U.S. Small Car Likely

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31771, 30 August 1968, Page 9

U.S. Small Car Likely

J'ORD of America is working on a small, cheap car to challenge imported European models, “Newsweek” reports. The car is code-named Delta, and will be introduced next year.

; For years American cari makers have been worried ( about the increasing sales of foreign cars in the United - States, and this year about one , million imported models will t be bought by Americans, the magazine says.

This means that the Imports have captured 10 per cent of the American car market, and the chairman of General Motors (Mr J. Roche) has said that imports are the industry’s biggest worry. The Delta will have a wheelbase of 103 inches, compared with the Ulins of the Ford Falcon and the 95in of the Volkswagen, of which 443,510 were sold in the United States last year. The Delta is expected to cost less than $2OOO, which would make it Ford’s cheapest car on the American market. At present the cheapest is a two door Falcon, which costs $2252. The Volkswagen, however, costs only $1699. The Dflta will have a 2.9litre 100 b.h.p. six-cylinder engine, “Newsweek” says, but will also be available with a 195 b.h.p. VB. It will probably be made at Ford’s plant in Ontario. General Motors is said to be working on a 96in wheelbase model code-named the Chevette, and this model may be announced in 1970. American Motors may also produce a small model.