Treat-'Em-Rough

For nearly two miles, Los Angeles' Figueroa Street is lined with used-car lots flying the flamboyant flags of dealers like "Madman" Muntz, "Wildman" Pritchard, and "Honest John." Their zany ads for buying & selling cars delight zany Angelenos. Samples: "Just sound your horn ... we pay by ear," and "I want to give them away but Mrs. Muntz won't let me ... she's crazy."

One observer who was not amused was OPA. Reports that 75% of the $20 million-a-month sales on Automobile Row were under the table and over the ceiling made OPA decide to take action. Last week OPA agents swooped down on Automobile Row, after they had laid the ground by paying marked money to dealers for the over-the-ceiling sales. One salesman was arrested after accepting $2,434 in marked money from an OPA agent for a new Chevrolet (ceiling price: $1,102); another was booked for demanding a $1,409 bonus. OPA's total haul for the day: 77 dealers and salesmen, who will be tried on criminal charges this week.

Day after the raid, car prices dropped. A 1942 Cadillac, for which $4,500 had been offered the night before, went begging for $2,750. Said OPA: car prices on Automobile Row were "close to OPA ceilings" for the first time since the war.

But another result of the raids--part of a nationwide drive--was not so pleasant. One car salesman was grabbed by an OPAster and threatened with a "slapper" (a blackjack-like weapon of thick pieces of leather sewn together--see cut) because OPAsters thought he was trying to get away. He was not actually hit, and was later released. But OPA's new treat-'em-rough tactics, reminiscent of the notorious "prohibition officer" hoodlums of the dry era, were bound to make new enemies for OPA.

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