NO YEARLY MODELS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19215, 2 January 1926, Page 10 (Supplement)

NO YEARLY MODELS.

MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM. The yearly model question will have to bo faced in 1926 by many car manufacturers. Motor-car design is sottling down to such accepted standards that theio is going to bo difficulty in producing something really new every year. Small refinements may be expected to be introduced periodically, but it is going to be a problem for car designers to produco a car each year which will warrant the designation of "new model.' Some courageous manufacturers have already announced that they will not adhero to tho yearly model policy. In doing this they have indicated that they consider it is better to introduce improvements whenever they are justified, rather than strive to evolve a new model car to be placed on the market with monotonous regularity every 12 months. I here is something to be said for this attitude, since there is no doubt that in order to accumulate sufficient features to enable a new model to be brought out to schedule, car manufacturers do not incorporate small improvements when they are designed, but save them up lor many months. Then collectively they go to make a "new model." _ . Some of tho American and British manufacturers who have announced that there will bo no change in their cars for 1926, make it, explicit that they are free to standardise new features at any time. The reliability and efficiency of the modern chassis is so well established th-it the majoritv of the cars for 1926 will be found to have been altered in coachwork details only. It is mainly in coachwork that the future development in automobiles may bo looked for. Low-pressure tyres and four-wheel brakes have come to stay. Cars which have not these improvements may adopt them in the next models. The largo majority of manufacturers who have included both these items in their 1926 cars will have to look elsewhere for an innovation to justify a new model for 1927, or else join the ranks of those who are pledged to the " no yearly model " policy. . ' Apart from refinements in body design, tho Ford is now past the eleven million car mark, with a model adopted 15 years ago. The same policy is in vogue at the Lincoln plant, and with the Chevrolet, Chrysler, Flint, Dodge, and Nash organ!sations. Tho American manufacturer's attitude towards the " no yearly model" policy, was referred to this week by Mr. R. S. Cady, representative of tho technical staff of the Chrysler factory, who is passing through Auckland on a world tour. Mr. Cady said it was obvious that the public pays the penalty for tho frequent and radical changes in models. The used car disposal problem was largely s. result of the frenzied effort to keep pac* with the model procession. There woro too many makes in the "field. It would bo for the public benefit when there was no slavish adheranco to yearly models, and fewer makes were offering. In a few yearß, the 50 American car manufacturers would probably be reduced to tho " The Big Fifteen," or, "The Big Twenty." NOTES. A new Willys-Knight six is in production. It is a large eeven-seater. Another entirely' new model light si?: has just been produced by the Peerles:; Motor Company, which has hitherto built large cars only. License plates f6r _California, U.S.A., for 1926 will be blue and white. For the Stato of New Jersey the plates will have white numerals on an orange background. Some automobile agencies in Australia are offering cars on very easy terms. Tho distribution of one light Continental car in Sydney requires no deposit, delivery being made with the first monthly payment.

Official records show that within tho last eight years the average life of an automobile has increased from five to seven and one-half years, while that of tyres has advanced from a little less than one year to nearly two years—and .it is proving a substantial decrease in demand and, therefore, a blow to tho tyre industry. Never before in the twenty-five year history of the automotive industry has competition been so keen as it is now, and with every prospect of its continuation throughout the entire year. This outlook is based principally upon sweeping price cuts that have been announced within the last few months by leading manufacturers and the appearance of now models at lower prices. A company has been formed in Sydney, to finance a super-garage scheme similar to that recently submitted to the Auckland Automobile Association. It is proposed to erect a structure of about nine storeys on the ramp system to accommodate hundreds of cars and offer repair shop facilities. The cost of the building is estimated at £82,500.

Although the world's production of oil in 1924 was 1,013,139,000 barrels, this total was 0.6 per cent, less than the total production in 1923. But, notwithstanding this decrease in 1924, South America's share of the general output showed an increase. The explanation of the two facts is, that while the United States and Mexico produced less, Argentina, Venezuela, Peru and Colombia produced more.