Autos: Back & Forth

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The auto business, though still dominated by the U.S., has become so internationalized that there is an increasing interplay between markets. Hoping to gain both profit and prestige from the exchange, a U.S. automaker last week decided to sell one of its European-made cars in the U.S., while another U.S. company announced that it will build a car in England to race on the Continent.

> On sale later this month in 422 selected Buick showrooms will go a newcomer that has already proved its mettle in Germany. The car: the Opel Kadett, a compact made by General Motors' German subsidiary in a new $250 million plant in the Ruhr, which G.M. feels will be more profitable if it produces at a higher volume. The Kadett's good looks have already dented Volkswagen's sales in Germany (TIME, Nov. 29), and G.M. hopes that the same thing will happen in the U.S. The company sold Opels through Buick once before, but dropped them in 1961 after it brought out its own compacts. Now, since its compacts have grown bigger in size, G.M. believes that there is room in its line for the small Kadett, which is only 154.5 in. long and 54 in. high but will seat four adults. The Kadett will be available as a station wagon, hardtop coupé, and standard two-door sedan; the two-door sedan will probably sell for $1,655, only $60 more than the more austere Volkswagen costs.

> After keeping its secret for more than a year, Ford finally announced that it is producing an auto designed specifically for Europe's prestigious racing circuit. Ford's new racer is a sleek fastback with a 200-m.p.h. top speed and a 375-h.p. engine that is placed "midships"—in front of the back axle but behind the driver—to achieve the best weight distribution. Ford plans to field a racing team with its new Grand Touring racers, which will be built in a rented London plant, and hopes to have about 100 cars ready for sale to the public by next year (estimated price: $15,000). The Ford racers will make their debut in June in Europe's most grueling test—the 24-hour race on Le Mans' tricky, twisting track, where only 14 of last year's 49 starters finished. Production volume is not really important. If Fords can beat the Ferraris that have dominated Le Mans for the past six years, Ford's prestige will rise by millions.