New Moderate Priced Closed Cars

A Revolution in Comfortable, Efficient Personal Transportation

VANITY FAIR'S OBSERVER

NOT SO many years ago we used to think or closed cars as expensive cars and most open cars as cheap. In other words, it was the practice of manufacturers of very high-priced machines to put a considerable part of their productive effort into the building of limousines, coupes, town cars and other enclosed drive cars, while the makers of cheap and medium-priced machines confined most of their attention to the construction of open models.

It is still true that producers of the higher grade automobiles include closed cars as a part of their line, in increasing proportion. However, there is an easily distinguishable tendency among such builders to produce fast sporting roadsters, while the makers in the cheap and medium-priced fields are turning out, in greatly increasing numbers, small closed cars which are the last word in comfortable inexpensive transportation. During the coming year you will observe that a great many companies whose product in the past has been confined to roadsters and touring cars, have come to the front with neat, roomy, light, well-equipped sedans, coupes and, in some cases, small limousines.

The moderate weight low or medium priced closed car has a very definite field to cover. I know any number of men who would not think of owning a closed car for their own use. They are the fellows who seek the highways in quest of fresh air and attractive scenery. Decidedly the closed car is not for them. But where a man's car is used in all sorts of weather and by other members of his family, there must be some means of protection against rain, snow and wind. The old form of collapsible top, even at its best, does not completely fill the bill. It too often makes inordinate demands on one's strength and time to raise it; and the effect on one's clothes is too often ruinous. The modern enclosed car can be opened up sufficiently to please almost any capricious lover of the great outdoors and yet, by the simple closing of windows, can be made to afford full protection from any disturbance of the elements. The small closed car, therefore, is considered almost ideal b.y the family whose machines are confined to one practical car which can be used by all members under varying conditions.

During the past couple of years, however, the small closed car has found a new field for expansion. Men who have the desire and means to own a number of cars, have purchased large, heavy, easy riding machines in which to do their touring and other long distance motoring. But for running errands, making trains, theatre going and . other activities, calling for short runs and frequent stops, they have found the larger cars wasteful of money, gasoline and effort. They have, therefore, added to their fleet one or more closed cars bearing trade marks to which they had previously paid no attention.

And the little closed car has made good. Any number of rich men have been surprised to discover the luxurious equipment, easy riding qualities, roominess and general efficiency of machines which until recently they had held in more or less contempt. The small closed car has come to stay and its entry into wealthy circles, although long delayed, has been on such a firm foundation that its increased popularity is one of the sure developments of the next few years.

THERE is an ever-growing tendency on the part of manufacturers to produce a semiclosed car to fill the gap between the completely enclosed machine and the touring car and runabout. This is accomplished by placing on a standard open car chassis a rigid Allweather or other type of top which allows the car in a very few minutes to be converted into a sedan or coupe by the installation of movable windows. The Templar, shown with this equipment, is produced by the company as a standard model and is a typical example. The new Cole models, called by the company "Tourster" and "Sportster", shown in the last issue, are other products of this idea and there are many others. The California type of top is going to become a veritable fad within the next year. It is made by numerous builders in a variety of styles, some with sliding windows but covering only part of the car, others so built that the entire body can be enclosed.

It is no longer necessary when buying a moderatepriced enclosed car, to expect the discomfort and the rattles and squeaks of former years. Heating devices are included in practically all of the new models to offset the disagreeable features of former winter driving. Springs have been improved, not only in quality but in principle, to such an extent that road bumps which, not long ago, would have loosened the eye teeth of the driver of a medium priced car, are passed over smoothly and without vibration.

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Vanity cases, cigar lighters, dome and corner lights are all procurable now in cars which sell for many hundred dollars less than one had to pay a short time ago for cars containing these conveniences. Upholstery has undergone radical improvement by the enclosing of seat springs in canvas bags to prevent them from getting out of shape and squashing sideways. All in all, the light weight moderate priced enclosed car has definitely arrived and has constituted one of the most important developments of the last two or three years' progress in the automobile world.