Indholdsfortegnelse for January 1952 i MotorTrend

Demanded by Discriminating Buyers—from coast to coast Available for these cars There’s nothing quite like the new Continental Custom Rear Conversion! And discriminating car buyers really appreciate it…as evidenced by more than 10,000 units already on the road. Especially engineered for all makes listed, it really belongs on these fine cars. Notice the distinctive custom appearance it adds; the richer, longer, wider appearance. See how gracefully it blends with the over-all lines and becomes a part of the body. Yes, a Continental adds the final touch that means so much in extra beauty, convenience and practical value. Many other important features you’ll appreciate, too. Ask your dealer to show you, Or write, wire or ’phone for complete details and prices. Immediate service. HUDELSON-WHITEBONE Corp. 302 EAST UNIVERSITYCHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS.Custom Engineered by…

In the few Years that have passed since the end of the recent war, Japanese industry has recuperated remarkably. A glowing example of this recovery is the revival of the islands’ motor industry. The present matching of full-scale prewar output, however, is nothing to rattle the export-minded overseas manufacturer: only 1594 Japanese cars were built last year. But something unusual has just happened on the Japanese automotive scene—something that may bring the Land of the Rising Sun right into the violently-competitive international market. But before tackling the news, let’s examine the historical background. Pioneer car builder of this little archipelago is the Nissan Motor Company of Yokohama, which began producing low-priced Datsun midget cars in ’33, cars based upon earlier models previously made under other names by Nissan’s affiliated manufacturers.…

Oldsmobile tops its price class! For downright performance, for actual quality of engineering, you can buy no better car in the $2201-$2500 (FOB factory) bracket. Perhaps, depending upon your personal taste, you can get more style, prestige, or comfort for your dollar in another make, but those are subjective factors which cannot be measured with precision instruments. In the overall survey of the 15 ’51 models tested by Motor Trend, Oldsmobile stands second. The first-place winner will be honored in the February issue, and the other makes which have been dissected in Motor Trials will be ranked from first to fifteenth. Cold figures, read from laboratory-quality meters and gauges, have been carefully analyzed to make up the point ratings. See the February issue for the complete story. Rock-Steady Ride When…

Snap judgment of the Cunningham sports car, based on casual observation or, worst of all, on hearsay, has resulted in some wild opinions being formed as to its purposes, performance and possibilities. The impression in some quarters seems to be that this machine is a slap-happy combination of bits and pieces, assembled as a temporary play thing for a favored few and deriving its speed solely from brute force. Having run the first comprehensive road test on the Cunningham C2, I can state categorically that any such views are far from the truth. The machine lent me for test purposes was Briggs Cunningham’s own team car which had placed fourth, with an average of 73.6 mph, in the Watkins Glen Grand Prix only five days before. Nothing whatsoever had been…

Without a Doubt one of the best road races ever presented on the west coast, particularly as far as crowd control is concerned, was the Reno Road Race, held on October 21. Not only did the drivers enjoy the challenge of the picturesque 12-turn, 2.5-mile course, but the spectators went away from the day’s affair pleased with the entire proceedings. Each of the three events had its interesting moments. The first race, the Virginia Lake Handicap for novice drivers, was started with the larger displacement cars in the rear and the smaller cars up front. They were released in groups at time intervals, with the Morris Minor Special leading the parade. The handicap however, was insufficient to prevent Tom Carstens, owner of the sleek, black Cad-Allard, from moving through traffic…

It pays to take a good look when you buy; it pays to know the facts; it pays to have a sound basis for your purchase; and if you’ve ever been tangled in legal red tape it will pay you to read the whole story in HOW TO BUY A CAR! The comprehensive picture of the customizing art, 1 photo-packed with the fabulous and fantastic cars of restyling experts—you’ll learn how to transform your car into a sleek custom creation when you read CUSTOM CARS! The world’s unchallenged authorities bring you complete pictorial and technical coverage of the nation’s most unique sport; hundreds of photos show you the finest in design, engineering, and craftsmanship. With its outstanding cutaway drawings and “how to do it” features, you won’t want to miss…

Detroit, Michigan—At last the new cars for ’52 are here! Weeks, even months, after original introduction plans fell through due to the national defense emergency, the auto industry pulls back the veil of secrecy which has shrouded its latest creations This month’s “Spotlight” probes these offerings and finds styling virtually unchanged in some; a number of intriguing mechanical features in others; and a completely new small car destined to capture the public’s attention. Bowing in at this time are Dodge, DeSoto, Packard and Willys. Disappointingly, the long-anticipated V-8s for the first two lines were not released. Latest word is that spring will bloom across the land before you will see these new engines. Dodge and DeSoto Basically Same These two popular cars in the Chrysler corporation lineup for ’52 are…

From the mating of two sagging Hudsons came a buttercup-yellow sport custom car that rides like a cloud, climbs like a cable car, runs and corners like a dog-track rabbit and pulls curb crowds like a price war in a steak shop. Completed in less than seven months—largely by non-professionals—and costing less than 700 skins, the car sports Chevrolet head lamps, Pontiac tail and back-up lights, Studebaker rear-view mirror, Lincoln radiator, Dodge front bumper, Nash instruments, red plastic upholstery. Grille, windshield, and running boards were cut from new material. This picture preview features photographs selected from our book, “Build Your Own Custom Sports Car,” about to be published. These photos give you the highlights of our car-building adventure and the complete book tells how you can do it on your…

Year before last, come Thanksgiving, I thought I’d surprise the wife with an antique model for the following Christmas. Eight somewhat sleepless months later (300-plus hrs.) I had produced what you see in the pictures, and it still isn’t all there. The engine doesn’t run; there’s no top material on the padded and webbed top bows under the dust boot; the rod brace between fenders under the car is missing, etc. The chassis is correct in every detail including steel channel frame with body attachment lugs, eyed leaf springs (corset stays) with clips and working shackles held together by 00-80 thd. hex head bolts. I obtained information for my working sketches from an old Dykes, an old Audels, the Thompson museum and a trip to the Ford Dearborn museum. The…

Economics and economy: There’s been much furrowing of British brows since the recent news that German cars are becoming more and more a competitive threat in the continental export markets. Exports are the one great hope of Britain’s squeezed and struggling economy, and reports that sales of German cars are far outstripping those of English makes in Belgium and Switzerland have an ominous ring to the thoughtful Briton. But austerity is the common denominator of almost all European economic life, and British cars simply don’t compete in price with the German product. English manufacturers can’t cut prices without cutting into the already meager take-home pay of their workers, and for some difficult-to-fathom reason not one of them mass-produces a car that is, by continental standards, really cheap to make. Berlin’s…

NOTE: Want your choice of any ten available back issues of Motor Trend, free? Just send in your little-known idea which other motorists might be able to put to use. The idea can apply to any class of car: stock, custom, veteran, antique, or classic. Upon acceptance oj your idea, you will be sent a check list oj available back issues, from which you can make your selection. We will do our best to verify the correctness of the ideas which appear on this page, but can accept no responsibility for possible misstatements by readers. KEEP RUBBER HOSES FROM STICKING Water hoses and small-bore tubing tend to stick to the pipes they’re fitted over. To always be sure of easy removal of hoses, wipe a film of glycerine on the…

A gook wagon? No, man, that’s a lead barge!” Up to a short time ago that’s how simple it was to identify restyled stock cars. Now, with enthusiasm snowballing for all classes of automobiles, ideas of restyling are evolving at a furious rate and the time is ripe to take a closer look at the custom car. “Gook wagon,” a perfectly legitimate expression in the jargon of many car enthusiasts, means a car bedecked with mud flaps, extra aerials, portholes and a flying swan with amber wings. “Lead barge,” another term used by these same enthusiasts, refers to a car that has been chopped, channeled, body-sectioned, remolded or reshaped (see Glossary). In the days when all body curves were applied with a lead paddle, this last phrase was accurate, but…

Back in the flamboyant decade when Gloria Swanson was the idol of the newly-emancipated shopgirl, every movie star kept a standing stable of cars. These were selected for chic as well as for performance and quality, and one of the indispensable types was a sport runabout. It was unthinkable for anyone of means to buy an all-purpose car and actually use it for all purposes. Peasants did that, and the movie-struck millions in America demanded that the stars behave like nobles. The sport runabout, therefore, was utterly necessary for running about to sporting events or for looking sporty while running about. Gloria Swanson, as any veteran of that generation will gladly tell you, lived grandly on the biggest reputation of all. She was the queen drawing a salary of slightly…

There is One famous collector who can’t stand classic cars with small wheels. Another goes into ecstasies over hammered-silver hardware and a third is an upholstery fan. Then there are the boys who don’t think any car is worth the babbitt in its bearings unless the hood is louvered on top and strapped in position. It is refreshing, in the midst of eccentricity, to find a classic enthusiast who collects because he likes to drive the cars he owns. Such a one is Ralph Thomas. He keeps 23 Lincolns on his 3500-acre ranch near Hemet, Calif, and he has driven every one of them. They’re not kept under glass in a hermetically sealed garage, either—they take their chances in open-front stalls and most of them are ready to go whenever…

Bill Burke is one of California’s outstanding hot rodders. Builder and driver of record-holders, advertising manager of Hot Rod Magazine, president of Southern California Timing Association—Bill has a thorough knowledge of how a car should handle. Let him tell it.—Editor Now then, Mr. Burke—you are going to discuss some very basic problems of motoring, as I understand it. Basically. Such considerations as? The banging bottom, the vibrating vertebra and the serpentine swivel. A follies roritine, eh? Well, let’s say it’s strictly folly to live with them when you can rise above them. And how do you do that? Easy—the solution is air! Take off, Gypsy Rose. I learned about Air Lift on my recent trip to Bonneville. There I was—carrying two passengers, four spares, a half dozen batteries and Ray…

A WINTER COAT for that sparkling chrome is Detroit’s latest contribution to our specialty list. It is PROTEX—a tough, acid-resistant film that provides an air-tight, waterproof wrapper which is impervious to snow, salt, mud and the elements which rust and corrode auto body trim. This protective coating can be brushed on easily come bad weather, and as easily wiped off come the spring zephyrs. It comes in transparent form and in colors, sells for $2.00 the kit. Write PROTEX Sales Co., 10 Witherell St., Detroit 26, Mich. ★ ★ ★ AN INTERESTING NEW WRINKLE on the custom scene is supplied by GUILD of Hollywood, nom de trade of Vince Aldrin. GUILD has set up a distribution plan to supply the distinctive custom colors to automotive epicures. These top quality custom…