The 1940 models represent a very real accomplishment on the part of engineer, designer and craftsman. The cars of 1939 themselves had taken a long forward stride from the standpoint of appearance. This year the designers were set the difficult task of gilding the lily. They have accomplished it.
A sense of functional design apparent in current motor cars definitely has been extended this year, Well-balanced, clean-cut and instinct with power, they have the look of wanting to go places. In several makes there are distinct traces of aerodynamic influence, and, although true streamlining in the sense of tear-drop design by no means has been reached, there is evidence of real consideration for the effect of the wind stream and of lessons in the fairing and smooth contours which hardly could have been learned outside of the wind tunnel, But the improvements this year definitely go beyond the matter of good looks; even functional good looks. Safety, handling sense, stability, vision and roominess, all show marked advances.
A development which seems surely destined to influence profoundly future production is that of a fully automatic hydraulic transmission, accompanied by a fluid drive or coupling between crank shaft and drive shaft. This makes possible the elimination of the clutch pedal and enables driving under all conditions of traffic, grade and speed with the use merely of the accelerator and brake.
Safety is enhanced in the new models from two points of view. The first concerns itself with the lighting system. On nearly every car in this year's offerings are found the sealed-beam headlights, developed after three years of intensive research by the co-opera tive efforts of the automobile industry, the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.
The new lamps strike directly at the continuing serious problem of night accidents by providing both more and better descriptive light when either the traffic, or down, beam is used, or the country, or up, beam is in operation. The right hand side of the road, the shoulder an the area beyond the shoulder all are much better illuminated than heretofore. tion not only from the rear but from the front of the car with flashing signals in parking and stop lights. Some automatically return to normal after the turn had been made. Nearly all indicate on the dash the direction of the turn which is being flashed.
Instrument boards, simplified and "cleaned up" as to design, show not merely better grouping of instruments for easy reading through the two-spoked, or T-shaped, plastic steerit.g wheel webs but have also, in some cases, useful safety and convenience novelties of their own. These include warning lights which act as a telltale when gasoline tank, oil supply or battery need attention.
Heavy emphasis has been placed this year upon comfort in the car; an element which also adds to the safety of driving as well as to its pleasure. Interiors are decidedly larger. This is specially true of width and applies with particular emphasis to those cars in which the running board is sacrificed and the space thus gained added to body room.
The three-passenger seat, both front and rear, is now a reality rather than a bit of salesman's propaganda. Important redistribution of weight is attained in some models by moving the rear axle several inches backward and mounting the engine several inches further forward as compared to current models. This cradles passengers well between the points of wheel shock to improve riding qualities.
Attention to Stabilization Still further attention has been paid to stabilization both front and rear, with changes in spring mounting, shock absorber mounting and torsion and stabilizing bars. These developments, coupled with improvements in steering. geometry again have resulted in a higher degree of sure-footedness and more positive cornering.
Driving ease is accentuated by an almost universal use of the steering column gear shift: Jin one case vacuum boosted, and in nearly all eaSes improved in lightness and ease of operation over last year.
Designers have not overlooked the wants of the great army of motorists who like to tour and carry much luggage with them. Luggage compartments, although they blend more harmoniously into the top line of the vehicle, are larger and better arranged than ever.
Trunk floors are lower, often love? with the Increased Frame Stiffness From the structural point of view, safety is served this year by increased stiffness of frame; by further increases Ín glass area, with consequent improvement of vision; by the use, in many instances, of stronger, optically improved safety glass and by wide adoption of turn indicators.
The need for such indicators has been growing due to the extension of various systems of controlled ventilation and heating which depend, for their efficient functioning, on keeping car windows closed. top of the rear bumper, and this protective device itself has been improved by the addition of gravel shields between the bumper and the cars. Devotees of the convertible will be pleased this year with the wider use of automatic tops.
Certainly in no previous year has so much attention been given to the harmony and beauty of interior and exterior finish. Wide colour options are offered and interesting treatments of two harmonizing tones are a colour feature of the year.
From every point of view the models of 1940 reflect an industry in the full power of On the new models they show one's inten- maturity after its 40 years.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.