Motor Car Bodies of 1916

Good and Bad

��By John Jay Ide

��THE average American automobile mamifacturer has finally grasped some of the essentials of stream- line form as far as open bodies are con- cerned. There are now only a few mak- ers who cling to such features as the wide radiator, straight-sided hood and bulging cowl, low body sides affording little protection to the occupants, and upholstery protuding above the top rail. Of the cars oft"ending in the respects mentioned several are splendid produc- tions mechanically. One would think that the makers would be ashamed to mount coach work of such antiquated de- sign on their chassis.

Fortunately, these are extreme cases; the average body is a credit to the Amer- ican industry. Strange to say, some of the cheaper cars are better looking than their higher priced competitors, although

��the palm for beauty must be awarded to a fairly expensive machine produced in Ohio. The builders of this car intro- duced the double cowl into stock body design last year and its effect may be seen in the number of double cowl bod- ies offered to the public for 1916. In fact, this type bids fair to become more popular than the body with an aisle be- tween the front seats. In this connec- tion it may be remarked that in Decem- ber, 1912, the writer designed what is believed to be the first double cowl body mounted on an American chassis. A photograph of the car is shown on this page.

Among the features adopted on some 1916 cars is the "concealed" door, having no mouldings around it. As the hinges are not exposed, the streamline effect is heightened, but, unless the workmanship is very good, the joint between the door and body widens so that in time the door is concealed only in name.

For years the windshield of the aver-

���A sporting type body designed by the author. Notice the high sides, pointed wind- shield, concealed top and disk wheels. In insert, above, a double cowl body designed by the writer in December, 1912. The two rear seats are divided by an arm

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