G.M.'s New Models

A few years back, the man who drove a 100-h.p. car was considered a dashing fellow with some of the glamour of a Barney Oldfield. But by this week, when General Motors rolled out four of its new 1953 lines, the 100-h.p. auto was almost as dated as the linen duster. Chevrolet's horsepower was boosted from 105 to 115, Buick's from 170 to 188 (in the Roadmaster), Oldsmobile's from 160 to 165.

The power house of them all was Cadillac, with a 210-h.p. engine (up from 190) in its 1953 models. With G.M.'s new cars, only a handful of standard U.S. autos were left on the road with less than 100-h.p. engines.

G.M. also took note of the growing popularity of sports cars:

P: Cadillac has a new sports convertible, the six-passenger El Dorado which, at $7,500, is the U.S.'s highest-priced mass-production car. It has a "wraparound" windshield that sweeps to the sides, wire wheels, and an Orion top that folds back under a steel cover. Cadillac's regular 1953 line has a wider, more massive hood and headlight visors that lengthen the fender line; prices are the same as in 1952 ($3,571 to $5,620). Optional: air conditioning, wire wheels or wire-wheel hubcaps, power steering, and an "autronic eye" control that dims headlights automatically when another car approaches, brightens them after it passes.

P: Buick, said General Manager Ivan L. Wiles, put "more important styling and engineering changes" in its 1953 model than in any for the last 25 years. Its powerful new V-8 engine boosts gasoline mileage by some 6%; it has an improved Dynaflow transmission for faster acceleration of the car from a standing start to 30 m.p.h. Buick also announced a few modest price cuts.

P: Chevrolet brought out a redesigned auto that is wider and lower than last year's. Other improvements this year: a new Powerglide transmission intended to eliminate complaints of high gas consumption, a one-piece curved windshield, a moisture-proof ignition system. A new, higher-priced line, the Bel Air series, is designed to compete with such medium-priced cars as Dodge. Prices are relatively unchanged.

P: Oldsmobile is little changed; prices are the same ($2.261 to $3,228) as in 1952. Optional: air conditioning ($594), power steering, power brakes.

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