible by the elimination of run
ming boards in many models and
the general improvement of up.
holstery and instrument panel de.
sign.
AS added attractions, the show
managers have scheduled a million
dollar fur fashion pageant We'd
nesday, and special showing Of
feminine apparel created by the de.
signers of the 1941 model auto.
mobiles. to be held Thursday.
Nash Has New Car.
Nash Motors took the show open.
ing as occasion to introduce its new
Ambassador 600" model with which
it will invade the lower price field.
Also given its initial public presen-
tation at the show was WHY'S new
American" four cylinder model
of big car design.
There are few standard" models
of any kind on display at this
years show. Most models are desig-
mated as super" or master" de
luxe or super de luxe" in further
extension of the adjective treat
ment that began a couple of years
ago. The sales psychology is that
standard suggests a model lack
ing in extra" equipment. whereas
all the manufacturers have made
standard more than enough spe-
cial installations to balance the 3
to S per cent increase in prices that
mark this years vehicles.
Gadgets galore were displayed.
They ranged all the way from a
device to test the pressure of the
spare tire without opening the lug
gage compartment, to push-button
operation of windows, and a cellar
ette" built into a custom body Job,
combining air conditioning, with
facilities for keeping picnic refresh.