At the risk of going out on a limb and chopping it off, I'm making a prediction: New car sales next year will topple the all time 7,169,908 unit sales mark set in the banner year of 1955.

While most industry forecasts for 1962 place sales in the vicinity of 6,500,000 units. I'm not in too bad company. General Motors Corp., the giant of the industry, is sticking with its sales prediction of 7,250,000 units. However, GM says such a year would be only the second greatest sales year in the industry. Its reasoning goes like this: Registrations lag behind sales by about 30 days. The 7,169,908 figure for 1955 represents official registrations, although more cars actually were sold in 1955 but weren't registered until 1956. So, according to GM, 1962 will be second to 1955.

Well, I'll still out forecast Messrs. Donner, Gordon and company. Next year will be the best sales year in the history of the industry.

There are several factors pointing to a record auto sales year. Early sales figures are almost meaningless because of the auto strikes and a resulting insufficient dealer supply, but this year's introduction was still one of the best in history. Many dealers said their introductory period far outdistanced 1955; there were more buyers and fewer shoppers - and they had money. While some of the dealer and factory optimism must be discounted, it is evident that this heightened consumer interest represents a solid foundation on which the industry may build a solid sales performance.

Also pointing to a sales record are the new 1962 models themselves. Styling has taken a back seat to functionalism. Cars are being constructed to run longer with fewer trips to the garage. As noted in Automotive Fleet in November, this is of particular interest to fleet men. Expectations are that the new "in betweens" will do their part to stimulate sales. As David Wilkie, the dean of automotive chroniclers said recently, "whatever the car buyer wants, the auto industry appears to have it for 1962."

What would a record sales year mean to the fleet man? The answer is obvious. Healthy new car sales are a vital economic stimulant and an expanding economy means more business for everyone.

Add end: Passenger car fleet sales during the 1962 model run should total 945,000 units, up 14 per cent over 1961 sales. This is from George Culp, vice president of Service Leasing Corp. Culp based his prediction on "over-all betterment in the economy," an improved and wider selection of new models and replacement cycles. Leasing of fleet vehicles should increase between 15 and 20 per cent in 1962, Culp said, as the result of many businesses changing from company and salesmen-owned fleets to leased fleets.

Import car manufacturers, faced with slumping sales as a result of the onslaught of the American compacts, are turning to new sales avenues. Example: John T. Panks, managing director of the English Rootes Motors, sent a telegram to the convention of the American Taxicab Assn. stating that Rootes is going to launch an "aggressive, all-out campaign" to sell Hillman Minx economy sedans to independent and fleet cab operators throughout the United States.