AMERICAN CARS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18923, 11 February 1927, Page 5

AMERICAN CARS.

NEW MODELS. (FROM our own correspondent.) SAX FRANCISCO, January 10. 'With the wholo nation intensely interested in motor development, the public invaded the Twenty-Seventh Annual National Automobile Show, which opened in New York on Saturday, January Bth and forty-five passenger cur makers show some 300 models, of which about 100 were being exhibited for the first time. 'When the doors swung open at 2 o'clock in tho afternoon tho waiting crowds thronged into the Grand Central Palace looking to the right and left for that new car or new lino of cars that they had heard talked of for the last few weeks. Seekers of "something entirely new" were satisfied, for they found eight entirely new cars that were making their initial appearance before the public. Then thero wero four score or more new models. Nearly every maker had exerted himself to have some outstanding offering for the public's demand and nearly a dozen have revamped their ontire lines, showing that countless millions of money had been expended in the various factories by remodelling cars and mnking increased bids to tho public for patronage. The dealers who wero in tho crowd were searching for prices. They found three big price cuts, Chevrolet having been announced a few days previously. This 10 dollars to 50 dollars slash was met by the Whippet four with a similar. sum, and Paigo had cut most of its sixes about 100 dollars. Hudson, with a brand new lino, and much added equipment, was asking about 90 dollars more. Essex with much similar added equipment, was at the 'samo price. Four New Sixes. The entire new sixes wero Whippet six,"Peerless six, Erskino six, and Reo Flying Cloud. Tho eights were Chandler eight, Paige eight, Stcarns-Knight eight, and Marmon eight. Complete new lines wero offered by Auburn six and eight, Star four and six, Hudson, Essex, Chevrolet, and Oldsmobile, equipped with four-wheel brakos. There wero two Nash enclosed models with French lines. Hudson had fourwheel brakes. Each of tho forty-five manufacturers- had something now on cars. Most of them wero putting over their now stories with cut away chassis, beautifully polished and oven nickelplated. Changes in mechanical construction wero abundant. In every case tho chango was classified as an improvement. Hudson has an entirely new motor, which is installed with an Ftype head; that is, tho intako valves aro now located in tho head of tho motor, and tho exhaust at tho is tho only motor of its kind in America. The frame has been redesigned so that tho centro of gravity is four inches lower. Tho coach model is offered at about 90 dollars increaso in price added to cars for the additional equipment. Thero aro threo other models shown, which aro custoni-built. They are* a brougham, five-passenger sedan, and seven-passen-ger sedan. Essex Changed. Tho Essex lino has gone through tho greater outward chango of the two. Tho radiator is higher and rounded. Tho ear retains tho sumo wheel baso and many features of tho 1926 model. Essex engineers stated that it was capablo of doing fifty mifcs all day long without injury to motor, and could attain u much greater maximum speed. Tho Hudson claim for constant running without motor injury was seventy miles and a maximum speod of oiglity miles an hour. Both cars nro known as super-sixes. Tho Dodgo lino featured tho many improvements which havo been added from time to timo during tho past few months such as a fivebearing crank shaft, single plato clutch, and two-unit electrical system. Tho models remain tho same and wear many new and attractive colour combinations. Tho Dodgo company will havo for sale u complete lino of six-cylinder cars as an auxiliary lino to tho present fours early next summer. The now cars recently introduced by tho Chovrolct company commanded much attention amoug the visitors. Tho 1927 Chovrolots have had ono new model, a short cabriolet added. Some of tho standard features on the new Chevrolets added in tho face of prico cuts mado a fow days previously arc: A.C. air cleaner, an oil filter, balloon tyreß, newly designed radiator shell, heavier running boards, larger steering wheel and coincidental ignition and steering lock. Smaller Wheels. Tho Oldsmobilo lino has four-wheel brakes added. Another featuro has been smaller wheels and larger balloon tyres, setting tho cars off much better and making sovcral of the models in the now line decidedly beautiful motorenrs. Oaklahd and Pontiao.showed fow changes, but some attractive colour combinations were in ovidenco at tho display of the two lines. Paige got a crowd around its display with the new eight-cylinder model 8-85, which were shown in two five-passenger sedans only. Tho outstanding feature of these two cars was a Warner-ili-Flcx. four-speed transmission. The new eight will be ready for sale to the public early in tho summer. The smallest cars built by this company aro now called Paige 6-4os. T other lines, tho Paigo 6-7j and tho Paige 6 OS, were also shown. In tho 6-75 and 6-45 exhibits tho features were cut-away chassis. . Auburn was showing a new lino of six-cvlinder models on tho 1-0-inc wheel base, new straight eight on 123-inch wheel base, with a claim of 7& miles per hour speed and a now straight eight on a 130-inch wheel base for which 80 miles per hour was claimed. Improvements ant' refinements in the line were numerous. Thero was also a seven-passenger sedan on a 147-mcn wheel base. The Marmon eight drew a large crowd of admirers. The new line is a miniature of the big sis Marmon. A person of better than average height can just see over the top of the sedan. The wheel baso is 116 inches and the motor is a tiny affair with only - ana 7-Bth inch pistons. New Marmon Models. The big six Marmon is known as Series 75. A four-passenger speedster,

Victoria coupe, coupe, and seven-pas-senger custom-built sedan, woro also shown. Thero wero also custom-built models shown in tho littlo Marmon line. Besides thero wero many of the modols that wero shown recently at tho Now York salon. Moon Bhowcd a six-sixty roadster, cabriolet and' royal sedan. In tho Diana lino thero were four-door sodans and a brougham. Tho principal clmngos in the Moon consisted of tho addition of a thermostatic water control, new crank case, a ventilator, windshield wiper, air cleaner, and oil purifier. Buick showed six entirely new models. Among tAo • now body styles wero a town bougham, do luxo five-passenger sedan, convertible coupe, sport roadster, and touring modols on tho scries 115 chassis. The Toumcres wero also of tho do luxo type, having special upholstory, natural wood wheels, and two-tone colouring. Cadillac went the whole way to havo tho most beautiful array of cars at tho show. Great interest attached to the Cadillac exhibit because of the wide rango of body types and colour combinations recently announced by this manufacturer. The mechanical features of tho car were exhibited in a cut-away chassis. There were four Fisher built bodies on display and a Fleetwood Town cabriolet. Nash got a big crowd with brand now enclosed models, tho Ambassador and Cavalier. Those two cars were entirely new in design, having a French type back with forward sweeping rear contour and French type roof. The visitors regarded them as exponents of an entirely new trend in fine car style. Completely Changed. The Star car went into its fifth national show completely changed from tho first model that the public ever saw. Even the nameplate had been changed. Tho Star line offered twelve distinctive models. Fivo wero fourcylinder powered cars, and seven sixcylinder powered. The Erskino six, introduced to America from Paris, was given its first showing in tho United States at tho New York show. It is known as a 2 1-3 litre car, and was shown in four models; custom sedan for five, touring car, also for five passengers; custom coupo with Bumble seat and a two-passenger business coupe. All of the bodies wero designed by a custom body builder. The roof line of the sedan is only G7J inches from the ground. Tho motor is n sixcylinder forty-horse-power L-head power plant of 146.1 cubic inch displacement. A sustained speed of 60 miles an hour is claimed for the car. Tho Studebaker Corporation, builders of Erskino Six, also showed its complete line of custom built bodies on tho Studebaker chassis. These included tho President, Chancellor, big six brougham, standard six Victoria, standard six custom sedan, and big six sport roadster. Whippet fours, Whippet sixes, and Willys-Knight sixes were shown by the Willys-Overland Company. This builder now covers tho entire price range with his products, having acquired the Steams-Knight factory. In tho Stearns exhibit were sixes and eights with now. streamline bodies that mark extremely radical changes in.this line of cars. The eight was shown for the first time at the show. Chandler introduced its eight at the show. 'This maker also had twenty distinct models on the big six and standard chassis. The new eight motor is of the L-hcad type- All models carry fr.ur-wheel brakes anjl the one-shot lubrication system.