WOMEN DRIVERS AND MOTOR CAR IMPROVEMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3012, 24 February 1917, Page 12

WOMEN DRIVERS AND MOTOR CAR IMPROVEMENTS

_ ? By John' N. .Willys, President of The Willys-Overland Company. The advent of the woman motor-car driver and enthusiast has been directly responsible for. many of the changes, in the way of improvements, which have taken place in the construction of motorcars during the last few. years. To begin with, few men decide on a car before first' consulting ~the women members of their families, their wives or sweethearts, as the case may be, Experience has taught them that, as a rule, a woman's judgment is worth careful consideration before in investment of this kind is made. Where a man is often careless about minor details of the car's construction, ■ a woman is often most particular. She will, for instance, detect a poor colour scheme the moment she sees a motor-car. If it is defective in that respect, and if any other part of the body construction does not harmonise with the general design, she will discover that imperfection much more quickly than ivould the average man. And, unless that trouble is remedied, she will not be slow in transferring her affections to some other make of car. :

More than one motor-car dealer has lost the sale of a car because the make of machine which he- handled dijl not answer those finer requirements in beauty and harmony which are so appealing to the feminine mind. No matter how sterling" may be the-qualities of that car, its general appearance must satisfy the critical eyes of the' woman who is looking it over, before she will endorse its purchase.

In our own factory, our engineers havo been instructed to design the various models not only for men, but also for women. They have retained all the durability and mechanical perfections of the modern high-grade motor-car and at the same time incorporated those finer touches on the Overland which will suit tho most exacting demands of women drivers. Besides beauty in design, luxairy in the fittings and • efficient service qualities, euch as power and speed, there have been added the most advanced but simple methods of operation. All the indicating-devices, so important to the driver, are within easy range of the driver's eye. In fact, all of the parts necessary to driving the car are attached to tho steering column with adjustable foot pedals, making it possible for even a voun? /jirl to drive.

In my opinion those little details designed -especially for women are in a large way responsible for the enormous nroduction aiid sales of,. Overland cars. The time lirs passed when a woman driver had to depend on the electric vehicle. Mechanical starting devices and the countless other improvements in the construction of Overlands have made it possible for any woman to drive the "Petrol pleasure car." '■ >