Show AUTHENTIC STATEMENT Roger Rorer w Babson Special to THE VERNAL EXPRESS r NEW SWING TOWARD FOREIGN CArS Babson Park Mass January 5 Some executives of our own U S manufacturing auto Dig Big Three General Motors Chrysler and Ford have admitted that they expect an- an an other dip during 1967 in total output which would mean the second consecutive year of low low- lowering ering sales Executives of firms Importing foreign cars express no such doubts Almost un- un unanimously unanimously they predict that 1967 will be the s slue sive record breaking year Eor or heir products Do Does s this mean meana I a greater swing toward the purchase of foreign cars and If so what Is behind the switch In trend BASIS FOR DIVER DIVER- DIVERGENT GENT PREDICTIONS The question may well have ht more than one answer pro bably a number of answers Jut the essential fact is that statistics already provide a reasonable basis for th the con con- contrast between the pessimism of domestIc producers and the optimism of foreIgn car dealers Taking November figures Oate- Oate late late- latest st available it may be seen that foreign car sales nave have risen nn an impressive 18 percent ov l those of a year ago This compares dramatically with a decline of 7 percent In domes domes- domestic tic new car cal sales over the same it i is true ruc that foreign car 11 t r 11 only about b 8 p 11 11 nl of the total nark t th lb re IC is ar- ar arresting ar resting about tit th fact that practically all the leading im- im rs I are aro chalking up gains hi all our cur bigg st et producers are an le d clin s If It w re a matter only of rest rest- 1 s or watchful waiting on th ten 1 part of th tb consumer public tier hr is no r reason ason why both domestic and foreign auto salts sal s should hO not reflect the same w v tendency MAGNET SMALLER CHEAPER CAR CARs CARls s ls In Ih of r tight money un- un out is having some ad- ad adI'S rs IS erf ct on th demand for larger more mere expensive cars h h low st model made to In this country Is now the r American which goes 2073 But look at the price rang for for ign models eight out of the ten biggest biggest- lIIn imported cars can be bought hought for l less ss And th there re are aren area n a couple of score of other for maks mak s also below the American price range even Iven though not among those hest st known to the public In oth other r words the U S producers have once again out out- priced th themselves ms This happen happen- happened ed following 1959 when foreign Fars aIs set their previous record for or sal sales s capturing more than 10 percent of the total market markett t that time Detroit its lack of models at the lower end of the price scale and moved in with its compacts These caught the popular fancy to 0 a considerable degree but gradually became larger and more expensive Now it appears that the situation has come circle full If a buyer buer wants a small inexpensive car he can cando cando inthe do best he be i is convinced in the Import field WILL THE TREND LONG CONTINUE The momentum carrying sales of foreign cars upward has Increased notably and there Is reason to beleve that it will persist for some time to come It Is not for example purely the lower original cost that Is helping the market for imported autos When a family needs a car primarily for use by the housewife In shopping and for other short hauls the woman often prefers a vehicle that is light maneuverable to operate and easy to park Then there is the question of If a man could easily afford a Cadillac he is often as likely to buy himself instead a Benz of 01 a Jaguar Th t fla flavor 01 has appeal and this has been partly ins I d t cI by our own effort to toI I popularize th tha sports ports car I image in such models as the I whole VIm h caught on se- se re quickly But now to I 1 he really different nt many buyers fed that the foreign car caris is the thing whether for econ econ- emy my purposes or for the kind f showoff show of style found in the thela Jaguar la guar Question is Will Detroit try again to lure away some seine of his market with new small in sports models Best guess Is that the domestic auto makers wont won't unless for for- car im l car n-car sales once onee more move wll them ahme 10 of tJ i rk t t imp Pure will be I |