Jim Bradshaw: Dynaflow, Hydra-Matic or four on the floor?

Once upon a time, this was the time of year when ads promoting snazzy new car models for the coming year began to fill the newspapers.

Some of you may recall the days when people still recognized cars by their brand names, and when most manufacturers began to tease potential buyers with ads about the new ones that would soon show up at their dealerships.

In 1950, for example, Ford and Chevrolet were the top sellers for families on modest budgets, but dealers promised more than a nice price. Smooth new automatic transmissions were featured in lots of the ads.

Wood Motors in Abbeville, Whitney Motors in Kaplan, and Robin Motors in Jeanerette proclaimed that “Ford’s the car that’s winning America’s heart.”

The 1951 sedan, they said, was “the smart buyer’s choice … a sweetheart for economy, s sweetheart to own, and a sweetheart to drive.”         
They promised that just the solid sound of the door’s closing would be all that was needed to seal the deal.
Donald Motors in Jennings, Nettles Chevrolet in Abbeville, and Jeanerette Motors were among those promoting the Chevrolet Bel Air as “the style star of an all-star line.”       
The 1951 Bel Air, they said, “for the first time in the low-price field, is a car that combines all the dash and jauntiness of a convertible with the comfort and safety of an all steel body by Fisher.”

“Hold on!” Duchamp Motors in St. Martinville said, claiming that convertibles were just as safe as any cars. Its ad featured a Chrysler convertible and declared it “a beautiful model of a great idea,” built better and safer than other cars. Chrysler guaranteed that its fluid drive transmission would give the smoothest ride to be found.

Bacon Buick in Crowley contested that. The headline on its ad asked, “How smooth can a ride be?”

The new Buick, with its Dynaflow transmission, of course, provided the answer.

“We’d like to show you just how much smoothness your money can buy,” the ad said.

“How levelly you float over cobbles and car tracks — over rutty gravel and wavy blacktop.”

“Wait a minute,” said Rayne Economy Motors. “Ten minutes behind the wheel of a Nash Airflyte and you’ll have an entirely new concept of motor car performance, comfort, safety, and handling ease.”

Frenzel Motors in Abbeville argued that buyers should “drive a DeSoto before you decide on any other car at any price.” Broussard Motors, just down the street, said buyers could “make your new car dollars worth more” by investing in a Dodge. It’s Gyro-Matic transmission may not have been the smoothest, but it was “the lowest priced automatic transmission” on the market.

 Moosa Motors in Eunice said that “dollar for dollar, you can’t beat a Pontiac,” with its smooth Hydra-Matic Drive.
Champ Motors in Lafayette argued the streamlined new Studebaker was the best choice for both stylish and economical driving.

Raywood Motors in Abbeville and Gueydan Motors urged folks to forget about the old cars they’d tried before.

The 1951 Kaiser, “America’s newest car” was the one to buy. Just “one mile behind the wheel and you’ll want to own it,” they promised.

But Jerry Ashley Chevrolet, perhaps a bit ahead of the times, said to forget about cars altogether and get a good truck.

His trucks were handy, economical, comfortable, and could “haul more loads for more miles for less,” he said.

They didn’t have a fluid-drive transmission, but you could count on the always reliable 4-speed Syncro-Mesh gearbox.

“See them in our showroom,” he urged.

That, of course, was the idea behind all of the ads — to get people into the dealership so that the price haggling could begin.

You can contact Jim Bradshaw at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.