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This week, in Manhattan's barnlike Grand Central Palace, U. S. motormakers stage their 41 st National Automobile Show. An American institution, the Show is the springboard of the new selling season. In good years and bad, automen bubble with hope at show time. This year optimism spouts like a geyser. Thanks to defense spending, they expect 1941 sales to be the highest since 1937's 5,016,437 cars, No. 2 automobile year.

Threatened by difficulty in obtaining dies and tools because of defense needs, automakers pushed through the new models with less retooling than usual. Hence, the most striking thing about the '41s is their similarity to the '40s. Streamlining has been carried to new extremes, approaches "tear-dropping" in some cars. But many car buyers will look twice to make sure they are not at last year's show. Most radiator grilles, hoods, fenders and tops are little changed. Externally, the biggest change is a superabundance of "gingerbread." The new cars glitter with chromium, nickel, even golden bronze.

Looks aside, there is a normal batch of mechanical improvements, safety features and refinements. Fluid couplings, automatic transmissions (introduced in 1939 and 1940) are common. "Compound carburetion" is a fresh phrase covering new carburetors which up gas mileage. Some makes have increased their horsepower as well. "Air-conditioned" sedans are almost standard. So are convertibles with power-operated tops, a device which has made convertibles more popular than ever before. Most prices are up 3 to 5%.

The 1941 list (factory prices):

Buick's five series (Special, Super, Century, Roadmaster, Limited), boast increased power from new "Fireball" engines and compound carburetion. Super-streamlined is the new "Sedanet," two-door, six-passenger coupe-sedan. Prices: $895 to $1,675.

Cadillac begins with Model 61 ($1,345, lowest-priced Cadillac in history), designed to replace the discontinued La Salle. Others range up to the Fleetwood seven-passenger formal sedan at $4,045. Custom-built types are still higher. Big Cadillacs bear big square grilles which make the business end look like a Union Pacific Diesel locomotive.

Chevrolet expects to sell 1,100,000 cars this year, enough to keep it the world's No. 1 car. The '41s have thrown out running boards and the Master 85 series of last year. Prices from $712 to $995 include two-tone exteriors and interiors, vacuum-operated tops for sport models, locks on both front doors.

Chrysler introduced "Airflow" design in 1934, is ballyhooing streamlining again. The four lines, 26 models, are about one-and-a-half inches lower but wider at seat level. Priced from $945 to $2,795.

Crosley hired white-haired, bespectacled "CannonBall" Baker to make a transcontinental run in its new diminutive Covered Wagon (123 1/2 inches overall). His report: "2,454 miles at a cost of $9.14 makes automobile history." Prices: $299 to $450. Company brag: "50 miles on a gallon--EASY!"

De Soto's flat-topped fenders will be cursed by mechanics, loved by car polishers. Featuring "Rocket" bodies and fluid drive, the line includes five de luxe, eight custom models. Prices $898 to $1,195 (not including seven-passenger limousine).

Dodge, No. 2 car in the Chrysler line, has ground out more publicity about itself than any comparable car. Stressing "Fluid Drive," and with Air-Foam seats in big models, prices range from $825 for deluxe coupe to $995 for custom town sedan.

Fords for '41 are the biggest ever with seats up to seven inches wider. Seven super de luxe, five de luxe V-8s are now on view with a six still rumored for early introduction. They have a 22% increase in sedan glass area, electrically operated convertible tops, longer, more flexible springs and improved shock absorbers. Prices: $744 to $1,035.

Graham and Hupp, both in financial trouble, have dovetailed production lines to make "Hollywood" Grahams and "Skylark" Hupps. Neither is at the Show.

Hudson got a better toe hold in the low-priced field last year, hiked sales 80% against 32% for the industry. Handsome, unobtrusive Abraham Edward Barit, president since 1936, jumped the gun on other manufacturers this year by having 1941 models in showrooms by late July. Result: he sold $22,000,000 worth of cars (1939 sales $58,036,000) in the first three weeks. Hudson sales through mid-September were 127% over a year ago.

Hudson comes out with "Lucite" lens (light-bending) on the instrument panels. Also pushed is "Symphonic Styling," adman's way of saying outside colors blend with inside colors. Prices: $695 to $1,254.

Lincoln, long the $2,500-and-up crown jewel of Ford, is superseded this year by Lincoln-Zephyr, Lincoln Continental and Lincoln Custom. The foreign-looking, rakish Continental (introduced last year), has extra-large, square-cornered trunk and upright rear tire which violate streamliners' ideals but make a distinctive car. Prices ($1,477 to $2,864) include pushbutton door latches, automatic windows and V12 120-h.p. engines.

Mercury, in its third year, has six models including a new station wagon. Resembling an oversize Ford, they feature larger bodies, longer wheel bases, "re-engineered ride." Prices: $944 to $1,183.

Nash's chief is fat, cigar-smoking, trout-loving George Walter Mason, who headed the fast-stepping Kelvinator Corp. before it merged with Nash in 1937. He has his own ideas about prices. On Jan. 10, 1940 he blew the lid off the complacent electric-refrigerator industry by slashing "stripped" boxes $30 to $40 a unit to a record low level of $119.95. Pleased by results (Kelvinator sales up 125% to new record, industry up 35%), Mason is applying similar tactics to the auto industry this year.

To the question: "Are independent motormakers doomed?" Mason's answer is the Ambassador 600, representing $7,000,000 of development costs and priced $731 and up, to compete directly with Chevrolet, Ford and Plymouth. The Ambassador 600 (three years in the making) is the only completely new car in the 1941 lineup. Its six cylinders are ballyhooed to give 25 to 30 miles a gallon. All four wheels are independently sprung. Body and chassis are one piece (no squeaks); one-piece rear fenders almost covering the wheels are new to U. S. motorists.

Already worried by glowing reports on his "600," automen were shocked last week when Mason slashed his medium-priced Nash sixes and eights as much as $159 (new prices $923 to $1,151). Arch-independent Mason also bucked the trend by yanking all the fancy work off the higher-priced Nash--giving it a sleek, custom-made appearance. The new "600" and price cuts, prophesies Mason, will boost Nash output to a record 125,000 cars this year, more than double 1940 model sales.

Oldsmobile's line is the widest in its 43-year history, includes wheel bases from 119 to 125 inches, engines from 100 to no h.p., prices from $852 to $1,575. A little more streamlined, new models look much like the '40s. Hydra-Matic drive (no clutch) is optional on all models.

Packard values its traditional rectangular radiator, has kept it on the new cars but smoothed corners elsewhere. Sleekness is achieved by eliminating hood louvers. Available in the five series is true air conditioning with cooling unit and humidifier in the trunk. Two-tone color combinations are outside and inside. Prices: $907 to $5,550 (for LeBaron limousine). Besides making cars, Packard is busy building a new plant to make 9,000 Rolls-Royce airplane engines for U. S. and England. The engines will be worth nearly $190,000,000. (Packard's total 1939 automobile sales $63,400,000).

Plymouth has 13 body styles, has added a "getaway" gear between first and second to give four speeds forward. This year it has a new safety tire rim, one-piece hood and horsepower up to 87. Prices: $685 to $840.

Pontiac eights will cost only $25 more than sixes this year. Because 1940 Torpedoes clicked so well, all '41s will be Torpedoes. Bigger windshields, improved brake drums, interior safety lights all go for $828 to $1,077.

Studebaker's 49-year-old Paul Gray Hoffman, onetime crack West Coast salesman but president since 1935, made his bid for the low-priced field in 1939 with the completely new Champion. Clicking, it boosted Studebaker sales from 53,000 (1938) to 114,000 in 1939. Principal change in the appearance of the '41 Studebaker: chromium-bordered band of contrasting color around the body. Priced from $690 to $1,225, the line includes a new body type, "Land Cruiser."

Willys, which has had more ups & downs in recent years than any other car, got patriotic, named its '41s "Americar," dropped the once-famed "Overland" name altogether. Four cylinders turn out 63 h.p., wheel base is two inches longer and every car has a gravel shield at the rear end. Prices: $635 to $665.

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