MotorTrend June 1951

PREPARATIONS are now being made for the second annual Motorama, the west’s glamour show of motorized equipment, which attracted huge crowds in its first presentation in Los Angeles. Sponsored by the publishers of MOTOR TREND, HOT ROD and CYCLE magazines, the exposition is slated for the beautiful Pan-Pacific auditorium, largest facility of its kind in the west. The dates have tentatively been set (Nov. 7-Nov. 11). With the outstanding automotive creations of the country slated for the display, Motorama will again feature sports cars, custom cars, classic cars and foreign cars. In addition, there will be a vast array of other motorized equipment including championship boats, roadsters and planes. The July issue of MOTOR TREND will carry more complete details on the show. For additional information now, please write to…

A FEW DAYS before our final deadline, we received the following wire from Harry Cushing: “As a result of the 25 per cent cut in use of tires and tubes last month, General Motors, Chrysler and Ford have eliminated the fifth tire on all passenger cars. Other companies are expected to follow suit. There is talk here that tire rationing may result to prevent scare buying.” Unfortunately, the importance of such hot news items (we received the information before the general news release) is somewhat overshadowed by the normal make-up time of a monthly magazine. However, the receipt of information on things that are happening NOW enables us to keep YOU better informed. That’s why we’re happy to announce that Harry Cushing has been appointed a member of our permanent…

Letters published in this department are the opinions of the writers and are not to be construed as those of the editors. Address correspondence to: Reader Reflections, MOTOR TREND, 1015 South La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles 35, California. NOSTALGIA ROW Gentlemen: I am a very eager follower of MOTOR TREND and cherish every copy. Of particular interest to me are the “classic cars” and “antique car” sections. I’m enclosing two photographs of my 1910 Model H friction-drive Cartercar…. It’s pearl gray with red undercarriage and heliotrope striping with plenty of polished brass and a highly polished mahogany firewall. Oh! by the way, my 1910 Cartercar is a scaled model (16 inches to the inch) which I built in spare time over a 14-month period. It was completed from the chassis…

NOTE: Due to innumerable requests for information on where to obtain hard-to-get parts, cars, information, etc., MOTOR TREND initiated this column. We have been so swamped with requests for items to be published that we now have a backlog that is becoming difficult to cope with. For that reason we find it necessary to charge a nominal fee of $1.00 per insertion (to cover cost of handling and printing) effective May 5. All items received before that date will be published free-of-charge. Requirements are the same as before: copy limit of 25 words (not including name and address), first come, first served; we reserve the right to edit where necessary; we are not responsible for accuracy of descriptions, although we will reject any misleading statements. This service is not open…

PLANS MADE FOR 1952 MODELS… NEW PRODUCTION MARKS SET… INDUSTRY OPPOSES NEW TAXES… DETROIT, MICHIGAN—Millions of dollars worth of war contracts flowing into Detroit … millions of cars flowing out as new production marks are set…. These facts dominate Detroit’s business life today and contradict the dire predictions which have emanated from the auto capital since the first of the year. Now, barring an all-out national mobilization effort, it looks as though the industry will be able to meet its essential military and civilian production obligations with a minimum of dislocation…. The continued high level of vehicle output has virtually erased the once serious unemployment threat here. Workers still have plenty to do to keep up with demands for cars and trucks in the immediate future. Conversion to defense work,…

NOTE: Since stating in the August ’50 issue of MOTOR TREND that we would publish our readers’ complaints about their new cars, we have been deluged with such letters. In the October ’50 issue we published excerpts from some of these letters and will continue to do so in an effort to acquaint the automotive manufacturers with the likes and dislikes of the motoring public. If you have a complaint or suggestion, address your letter to SOUND OFF!, MOTOR TREND, 1015 So. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles 35, Calif. THE FORD 6 is good on gasoline, pickup and performance; but the bad fault is its laboring on the hills. Surely, this could be remedied. There are other cars, when loaded, that can take the hills in stride, and they are…