Evening star., 1952-02-24
keep up IndI IdF BODY
By Constant Attention;
Itpays 0f'in The End
Dy Carter Walker


The average car now 10 nearly
nine years old and the motoring
public ID beginning 10 discover O
real problem In knowing how 10
care for the cars externais.
Many q chassis ID outlasting the
body. Many 0 motor is running
smoothly beneath 0 hood that
looks neglected and battle-Scarred.
Nor 10 10 o problem exclusively
for those who And II necessary To-
keep O car longer than average.
Owners OF the new convertihles
face II.
40 do buyers Of models with the
cheapened bright work." Time
has demonstrated, and will dem.
onstrate even more torcihly In the
future. that II Is more costly to-
neglect the cars body than It's
mechanical parts. The latter are
more easily repaired and replaced.
Must Keep ut II.
II isn't too difficult to keep the
externals from deteriorating, but
the owner must keep everlaStingly
at 1t. Starting with waxing Of the
entire car, including the chrome
finish. he must make provision for
giving the body weather protection
whenever possible.
II he must park the car In the
open during the day he can COM
pensate for this by garaging for
longer periods when this Ii pos.
sihie. 1t ID merely inviting O re.
painting. for instance, to let the
car stand out In the driveway Set.
urdays and Sundays. i.
The fieighbofs know how beautiS
ful II IL, and II they are sensible
they W0uid like TO see it kept upI
to par. Every faif1st0rff1 the car
is spared IL just that much Oh the
right side OF the ledger.
AVeid the need for washing the
ear by trying TO drive "eieafl" &
didh't slew down when appFeaehu
Inc O puddle the ether day and
caught q huee splash from the
wheels OF another ear My ear
has 10 be washed, Soaps and de-
tePeehts tend 10 soften the wan
and make II less effective In pFes
teetihg the hhlsh and In pFeseFVr
lna that neWseaF leekr
Cold or tepid water IA best for
washing, USING one OF the syn
thetie spanaes for cleaning and a
cheap bath towel for wlping the
ear dry, Start with the tewel wet
and well wTung out with q hand
WFlnger,
II the car Ia 10 be kept q long
time II 10 we'll to enjoy Its original
upholstery for o few years, follow
Ing the manufacturers advice re-
garding cleaning, Then install
slip covers and use them for 0 few
years. When the covers are again
taken on the car will take on O
new and smart look, Then when
the upholstery becomes shabby you
can buy 0 set OF cheap slip covers
for the Anal run. u Ia not good
policy TO cover the cars original
upholstery Immediately. II will
mat down O lot. u may even be.
come damaged.
But cover the hocr covering with
rubber mats. They should be
washed occasionally. Use OF O
hand vacuum cleaner or one with
q hose and fixture will do O lot to
keep dirt out OF the many places
on the inside OF the car. Watch
out for signs OF moisture on the
flooring from leaks around doors
and windows. This may rot the
flooring.
"Clean" Car Sells.
Used-car men speak Of O salableI
car as o clean" car. They mean oil
Job that looks as II II had BEEN
properly cared for. It Is surpris-
Ing how much more this adds TO
the price Of O used car than the
condition Of Its motor or other
mechanical parts. Owners OF con-
vertihles will find that their best
bet Is to avoid leaving the car out
In heavy rains II there Is any way
to garage them. The less the top
is put down the better. i
These tops should be kept clean
by occasionally brushing with a.