Indianapolis Times, Volume 45, Number 231, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 February 1934 — Page 17

Automobile Section

AUTO PROGRESS REVEALED AT SHOW

USED IN 1910 DISTINGUISH CARS FOR 1 i NEW SMALL DIESEL B staved that way very long or not tabli.->heV a new o Power Plants ''aid Adaptable to gjHBKI SBBjSggjf |r w- 1 when the mysteries of science Dozens of improvements Adaptability of the engine to - £& If^ii& Knee Action” Is 1934 Feature I Muinment bv Aubum. Gen

SPRINGING OF FRONT WHEELS USED IN 1910 Ralph De Palma Drove Car With Device Accepted Widely This Year. From America's speedways have come to Indianapolis’ annual automobile show in the Coliseum at the state fairground, radical stream-lin-ing, individual springing front w heels and any number of improvements lending comfort and economy to 1934 motoring. Each of the leading changes heralded by manufacturers can be traced to racing competition, from the famous Memorial day classic here, to the county fair dirt tracks. While individual spring front j wheels are new to the motoring pub- I lie, they were used by racing stars j many years ago. As far back as 1910. Ralph De Palma, twice national auto racing champion, introduced individual springing wheels on a foreign car he drove in road races at Riverhead. 1 near New York. More Research Probable In reviewing his experiences with this improvement in riding com- I fort. De Palma says that now that t manufacturers have presented it to j the public he predicts that much additional' research work will be done on this device at the Indian- I a polls Speedway classic May 30. The radical stream lining which has surprised crowds attending the nation's leading auto shows and which will be very evident at the | fairground has been offered with a definite purpose of gasoline economy. • Taking advantage of lessons j learned on the speedways, manu- j facturers have turned to the lines j of the racing car in the hope of making possible more miles to the gallon. Greater C hange Probable Even more radical streamlining and newer combinations of gasoline can be expected at the 1935 show as a result of experiments now under way in preparation for this year's ! 500-mile race, says De Palma. New race car specifications of the contest board of the American Automobile Association decree that no j car may consume more than forty- | five gallons of gasoline during the race. Since a racer has never been , known to complete the 500 miles on such a limited gasoline supply, driv- j ers and engineers are searching j frantically for anew combination offering greater mileage. NEW SMALL DIESEL ENG, AL DEVELOFED Power Plants Said Adaptable to Streamlined Busses. By 1 mitrd Prrtt BUFFALO. N. Y . Feb. 5 —Development of anew Diesel engine so reduced in weight and size to permit almost the ultimate in j streamlining and cheaper operation of land, sea and air craft, has been announced by Charles A. Criqui. president of the Sterling Engine Company. Adaptability of the engine to streamlined busses and passenger coaches, fleet marine craft and airplanes is permitted by its compact construction which is obtained in part through the absence of crank- j shafts, camshafts, cylinder heads. I valves and cylinder head gaskets. The engine will run on the low- \ est grade of fuel, company engineers said, and will effect a 75 per cent reduction in fuel cost. The weight per horse power of the new Diesel ranges from thirteen to twenty pounds, dependent upon the size of the power unit as against the fifty to eighy pounds per horse power in the conventional Diesel. DRIVERS LICENSED BY TWENTY-EIGHT STATES Nine Others Require Chauffeurs to Obtain Permits. Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia now require operators of motor vehicles to be licensed, and nine additional states license chauffeurs, according to the American Automobile Association. The national motoring body pointed out that the accident situa- j tion is resulting in state authorities, recognizing the value of legislation requiring operators to demonstrate their ability to safely handle a vehicle. States requiring a driver's license are: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware. Indiana. lowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts. Michigan, Minnesota. Nebraska. Nevada. New Hampshire, Near Jersey. New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island. South Carolina. Utah, Vermont., Virginia. Washington, West Vir-, fitua and Wisconsin. 1

Full leased Wlra SerTlce of the I'nited I’reaa Association

Science Is Strong Ally of Automobile Industry

Lubrication and Fuel of New Types Required by Today's Cars. Ifjj Science Service CHICAGO, Feb. 5 Modern motor speeds make new demands upon the scientists and technologists who provide the fuel and lubrication for fast transportation. The way in which these are being met is described by Dr. Gustav Egloff, director of research of the Universal Oil Products Company. •The lubricating oils made from petroleum some years ago would decompose and vanish in today's engines, leaving the rasping metal parts to fuse together in hopeless ruin. The strain put upon the lubricant at seventy miles per hour, now a common cruising speed for motor cars, is far greater than at the thirty-five mile rate of ten years ago, and the difficulty of keeping a strong film of oil between the moving parts of an airplane at ordinary speed of 200 miles an hour is enormous.”

Ford for 1934 Accorded Hearty Public Response

February Output Set at 70,000 on Five-Day Week Work Basis. With its Indianapolis branch getting the greatest February volume of business in four years, according to R. A. Hayes, manager, the Ford Motor Company is exhibiting at the Automobile Show a comprehensive display of the new Ford V-8 passenger cars, trucks and commercial cars. Other displa* are being 1 shown in the salesrooms of city Ford dealers. The displays come at a time when all of the 7,000 Ford dealers in the United States are stocked with cars and busy with deliveries. During February faptory production at the Ford Rouge plant at Dearborn, Mich., will be 70,000 cars, with the plant working five days a week. The high production rate is necessitated by the unexpectedly heavy demands for immediate deliveries following the announcement of the new cars in December. The Ford car for 1934 has proved a revelation to automobile owners who have tested it since its first presentation. A marked improvement in engine performance resulting from the use of anew dual downdraft carburetion and dual intake manifolding system gives the car greater power, more speed, much quicker acceleration, smoother performance, increased gasoline and oil economy and quicker starting in co\d weather. Chassis improvements all are ‘aungl at providing greater safety.

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Gasoline, as nature produces it, will not run the modern auto or airplane, Dr. Egloff said. It is no longer produced by distilling it from crude oil, but is manufactured scientifically from parts of the crude oil that do not contain it at all.

stability and increased riding comfort. . The new Ford also presents a new-clear-vision body ventilation system, which provides individual passenger control and affords fresh air under all weather conditions. The front end design has been improved and body lines refined. Fenders on de luxe cars are fin- | ished to harmonize with the body colors, giving the ensemble a much smarter appearance. In addition, a new enamel finish is used on all cars, which kas greater wearing qualities, a more enduring luster and requires only washing to restore its brilliance. The new Ford ventilation system i is exceedingly simple in operation, permits clear vision, prevents drafts and provides at all times the desired amount of fresh air. Individual control is provided for both front door and rear side windows. When ventilation is desired, the window glass Ls raised to the top. Then the handle is given an additional half turn. This slides the glass back horizontally to form a narrow slot between the glass and the frame. Through this slot air is drawn out by the forward motion of the car. This simple ventilation system maintains a draft-free circulation jof air and prevents fogging the windshield and windows in cold or stormy weather. Both windshield and cowl ventilator can be opened to supply additional air for warm weather driving. Interiors of the new* Fords have been improved in design, with new I tufted upholstery and garnish moldings, cove-type head lining, new instrument panel, arm rest, door pulls and hardware. Seats have

INDIANAPOLIS, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1934

AUTO SHOW EXHIBITORS PASSENGER CARS Auburn and Pierce Arrow Graham Newby Motor Cos. Schott Automobile Cos. Hudson, Terraplane.. .Losey Motors, Inc. Buick, Pontiac Central Buick Cos. Lafayette, Nash E. L. Shaver Cos. Ruick, Pontiac. .Robinson, Automobile Cos. Lincoln Lincoln Motor Cos. Cadillac, La Salle.. .Hoosier Cadillac Cos. Oldsmobile Lathrop-Moyer, Inc. Chrysler C. H. Wallench Cos. Plymouth Plymouth Motor Cos. De Soto Jones & Maley, Inc. Packard and Studebaker Dodge Dodge Bros. Corporation Citizens Motor Car Cos. Ford Ford Motor Cos. Reo Reo Indiana Sales Cos. COMMERCIAL CARS Dodge Dodge Bros. Corporation Stewart Martin Truck Company Ford Ford Motor Company Terraplane Losey Motor Cos. ACCESSORIES Chemical Industries Association Shell Petroleum Corporation Guarantee Tire and Rubber Company Sinclair Refining Company Lee-Indiana Company Standard Oil Company of Indiana Perine Oil Company State Automobile Insurance Company Radio Control Engineering Company Thomas J. Caiek Company

deeper, softer springs. Sun visors are provided on all closed cars, those in the de luxe cars being of awivel type to prevent glare both from the front and sides. Use of the new carburetion and intake manifolding system greatly improves engine performance. The engine is fitted with aluminum cylinder heads, heat resisting high chrome high tungsten steel exhaust valve inserts and an entirely new

cast alloy steel crankshaft, which long experience in service has proven to be a great improvement over the forged steel crankshaft formerly used. The aluminum cylinder heads permit use of higher compression, giving greater power and consequently increased fuel economy, without requiring the use of premium fuels of high anti-knock quality.

The valve inserts and the special heat resisting high chrome nickel valves maintain the engine’s origI inal high efficiency over long ; periods. Chassis improvements in the new Ford include anew steering mechanism with 15 to 1 gear ratio, which improves ease of control, and a more flexible rear transverse cantij lever spring which greatly increases I riding comfort.

Automobile Section

Enter**d as Second-Class Matter at Po*to(Tlr. Indianapolis

‘KNEE ACTION,’ VENTILATION AND ADVANCED STREAMLINING DISTINGUISH CARS FOR 1934 Latest Offerings Bring Nearer Day When Steering Will Be About All Motorist Need to Do. BY STURGE WELLS Times Automobile Editor Filled with energy and inspiration, the automobile manufacturers and dealers are revealing to Indianapolis this week at the annual automobile show at the state fairgrounds another stride of progress which the “old-timers” and “wise ones” say is unparalleled in the history of the industry. If the present stage or mecnanical perfection revealed at the show is indicative of the trend of the future, then it won’t be long until “radio control’’ or robots will relieve us all of the pleasant task of driving, and make of us a bunch of “back seaters.” While this is somewhat absurd on the face of it, yet, after witnessing the array of different makes and models on display at the Manufacturers building, the thought occurred that there isn’t much left to expect or ask for. There are cars, which, if the accomplishments of the many makes were molded Into one, and providing each accomplishment would do everything its sponsor claims —would leave the operator nothing to do but to direct the course of the car, while the “back seaters ’ could slumber away in perfect contentment and comfort, minus disturbance of road Turning back the pages of the automobile industry’s history to the days of its infancy, when all manufacturers had a very “hard row to a combination of axle with bearing

hoe” compared with the present, one- will recall they all built a contraption resembling a buggy or horse carriage, mounted a bucket seat or two on it, put in a one or two cylinder engine, and declared a holiday if they were fortunate enough to get it to run, whether it stayed that way very long or not! As someone so aptly put it: ‘‘This was the mechanical age unborn when the mysteries of science caused more headaches than the corner drug store could cure.” Today, however, automobile engines are accepted, in fact, taken for granted, while the ambitions of the manufacturers are comfort, safety and beauty in the construction of bodies and chasses, so that we owners may better enjoy the pleasures of motoring. “Knee Action” Is 1934 Feature Possibly the most outstanding mechanical development this year is individual front wheel suspension, commonly known as “knee action." Thanks to this invention we need no longer fear the bumps and chuck holes often encountered in which usually resulted in our craniums being decorated to the point that they resembled a knotty potato due to contact with the roof of the car. “Knee action” has made it possible to eliminate this, because the front wheels are engineered so that they no longer communicate road shock to the body. There are three types of independent front wheel springing. While each differs somewhat mechanically, the principle of each is admitted generally to accomplish about the same thing, namely, better riding qualities, through the elimination of road shock. Every car in the Chrysler line has its front wheels bouncing independently of each other oh separate springs. These are coils springs attached by levers to the frame and the wheel in such way that, while the wheel may rise or drop from a bump or chuck hole the car itself remains horizontal. General Motors terms this type “knee action” and has featured it on several models. The only other difference is that the coil spring and two-way shock absorber are encased in an oil-filled cylinder as one unit. 4 Ventilation Emphasized The third type, is what HudsonTerraplane terms “axleflex,” which it is featuring as optional equipment. This type is to be found on Nash’s new car, the Lafayette. It is

a combination of axle with bearing joints on either side, which also allow either wheel to bounce independently of the other. So far as health is concerned, a car is not modern unless its body is ventilated directly without draft currents. There are several systems adopted by different makers of cars, mostly by the sectional windows which can be operated to obtain any amount of air suction desired. Anew note in ventilation, however, is injected by the Chrysler and De Soto airflow models, which mount the seats on steel tubing and permit a flow of air under the front seats to provide an outlet for the heated air accumulating under the instrument panel. Streamline design is presented in varying degrees, but all agreeing on smooth, sloping construction which nullifies air resistance. The inspiration in design, materially patterned after aerodynamics, is nevertheless, obtained from the living creatures which the sea contains. Seal Provides Idea The seal is an example. Its movement through water is graceful. Adopting smooth lines and form, a car should have less resistance to wird—and it does, according to test made in wind tunnels. The benefit is fuel economy and beauty in appearance. Chrysler’s new car, however, establishes anew school of design, with egg-shaped front and a fishtail or beaver-tai' rear end. Dozens of improvements and refinements, minor in character, mark the appearance of the 1934 cars. The details are furnished on other pages of this section, but some outstanding developments deserve mention. What Various Makers Offer The super-charger now is available on a low-price car by Graham, dual ratio is offered as standard equipment by Auburn, General Motors has revealed its price range and introduced anew Oldsmobile, so that a gap of SSO there is a car ior every purse. La Salle, in the manner of manufacture distinctive to Cadillac, has anew low tag in the $1,500 price zone; Hudson introduces axleflex for wheel suspension of anew type and a larger Terraplane, typical of a progressive organization; Nash displays the newest car to the show, a six-cylinder Lafayette, priced low and with “knees.” Plymouth is ventilated, as is Dodge, in the Chrysler manner, besides “knee-actioned”; Oldsmobile has adopted hydraulic brakes; Buick is equipped with a body stabilizer which actually prevents swaying on curve; Chevrolet now has the strength of no less than eighty horses, more power to it, and is a General Motors car with “knees.” Reo Gears Self-Shifting Reo stands out as the only selfshifting automobile; Packard introduces brakes adjustable to any climatic condition and road surface. Pontiac’s “gaselector’ lets the driver choose his own fuel without hindering engine performance; De Sot® shies not from soap and water, for the body interior can be washed above the window level. Hudson inserts a rear translucent curtain to keep out the blinding lights; all Nash models are twin-ig-nited; Hupmobile has wed the body and chassis, now a unit, to increase rigidity of structure and advanced its streamline appearance. Ford models feature more power, finer interior and dual carburetion. Studebaker has done an especially good job in improving this year's models by attractive streamlining.