Price Cut for Buicks and Shortage of Freight Cars Leads Coddington to Buy a Train to Get New Cars to North Carolina, May 29, 1921

Buick Cars Cut of $300 to $660. . . Distributor Coddington Tells Dealers’ Meeting He Has Bought Freight Train

Several announcements of importance to the automobile industry in this territory were made Saturday when Buick motor car dealers from both Carolinas met here at The Southern Manufacturers club at the call of C.C. Coddington, president, and Lee A. Folger, sales manager, of C.C. Coddington Inc., distributor.

Price reductions on all models of Buick cars of the new 1922 line, which will go on the market June 1, were announced by Mr. Folger. These reductions range from $300 to $660, according to the present price of the various models.

Another announcement which was received with applause was that of the Buick Motor Co., will put a Buick Four on the market about August 1. It was explained that the selling price of this car has not yet been determined, and, in answer to dealers’ inquiries, Mr. Folger said the only information he has relative to the price is that it will be proportionate with the new prices of the six cylinder cars.

Mr. Coddington opened the conference with a brief welcome, and thanked the dealers, numbering more than 80 for their attendance, in response to telegraphic invitation. Mr. Folger followed Mr. Coddingham and made the various announcements. Later he asked the assembled dealers to state approximately the number of cars they would need during the next month in anticipation of a stimulated demand, and almost 200 cars were ordered.

Mr. Folger explained to the dealers that high production again has been reached at the Buick factory. He said the demand has grown so rapidly that 16 different production schedules have been necessary in recent months because of the quick improvement. This steadily growing demand for Buick cars and statements of railway executives that a freight car shortage of seldom equalled proportions seems unavoidable this fall has impressed upon Mr. Coddington the necessity of the shipment of many cars to Charlotte without great delay, said Mr. Folger. To make this possible, Mr. Coddington has purchased an entire freight train from the Mere Marquete railroad and has employed a former railway division superintendent to take charge of it during transit to represent the Charlotte firm’s interest.

After the tabulation of the number of new cars the Carolina dealers will need within a few weeks, Sales Director O’Brien announced at the luncheon, which followed the conference, that a solid train-load of Buick cars would be shipped from the factory at Flint, Mich., just as quickly as it can be loaded, and that delivery at Charlotte may be expected within two or three weeks. For the present, at least, Mr. Folger told the dealers, drop shipments of cars to the individual dealers from the factory will be discontinued and short haul shipments will be made from Charlotte in view of the anticipated difficulties in securing freight cars.

From The Charlotte News, Sunday morning issue, May 29, 1921