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THE FRONTMOBILE—A NEW
IDEA IN AUTOS
E X C E P T for a few freak racing
cars and experimental machines,
this new front-drive automobile
is an entirely new departure
in motor mechanism. All
the power and transmitting machinery is
grouped together under the bonnet in
order to be easily accessible; the motor
and the transmitting members, including
the differential, gear shift, radiator,
bracket and starter, are all incorporated
in uiie assembly.
The back of the chassis is unencumbered
by any gears, shafts or other working
parts, and the rear axle, no longer
used fur propulsion, is lightened considerably.
The structural formation of the front
All the Mechanism is Arranged Compactly
Much weight and several parts necessary on old style
cars are done away with on the front drive machine
wheel driving mechanism enables it to
perform the dual function of driving and
steering. Until recent years mechanical
construction difficulties were the obstacles
to tiiis method, which is most
natural. These difficulties now are overcume.
Greater efficiency is secured with
the front drive ; skidding is almost eliminated
; steering is made safer ; there is a
greater tractive effort, and the dropped
frame back of the power plant, making a
lower center of gravity, prevents overturning.
The car is believed t>> have passed the
experimental stage. For two years it has
been subjected to exhaustive road tests
under all sorts of conditions.
The performance of the front drive
has demonstrated that it rides easier than
the conventional rear drive car, because
all the suspended members, when the car
is in action, are under tension which entirely
eliminates the jolting of the car
produced when a car is being pushed by
the rear wheels, putting all the members
under compression. Hence, a front drive
car can be constructed much lighter, and
still have greater strength mechanically,
as it offers less strain on the framework.
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