The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-11-19

Studebakers will be nine per cent higher: General Motors products (Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac 2.5 per cent lower: and Chrysler products Ply mouth, Dodge, De Soto and Chrys- ler) about one per cent higher.
 Prices still were being prepared
 Preparations Not Complete on Packards, Nashes and Hudsons.
 The OPA did not explain specifi- cally why average General Motors prices would be lowered while others were increased. It said only that the move was indicated by in- formation submitted by GM itself.
 Price Chief Chester Bowles said that average factory prices would be 3.5 per cent higher than in 1922. But to the buying public he gave this assurance:
 This increase in factory prices will not be passed through to the car buyer. Dealers normal pre- war initial margins will be uniform ly reduced by 2.5 percentage points, which will assure the 1942 retail prices on the average for all cars. Because of the elimination or re- duction in the losses which they formerly were forced to take on used cars, dealers are, however, as- sured margins considerably above those actually realized before the war"
 Figures Are FOB.
 Bowles did not entirely forbid General Motors price increases. He ruled that in the case of GM and other companies whose specific prices have not been fixed, slight increases will be allowed to cover the cost of improvements in struc- ture and design.
 Following are the specific FOB Detroit prices already fixed. They do not include added cost of taxes handling and preparation, trans portation to showroom or specia! acessories, etc. The figures in parenthesis are the best available costs of comparable cars in l942
 Ford De Luxe models-three pas senger coupe. $934 ($815) Tudor Sedan, S882 ($e50 Fordor Sedan $93l ($885); Super De Luxe models: three passenger coupe, $89l ($860) ; Tudor Sedan, $940 ($895); Fordor Sedan $989 (($C930); Sedan Coupe $977 C$920).
 Studebaker-four door Cruising Sedan, $967 ($839): two door Club Sedan, S918 (S809); five passenger Double Dater Coupe, $9l6 ($804) ; and three passenger business coupe $977 (S779).
 Depends on Distance
 When taxes, transportation costs etc, are added, the $93l Ford De Luxe Fordor Sedan would cost 8 buyer in Washington. D. C., S1 ,056 That would be greater or smaller ir other cities, depending on the dis. tance from Detroit.
 The price and policy announce ment was certain to bring a new storm of protest from retail auto dealers who must absorb most of the increased manufacturing rises. They already have appealed to Congress against what they term move tc drive them out of business.
 The automobile industry, which has been demanding price boosts ranging from six to 50 per cert to cover higher production costs, re- ceived the OPA announcement cau- tiously. Typical was the comment of Ford official:
 Companies Delay Data
 we don't know how the OPA fig- ures those prices, we don't know what elements of the cost structure it took into account, or why. and we certainly can't say whether we think the prices are fair or not until we know"
 BoWles accused all companies ex- cept Ford and Studebaker of delay ing the announcement of new prices by refusing to submit their cost data earlier.
 While waiting for other specific ceilings to be announced, potential buyers can get a general idea by re- ferring to the following 1942 list prices, P. O. B. Detroit, and bearing in mind OPA's plan that GM pro- ducts will be about 2.5 per cent lower and Chrysler products about one per cent higher;
 Chevrolet - $920 for the Fleetline Sportsmaster four-door sedan, $79C for the five passenger Stylmastel coup, $8l5 for the Fleetmaster bus mess coupe, and $1,080 for the Fleetmaster Cabriolet or convertible coupe.
 Oldsmobile - $915 for the six cyl finder business coupe, $l ,005 for the four-door, six cylinder Town Sedan; $1 ,045 for the eight-cylinder four door sedan.
 Plymouth - $935 for the Deluxe four-door Sedan, $850 for the Stand ard two-door Sedan, and $l,078 for the Deluxe convertible Coupe.
 Buick $l,26O fo rthe special 4C convertible coupe, $l,465 for the four-doo Roadmaster touring sedan: and $2,545 for the 90 Limited four-door limousine,
 De Soto - $l,103 for the four door sedan, $1 ,092 for the Club coupe Gall prices for smaller De Soto models)
 Chrysler-$1,l77 for the four-dooI sedan, $l,154 for the two-door sedan $l, 168 for the Club coupe Gall prices for the smaller Chrysler models). --------------- 0