1938: Automobiles

Labor troubles and the business depression have been largely responsible for retarding the building of automobiles in 1938, and also for causing some well-known manufacturers of former years to go out of business.

As regards the trend in design of cars, changes have been made in the fenders, hoods and grilles, location of lights, and various details; but the body with slanting front and rear windows, flush top, and trunk compartment at the rear is practically the same. As to the chassis, knee action is common even in most medium-priced cars. Ford continues with transverse spring suspension at the front end, but has changed to a tubular axle. Other companies besides Buick have come out with independent springing; that is, no leaf springs but coil on front and rear axles. Cars are roomier, ride easier, and some are air-conditioned. Additional refinements are found in interiors, which are better upholstered and have seats with softer springs.

The engine is still forward and follows, with minor improvements, the same general lines that individual companies have built in previous years. Gear shifts are now usually mounted either on the steering column or on the dash. Some cars are equipped with an improved gear shift, which frees wheels when the gears are being shifted; by fully depressing the foot pedal, a shift can be made from high to second speed. Aluminum cylinder heads and pistons, with redesigned combustion chambers, have given better performance and efficiency. Manufacturers are not stressing to such extent as they once did the power of the engines and speed of their cars, but the economical operation of the engines.

Great Britain, France, Germany, and other European countries have been active in building small low-priced streamlined cars. The German cars have either open or closed bodies of plastic materials containing only a small amount of steel, the seats are of artificial leather, and the tires are of artificial rubber. Air-cooled engines of 14 h.p. are in the back of the car, and it is expected that speeds of 60 miles an hour will be obtained on only 1½ gallons of gasoline. These cars will sell for about $400, and have been nicknamed — 'Kraft durch Freude,' or 'Strength through Joy.' Some companies in the United States have built small cars somewhat similar to European models, but their sales have been unsatisfactory.

Although automobile production in the United States showed a remarkable recovery during the last two months of 1938, the total for the year was 2,480,635 as contrasted with 4,748,974 in 1937. Exports, on the other hand, began the year with figures that compared favorably with the record total of 50,340 cars for December 1937, but were noticeably affected by the general European situation. Passenger cars and trucks shipped in 1938 totaled 280,850, while the 1937 figure was 397,854.