Scarcity of petrol and increased lexes in Europe during the last decade have indirectly fostered the development of thrifty cars in America—a fact which today is thrown into sharp focus by our own rising taxes and increased demands on fuel resources. according to Mr-Relph J. Archer, Assistant to the Presto Wilye Overland Motes "During the last ten years" he said, "increased levies and limited Eas resources in Europe boosted the price of petrol in peace-time up to en average of 65 cents per gallon and forced automotive engineers to develop engines which could average as much as 50 miles per gallon of gas.
"The fruits of their labour—mech-animal developments which make such unusual mileages possible—have already influenced design in the United States and. with taxes rising rapidly as a result of the defence and aid-to-Britain programme, it is logical that American drivers will turn with ever-increasing favour to the more economical automobiles."
Mr. Archer, whose duties for over 25 years as export manager of the Willys Company have taken him into every corner of the globe. said petrol prices during October 1940 in various European countries were "amazingly high" In Bulgaria one gallon of gas cost $103 and in Italy, $1.13. This. he added. is an indication of how fuel prices skyrocket when war and war preparations dominate a nation's economy.
He cited development of his compony's four-cylinder Willys-Americar engine, designed by Mr. Delmar G. Roos, Chief Engineer for Willys, who perfected one of the most successful high-mileage cars in England, as evidence of the influence from abroad on American motor vehicles. Mr. Archer said the Americar, when equipped with overdrive will get over 35 mp. of gas. "The only difference Letween our car and its English coun ter part he said. "is that the Ameri-car is full-sized'."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.