Indholdsfortegnelse for June 1954 i MotorTrend

Welcome to Mail-Mart! Here you’ll find an outstanding selection of speed, power, and custom equipment—the newest, most interesting automotive specialties (plus some of the old favorites) from the stockrooms of the World’s Largest Distributor of high performance auto parts. Naturally, only a few items can be shown here each month, so whatever other special equipment you may need—any item—for any car—if you don’t see it here, simply send a description to the address below. Enclose 20% deposit. Your order will be shipped C.O.D. immediately. You won’t have to ask directions when your car is equipped with a genuine Hull compass. These precision compasses can be depended upon to “steer you right” when you’re in doubt. A “must” for your vacation trip! Adds an attractive, functional touch to your car. Available…

DETROIT, MICHIGAN—The news is good this month. Sales are on the upswing for all auto companies, Chevrolet’s Soap Box Derby is in the offing, and one of the country’s leading hearse manufacturers casually went out and bought venerable Reo Motors, Inc., for a cool $16.5 million. Sparkplug Russ Feldmann, President of… HENNEY MOTOR CO., makes a regular practice of buying ailing (or at least stagnant) firms, building them up, then selling them at a nice profit. The future for Reo now seems to be a matter of making the old gal pretty enough to attract American Motors, who need a line of trucks in the family. Meanwhile, Henney is beginning to pay attention to the transportation requirements of the distinguished living as well as the dead. For the past several…

THE STUDEBAKER, noted for years for good fuel economy, seems to get better in this department with the passing of each year. In 1952, over essentially the same type of course that was used on this year’s Mobilgas Economy Run (Los Angeles to Sun Valley, Ida.), three Studebakers averaged a remarkable 26.27 mpg for a distance of 1415 miles. In 1953, over a somewhat ruggeder course, 1206 miles to the same location, four Studebakers turned in 24.42 mpg average. This year, they really hit the jackpot, with three of them (Land Cruiser with Automatic Drive, Land Cruiser with overdrive, Champion with overdrive) averaging 27.42 mpg for 1335 miles at an overall average speed of 41 mph. How do they get such phenomenal mileage? It isn’t easy. First of all, the…

SPRINGTIME is cleanup time, and a good place to start in on your campaign is under the hood of your car, specifically at the oil filter. Here are the illustrated steps for getting this engine guardian ready for dusty summer trips. It’s an easy, quick operation, and one that should be repeated as often as recommended by the engine manufacturer or oil companies. A word of advice: The color of heavy-duty (detergent) motor oil does not indicate its condition, so don’t change the filter element on the basis of oil color alone, but rather on car mileage and driving conditions.…

TO MOST PEOPLE it comes as somewhat of a surprise that they can buy a Packard for under $3000. In the past, Packard and prestige have been synonymous. And with this generally comes price. The fact that Packard is now producing lower-priced cars may detract from this belief that the manufacturer has tried so hard to instill in the minds of the American car-buying public. If I were to write an open letter to Packard, I would be tempted to recommend a divorcing of the lower-priced Clipper line from the Cavalier and Patrician, even to the extent of leaving off the Packard nameplate. Let the Clippers stand on their own merits; they have enough of them to make them highly interesting to many people. Of course, it appears that Packard…

ONE OF THE MOST PROMISING small European cars ever to blossom forth is the Sonderklasse DKW (known as der kleine wunder, the small wonder). But whether its export to this country will bear fruit or wither away on the limb seems more in its price and production quantity than in whether it’s a worthy product. Seldom has there been a car with a more interesting background. It’s manufactured by the Western German Auto Union plant in Dusseldorf. (The original Auto Union organization is in the Eastern Zone.) This is the outgrowth of the four-company combine of pre-war Germany that produced the indefatigable six-liter, rear-engine Auto Union car that went on to crush practically all opposition in Grand Prix racing. And the car itself is highly interesting: it’s powered by a…

YOU can have genuine white sidewalls—just by using this handy kit in your spare time. Custom Sidewalls use 100 per cent natural rubber, are cemented to black tires for a factory-made whitewall appearance. Four rubber white sidewalls and all necessary tools and materials are yours for $9-95. Write to: Custom Sidewalls, Box 11758, Los Angeles 47, Calif. PEP up your Volkswagen with this special oil sump (used for racing on both the VW and the Porsche), these die-cast pistons (compression ratio of 7 to 1), or a cast-aluminum carburetor manifold. The latter is fitted to take any type carburetor. For information on these carefully designed power boosters, write: Jack McAfee Motors, 13323 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, Calif. POWER BRAKES can now be installed on your present car quickly, easily, and…

I WAS so fed up after the first seven months with my new car, I was ready to swap it for a bushel of bus tokens! Having just laid out quite a few kopeks for the latest “super deluxe” model, I was pretty sore when service bills began piling up. First, it was overheating; then squeaks & rattles; later two loose rod bearings, then my battery went dead; the tappets needed adjusting; wiring got a hidden “short,” etc. Frequent “tune-ups” failed to produce the smooth idling or the mileage I expected, and in spite of two alignment jobs, my front tires wore smooth at 7,000 miles. Maybe you think I simply got a “lemon,” but if I told you the make, you’d agree it’s one of Detroit’s finest. With each…

Wins third place among 22 cars—of all classes—that finish out of 58 starters Sensational new sports car beats racing cars costing up to $17,000. Once again the Austin-Healey proves its amazing durability and superb ease of handling in America’s most difficult race, the twisting, turning 12-hour Grand Prix d’Endurance at Sebring, Florida, on March 7. The Austin-Healey “100” comes completely equipped with a long list of deluxe extras at the unbelievably low price of $2985 f.o.b. coastal ports of entry. Features like a heater and defroster. Twin carburetors. Tachometer. Adjustable wind-screen. Overdrive. Tonneau cover. Leather upholstery. And wire-spoke wheels. Modification kits for racing available. If you love fast cars, you must see the Austin-Healey. AUSTIN OF ENGLAND, 27-29 W. 57th Street, New York City.…

NO TAIL-WAGGER Dear Sir: Your road test on the Buick Century is the second one I have seen condemning the “understeer” characteristics of this car. Why? As a subscriber to your British contemporary, the Autocar, I find their road tests taking the opposite approach, that is, praising those cars with understeer and condemning, at least to a slight degree, those with marked oversteer characteristics. So why the difference between opinions on the two sides of the Atlantic? Are we to assume that our British cousins are better drivers and are able to handle a car which goes into a four-wheel drift? I certainly don’t enjoy the tail-wagging characteristics of the Detroit Iron I’ve driven, particularly when the going is slippery and there is a long road to be covered in…

CHEVROLET has produced a bucketseat roadster that will hold its own with Europe’s best, short of actual competition and a few imports that cost three times as much. The Corvette is an exciting car to drive. First of all, thanks to eyedropper distribution and low production, the odds are very much against your seeing another one even once a day. Secondly, a poll of traffic-light comments showed nothing but admiration for its design and, incidentally, recognition—instead of the usual “what is it?” it was “what’ll that Chevy do?” Here’s what this one did. Performance is best described as agile rather than startling. Several American sedans (the Buick Century in particular) can give the Corvette a hard time. A good Corvette will barely nose out an average Century on an unobstructed…

BRUCE BROWN’S ’52 Packard convertible is a prime example of what can be done to make a car outstandingly attractive, and still have it remain “reasonably stock.” There was no chopping or channeling, no sectioning or lowering involved in its construction. The few exterior details are there for all to see—frenched headlights, small, “button” tail lights, dechromed hood and rear deck, and the one thing that makes this custom one-of-a-kind,” the unique paint job. But close inspection reveals that it’s more than just a simple painted panel; the dark strips are edged by hand-formed chrome strips made from half-inch cold-rolled steel. Bruce’s Packard, customized by Art Lancaster, is further enhanced by a white leather interior and painted wire wheel covers, another handmade feature. A product of Redwood City, Calif., this…

THE 88 THAT COULDN’T WAIT was the treat that Oldsmobile lovers greeted with open arms when the company introduced their new wide-wind-shield wonders this year. Purportedly next year’s design, the “new look” embodied in the ’54 88—the wrap-around wind-shield and squared-off corners—is without doubt one that’s here to stay, if first-quarter sales and public reaction to MT’s Super 88 test sedan are any criterion. A few minor, tasteful trim changes, coupled to the picture-window windshield, made our Super 88 look vastly different from last year’s car. But it wasn’t until we were well into the road test that we began to find the real differences. All of us were impressed with the 88’s get-up-and-go, but few of us were really impressed with the new Oldsmobile’s road ability at first; then…

I race for a living…depend on a smooth-running engine for my bread and butter. That’s why I use Miracle Power in the gas and oil of my racers—and private car, too. You see, heat in upper cylinder areas, even in passenger cars, often reaches 1400° F.—over twice the temperature at which oil burns off! So you can’t count on oil to lubricate valves and lifters. But Miracle Power is not affected by extreme temperatures. It keeps valves free and lubricates when heat breaks oil down. And Miracle Power prevents Dry Starting Damage—cause of most engine wear, because oil can’t reach all parts right after starting. But a light, tough film of Miracle Power is always there preventing dry metal to metal contact. An independent laboratory reports Miracle Power means more…

IN THE AVALANCHE of mail that daily engulfs MOTOR TREND’S editorial offices, we can always count on several letters demanding to know which cars are and which cars are not classics. Very few people write in and ask about the Rolls, Packard, and Duesenberg. Car addicts generally buy them because they are classics and the owners know they are classics. But many people have heard of the classic car movement and happen to own old vehicles. Hopefully they inquire as to the classicism of a particular model. Many letters ask if a 1926 Buick is a classic, or if a Durant is a classic, or (believe it or not) if a 1931 Chevrolet is a classic. I strongly suspect that some writers of this class of letters are seeking an…

QUESTION—How can I get better performance from my Volkswagen? Can the 1.5-liter Porsche engine be installed in the VW? What would be the resulting performance and the cost of installation? ANSWER—Available VW speed equipment will increase horsepower by 15 to 25 per cent (see “Motoring Trends,” page 72 for an equipment outlet). The 1500 cc Porsche engine will give you startling low-speed performance (actually better than the Porsche), but utilizing the newly gained top speed without proper suspension modification would be foolhardy. The Porsche-VW installation is a neat and simple job, but would probably cost about $2000, considering the cost of the more powerful Porsche powerplant. QUESTION—In the Nov. ’52 issue of MOTOR TREND you tested the Oldsmobile Super 88. The weight was listed at 4100 pounds. In the October…

THIS IS A GOOD MONTH to go to the movies. Coming to your local theater is the J. Arthur Rank production of “Genevieve,” which stars a 1904 Darracq and a Spyker of approximately the same vintage. Of course there are people in the show too, but the cars deserve the Oscars. The film tells the story of two young couples taking their restored and beloved antiques on the London-Brighton run, an event staged in real life annually by England’s Veteran Car Club. The show is funny enough to appeal to everyone, but it’s a must for old car lovers. Another must is the stirring Technicolor production “Run for the River.” This is the story of the 1953 Mexican Road Race, and the action will keep you on the edge of…

Legislation is Now Under Consideration in several states which will require passenger cars to be equipped with Safety Belts. Colliers, Saturday Evening Post, Fortnight, Time, Popular Science, Motor Trend, Motor Life, Newsweek, Esquire and hundreds of other leading magazines and newspapers have publicized the vital need for Safety Belt protection for all motorists. The public, finally aroused over the terrible toll of motor accidents, is now demanding that since we can’t stop accidents from happening, let’s start action to prevent accident deaths and injuries. Safety Belt Laws are sure to follow. The question is, “How many more Americans must be killed before the legal machinery can act? Why Wait for Them to Pass a Law! that will give you and your loved ones protection in the crash that may happen…

WHEN WE PICKED UP the ’54 Ford V8 four-door sedan equipped with Fordomatic from the Ford Motor Co. for our road test, we remembered a conversation we had had the week before with a Ford-boosting neighbor who owns last year’s model. “Bring your test car around for a ride,” he said. “I want to see if I should trade in mine for a ’54 with that new overhead-valve engine. I’d like to see what other improvements they’ve made, too.” So, on a Sunday afternoon, John Slauson and I checked the details on the ’53 and ’54 Customline series four-doors. “The cars look almost identical,” John remarked. “They’ve changed the grille and side molding, raised the front fenders ever so slightly, added a couple of doodads to the tail lights, and…

THIS IS THE SECRET that wouldn’t keep–the invention that may put men on the moon years before experts believed it could be done. This is the discovery that can make present-day automobile engines last hundreds of thousands of miles—and save millions of dollars for average car owners by reducing operating expenses. Yet, like many great discoveries, it is based on simple principles. Friction, as every schoolboy knows, is what makes engines wear out. In early steam engines, this was such a minor problem that tallow was good enough for lubrication. Even in the first gasoline engines, almost any kind of oil could do the job. But as engine heat increased and piston speeds approached 3000 feet per minute, lubrication engineers had to develop new oils containing “additives” you hear so…

“I installed a pair of Traction Masters on my new 1954 Ford Victoria. To say that I am pleased is a definite understatement. “The Victoria now has more stability in turns, on rough roads, on wet or slippery pavements, and on the straight-away that is beyond comprehension. When the brakes are applied either for a normal stop, or for a quick or sudden stop, the rear wheels do not bounce or skid. The car comes to a complete stop in considerably less distance with absolute safety. “I believe the Traction Master to be the finest Safety device ever offered to the Motoring Public, and one of the greatest inventions since television.” Sincerely yours, Hundreds of Professional Drivers and motor enthusiasts say Traction Master is a tremendous safety feature. With Traction…

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…

The information listed is accurate to the best of our knowledge. However, programs and dates are subject to change, and it is suggested that you check in advance to avoid disappointment. CALIFORNIA May 30—Corona, Corona Circle road race June 5-6—San Francisco, SCCA Golden Gate Park road race June 24-27—Los Angeles, National Truck, Trailer & Equipment Show CONNECTICUT June 13—Thompson, AAA midget races ILLINOIS May 10, June 14—Springfield, AAA midget races June 19-20—Rantoul, SCCA sports car races, Chanute AFB June 25—Chicago, AAA midget races (night) INDIANA May 21, June 18—Kokomo, AAA midget races May 22, June 12—South Bend, AAA midget races May 22-31—Indianapolis. Indianapolis Custom Auto Show May 23-30—Winchester, AAA sprint car races May 30, June 26—Indianapolis AAA midget races May 30—Columbus, Hoosier Sports Car Classic sports car races, Atterbury AFB…