Chevrolet Leads U.S. Production Figures

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29269, 29 July 1960, Page 11

Chevrolet Leads U.S. Production Figures

FIGURES recently announced in x the United States show that production of compact cars reached almost 1,000,000 in the first six months of this year. This is almost three times the number built in the same period in 1959, and is largely responsible for the total car output of the United States showing an upsurge of 500,000.

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Last year, only two companies —American Motors and Stude-baker-Packard—were building compact cars, but this year the other companies have joined in At present, Chevrolet retains its lead as selling the greatest namber of cars, and Ford is a good way back in second position. The car which has improved most is the American Motors Rambler, which has gained six places in the production race and

now holds third. Plymouth, which last year held third place, has dropped to the depths in a plummet to eleventh position, and surprisingly enough, a compact—the Studebaker Lark—also shows a big drop of six positions. Chrysler has also suffered badly, dropping five places.

Production has been considerably more scattered among tee models this year, so that the top five manufacturers account for only 60 per cent of the total, ■ compared with their 73 per cent, of last year. 1 The positions of tee leading ’ American models after six months >of 1960, compared with their . positions for the same period last , year in' parenthesis, are as follows;

1. Chevrolet (1) 2. Ford (2) 3. Nash Rambler (6) 4. Ford Falcon (new) 5. Pontiac (4) 6. Dodge (8) 7. Oldsmobile (5) 8. Buick (7) 9. Chrysler Valiant (new) ID. Chevrolet Corvalr (new)

11. (3) 12. Mercury (11) 13. Cadillac (IB) 14. Ford Comet (new) 15. Studebaker Lark (9) 16. Ford Thunderbird (13) 17. Chrysler (12) 18. De Soto (14) 19. Lincoln (15) 20. Imperial (16).