Whitby Free Press, 20 Apr 1994, p. 14

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Page1 14, Whity Frée Press, Wecinesclay, Aprit 20,199 by JiI Mclntosh - Auto magnates were friends A, lot of people think our household je- the ultimate in competition: I work for one car company, and iny husband works for another. Stranger stili, the car he drives was built by my company, and mine was made by hie. Turn the clocký back, though, and it doesn't souid unusual at aIl. When the -car industry was new, it took quite a while before the companies we know today sorted themnselves out. Back then, names that ame now foerce rivale were the best of friends. The firet mass-produoed car was not the Model T but rather Oldsmobile's 'Curved Dash Olds.' The transmissions for these cars were made by two brothers, John and Horace Dodge. In 1903, the Dodge brothers went over to the competition and for the next decade they built Fords. Producing almost every part of the car, save the body1 wheels and tires, they quic;y became known for the quality 'of their work. It was inevitable that they would build cars under their own name, and in 1914 the firet Dodge Brothers automobile hit the streets. The company was 80 successful that after the First World War, each of the brothers had a personal income of $40,000 per day. In 1928, the company was sold to Walter P. Chryler who was certainly no stranger to the automnotive scene. Chrysler was a gifted businessmnan whose specialty was taking etruggling conipames and turning them around. Not only had ho saved the failing WilIys company, but he had also been presidont of Buick and Iater a vice-president of General Motore. Ho had savod Maxwell -- oldor readors may romembor it was 'Jack Benny's car' on hie radio program -- and in 1924 had renamned the company after himseIL In those early years, GM's staff also includod jresident Charles Nash, who would go on to start a succeseful coinpany under hie own naine. The naine Henry Lland shows up acrose the automotive map, starting out at the Henry Ford Motor Company. This was Ford's second undertaking, following the failure of hie Detroit Automobile Company. Mass production wasn't oven a glimmor ini Ford's eye at that time. Instead, he was obeessed with building race cars. Concorned by heavy losees, hie backers forced hum out. He left to form bis third company, the one that survives to this day, while design supervisor Henry Leland took control of the Henry Ford Motor Company. Ho used it to make a car of hie own design, and the company was renamod Cadillac. Cadillac was sold ta GM in 1909 and Leland began work on a new car, which ho named the Iàncoin. This company was purchased by Ford in 1922. Leland stayed with hie car but, ironîcally, difficulties with Henry Ford evontually forcod hlm ta, SEE PAGE 18 CADILLAC CONCOURS r TÈéNIdRII=d W CadiIacin transition By Glen Konorowekl A lot has been happening for Cadillac over the past few years. Once sadly lacking prforac and handlîn g, Cadl ac has roally turned itself around as a division of General Motors. This year Cadillac has introdu- ced the De Ville Concours, a full- size,ý six-passenger, front-whveel- drive Cadillac. This model shares its body with the De Ville, its elgtl lowor-priced sibling. Afer spnding somo time test- ing the Concours, I have begun ta feel this is Cadillac's transi- tion model, due to the blend of old and new technologies of Cadillacs past and present in modela such as the Seville and Eldorado. Technically the Concours ie top-notch heralding Cadillac's new Nortistar V8 for power, yet interior styling je niid-eighties. It seeme that, in some cases, desig- ners couldn't makeé up their minds whether they wanted to stick with tradition or move inta the nineties. Sliding across tho leather inta the driver's seat, you find a roomy, conifortable place to be. Surprisingly onough, the Con- cours' living room-type seats are coinfortablo, offering good lower- back support. Tho power seats, which have controls on the door and lower section of the seat, offor plenty of adjustinents ta seat any sized porson. I found setting t he seat adjustînont a little awkward, but' once thero I was coinfortable. Ail noedod driving controls are neatly placed in front of the driver. The digital dash is easy ta read and al ows for easy read- ing of vital functions of the engine. Tho heating and cooling controls are wll-placed noxt to the instrument panel. Once set on auto, I really never had ta touch the environinental controls for the few days 1 had the car. Unfortunately the radio is a big stretch ta the centre of the car to change ODs or radio stations. If Cadillac designers are going to ut the radio a walk away, they should at least take a lesson froin Pontiac who put the sound systein controls in the steering whoel. The large, wide, baclý- doors of the Concours make it easy ta get in and out. In the bacl seat, there le room for three adulte in comfort, with a'lot of spaoe for really stretching out on a long ~t1ider the hood, Cadillac's 32- valve, double-ovorhead cam V8 Northstar ongino is a strong per- former. Liko Cadillacs of the fifties and sixties, this car has the power whon you want it. With 270 horsepower, the Con- cours can reach 60 miles per hour (96 kilornetres per hour) in 8.2 seconds -- and -beliove me, that's fast in a car of this size. SEE PAGE 16 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA advanced safety systom and much more. FR110 YEAR 160,000krm EXTMDED LESFRM245mo.. POWER TRAIN WARRANTY! Bath availale in gaor turbo diesel with a ls a toeximSopcià finncerates available anc o Down Payrnent! Sale E 48moth terni walk away, 0% down payment. F dM GOLF "World's Best SeIIing Car!" Power locks, tinted glass, dual mirrors, advanced safety system, and much more. ofLEASE FROM$20 /m. t fstandard features top long to mention. See us id great savings on remnaining companUcars. Frt.. PDI & taxes extra. O.A.C. Expires April 30 J4 INC. [H'MB I HWY 23 35 MINUTES EAST FROM DOWNTOWN TORONTO OWASCO VOLKSWAGEN1 Experience the 04'asoe Feeling. Pro yen to serve you BEST since 1972. 'j, An "I CARE" and CAA award winner. Sales, service, leasing. body shop, ail makes. Rentais in Canada, USA and Europe, overseas delivery. ~ 1425 Dundas St. East, Whitby luW 686-6410 JWASÉOL TOP DOLLAR FOR nl-V--W RVYOUR TRADE! Mdbmolv 1

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