Indholdsfortegnelse for March 1954 i MotorTrend

A woman driver tells her story: “What shall we do?” cried my bejeweled companion. “That old tire’s flat, and it’s pitch black outside, and we don’t have a man along, and there’s not even a phone where we can call the auto club!” With that, she moaned softly and lit a cigarette. “Do?” said I. “What do you suppose we’ll do? We’ll change the tire, of course! We’re not going to stay here all night like two helpless idiots, are we?” “Can you change a tire?” marveled my friend. “I always call the auto club. I wouldn’t know what else to do.” “Well, you’re about to learn.” From the trunk I took a pair of garden gloves and an electric lantern. The country road was indeed pitch black, and occasional…

TO IDENTIFY THIS, YOU’LL NEED A DOUBLE TAKE. THEN, YOU MAY NOT BE RIGHT This is not the kind of car to disappear in. Some customs, inconspicuous in gunmetal or maroon, depend on the onlooker’s inevitable double-take to deal him the double-whammy. But this Studebaker, into which George Barris has poured ideas distilled from dozens of “Kustoms,” hits you in the eye from any distance. It’s an incredible golden-lime color, more like a modern Christmas tree ornament than anything that ever grew on a tree. It’s way low down, and the way it has been redesigned makes it look even more so. Points where Detroit could learn from customizers: the deck lid, which needs no handle or chrome trim to help its pleasing shape; the windows, with chrome trim held…

Thanks to the Oil Industry for its multimillion dollar scientific researches and processing improvements, almost any of the leading motor oils today will assure fairly safe protection against FRICTION … What most should concern the wise car owner today is PROTECTION AGAINST CORROSIVE ACIDS! That’s now proved to be the Major Cause of Engine Wear! STRONG SULPHURIC ACID — YOUR MOTOR’S WORST ENEMY. Today’s motor oils have practically no residual acid. Some are even advertised as alkaline to begin with. But gasoline (or fuel oil) contains about one part per thousand of sulphur. One thousand gallons—enough to drive 15,000 to 20,000 miles—may therefore contain the equivalent of about 5 gallons of good strong sulphuric acid. Also present are substantial amounts of bromine (added to leaded gasolines) and chlorine (with the…

When I was asked to drive the XP-2I Firebird, the first question that came to mind was this: How would it feel to sit in front of the engine—and a gas turbine engine at that? Perhaps I’d feel out of place, having spent most of my life as a driver with an engine in front of me. We made our first run with the Firebird one gloomy, rainy, cold Sunday in November at General Motors’ Proving Ground near Milford (Mich.). Later, during the first week of December, we gave it more extended tests on GM’s Desert Proving Ground near Mesa, Ariz. We needed to determine how the car would handle. Thus, when it was “fired up” and ready to go, I headed off the main loop of the Milford proving…

PERFORMANCE CHASSIS DYNAMOMETER TEST (Checked on Clayton Mfg. Co.’s chassis dynamometer; all tests are made under full load, which is similar to climbing a hill at full throttle) ACCELERATION (In seconds; checked with fifth wheel and electric speedometer) TOP SPEED (In miles per hour; clocked speeds over surveyed ¼-mile) FUEL CONSUMPTION BRAKE STOPPING DISTANCE (To the nearest foot; checked with electrically actuated detonator) GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE DRIVE SYSTEM DIMENSIONS DEPRECIATION Percentage of original value retained by similar previous models at time of publication PRICES (Including retail price at main factory and federal tax, but not freight; dealers add delivery and handling charges to all Chrysler products) ACCESSORIES ESTIMATED COST PER MILE (The Estimated Cost per Mile is given for comparative purposes and is not intended as a guide to…

PERFORMANCE CHASSIS DYNAMOMETER TEST (Checked on Clayton Mfg. Co.’s chassis dynamometer; all tests are made under full load, which is similar to climbing a hill at full throttle) ACCELERATION (In seconds; checked with fifth wheel and electric speedometer) TOP SPEED (In miles per hour; clocked speeds over surveyed ¼-mile) FUEL CONSUMPTION (In miles per gallon; checked with fuel flowmeter, fifth wheel, and electric speedometer) BRAKE STOPPING DISTANCE (To the nearest foot; checked with electrically actuated detonator) GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE DRIVE SYSTEM DIMENSIONS PRICE (Including retail price at port of entry, federal tax, and delivery and handling charges, but not freight to other points)…

DESCRIBED as a revolutionary idea in motoring safety and as the first interior car mirror to completely eliminate blind spots, the Look-Out mirror consists of two hinged wing mirrors which are attached to your interior rear-view mirror. Each section has full 180-degree adjustment for maximum wide-angle viewing. It can be installed in seconds, without tools. Price, S2.95. Lifetime Auto Accessories Corp., New York 60, N.Y. CONTINUALLY measuring and recording the amount of gasoline being used by your car, this electrically operated fuel flowmeter is accurate to 1/100th of a gallon. The meter is installed on the engine, and the chrome-and-enamel counter is mounted on the dashboard or steering column. Guaranteed to be accurate within two per cent, it reads up to 1000 gallons. Write: McCulloch Motors Corp., 6107 W. Century…

AN UNUSUAL OPPORTUNITY exists right now for established businessmen. Every day, letters and wires asking for the name of the nearest Life-time battery dealer come in as a result of full-page advertising in Look, True, Esquire and about 30 other magazines, besides sponsorship of the Pan American Road Race over the CBS international network, plus television and newspapers. Naturally, we refer these sales to our dealers (you’ll notice there’s no coupon in this ad for mail orders; we don’t compete with our own dealers). Frankly, however, our present dealer organization isn’t big enough to handle all the business; therefore franchises are still available in some areas. Bonded Guarantee Protects Public, Dealers We guarantee the Life-time battery for six years. This guarantee is backed not only by the substantial resources of…

It is an inescapable fact that the majority of Americans look upon their automobiles as just a means of getting from here to there. It does not occur to them to have fun in the process. This almost universal attitude has created the American car as we know it today—whether Ford or Cadillac. Detroit has a stronger concentration of engineering talent than any other place in the world, and it’s solely devoted to taking the chore out of driving. Unfortunately, the more automatic our cars become, the less fun they are to drive. We are caught in a paradox. We have power steering to ease the strain of weaving through traffic, yet it’s advertised as retaining the “feel of the road.” That recalls a time when some American cars chugged…

Nowadays it takes an expert in the field of figures to make out that great American report that causes all the headaches around March 15th. Again this year we’ll attempt to make this unpleasant task a little easier for you by delving into the multitudinous problems involving your automobile and giving you the lowdown. Hope we save you some money! One fellow we know wrecked his car to the tune of $273, but his insurance company paid only $223. He didn’t know he could deduct the $50 loss on his income tax return. We know a salesman whose expense account pays only part of the cost of running his car for business. He was surprised to learn that he could deduct the remaining expense. And there’s the other side, too.…

Not long ago we asked you to tell us your choice for the world’s best car. Your response was wholehearted. It surprised us as well, for among your hundreds of letters were some highly individual choices (like the Chadwick!), along with the popular ones. What car was first? Well, we might have guessed it would be Rolls-Royce, whose famous slogan was also the name of our contest. Close behind was the sainted Duesenberg SJ. Third place was a tie between (of all things!) the ’53 Cadillac and the Model A Ford. Fourth was a four-way tie: ’53 Lincoln, Lincoln Continental, ’37 Cord, and the Model T. Jaguar’s Mark VII saloon (contestants were emphatic that this was the model they meant), and the late Pierce Arrow fought fifth spot to a…

The magnesium-aluminum alloy is made a part of Magna-Power oil drain plug to stick up into the oil in the crankcase to attract and neutralize any corrosive acids there. It will serve this purpose 100% for many thousands of miles. Each time you change oil have the mechanic examine the alloy part of the plug for any signs of deterioration. Chances are there will be a film of corrosion darkening the surface (scratch it with a piece of metal—a key will do—to the bright under body) or completely covering it if large amounts of corrosive acids have been in your oil. Such signs mean that Magna-Power has taken out the acid action that would have otherwise attacked the vitals of your engine. You can thank Magna-Power for removing these harmful…

I wanted a back window defroster for my ’53 Mercury, but I figured the kit was too expensive. I installed my own idea at about one-fifth the cost. Here’s how: I purchased a used defroster out of a ’47 Chevy. Removing the water unit, I installed the blower under the package shelf on the back seat rest braces. The metal defroster outlets were installed on the underside of the shelf. Taking a sharp knife, I cut a slot in the cardboard covering and connected the blower to the outlets with hose. I installed a cable-operated backup light switch on the side of my car heater and connected the cable to the windshield defroster cable. Thus, when I turn on my windshield defroster, my back-window defroster also turns on. Allen Gentry,…

Requirements are: 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 to commercial advertisers. No ads will be accepted if payment is not made in advance and such communications will not be acknowledged. Only one CAR may be listed in any single Sell ‘N’ Swap insertion. This limitation will not apply to parts, catalogs, etc. The charge is four dollars per insertion. Recently we introduced a new service in this department: With your ad, we’ll publish selected photographs of cars you want to sell or swap. There’s no cost to you for the cuts, but we’ll have…

WHEN WE SAY that this item belongs in the glove compartment, don’t think that we have our departments mixed up! It rightfully belongs in Rambling Rags as a showplace, but it belongs in the traveling man’s glove compartment, where he can take advantage of a clothes brush with a built-in overnight toilet article accessory kit. Made of top-grain leather, the kit contains a comb, nail file, tooth brush and paste, a razor and shaving cream. $4.95. THE “COUNTRY COUSIN,” left, and the “City Slicker,” right, are ready for hoedown or hockey game. When the heavens open up and hail breaks loose, you’ll be thankful for the “Thermostag” lining insulating the body and sleeves from cold and dampness. Two of the White Stag Manufacturing Company’s most popular fingertip-length coats, both feature…

ARIZONA Through Feb. 22—Tucson, Horseless Carriage Club Motorama Exhibit Feb. 26-28—Phoenix, Indian Ceremonies Mar. 7—Phoenix, Western Saddle Club Gymkhana Mar. 7—Wickenburg, Desert Sun Ranchers Rodeo CALIFORNIA Through Feb. 14—San Francisco, San Francisco Auto Show Mar. 6-14—Los Angeles, GM Motorama Auto Show CONNECTICUT Feb. 17-21—Hartford, Fourth Annual National Auto-rama Auto Show DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Feb. 20-28—Washington, D.C., Washington Auto Show FLORIDA Through Feb. 14—Miami, GM Motorama Auto Show Feb. 14-21—Daytona Beach, Annual NASCAR Speed Week Feb. 21—Daytona Beach, 160-mile stock car race Mar. 7—Sebring, Florida International 12-Hour Grand Prix of Endurance (Sports cars) ILLINOIS Mar. 13-21—Chicago, Chicago Auto Show INDIANA Through Feb. 21—Indianapolis, Indianapolis Auto Show LOUISIANA Feb. 26-Mar. 2—New Orleans, Mardi Gras Events Mar. 21-29—New Orleans, Louisiana Auto Dealers Auto Show MICHIGAN Feb. 18-21—Ishpeming, National Ski Championships Feb. 20-28—Detroit, 41st…

A. Deduct these whether you used your car for business or pleasure (unless you take the standard deduction allowed by law): (1) State gasoline tax (2) Car loan interest (3) License fees, including driver’s license (4) Loss from fire, theft, or collision (if insurance didn’t cover it) B. Deduct these only if you used your car exclusively in business or in making your living (pro-rate part of this if you used it also for pleasure): (1) Entire cost of car if it wears out in a year; or (2) Depreciation (3) Loss when you sell your car (4) Garage rent (5) Gasoline (including both federal and state taxes) (6) Insurance (7) Oil and lubrication (8) Repairs and general maintenance (9) Tires, when they last less than one year (10) Chauffeur’s…

PERFORMANCE CHASSIS DYNAMOMETER TEST (Checked on Clayton Mfg. Co.’s chassis dynamometer; all tests are made under full load, which is similar to climbing a hill at full throttle) ACCELERATION (In seconds; checked with fifth wheel and electric speedometer) TOP SPEED (In miles per hour; clocked speeds over surveyed ¼-mile) FUEL CONSUMPTION (In miles per gallon; checked with fuel flowmeter, fifth wheel, and electric speedometer) BRAKE STOPPING DISTANCE (To the nearest foot; checked with electrically actuated detonator) GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE DRIVE SYSTEM DIMENSIONS DEPRECIATION Percentage of original value retained by similar previous models at time of publication PRICES (Including retail price at main factory, federal tax, and delivery and handling charges, but not freight) ACCESSORIES ESTIMATED COST PER MILE (The Estimated Cost per Mile is given for comparative purposes and…

PERFORMANCE CHASSIS DYNAMOMETER TEST (Checked on Clayton Mfg. Co.’s chassis dynamometer; all tests are made under full load, which is similar to climbing a hill at full throttle) ACCELERATION (In seconds; checked with fifth wheel and electric speedometer) TOP SPEED (In miles per hour; clocked speeds over surveyed ¼-mile) FUEL CONSUMPTION (In miles per gallon; checked with fuel flowmeter, fifth wheel, and electric speedometer) BRAKE STOPPING DISTANCE (To the nearest foot; checked with electrically actuated detonator) GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE DRIVE SYSTEM DIMENSIONS DEPRECIATION Percentage of original value retained by similar previous models at time of publication PRICES (Including retail price at main factory, federal tax, and delivery and handling charges, but not freight) ACCESSORIES ESTIMATED COST PER MILE (The Estimated Cost per Mile is given for comparative purposes and is…