AUTOS: Newcomers

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Three more 1942 model cars were on display this week. They proved that shortages and priorities have made scarcely a dent in the new cars—at least not yet.

The newcomers were Packard, Plymouth, Studebaker. All showed the same trend: longer, lower bodies, further streamlining, an impression of massiveness attained by redesigned front ends, cartwheel-sized hubcaps, heavy grilles, thigh-thick bumpers. Amazing was their glitter. The touted shortage of chrome, nickel, other bright metals was not in evidence on the surface. The use of plastics was up, but not much more than in recent years. Some details:

Packard shocked fellow automakers on two counts: 1) instead of raising prices (as most manufacturers are expected to do), it cut them $50 to $183 a car; 2) it made a clean break with venerable Packard styling, adopted the ultra-windstreaming featured on the "Clipper" put out last April. Packard, though busy on some $250,000,000 of defense orders, assured dealers: "For the next four months there will be no car shortage." All Packards use aluminum pistons but the company is tooled to use cast iron when necessary.

Plymouth has switched from aluminum to cast-iron pistons, is using more of Chrysler's new Amola steel—a high test metal using no imported alloys. Their prices still unannounced (rumor: a $100 boost), Plymouths come in eleven body styles (13 last year), and such defense-conscious colors as Airwing Grey, Battalion Beige, Artillery Green. Horsepower is up from 87 to 95 with no up in gas consumption.

Studebaker '42s have 1) automatic shifting and elimination of clutch pedal, 2) iron-alloy pistons, 3) bulky, locomotive-like grilles, 4) one-piece curved windshield on some models. Studebaker will take it easy on prices, may not boost them at all.