The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-11-21
AUTO BUILDERS PLAN NEW CARS
 MINUS GLITTER
Bright Work Banned By Defense Needs; See
 Plastic Bodies

BY ANTHONY q. DE LORENZO United Press Stan Correspondent
 Detroit, Nov. 2i--(Up)--The gov. ernnent order stripping lel2 model automobiles of sparkling bTtghes work after Dec. IS because of q Shortage Of certain vital defense materials may prove Q blessing ratl1- CT than c handicap to the industry. one school of automotlev design. CTS believes it will enable them to break away from the "oSnanlental, Christmas-tree" effect created by shiny trim and concentrate on de- signing cars of beauty and siImplic- lty uumayred by "illusicns."
 The order bans use oS nickel, chromium, copper or aluminium tn non-SVinctional parts of autorio- piles. This means glttterlng grilles, shiny hub caps and virtually All other sparkle will be taboo after December. Bumpers and bump- yr guards will be permitted to Se" tain their lustsr.
 Manufacturers Prepared
 The ruling didn't surprise car manufacturers. For some time they have ordered designers and engi. neers Co experiment with paint and plastic substitutes. Painted steel strips for automobile body trim and painted grilles will be used freely.
 one of the group applauding the ban on brightwork Is George W. Walker, noted Detroit industrial de. BIgner. styler of automobiles and booster Of an ali-plastic car of the future. He believes the restriction will stimulate design innovation.
 "A car of beauty" Walker eAids "should be designed 50 that its own highNghts can be accentuated. We shouldn't depend upon lot ok or. naments and tinsei for effect, They only create false illusions. Eight or nine years ago we had little chrome outside of that which was on the cars door handles. We had twos tone painting and the pubic liked t, There are infinitel ynore possibtlt. ties with three-tone painting. xt should be very popular"
 One manufacturer, Walker said, experlmented with plastl.gold paint and reported encouraging 70. suits. The paint was used on the grille, for strips along the doors, steering wheel parts and for extes rior and interior trim. Walker said the use of paints and decorative plastics in the interior of new cars would be Q safety feature. Use of chromium for dressing up . ears interior, he said, can Dc c hazard to safe driving with bright sun over- head.
 Sees All-Plastlc Body
 Paints which give the eRect of chrome, the designer, said, usually have had an application ot aluml. nun and consequently they, too, VIII be tNboo after Dec. i6.
 Coating the large, once glistening nub caps with Q paint correapcnd.. Ing to body color or accentuated trim color should give Q pleasing ef- feet to new car purchasers, accord. tng to walker.
 walker is hopeful that some day Var manufacturers will turn to . sar with an ali-plastic body. How ever, he believes the trend toward Ereater use of plastics will be grad- val, although 1t doubtless will be Vtimviated by the pinch on strategic materials needed for armament pros ductscn. As 6 forerunner he hes of.' offered an air-conditioned, eteel- bodied car with . clear plastic roof. The plastic excludes harmful mira. red rays and permits entrance of healthIul violet rays. Air condition. lngs he said, elimites need for nov. able windows.