HELP YOURSELF

Year Published: 1949

Creator: Jam Handy Organization

Format: 16mm

Description: One of a series of films made by Jam Handy for General Motors and Chevrolet, "Help Yourself" promotes the new 1949-1950 Chevy sedan. The film takes the interesting step of putting customers on a stage where the cars' appearance, safety features, economy, comfort, performance and other features are discussed by a salesman. The 1949 Ford was an American automobile produced by Ford. It was the first all-new automobile design introduced by the Big Three after World War II, civilian production having been suspended during the war, and the 1946-1948 models from Ford, GM, and Chrysler being updates of their pre-war models. Popularly called the "Shoebox Ford" for its slab-sided, "ponton" design, the 1949 Ford is credited both with saving Ford and ushering in modern streamlined car design with changes such as integrated fenders and more . The design would continue through the 1951 model year. After sticking with its well-received previous model through model year 1948, Ford completely redesigned its namesake car for the year 1949. Save for its drive-train, this was an all-new car in every way, with a modern ladder frame now supporting a coil spring suspension in front and longitudinal semi-elliptical springs in back. The engine was moved forward to make more room in the passenger compartment and the antiquated "torque tube" was replaced by a modern drive shaft. Ford's popular 226 CID (3.7 L) L-head straight-6 and 239 CID (3.9 L) Flathead V8 remained, now rated at 90 hp (67 kW) and 100 hp (75 kW), respectively. 950 saw a new Crestliner "sports sedan"—a 2-door sedan with 2-tone paint intended to battle Chevrolet's popular hardtop coupe of 1950. Another new name was Country Squire, which referred to the 2-door wood-sided station wagon. All wagons received flat-folding middle seats at mid-year, an innovation that would reappear in the minivans of the 1990s. The 1949 and 1950 styling was similar, with a single central "bullet" in the frowning chrome grille. In the center there was a red space that had either a 6 or 8 depending if the car had the six-cylinder engine or the V8. The trim lines were renamed as well, with "Standard" becoming "Deluxe" and "Custom" renamed "Custom Deluxe". The new Fords got the now-famous "Ford Crest" which appeared on the division's vehicles for many decades in one form or another. In 1950, Ford also manufactured a lesser known Business Coupe.

Complete Record:

Transcription

what do you think about this one Bob uh-huh looks great but you know it's a pretty important investment and there's a lot of things I want to know before we put out our money what we ought to do is go around and look at them yes but there been so many new ideas engineering changes lately but well it's hard to choose just what we want besides I'm no engineer how can we make sure we're getting just what we want I know what I want a lot of enjoyment and safety for us in the children and it has to be comfortable a nice look can well what do you want well it's gotta have a lot of power performance must be rugged durable and economical don't forget that how can we tell just by looking at it whether it's got all those things just imagine what it would be like if there were a very special kind of showroom where we could help ourselves to just the things we want yeah yeah or I could walk up to the salesman and say what do you have a good getaway easy hammock try good getaway easy handling we have both of them right here just step this way please smooth fast getaway and power for passing and for hills start with the engine here's top engine performance the famous Chevrolet valve and head engine exclusive in its field its Belvin head design gives maximum power with economy we can see why the valve and head design is more efficient on this cutaway model the engine can take in more air through this direct intake passage so you'll get equal efficiency with a slightly lower compression ratio and to make this engine even more responsive the new power jet carburetor with a never ready fuel supply in the Jets gives instant power when you step on it twin floats in the carburetor bowl given even flow of fuel on grades and sharp curves not for the easy handling you mentioned Chevrolet's center points theory with balance tie rods eliminates unbalanced steering forces gives you more driver comfort less work at the wheel not only in heavy traffic but when you're on the open road as well isn't this what you wanted yeah looks good what do you think dear well yes but I'm worried about the children you were thinking about the children riding in the backseat and accidentally opening a door oh yes that's it let's go over this way and I'll show you a safety feature that takes care of that first let us look at this rear door now try to open the door with a handle it turns but nothing happened that's right now try it the rear doors of all Chevrolet sedans can be adjusted this way in a matter of moments here's another safety feature notice this windshield glass it's curved four panoramic visibility you can see better and of course its safety plate like all Chevrolet windows and that's a Chevrolet exclusive in the low-priced field even the pillars are narrower so as not to obstruct your view of the road you can really see where you're going and the instrument panel it's recessed design eliminates any glare on the windshield from night illumination well that makes for a safe driving but how about smooth shore stops the safest era this new break is designed so that the cars momentum either forward or backward helps to apply the brakes this means up to 25% less pressure is needed on the brake pedal and lining contact is constant and even for saved straight-line stops well that's good there's one other thing it's got to be easy on the pocketbook for all kinds of driving then suppose we step over here here are some of the things that give you economy and operating upkeep and repairs we were talking about the brakes just look at this Chevrolet brake line see any rivets in' know what holes are lining on the shoe it's bonded by a new process no rivets to score the drum is the lining wears more usable lining thickness that's a big saving for you here are some other important savings this Chevrolet engine block in the Pistons I vote made out of cast alloy iron so they expand evenly that give them a precision fit at all times whether the engine is warm or cool you get low oil consumption here's fuel economy Chevrolet is exclusive Alvin had designed it gets more out of the gas you buy in this engine you get economy and every phase of operation you've noticed that it's no trick to get at the valves for adjusting that makes servicing easier another saving repair bills are few and far between when you own a Chevrolet and when you do have to get serviced on your car the costs are low economy here it is again first in the price of Chevrolet compared with others second a year or two from now you'll find that Chevrolet has a higher resale value in relation to its original cost than any other car in its field well I know how you feel about economy dear but I do want it to be good-looking let me show you what we have an appearance let's start with the Chevrolet bumper and Grille notice the parking lights and the big bumper guards they not only look massive but give you added protection that's functional beauty the body by Fisher leads the field in styling and once again it's beauty to a purpose these long sweeping lines not only look good but they're designed to give you a better view of the road from any angle as well as better balance and a firm footing on the road the Chevrolet body is the only body by Fisher in its price field it's a beauty outside or inside it's good-looking alright but I like to make sure that things stand up we have just what you want the Fisher body we were admiring is all steel look at it closer steel is welded to steel to make a single solid unit that kind of rugged strength means thousands of miles of trouble-free service here are samples of finish the result of research and testing and all kinds of climate this finish will stand up for years with only reasonable care one of the reasons the Chevrolet engine is so durable is that the valves and the pistons are completely surrounded by water jackets for control cooling you find this only in Chevrolet in the low price field of course the short strokes of the Pistons also contribute to durability and so does Chevrolet's exclusive four-way lubrication system the four ways are metered pressure four valves and rocker arms a vapor spray four pistons and cylinder walls direct pressure with a camshaft and crankshaft bearings and a pressure stream for the connecting rod bearing exactly the right kind of oiling for every moving part something else I do like comfort lady riding comfort yes this is a Chevrolet exclusive unitized knee action the entire front end assembly is built as a unit aligned and adjusted in perfect balance before it goes into your car within these towers our aeroplane type shock absorbers their Chevrolet's double-acting type to make your chevrolet ride even better the rear shock absorbers are also of the airplane type mounted diagonally they give better stability and steadiness on the road here are some other features for your comfort the seats have been moved forward so that you're cradled between the axes whether you sit in front or in back notice the increased width of the seats why even three adults aren't crowded I'll give you what you asked for oh yes now let's see what your folks have ordered you've asked for performance you want safety economy and durability and you prefer good appearance as well as comfort my goodness did we order all that yes you want all those things and you want them to be right you want them designed to give you exactly what you want engineered for your satisfaction tested in laboratories and on proving grounds and proved by the experience of more thousands of motorists than drive any other car and if you want to help yourself to all you want you'll find it in Chevrolet and only in a Chevrolet yes you help yourself to all you want of everything you want when you drive Chevrolet


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