NEW CAR SALES- The nation's auto dealers continue to sell cars at a record pace. Sales in the middle 10 days of October totaled 211,000, up an adjusted 6 per cent over a year ago. General Motors sold 113,000 cars, up 6 per cent. Ford Motor Co. sales totaled 57,325, up 3 per cent; Chrysler sold 24,506 cars, up 14 per cent; American Motors sales totaled 13,132 up 17 per cent and Studebaker sold 2,000, down 6 per cent. In the first 20 days of October, Gm accounted for 53.4 per cent of the marker, Ford, 25.7 per cent; Chrysler, 12.4 per cent; American Motors, 6.1 per cent and Studebaker 1 per cent.
TAXI RADIOS- The Yellow Cab Co. of Chicago has equipped 500 of its taxicabs with ultra-high frequency two-way mobile transistorizes radios developed by Motorola Inc. New base stations to handle the company's radio communication system will go on the air soon. The units, cost approximately $400,000 and are said to represent the first major fleet usage in the country.
SNOW TIRES- Fleet operators will be able to buy first line snow tires for about 10 per cent less this year. Goodyear, for example, is listing its top-grade Suburbanite black tubeless tire at a suggested retail price of $23.30, excluding trade-in of a recappable tire, in the key 6.70 x 15 and 7.50 x 14 sizes. The price a year ago was $25.90. Tire industry sources say the price reduction is the result of the second line snow tires introduces a year ago. By reducing the price of first line tires, tire companies hope that the consumer will "buy up," thus increasing the profit margin. All companies have increased the number of second line snow tires available. Goodyear has expanded its second line Sure Grip to nine sizes from two a year ago. Firestone's second line Tractionaire, offered in two sizes in 1963, is available across the board. The tire industry expects that snow tires will account for 15 per cent of the total replacement market of 80,000,000 units, up from 13.8 per cent in 1962 and 7.3 per cent in 1958.
The 1964 Buick Special, Oldsmobile F-85 and Pontiac Tempest will be using 6.50 x 14 tires for the first time, along with the new Chevrolet Chevelle. Because of the increased usage, the demand for 6.50 x 14 snow tire is expected to be great with resulting shortages in the next few months. Orders for this type of snow tire should not be delayed. It is also possible to use a 7.00 x 14 snow tire without mechanical damage.
CAR THEFTS UP--A total of 249,368 cars - worth more than $225,000,000 were stolen in the first nine months of 1963 the National Automobile Theft Bureau reported. This figure represents a 13 per cent increase over the number of cars stolen in the first nine months last year, In September 24,648 cars were stolen, 15 per cent more than during September of last year, All areas of the country experienced more thefts in the first nine months, The number of cars stolen in the Midwest, increased. 17 per cent to 93,196; in the East, 15 per cent to 64,144; in the South, 10 per cent to 36,800; in the Far West, eight per cent to 44,288: and in the Southwest, six per cent to 10,970, In September automobile stealing declined only in the Southwest, from 1,160 in September 1962, to 1,080 last month-a seven per cent decrease. Far West car thefts increased 33 per cent to 3,960, Eastern state thefts 18 per cent to 6,367, Midwest thefts 15 per cent to 9,624, and the Southern state thefts were up two per cent to 3,608.
WHAT ABOUT TIRE PRESSURE?-The American motorist-who shells out cash for gas, oil anti-freeze and a score of other items for his car-may be neglecting the one thing he gets for nothing: air for his tires. At least that's what is indicated by an impromptu survey made here by scientist at The B. F. Goodrich Company's research center. The men, who help conduct experiments at the center, became involved in a discussion over whether or not the average driver treats his tires as well as his tires treat him. Opinion varied, so it was decided to make a "spot check" at nearby parking lots. The findings: Air pressure in 907 tires tested ranged all the way from 5 to 50 psi. Over-all average was 26 psi-close to that recommended for high speed travel on super roads. Although load determines if a tire is over or under-inflated, 8.4 per cent of the tires had less than 22 psi air pressure and 10.0 per cent had more than 30 psi. Stressing that the small number of tires tested precluded any sweeping conclusions, the experts nevertheless called for "more careful" tire examination by drivers. Tires with too little pressure are more liable to failure; have a greatly increased wear rate on edges; and bulge at sidewalls, a source of possible internal damage. Over inflation puts great stress on the casing, which may cause cracking and rapid wear on the center tread, they said. They recommended strict adherence to manufacturers' recommendations.
SHORT TAKES-Ben Alexander, California auto dealer and former co-star of the "Dragnet" television show, has launched a national leasing company. Alexander, a Ford dealer, will lease all types of cars. Full service leasing will be stressed . . .Lease Flan International has formed a leasing subsidiary in South Africa , . . Econo-Car International has entered the truck leasing field. The company, which leases its vehicles from Chrysler Corp., plans to add 1,000 trucks valued at 32,000,000 to its fleet . , . Avis Inc. has started car rental operations in Lebanon . . . The Ford division of Ford Motor Co. reports that fleet orders are up 100 per cent over a year ago . . . National Alcar, an affiliate of Allegheny Airlines and National Car Rental System, has announced a family fly/drive car rental program providing a compact car for $11 per day including 100 free miles daily. The flat rate will be extended to any family traveling on family plan tickets issued by any airline. Standard size cars will be available for 31 more. The plan will be tested for six months at National Alcar's 28 Eastern airport locations...Peterson, Howell & Heather has increased its annual cash dividend on both Class A and B stock. The annual rate on Class A stock was raised from $1 to 1.20 per share while the Class B dividend was boosted from 50 cents to 70 cents.
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