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* L ( TUB CiTNTOW CHRONICLE > ^ l • f V Bah8iMi , g V#nt §i Vkwr On: Swing Toward Foreign Cars By ROOCR w. BABSON B^bson Park, Mass., January 5. Some ex ecutives of our own U. S. auto-manufacturing ' Big Three — General Motors, Chrysler^ and ford—have admitted that they expect an other dip diving 1967 in total output, which would mean the second consecutive year of lowering sales. Executives of firms importing foreign cars express no such doubts. Almost unanimously they predict that 1967 will' be the second successive record - breaking year for. their products. Does this mean a greater swing toward the purchase of foreign cars; and, if so, what is behind the switch in trend? / BASIS FOR DIVERGENT PREDICTIONS The question may well h^ye more than one answer, probabfy a number of answers. But the essential fact is that statistics al ready provide a reasonable basis for the con trast between the pessimism of domestic pro ducers and the optimism of foreign car deal ers. Taking November figures (latest avail able), it may be seen that foreign car sales have risen an impressive 18% over those of a year ago. This compares dramatically with a decline of 7% in domestic new car sales over the same period. While it is true that foreign car turnover represents only about 8% of the total mar ket, there is something arresting ^about the fact that practically all the leading import ers are chalking up gains while all our big gest producers are registering declines. If it were a matter only of restlessness or ^ratchful - waiting on the part of the consu mer public, there is no reason why both do mestic and foreign auto sales should not re flect the same we^Jiigning tendency. * MAGNET: SMALLER, CHEAPER CAR ¥ As in the case of residential construction, tight money undoubtedly is having some ad verse effect on the demand for larger, more expensive cars. The lowest - priced model made in this country is’ now the Rambler American, which goes for $2,073. But look at the price range for foreign models; eight out of the ten best-selling imported cars can be bought for less. And ther e are a couple of score of other foreign makes also below the Rambler American price range, even though not among those best known to the public/' ' • . ' In other words, the U. S. producers have, once again outpriced themselves. This Hap pened following 1988, when foreign cars' set | their previous record for sales, capturing more than 10% of the total market. At that time, Detroit- recognized its lack of models at the lower end of the price scale and moved in with its “compacts.” These caught the popular fancy to a considerable degree, but gradually becarite larger and more expen sive. Now it appears that the situation has come full-circle: If a buyer wants a small, inexpensive* cW, he can do best, he ^s con vinced, 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 believe 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 fam ily needs a car primarily fdr use * by the housewife in shopping and for other short hauls, the woman often prefers a vehicle that is light, maneuverable, ‘cheap to operate, and easy to park. Then there is the question of glamour. If a man could easily afford a Cadillac, he is often likely to buy himself instead a Mer cedes-Benz or a Jaguar. The exotic flavor has appeal, and this has been partly instiga ted by our own effort to popularize the “sports car” image in such models as the Mustang, which caught on remarkably quick ly: But, now, to be really different, many buyers feel that the foreign car is the tiling, whether for Economy purposes or for the kind of show-off of style found in the Jaguar. Question is: Will Detroit try again to lure away some of this market with new, small, inexpensive sports models? Be^t guess is that the domestic auto makers won’t unless for eign car sales once more move well above 10% of the market. Importers will be watch ing. By SPECTATOR ... COMMENTS ON r <M MEN AND THINGS from there through Vance to Santee. Well, that’s enough knock ing about for one day. I might add that as I en tered Charleston I passed near the great building which houses or inspires the daily wisdom of our News & Cour ier, today under the leader- » - — ^ — — Have you ever traveled ov- not only the Charleston har- ship of my friend, the ac- er South Carolina? During the bor and city but our great complished editor, Tom War- years I have visited every. Naval station seven miles up ing, a man who blends the county of our state. the Copper River. patriotism of the Charleston Most counties have county , I may be in error, but it is s P* r *t modernity seats bearing the names of a thought prompted by our a ‘^ eW|r York editor, with- the county, the notable ex- experience. While th e great out the f° ibles New York ceptions are Richland with Co- mounds were standing why j ourn aHsm. lumbia; Jasper with Ridge- were they virtually destroyed? * came back through Sum- land; Dorchester with St. And the provision made for merv Hlc, still radiant and George; Kershaw — Camden; housing the defending forces ca P tivatin 8 and by Harley- Berkley — Monck Corner; —where is it? ville, too, with its industrial Calhoun - St. Matthews; Lee if i, se ems that I am a bit ! i,e „ ln 1 fUl * ““S'i, EV ™, been - Bishopville; Oconee - Wal- presumptuous in making these * . H ° lly , T’ y0 “ halla; Clarendon - Manning, observations let me remin'd , k ” 0W ’ „ h . a l d ‘ wo banks 8,1 you of our disaster in the Pa- through the Depre9slon ' etc. Winner pf Santa Claus—Y ROSE SHOCKLEY 104 St., Clinton, S. C S Platon, s. C, Thursday, Janawy S, W? Winner of Play House— JULIA WILLIAMS 100 Liberty St., Clinton, S. C. .* ... * » Azalea Sliced BACON i La pk. CLINTON’S LARGEST SUPERMARKET Dreher’s SAUSAGE 1 LB. CUP Talmadge Country HAAA 1 LB. PK. M.79 U. S. Gov’t Inspected Grade “A” Whole CHICKEN LEGS or LB. I CHICKEN LB. AZALEA 12 OZ. PRG. Thighs. .43c I Breast.. 49c | SMOKIES ■:r SWIFT’S 12 OZ. PK. EDISTONE 2 LB. PK. Sliced Bologna 49c Smoked Sausage 99c DIXIE CRYSTAL or DOMINO LIMIT: One With $5.00 Or More Order SOUTHERN ROLL 0LE0 8-oz. Pattie AZALEA li/ 2 LB. LOAF SOLD ONLY AT PIGGLY WIGGLY! RED BAND 6 CANS BREAD.. 21c I BISCUITS... 49c FROZEN FRENCH 2 LB. BAG FRIES.. 29c Recently I had a sort of re- cific, not to mention the Bat- Fassiag tn ro u g“ vance, in freshing trip/going to Charles- tie of the Bulge, which seem- u rg County a again ton, crossing the handsome-ed to catch us off balance, ? mired ®°"' e of the J 106 - big bridge over the Cooper didn't it? ,, ho ^ an< * the opulent farm- n;i ing characteristics of that rich River, running around Mount Well, now, so much for the area v Pleasant and Sulivan’s Is- military aspect and conditions. j ca me back through Sum- and. By the way, where is Let's go baek to the peaee- merton on of the most 2 the Mount at Mt. Pleasant? time travel of vour humble ^ t? n ’ t ne 0 r th e most at- Or is Mount peasant liira . ^ oi your numDie tractive towns of our State. f/ k ‘ cilv° pleasant 1,ke aerva " t - wh0 d'smissing a n ^ back to Manning saia f om mi di t P resunaes t0 differ by some Northern tourist From Mt. Pleasant I went with and from th e bemeddled passing through, to 'be the wnnH an 1 d , again f and uniformed leaders - loveliest town between N e w . f re ? e demo htion of Of course I rode around York and Miami — or some- the defensive mounds and “The Battery” at Charleston, where else, batteries there. As I once held the most appealing park I I thoughthe was possibly the chair of military history know. By St. Michaels Church, under the spell of our fine f* 1 war .. p ans ^ an outstand * and St. Phillips in whose yard water, but I can’t complain. * ing. mi i ary college you see rest the remans of great men As someone remarked; wheh wHy my mind runs to the de- _ an d, of course, great wo- he received a check remitting Jenjlve weakness of a great men for how can a nation part of his income payment, port without forts. have great men without great “I have no complaint to Someone will cite Fort women? After all I was 1m- make”. Sumter, which commands t^e pressed by a bit of humor re- entrance to Charleston har- cently: the young would-be I always think of Summer- k° r ' husband said to his bride to ton, Clarendon County, as the I’ve been told that mines b e “Understand, I will wear happiest place.in the State. I and warships will defend our the pants”. The swbet and cherish these sturdy folk very ports. .winsome young lady said, especially and I like to say Since naval guns of today “ 0h y es » you’ll wear the that my friends of Summer- have a range of twenty miles P a nts, but I’ll tell you whicty ton never let business inter- an enemy ship could stand P an ts to wear”. fere with pleasure, that when- more than ten miles from So now you have the low ever someone calls for a par- Charleston in the Atlantic dow n, eh? ty, a fish fry or a barbecue, Ocean and throw high explo- I crossed the magnificent all are ready, closing busin- sive shells into Charleston. new bridge across the Coop- ess, if necessary. Remembering our experi- er River, leading to th e Isle In that lively and happy lit- ence with the Japanese and of Palms, too. tie city are many churches: our enormous and catastro- * rambled around the city, I recall, offhand Methodist, phic losses we might well sur- Posing not only the Catho- Baptist, Presbyterian, Episco- vey our defensive condition, i* c Cathedral but The Church' pal, Catholic — all in that de- or undefensive conditions. tbe B°ly Communion where lightful community. If we rely on the Navy we i was once a choir boy — a Over in Holly Hill, Orange- raust patrol more than fifteen ,on S> long tim e ago!! Time burg County, the two banks hundred miles on the Atlantic flies and 1 fly with it, of operated, as I recall, during and about the same on the course. Even so. the period of bank suspbn- Pacific. Any damage to the’ After lunch in a nice place, sions. • Panama Canal would divide on Spring Street near the Ash- You know, of course, the our fleets. River, I crossed the Ash- attraction of the Santee lakes All present defensive prep- * e y a h d roamed around that a few miles from Manning, arations of the fleets and Prosperous territory. But the great lakes near Co- planes are subject to the ha- You know of course, that lumbia draw vast numbers of zards of chance. Charleston, the city of today, visitors, for there you h a v'e In the War of the Revolu- was started across the Ash- many miles of lakes. * Uon the British landed ^troops le y> but the Spaniards and South Carolina abounds in.| on Long Island, now the Isle In dians made forays from beautiful scenery. Not only the of Palms and that attack hear Beaufort, so the ’city famed gardens and avenues from the rear of Fort Moul- wa ? moved ten years later to °f Summerville, but the res- trie and existing batteries was Oyster Point, across the Ash- idehtial areas of Columbia re- remedied by revolving can- le y > a wl between the two pay a visit. non. But, as I see it, we have sreat rivers, Ashley and Coo : r- —- demolished such defenses. \ye P €r - OFFICE SUPPLIES rely on mines and ships and 1 spent some time in the THE CHRONICLE planes. Several decoy barges y ard °f old St. Andrews — * could destroy the mines and Church, across the Ashley_oa our navy and planes might be ^e °f overhanging trees TOt taxed immeasurably in pro- lead * ng Summerville, Col lecting Boston, New York, tageville and Walterboro. ‘ Norfolk, Charleston and oth- 1 bad darted in and out un- * er ports. ^ 1 P« Med through thriving . ta l prarame Ip point oat Holly HOI and HarleyvUlo; FREE! 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