AUTOS: Paris Models

Under the glass dome of Paris’ Grand Palais last week, 830 auto and equipment makers gathered for the 46th Paris Automobile Salon, Europe’s most important auto show. So eager were Frenchmen to see the new cars that Paris hotels were booked solid weeks in advance. What they saw were cars ranging from Italy’s tiny $1,070 Vespa Deluxe to Rolls-Royce’s most expensive model, the $26,000 Phantom V, designed for “important guests and executives,” with a TV set, figured French walnut woodwork and air conditioning that adjusts automatically. There was also a multifuel engine, designed for trucks and military vehicles, that Britain’s Rootes Group claims will run on “anything from lighter fuel to Scotch whisky.”

Basically, the million-dollar collection was a broadening of the small-car trend. Leading the way were the U.S. compact cars which attracted so much interest that European car makers began to wonder about how much competition they would be. Show goers were fascinated by their comfort and big-car features. Said one prospective buyer: “They’re simply bargain-priced luxury cars.”

Other standout models:

¶ Facel’s Facellia, a handcrafted, sports-touring convertible designedfor the overseas luxury market. First truly high-performance French carfor the public since World War II, the Facellia features a four-cylinder, 115-h.p. engine with a top speed of 114 m.p.h. U.S. price: $4,500.

¶ Aston Martin’s DB4-GT, a new two-seat sports-racing car. The torpedo-back coupe is powered by a six-cylinder, 302-h.p. engine, canhit a top of 170 m.p.h. U.S. price: $14,000.

R Renault’s Caravelle, a snub-nosed, semi-sports car with a new four-cylinder, rear-mounted 40-h.p. engine. Caravelle has a top speed of 90 m.p.h., will cost $2,500 when it is sold in the U.S. next spring.

¶ British Motor Corp.’s Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor, two “baby cars” that have 34-h.p., four-cylinder engines mounted laterally and front-wheel drive. Capable of 70 m.p.h. top speed, the new ultra-small cars run 45 miles on a gallon of gas, will sell for about $1,300 in the U.S.

U.S. automakers were also busy last week bringing their standard 1960 models to market. Ford Motor Co. unveiled its 1960 line to the public, showed 15 models that are the longest, lowest and widest that Ford has ever built. The company also announced factory list prices for its compact car, the Falcon. A two-door model will list for $1,746 v. $1,810 for Chevrolet’s Corvair; a four-door Falcon will list for $1,803 v. $1,860 for a Corvair. For its imported line Ford showed a restyled, British-built Anglia with a four-cylinder engine that has a top speed of 70 m.p.h., gets up to 35 miles per gallon. Ford says that it has 55,000 orders for the Anglia.

Chrysler’s Dodge division introduced eleven models in the Matador and Polara series for its regular line and the new Dodge Dart, which will sell for only $15 more than the Plymouth.