The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1944-02-10
Experts Forecast Production
of '0rdinory Cars After War
Dream Models Impractical. Manufacturers
Soy; Higher Prices for Automobiles Seen

| ton of the Society Of Automo-
tive Engineers in Detroit prob
ably are in possession of as
much knowledge as anybody to
give the most accurate infor-
nation
Here's what they say:
First, as to when the indus
try is likely to resume produc-
ton of automobiles for civilians,
on a large scale:
mot until the war ends" says
William Stubs James, new
sac president, chief research
engineer of Studebaker Corp,
South Bend, Ind. "Of course,
there may be some small-scale
production for civilians before
then. The industry has no plans
at present for resumption Of
civilian production on a large
scale"
What kind of cars will those
first peacetime automobiles be?
Probably 1912 models says
James.
mot a dream car" says Ed
gard c. DeSmet, executive en-
gineer of WHY'S Overland Mo-
tors, Inc, Toledo, o. mot a
super-super job selling for'S400,
with tear-drop body design,
}, rear-epgine mounting and all
those other fancy features
you've read so much about. The
dream car is masterpiece of
creative imagery, but a manu-
featuring impossibility. 1t will
most likely be just an ordinary
car. The American public will
not pay excessive premiums for
intangible features and ques-
tionable improvements. Neither
will they be willing to sacrifice
practicability, safety and fun
damental habits and standards
for the sake Of fulfilling pre-
dictions of untimely prophets"
But William B. Stout, noted
aviation engineer and designer,
says: "DeSmet is talking about
this from the industry's view
point, but if the automobile in
dustry is going to continue In the
transportation business 1t must
undertake more research than
ever before. There's a lot we
don't know about automobiles.
Aviation has taken transporta-
ton as far ahead Of automobiles
as automobiles took transport
tation ahead of the railroads"
Says William D. Hoey, of Gen.
eral Motors Research, speaking
of plastics: Industry hasn't
gotten to the point Of large
stressed parts, but II can expect
larger applications Of plastics for
functional uses In the postwar
car. So far. plastics all have
served for decorative gadgets."
Says N. c. Barnes, of Alumni
mum Co. of America: Doors,
hood covers and a number of
panels in automobiles are get
ting heavier and heavier. Be-
cause aluminium prices are cas-
ing downward, the use of alum
mum in body parts of the post
war car will increase"
And what will the postwar
car cost?
Says James: Nobody can
even guess, but we can guess in
what direction prices will 60
and that is - up. II we were to
start building cars right now,
they probably would sell for 20
to Is per cent higher. It's almost
certain that they will cost more
than they did before we got into
the war"
On this point, DeSmet says:
THE fundamental factor which
will govern postwar industry,
just as it governed pre-war &C.
tivities, is cost. II is unfair and
unwise to lead the public into
believing that the day after Vic
tory Day or very soon there
after, they can be assured of en-
tirely new products, possessing
miraculous features, at ridicu-
lousy low prices"