Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-23
.Mardi GrasAir
Sets Off Cars
Worth Millions
Makers Feeling Out
Public With Roey
Experimental Models

car would run, people have
looked at new models and con.
cluded the ultimate has been
reached.
With awe in their voices, envy
in their hearts; one hand caress-
ing a sleek fender and the other
clutching a check book, they
were convinced the automobile
couldn't be made any better-or
better looking.
This is the year of the big
surprise.
Lined up in glittering, grace
ful array over the National
Guard Armory's two-acre floor
for the 1858 Washington Auto
mobile Show are 1874 reasons
why. The 1853 models from
American factories and from
four European countries are
worth about So million, and the
figure doesn't include the expert
mental models so new they don't
even have a price tag.
Purpose Of Experimentals.
1t is the experimentals which
put the delectable icing on. this
years automotive cake. The cake
itself is a mixture of stepped-up
horsepower, driver conveniences
and comfort and sleeker, lower
lines. but the '"feeler" cars are
the sparkling stars of the show.
There is a sincere purpose be.
hind their production. Manu-
facturers want to know how the
public will accept such a marked
innovation. They don't intend
tooling up with millions of dol
lars only to learn they couldn't
sell enough of them to even get
their money back.
Dick Murphy, a veteran in
Washington automobile circles
and until last year the manager
OF % Washington Automobile
shows, puts it this way:
Those experimental cars are
here for purpose. The manu-
facturer is watching closely and
listening to the remarks as the
crowds mill past; stop and stare.
I'd venture to say they're taking
notes on the comments, good
or bad"
Assuming Mr.. Murphy is right.
the note-takers are busy. In the
first two days of the show, now
managed by his son, Mike MUIR
ply, more than 10000 persons
have thronged the Armory, all
OF them tugged inevitably to-
ward the experimental cars.
Only one of them, the KAISER
Frazer DKF-161 plastic-body
sports car, has been announced
definitely for sale with limited
production scheduled to start in
early summer. Officials won't
even discuss its price, but a
dealer will take your order today
II you feel the urge-and you
will.
Glass Fiber Reinforced.
Cadillac. Oldsmobile, Pontiac.
Packard, Chevrolet and Chrys-
Ter are out in the sports car line
in addition to Kaiser and all
have glass fiber reinforced
plastic bodies with the exception
of Pontiac's La Parisienne.
Goggle-eyed showgoers expect
breath-taking creations from the
luxury car builders, but Chevro-
let's Corvette is proving one Of
the amazing productions of the
year.
The steadily increasing flow of
European sports cars into the
American field is one of the rea-
sons for the new experimental
productions.
The imports are right in there
bidding in this years show-the
Mercedes Benz and the Porsche;
the Jaguar, Austin, Hillman,
Renault and Anglia.
Prices?
For a Cadillac Ell Dorado such
as President Eisenhower rode
back from his inaugural, they're
$7,976.27. which includes
$3.50 worth of anti-freeze. The
Benz, next highest
priced creation on the floor, is
about $1,000. That includes a
1920 radio.
At the other extreme, there is
the Renault at $1,395, boasting
As miles to the gallon and the
German Volkswagen at $1,455
with heater.
Ease and Comfort.
Ease and comfort-and for the
most part. longer, lower lines
mark the standard American
productions in the 1853 lines.
Conveniences range from air
conditioning at some $500 extra
10 power brakes. power steering.
automatic light DINNERS and
electrically adjusted seats.
The elder Mr.. Murphy dwelt
IN these factors, declaring that
there are three things which
come to an automobile buyers
mind when he gets ready to take
IN new one. In this order, they
ire Ia safety; (b) appearance,
and Co economy-in original in.
1estment. gas and tire mileage.
Cost is third, you'll note" said
Mr.. Murphy. 1T should be first,
tut it isn't" Manufacturers
rnow this, he continued, "but
hey're merely giving the public
What it wants"
In the old days, he said, the
lrst thing salesman had to do
vas to prove his car would run.
In the first New York show in
903. they ran the cars around a
mall track to prove that point"
Assured of that fact. the
1otoring public then wanted
(see SHOW. Page $50