European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 20, 1967, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 6 the stars and stripes wednesday september 20, 1967 new models co on Sale this month medium size cars carry Detroit Hopes in 68 Detroit up safety improvements arid air pollution control Are two of the main fac tors in the 1968 american Auto mobiles going on Sale this month. But these factors do not Tel the full Story. Emergence of the intermediate cars those placed Between the compact and the full Sidecar is the main Battleground in the War for Market a third Battle just whispered now but certain to develop is a trend toward downgrading hot Rod performance in Favoron quieter smoother perform Ance at Turnpike cruising speeds combined with Economy of operation and durability. Expected to spread so far Cadillac and Oldsmobile divisions of general motors Are the Only two to adopt this Campaign but it is expected to s something for just about everybody in the 1968 of them Are conforming to the new safety standards set bythe government in providing seat belts for both front and rear seats redesigned instrument panels with More padding to absorb body Impact in an Accident flatter handles for doors and win Dows padded roof pillars heavier padding for the backs of front seats to protect rear seat Pas sengers and Side lights on All fenders. Added safety items these Are in addition to safety items added in 1967, including dual control Hydraulic Brake Sand collapsible Energy absorb ing steering columns.1 Lincoln and Mercury went one better in safety by providing shoulder harnesses for front seat passengers which snap to thereof when not in use. But be cause this was removed fro government safety requirements other companies did not instal them though anchorages Are built in and the harnesses Are available As an option. The Auto Industry s big Money layout aside from safety went to development of new cars in he intermediate Field. This has been the fastest growing Market in the Industry during the Pas couple of years exceeding even the sports car lines and was spotted a year ago by Chrysler and Plymouth As the coming Battleground in sales. Something new every 1968 Brand offers some thing new in that Field while being Content to make face lifting changes such As restyled front and rear Grilles on regular size cars the compacts and sports Only exception if it is one was Dodge s Charger a sporty car which could also be classed in the intermediate Field. It was completely restyled and has a it be mans car racing spoiler for the rear end design. Plymouth introduced a new intermediate called the Road run Ner to go with its is a 116-Inch-wheelbase car with a 383-cubic-Inch engine Oran optional motor a sizzling 426 Inch Street Hemi head that issued in drag strip racing. Replaces Comet also new including the name was Lincoln Mercury s Monteguin the intermediate Field replacing the Comet which suffered from its original tag As a com pact Montero is offered in 13 models and for the first time the Mercury Cyclone is being offered in a Fallback version. Themo Tego is built on a 116-Inch wheelbase the Standard for the intermediates. Ford motor co. Introduced its1968 cars at la Costa calif., one week after a nationwide strike against the company was called by the United Auto worker Union. Ford had produced about 93,000 new Model cars before the strike shut Down production enough to last less than a s Fairlane line was re styled and a top of the Lin series Torino was added. It also offers a Fastback and is de Ford s finest this is the Fastback ver Sion of the Torino it Ford motor co s new entry in the 1968 intermediate size car Market. Its features include Ven less Side windows an authentic it look and a Standard 302-cubic Inch v-8 engine. Bigger engines Are optional. Signed to offer luxury in the intermediate Field. Engine sizes in the Torino Start with the new302-cubic-Inch v-8 engine As Standard and go to the hot 427-cube Mill. In the general motors family Pontiac restyled its intermediate tempest models and offered them in two wheelbases112 and 116 inches. The Standard Over head Cam six Cylinder engine was boosted to 250 cubic inches from 230 by making it a longer stroke engine. Options include a350-cubic-Inch and a 400-cubic Inch v-8 engine. Chevrolet followed with the re styled Chevelle and Chevy ii and is offering the Chevelle into wheelbase similar to the tempest. Chevrolet also introduced anew and different Corvette Mako shark Model with a revolutionary Coupe roof design which includes removal panels Andrear window for open air driving. Buick restyled its special sky Lark and is models in the inter mediate Field with new body de signs and introduced a new 350 cubic Inch v-8 engine in two an four barrel Carburettor versions. Oldsmobile restyled its inter mediate f-85 series which in Chevy s Camaro the 1968 version of Theca Naro Chevrolet s bread and butter Model has a slightly sportier look. A new ventilation system and windows without vent panes Are Standard for both the sports Coupe shown Here and the convertible. Eludes the Cutlass but confine changes on its full sized lines and the front wheel drive Toro Nado mainly to front and rear Grille changes. Perhaps the most important development with Oldsmobile along with Cadillac was change in transmission drive train and rear Axle combination with its More powerful engines. Cadillac offered the world biggest production engine for passenger cars a 472 cubic Inch eras Standard equipment. In fact you can t buy a Cadillac or sporty Eldorado with any other both pm divisions Are anticipating a changing concept inthe car buying habits of the average car prices going up they anticipate an urge in the car buyer to economize somewhere. So both Cadillac and Oldsmobile have designed their engines to turn out Peak performance i foot pounds of torque at fewer revolutions. Then they be teamed them with new transmissions and lower ratio rear axles to provide satisfactory perform Ance at All speeds but with the most efficient performance at speeds Between 50 and 70 Milesian hour. The new engine transmission rear Axle combinations Are tuned to provide a quieter and smoother ride with the engine turning Over at lower speeds thereby contributing to greater a saving on gasoline is expected at least to offset the increased Gas consumption caused by the exhaust emission devices required on All new cars to reduce pollutants poured into the atmosphere by automobiles. American motors corp., the smallest of the american Auto makers and struggling to reverse huge sales losses that threaten its existence is staking its Hopes on a new sporty Model called the javelin. A modification of am s experimental amx car it is Low sleek and racy and of fers a 232-cubic-Inch, six Cylinder engine with a higher perform Ance 343-Inch v-8 As an trend to bigger engines continued throughout the lines of1968 cars by All makers. Hidden Windshield wipers introduced last year on Pontiac s full size cars were extended this year throughout All general motors divisions. Law meets warm approval for $25 monthly dues hike Detroit up unite Auto workers officials reported warm approval of their efforts to finance the strike against Ford motor co. As the two sides resumed serious bargaining Mon Day the 14th Day of the from the Auto Union have been touring general motors corp. And Chrysler corp. Locals throughout the country to whip up bigger dues payments from working Mem Bers to build up the strike fund. The idea is to assess Union members at pm and Chrysler an additional $25 per month indies during the Auto bargaining. Pm and Chrysler plants continued to operate though both companies refused to extend their contracts when the it Mavi they Puzo a i r p o o o Pam Iovu minnow Naze Union s three year pacts wit the Auto manufacturers ran out sept. 6.the Union is trying to Shore up its diminishing $67 million strike fund in Case it fails to come to a Quick contract settlement with Ford. This is the first time i Veblen cheered for telling Guys we re going to hit them for another $25 per month in dues said Law Chrysler department director Douglas Fraser after the meeting with Union Mem Bers in St. Louis to. Prospects for hammering Rutan Early agreement with Ford appeared dim. Monday s ses Sions marked the first time the Union and Ford came to grips on serious bargaining since 160,000 Law member walked out of 93 Ford plants in 25 framework by limiting initial bargaining to grievance procedures Job Security and seniority negotiators said they May build a Frame to Peg later talks Bannon the Law s Ford department head said the company s attitude appears better than when we first opened negotiations. This does not indicate Progress but it is Good both sides said they we remaking preparations a Long strike
