Las Vegas Age

Your Car
Should
Be Good
For
Another
Year
or
Two

By ARTHUR N. SUVERKRUP
United Press Staff Correspondent

CARSON CITY, Nev., April 15 (UP) - Nevadans, driving automobiles averaging slightly less than six years old, face "no serious disruption" of passenger car transportation for at least a year or two, said Robert A. Aller, head of the state department of highways.

A survey conducted by the planning section of his department covered 60 per cent of all automobiles registered in the state in 1943. A great majority of the 24,509 cars involved were found to be in the comparatively "new car" classification.

Aller's study, made in co-operation with the Nevada department of motor vehicles and the federal public roads administration, disclosed more 1941 automobiles being driven in the state than of those manufactured in any other year.

While only 347 passenger automobiles manufactured in 1942 are in use in the state, there are 3,936 machines built during 1941, and that compared with 3,081 cars of 1940 vintage.

Few Ancient Buggies

Only 227 automobiles manufactured in 1927 or before are still operated in the state. Models manufactured in 1937 ranked second to 1941 with 3,236.

The survey covered only passenger car registrations and did NOT include any trucks, buses or other commercial vehicles. It did include cars used for business purposes, for industrial and occupational uses.

Cars manufactured in 1942 were considered one year old, while 1941 models were placed in the-2-year-old class.

Aller said that the big problem of surviving the present crisis with automobiles now in use depends to a large extent upon good care, proper lubrication, adherence to speed limitations, and periodical checking and correction of minor faults.

Aller's figures show that while the average age of automobiles in the state is only 5.9 years, the average professional man or woman drives a car only 4.6 years old-same average age as used by those in amusement, recreation and related services.

Ranchmen's Cars Oldest

Ranchers drive the oldest cars. In the same classification, with an average age of 6.6 years, are all agriculturists, forestry workers, and those in the fishing industry.

Government workers - the group includes all federal employees except postal service and government-owned utilities— drive cars which average only 5.4 years.

Average age of other groups' cars were: mining and mineral extraction, 6.3; construction and related maintenance, 6.1; manufacturing and processing, 5.7; transportation, communication, other public utilities, 6.2; wholesale and retail trade, including finance, insurance, real estate, 5.4; personal service, 6.2; industry, not otherwise classified, 6.5.