Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1951-02-09

by the styling section of General Mo
what the future might hold for them
Harley j. Earl, GIN vice presi-
dent in charge of styling, said the
new vehicle will bear the symbolic
name of lie Sabre. In development
four years, LIE Sabre will be
Laboratory on wheels" for testing
both mechanical and styling ideas
that designers have sketched on
drawing boards and discussed in
engineering shoptalk.
"ThiS is the car of the future
only in the sense that some of its
design or mechanical features may
appear some day in standard mo-
torcars," Mr. Earl said.
''Le Sabre is purely experimental.
Actually, it is the second car of
its kind, the advanced counterpart
of an experimental car we built
IL years ago for the same reason
to find out whether some of our
futuristic ideas would pay off on
the road" he declared.
Mr.. Earl's 1888 experimental car
was equipped with a number of
styling and mechanical innovations
considered advanced at that time.
But they appeared, sometimes in
modified form. on later production
models.
1t was the first American styled
car on public display with electri-
cally controlled convertible top and
door windows, curved glass door
windows, pushbutton door latches
inside and out, low vertical front
grille, fender extensions over the
doors and tail lamps recessed in
the rear tenders.
Details of the hood and fender
treatment also appeared in the de-
sign of subsequent General Motors
production cars.
1--WE didn't know in 1889 what
features of cur first experimental
car would be used-or abandoned
as we developed our styling since
that time" Mr.. Earl declared.
"By the same token, it is i'm
possible to say now what innova-
tons we are testing in LIE Sabre
may be used stylewise or mechan-
ically in future production models, y
he said.
300 Horsepower Engine
He pointed out that materials
used in LIE Sabre, such as magne-
SUM and aluminium alloys, would
be untouchable from a cost stand
point in current production models.
LIE Sabre will be powered by
an experimental VS. engine with
1O-to-l compression ratio plus
supercharge. Its dual fuel sys-
tenn will utilize current pre-
MUM fuels and methyl alco-
hol (me. .lanoD. Methyl alcohol
will be injected into the combus-
ton chambers through the car
buretor at a certain level of
the speed range for extra power
boost.
The engine, still undergoing tests
Is expected to develop more than
300 horsepower with supercharger
Stroke and bore will be ga by 3A
inches. Piston displacement will be
2l5 cubic inches.
Engine weight is expected to to,
tai 500 pounds. Horsepower tc
weight ratio, as yet undetermined
is expected to be remarkably high
in comparison with standard pro
duction vehicles.
LIE Sabre's total weight is ex
pected to be in the neighborhood Of
5000 pounds. The low weight factor
is attributed to use of heat-treateC
magnesium and aluminium alloys
In body and engine construction.
The body is only 1874 inches high
at the cowl and so inches high witt
the convertible top raised. Wheel
base is lis inches and overall length
is 200 inches. Overall width at the
front tenders is 1914 inches.
The top section of the front grilit
Is part of the lighting system. Whcr
the front lamps are turned on, the
grille revolves out of sight and {
pair of close set headlights, fittec
on the reverse side of the grille
swings into place.
Beneath the headlight-grille as
sembly is the radiator air intake
An inverted Y-shape bar protects