Evening star. [volume], January 31, 1932, Page 18, Image 112

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
1932 AUTOS MAKE
BID FOR BUSINESS
Dependability and Comfort
Among Many Re
finements.
(Continued Prqm_Fourteenth Page.>_
at all forward speeds and locks auto
matically when reverse gear is used.
Windshields are slanting, fenders are
flaring and deeply crowned, forming,
with the low-crowned running board, an
unbroken line. Custom bodies have
been designed by eight coachmakers
for the V-12 chassis in all body lines.
Engines are mounted in rubber on three
points and have a thermostatic tem
perature control, down-draft carbu
retors fitted with Intake silencers and
air cleaners.
MARMON
The feature of the Marmon line is
the 200-horsepower l(i-cylinder car.
Marmon also introduces a new straight
eight of 125 horsepower. The new
eight has automatic clutch, free wheel
ing, ride regulator and synchro-shift
transmission. It will be available in
six regular and de luxe body styles on
wheelbase of 125 inches.
Of low and wide construction, the
new eights have slanting V-shapcd
radiators, sloping windshields, long,
high hoods and sweeping full crown
fenders. Instruments have been placed
in a group at the left side of the panel.
The engine has an unusually high ratio
of power to weight, is of L-head design
and is cushioned in rubber.
Improvements and refinements mark
the 16-cylinder Marmon. with the en
gine the same as that which won for
Howard Marmon a medal for notable
achievement. It develops 200 horse
power at 3.400 revolutions. The car
has a wheelbase of 145 inches. Bodies
are designed by Teague and are said to
minimize wind resistance.
NASH
Nesh has introduced three 8-cylinder
Jtnes and one 6-cylinder car, which it
•ontlnues for 1933 The six comes in
Jive body styles, while the eights come
® all the popular body lines. ,
The big Nash eight continues the
double ignition system which has been
a feature of the line for several years,
has V-type radiator, synchro-safety shift
transmission and optional free wheeling
at an added price. Nash has made a
feature of complete soundproofing of
body and chassis in all models.
The six turns up 65 horsepower at
8,200 revolutions, has optional free
wheeling at extra cost, parking lamps
en front fenders, rubber insulated
shackles and svnchro-safety shift trans
mission. The series 970 eight develops
78 horsepower at 3,300 revolutions, has
mechanical brakes, fuel pump and the
same transmission and optional free
wheeling. The 990 eight has automatic
chassis lubrication, parking lamps on
front fenders, electric clock in the in
strument panel, silent second transmis
sion and an engine which develops 115
horsepower at 3.600 revolutions. Ail
the Nash engines are built by Nash.
OLDSMOBILE
Oldsmobile brings to the show an im
proved six and a new straight eight.
Both lines are mounted on wheelbase
of 116 >2 inches and have such new de
velopments as free wheeling, synchro
mesh transmission, silent second gear
and ride control of shock absorbers. j
Both engines have a new decarbon- j
izer unit, while another feature is an
automatic choke, which gives the
proper mixture at all times and pre
rents carburetor flooding. Like the 1931
Oldsmobile. an arrangement is contin
ued by which the throttle is advanced
to a fast "idling speed" when the
starter pedal is depressed.
The engines have high-compression
cylinder head, automatic heat control,
oil temperature regulator, down-draft
carburetion and rubber mounting. The
eight-cylinder power plant employs dual
carburetion and manifolding. The
eight-cylinder power plant develops 87
horsepower, while that of the six turns
up 74 horsepower. The price difference
between the two lines is $100. Bodies
are streamlined, the hood is of new de
sign and a single-bar bumper is used.
PACKARD
Packard introduces two new cars, a
light eight and a twin-six, and also
continues presentation of its standard
»nri de luxe eights. The same company
which brought out the first 12-cylin
der engine back in 1915 now comes out
with a vastly improved twin-six as the
leader of the Packard line. A new type
of synchro-mesh transmission, in which
the three forward speeds are said to be
silent, marks all four cars. The cars
also have ride control, first introduced
by Packard, and -finger control" free
wheeling. The engine of the twin-six,
whose cylinders are set at an angle of
6 7 degrees, is said to turn up 150 horse
power: that of the light eight is said
to develop 110 horsepower; that of the
standard eight more than 110 horse
power and of the de luxe eight 135
horsepower.
The twin-six is similar in appearance
to the de luxe eight, with a slightly
different radiator. An unusual radiator
design marks the light eight, with a
radiator narrowing down to a curve
forward at the bottom and merging
with the front fender. A novel rear
axle design is said to reduce car height
and give greater road clearance. Shat
terproof glass is used throughout and
all cars are insulated against heat, cold
and noise. Springs are metal-covered I
and permanently lubricated.
PIERCE ARROW
Pierce-Arrow introduces a new 12
evlinder car in two groups and a re
designed eight. The twelves, 140 and
150 horsepower, come in 17 body styles,
while the eight is in 12 body types.
The cars have improved free wheeling,
operating in all forward speeds, and
transmission has silent synchro-mesh
gear shift. Ride control and an auto
matic starting system also are featured.
Radiators are deep and slender, of V
tvpe design, while the external lines,
although retaining certain traditional
Pierec-Arrow features, are new, with
flowing ar.d merging lines and rounded
contours.
Extreme body rigidity is said to be
promoted by the box girder chassis
frame. Engines of the twelves have
high-compression ratios and do not
require anti-knock fuels. Cylinders are
cast in two blocks.
Pierce-Arrow has taken special care
to insulate against noise, heat and
cold and vibration. The body is insu
lated from the frame by cork-covered
mountings, while door and body panels
are felt lined and in tire chassis pro
visions have been made for greater
quiet. Engines are mounted in rubber,
spring shackles are ball-bearing and a
double muffler is used.
PLYMOUTH
Plymouth again carries forward the
•‘floating power” innovation of 1931.
with such improvements this year as
free wheeling, easy shift transmission,
all-steel bodies, hydraulic brakes and
double drop frames ‘ Floating power"
d^ribcs the method of supjforting the
Southern Maryland Route
Historic points, and good fishing, too, may be reached by this highway.
—Star Staff Photo, Courtesy Ludington Lines.
i engine in a rubber mounting and is
said to curtail engine vibration by
j "perfect balance." The free-wheeling
unit is controlled by a button on the
instrument panel and the transmis
sion. of the constant-mesh type, is said
to make shifting easier and quieter.
Bodies are of heavy steel, electrically
welded Into one rigid unit, and in
sulating material has been freely used
to keep the Interior free of noise.
The cars are equipped with a new
wire steering shock eliminator, which
aids In compensating road shocks The
four-cylinder engine develops 56 horse
power at 2,800 revolutions. The car
buretor has an Intake silencer, ac
celerating pump and air cleaner.
I -
PONTIAC
i Pontiac brings to the show two new
lines of sixes and a V-eight, the latter
replacing the Oakland eight, com
panion car of Pontiac in past years.
In the new Pontiacs are incorporated
ride control and synchro-mesh trans
mission, with free wheeling and quiet I
second gear. The cars come in all j
popular body models. The engines are [
said to turn up 65 and 86 horsepower,
respectively. The chassis of the cars |
are rubber-cushioned at 47 points. The |
driver may shift to any forward speed
without using the clutch pedal in the
new Pontiac transmission, for lifting of
the foot from the accelerator auto
matically causes the free-wheeling
clutch to function. Another feature of
the new cars is a device known as the
"economizer." which meters the gaso
| line admitted to the carburetor from
the fuel tank, giving extra fuel only
after a speed of 50 miles is reached.
Full-pressure lubrication to all moving
parts is used and motor heat is con
trolled by an automatic thermostat.
Bodies are designed by Fisher and have
smooth contours and rakish lines. A
sharply V-shaped radiator front aids
in improvement in appearance, which
is further accentuated by elimination
of the head-lamp tie bar. Indicator
lamps are on the fenders and louvre
doors are used in place of narrow
ports. Standard equipment includes
twin trumpet horns and twin com
j bination tail and stop lights.
i-----1
KEO
Reo has extended this year Its de
parture from conventionality in design,
employing aero-dynamic lines through
front, roof and rear section of its cars.
Rear springs, gas tank and other
chassis elements, together with crevices
where dust and dirt might collect, are
all covered in the new Reo.
On the mechanical side the C3rs are
marked bv an automatic clutch, which
gives a form of free wheeling, available
on the Royale lines, models 31, 35 and
52. and on the Flying Cloud model 25.
Other features include cam-and-lever
steering with anti-backlash, silent sec
ond transmission and pressure-lubricat
ed crankshafts. Front springs are
shackled at the forward ends and the
rear end of the left front spring is
carried in a shock-absorbing rubber
mounting.
ROCKNE
Rockne, first introduced in December
by Rockne Motors, a subsidiary of
Studebaker, is presented in two lines,
a '•65” and a "75.” All models come
with free wheeling, synchronized shift
ing and an automatic starter, finger
tip steering, silent carburetion, self
adjusting spring shackles and hydraulic
shock absorbers. Both lines are built
in all popular body styles. The regular
models have five wire wheels with large
chromium hub caps, while the de luxe
lines have six wire wheels with two of
them mounted in fender wells. Bodies
are streamlined, with the gas tank, rear
springs and rear axle concealed by air
foil aprons. Convertible models are
offered using a new type brace to avoid
rattles. The smaller models of 110-inch
wheelbase develop 66 horsepower and
60 miles an hour. The ‘‘75" line is
mounted on wheelbase of 114 inches
with a 72-horsepower motor. Both six
cylinder engines are rubber mounted
at four points. Bodies are well in
sulated and radiators are lacquered.
Instruments are of aviation type.
#
STUDEBAKER
Three eights and a six, on three dif- *
ferent wheelbases, mark the 1932 Stude- j
baker line. The Prasident eight comes j
in a wheelbase of 135 inches, the Com- |
mander eight at 125 inches and the]
Dictator eight and Studebaker six in j
117-inch base. There are 22 models:
altogether in all body styles. Stude- I
baker, which introduced free wheeling, j
carries forward this improvement which {
now operates in all forward speeds and
uses the clutch only in starting and
stopping. The car also has automatic
starting, in which a turn of the igni
tion switch cranks the motor.
President and Commander lines have
automatic ride control with thermo
statically controlled shock absorbers
which adjust themselves for any con
dition of road surface and also are
equipped with a swing shackle to pre
vent transfer of road shocks to the ]
steering wheel. The cars have been j
redesigned in appearance, with body
lines sweeping back in an "air curve"
streamline effect and the one-piece
fenders are carried back in a long sweep
while the new' radiator has a more
wedge-shaped angle.
The President has 122 horsepower,
the Commander has 101, the Dictator
has 85 and the Studebaker Six has
80. The engines are rubber cushioned,
while automatic spark control is used.
Insulation against noise is general
throughout the line, while metal spring
covers are also standard. Windshields
and windows of all models have non
shattering glass.
STUTZ
Stutz appears with various models,
both custom and regular, in three lines.
The recently announced DV-32 chassis
carries new versions of the ‘ Bearcat”
and 'Super-Bearcat.'' which are
guaranteed to do 100 miles an hour.
Also available is a complete group of
standard and custom bodies on the new
SV-16 chassis, representing the latest
versions of the Stutz straight-eight
with a number of improvements over
their predecessors. These include free
wheeling and synchro-mesh trans
mission.
WTLLYS- KNIGHT
Willys-Knight presents two different
lines, both using the sleeve-valve
engine. Model 95 is mounted on a 113
inch wheelbase and comes in four
body models. Model 66-D is the custom
line. Interior roominess and comfort
have been carefully considered in both
cars, with velvet mohair exclusively
used. Bodies have stream-lined con
tours and V-shaped radiators.
An engine said to turn up 87 horse
power is used in the 66-D model, giv
ing top speed of 75 to 80 miles an hour
—the most powerful engine built by
the company. Wheels have been re
duced in diameter and use larger tires.
Brakes are built with larger capacity
for use with free-wheeling.
WILLYS-OVERLAND
Willys-Overland introduces a new
line of six and eight-cylinder cars,
taking the place of the former Willys.
Free-wheeling, safety shatter-proof
glass, visorless front, noise insulation,
steel running-boards and adjustable
steering column mark the new cars.
Externally the cars are lower and
longer, with smaller w-heels and larger
tires and V-shaped radiator, which is
filled from under the hood.
The six engine is said to develop 65
horsepower and 72 miles an hour. The
car has 113-inch wheelbase, and models
include five-passenger sedan and coach,
four-passenger coupe and roadster and
two-passenger coupe and roadster. The
; eight comes in all body styles with only
minor changes. All the functions of
| starting the motor, sounding the horn
I and operating the light are continued
in “finger-tip control," used last year.
Brakes have been enlarged and pedal
pressure has been reduced by 30
per cent.
•
VALUE IS KEYNOTE
OF THE 1932 AUTO
Economic Readjustment Unparal
leled Since Dawn of Motoring
Era, Says W. A. Fisher.
BY W. A. FISHFR,
President Fisher Body Corporation.
Value is the thing this year!
We shall doubtless hear the verdict
on the Automobile Show expressed in
various ways, but its general drift is
pretty likely to boil down to this. Value
certainly is the keynote of the entire
display.
At the bottom of it all, of course, is an
economic readjustment unparalleled
since the dawn of the automotive era—
an adjustment which has inspired more
comment, expert and otherwise, than
any other dozen topics of the day—but
an adjustment, nevertheless, from which
the public is finally going to “get a
break."
Probably there has never been a time
when value meant so much—when
manufacturers, not only of automobiles,
but of every other commodity, were go
ing quite so far in their efforts to raise
quality and lower price. They have had
to do it, of course. Persons forced to
readjust their spending to keep within
reduced incomes are buying only for
their needs, and applying their measures
of value more strictly than ever before.
And even those less serious affected are
regarding the dictates of good taste,
avoiding the display of wealth which
expresses itself in “swank,” and em
ploying some of their plenty, at least,
toward relief work of some sort.
It was into a greatly changed setting
that the automotive industry had to
plan the introduction of its offering for
1932. Always in close contaA with the
economic pulse of the country, motor
car manufacturers, months ago, fell
into step with the times. Several of the
new lines, reflecting these builders'
convictions on the appropriate thing
for these times, have now been out for
some weeks.
----• ---
The direction of travel was straight
ahead in more than 85 per cent of the
fatal accidents and in 78 per cent of
the non-fatal accidents, according to
the District of Columbia Division of
the American Automobile Association.
Unusual H
Opportunity
For Distributors of New
Automobile
Specialty
A revolutionary. new automobile
specialty—the beginning of another
major industry—has just been per
fected and is now being successfully
sold.
This product, the result of much
time and money spent in research,
now enables us to cope with the most
serious menace to automobile prop
erty and personal safety It lessens
accidents, insures comfort and is of
vital importance to every, automo
bile. bus. truck driver or owner.
The product is entirely new and is
manufactured and sold by a long
established concern of high rating.
Responsible parties who are able to
finance themselves as well as a dis
tributing organization are Invited to
write Only those with a successful
record in either automobile accesso
ries or electrical specialties will be
considered. Rigid investigation in
each case will be undertaken and Is
likewise invited. A visit to the
plant will readily convince.
W. A. CIBBS & SON, INC.
Delaware Ave. & Jeffrey St.
Cheiter, Pa.
GRADUAL UPWARD
IREND PREDICTED
Opinion Supported by Many
Factors, Automotive
Leader Says.
BY BYRON C. FOY,
President De Soto Motor Corporation.
Although I realize the wisdom of re
fraining from predictions, there are
several definite aspects of the automo
bile business today that so logically
point toward an upturn that I feel I
am conservative in anticipating a grad
ual but firm movement In the direction
of better business.
Many factors support this opinion.
Deferred Buying.
The volume of deferred buying in the
last two years, the reduction of the
number of cars on the road and the
depreciation of all of these as a result
of wear and tear and the absolute ne
cessity of the automobile in the pres
ent scheme of things are some of the
factors that cannot be denied in ap
praising the future of this business.
And again, viewing the future in a
more positive sense, we must respect
the fact that never in the history of
this business, already famous for the
high dollar value of its product, has
the motoring public been offered the
equal of the value presented in the 1932
automobile.
At the same time confidence—that
primary requisite for good business—is
slowly but surely being restored. Econ
omists agree that the deflation of 1930
end 1931 has adequately balanced the
pieceding inflation. Waste in industry
and laxity in management have been
corrected. We are again treading on a
solid foundation, greeted on every aide
by amazing values.
In light of this situation and In view
of the compelling attractiveness of the
new cars, I fall to see how the millions
that will attend automobile shows this
Winter can resist the values offered in
the 1932 automobile. I speak for my
company and I believe I may speak for
a good many others when I say that in
our 1932 cars we have gone the limit.
If it has ever been the practice in the
past to withhold a development or an
improvement until a ‘‘more opportune
time,” It certainly is not the case this
year.
Has Extended Itself.
The automobile Industry has extended
itself to build into its 1932 offerings
every practical development on the ho
rizon and it has applied itself equally
to the problem of keeping prices down
to the bare minimum.
If ever there was a buyers’ market in
the field of individual transportation, it
is this year, and although I feel that
this industry will continue to set the
pace for all others in the dollar value
of its product, frankly I cannot envi
sion an occasion in the future when
the automobile buyer will get more for
his money than he does today.
I believe that the motoring public
will take advantage of the opportunity,
partially because they will recognize
that it will be good business to grasp
the opportunity to obtain the biggest
dollar’s worth of automobile ever of
fered.
SKYSCRAPER IDEAS
The box-girder type of structural
steel work, which has been responsible
for ability to erect buildings of 100
stories and more, Is being adopted
rapidly by automobile manufacturers
to stiffen the new 1932 bodies and
I chassis. Engineers who work in struc
tural steel, it is pointed out, know that
the box section is the strongest and
most rigid possible to use, even a thin
piece of steel bent into a box form
being able to support many times the
load it could carry if it were formed
in any other way.
GAS TAX REVENUES INCREASED
AS 1931 RATES WERE ADVANCED
Fuel Levies Collected by States Approxi
mated $525,000,000 as 14 States
Seek Higher Tolls.
Gasoline taxation came In for a lot
of attention during 1931. from legisla
tors. administrators, and lastly from
users.
Consumption increased nearly 5 per
cent to a new peak total.
Rates and collections both advanced
Evasions and exemptions grew large
enough to be troublesome.
The menace of growing diversion was
foreshadowed.
The 1931 total collection of gasoline
taxes is expected to be in neighbor
hood of $525,000,000, passing the half
billion mark for the first time, and ex
ceeding by almost $200,000,000 the re
ceipts from license fees.
Last year was the third in which
gasoline taxes have been greater than
the registration receipts, equalling in
1930 approximately 30 per cent of all
highway expenditures.
Higher Rate* General.
Every State Legislature meeting in
1931 had before it the question of gas
oline taxation. Many of the rates were
advanced, some for highways, some for
general treasury use.
Ten States bespoke an increase of
one cent per gallon, two States obtained
two cents more; while two States tacked
on half a cent additional.
Two States—Florida and Tennessee
—raised the total tax to seven cents,
which is equal to the cost of gasoline
in many cities.
Four States now' boast a six cent
rate; one a 5>2 cent rate; ten are in
the nickel class; 16 collect four cents
per gallon, eleven take three cents,
while the remaining four and the Dls
trict of Columbia are still satisfied with
two cents, Missouri may soon be the
only State in the latter classification,
bound by constitutional amendment not
to raise the two cent rate before 1938.
Other legislatures have eased their
consciences by making promises of
future reductions. Oklahoma's five cent
rate reverted to four cents on December
31st of last year; Arizona intends to
maintain a five cent rate until January
1, 1933, when it reverts to four cents.
Massachusetts, now collecting a three
cent tax will act on a referendum in
September, 1932, which calls for a five
cent tax. Whatever the rate after that
date, it is to run until April 30, 1933,
and then drop back to two cents. Mon
tana looks ahead ten years to March
31, 1941, when the five cent tax is to
be reduced to three cents.
Evasions Localized.
Several Midwestern States experi
enced serious attempts at evasion of
the State tax of "bootlegging" of blended
mixtures of gasoline, kerosene and
cheap distillates, and by actual fraudu
lent practices in consignment. Other
States found some evasion of the tax
at their borders The problem seems to
be a child of 1931. perhaps abetted by
the depression. The rate of tax does
not appear to be as important a factor
as lax administration, concentrated ■
demand and ease of sale.
A check between the United States
Bureau of Mines figures on indicated
total gasoline consumption in the pre
ceding year of 1930 and the United
States Bureau of Public Roads figures
on gasoline taxes indicate that only a
small portion of the total escaped tax
ation In that year. This is assuming
that 90 per cent of all gasoline con
sumed is used in motor vehicles.
About 95 per cent of the gasoline tax
money is used on State and country
roads for the servicing of State and
country bond issues, or for city streets.
Gasoline taxes, combined with the
registration taxes, were pledged in 1930
to retire 94 per cent of the State high
way bonds issued.
Comparing gasoline tax collections
for the first six months of 1930 and
1931 respectively, there is to be noted
an Increase from $6,000,000 to $10,080,
000 In the amount used on city streets.
For miscellaneous purposes, ranging
from school funds to oyster propaga
tion, the increase was from $7,000 000
to $10,000,000.
In Florida the one cent increase is
all to be turned over to the general
fund. In many other States there was
active agitation in the 1931 Legislatures
not only to Increase the tax, but to use
It for general revenue purposes.
Exemptions came in wltn their ghaie
of trouble. One State reported refunds
amounting to 40 per cent of their total
collections while the State of Montana
handed back 25 per cent of the amount
obtained by virtue of her five cent rate.
The average tax collection per vehicle
amounted in 1930 to $18 60 per vehicle
on the basis or 556 gallons at an a»«r
age rate of 3.35 cents. The "painl*-"
process" apparently caused the user to
forget that he was taken for a sum
$5 00 in excess of his registration tax
which was paid in one lump.
Faced by Dangers.
The- dangers facing gasoline tax
administration are many and serious.
The rates have already been Increased
so high in some instances that they
actually return little more than lower
rates. Use of the vehicle is curtailed.
Evasion, directly, or through the ex
emption clauses is encouraged.
Diversion is constant menace.
The dependence of State and local
highway programs upon gasoline tax
revenues is so great that every possible
precaution should be taken to earmark
these revenues for road use. Their
application to other purposes cannot be
justified, considering the peculiarly
special nature of the tax levy.
AT THE AUTOMOBILE SHOW
TWO NEW LINCOLNS
The New Lincoln V-8 . . . 5-eajjenger Sedan — $3200 at Detroit
The new Lincolns are note on display at the Automobile Show'. . . . W ith the same high standards governing the build
ing of both, the 12 cylinder Lincoln and the new 8 cylinder Lincoln are advanced expressions of the ideal of their
maker ... to build a motor car as nearly perfect as it is humanly possible to make it. The Lincoln 12 with new beauty
and new mechanical refinements has an immediate appeal to those who desire the ultimate in automobile transportation.
It is priced at Detroit from $4300 for the Sport Touring. The Lincoln 8, with 136-inch wheelbase, priced from $2900 at
Detroit for the Roadster, now offers the satisfaction of Lincoln ownership to a greater number of people. Roth these new
Lincolns are built without distinction as to mechanical quality . . . with painstaking workmanship, with careful selection
of materials, and with methods of construction that have won for Lincoln the name of the precision-built motor car
The New Lincoln V-12 . . . 7-passenger Sedan — $4700 at Detroit
THE NEW LINCOLN V-8 AND THE LINCOLN V-12, IN A VARIETY OF BODY TYPES, ARE
ON DISPLAY AT THE AUTOMOBILE SHOW, WASHINGTON AUDITORIUM, 19th AND E
STREETS NORTHWEST, FROM JANUARY 30th TO FEBRUARY 6th, UNDER THE AUSPICES
OF THE WARFIELD MOTOR COMPANY