GM HINTS AT PRICE INCREASE . . . in a notice to dealers informing them they can begin selling 1978 cars and trucks at prices six-percent higher than the previous model year. Such an increase would add $300 to $360 to the purchase price of the company's cars and trucks. Meanwhile, Ford has tentatively raised prices on most of its 1978-model heavy-duty trucks by 7.3-percent or about $980 per vehicle. Truck options, according to Ford, will rise six-percent or about $200.

NORTON SIMON INC. ACQUIRES 7.9-MILLION AVIS SHARES . . . for $170-million after a federal judge approved the sale by a court appointed trustee. Richard Joyce Smith of Westport, Connecticut, was authorized to sell 3.7-million shares of Avis for $22 each. The remaining 4.2-million shares acquired by Norton Simon were in public hands. Fuqua Industries, Inc., of Atlanta, Georgia, dropped its bid for Avis after the contract was signed by Norton Simon. Fuqua had earlier raised its offer from $15.50 to $20.25 per share. The Avis board of directors opposed an earlier offer from Norton Simon and the rental company's lawyers have filed an appeal to the judge's ruling and subsequent sale of the stock.

NATIONAL CAR RENTAL OFFERS VAN POOLING PROGRAM . . . in an effort to ease the energy crunch. National says the program can reduce the collective gas usage of nine commuters by 90-percent while costing each rider slightly more than a dollar a day if they all ride together. That amount would cover the cost of leasing the van as well as gas with the driver riding free. The problem of insurance, a major stumbling block to van pooling, has been oversome by the company's offering an optional insurance package.

A QUARTER OF ALL MERCEDES-BENZ SOLD IN 1976 WERE LEASED . . . according to Bob Stevens' Mercedes-Benz Leasing Hints. Los Angeles and San Francisco helped the West Coast lead in retail sales with 44.8-percent and 38.5-percent of oil sales respectively. New York followed with 21-percent, trailed by Houston with 17.6-percent; Jacksonville, 16.7-percent; Washington, 16.6-percent, and Chicago, 15.4-percent. A total of 36 dealers reported they did not lease any units with 11 of that number in Chicago and 10 in Washington. All dealers in Los Angeles reported they had leased units.

GELCO AND PETERSON, HOWELL & HEATHER REPORT RECORD PROFITS ...As of April 30 Gelco reported increased earnings per share of 52-percent for a nine month period, 40-percent of that figure over the three months prior to the reporting date. Net revenue for the nine month period was set at $9.4-million on revenues of $153.5-million. PH&H reported a 29-percent increase in total revenues for the fiscal year ending April 30. Those revenues were $38,420,000, with net income rising to $9,277,000, an increase of 21-percent.

SHORT TAKES . . . Maine and Maryland are the two newest states to approve right turns on red lights. Maine's law is scheduled to go into effect May 1, 1978 with Maryland's measure taking force on July 1, 1978. Only Massachusetts and the District of Columbia do not permit the turns on red. . . The U.S. Department of Transportation has warned owners of 1970 through 1977 Ford car and light truck owners that the blades on their cooling fans can break off. Affected are Ford, Mercury and Lincoln models equipped with "flex-fans." The NHTSA says the constant flexing of the blades, which lessens noise and power to operate the fan, causes metal fatigue which may result in the blades breaking off . . . Hertz reports a 47-percent acceptance by travel agents of the recently-issued "Hertz Fly/Drive Tour Manual" has resulted in a new advertising campaign to gain wider acceptance of the publication. The new edition has more than 200 tours of the U.S. and Mexico operated by major airlines, hotel chains and tour wholesalers.