Safety's greater role for '68

 Safety once more has received a major share of attention from American Motors designers, who traditionally have pioneered in this field.

Building upon the safety engineering advances and safety equipment "packages" of the past two model years (plus its experience in pioneering achievements that date back for decades), American Motors has designed in still more of a safety factor. This has been done with several significant changes and a number of new equipment items. All but a few minor items will be introduced with the first 1968 models. The remaining few will be introduced as running changes.

One of the principal changes, mentioned in the introductory article, involves the exclusive smooth-contoured outside door handles on all but the Rambler American. In harmony with these new handles are the new "preset-impulse" front door locking system (on all but Rambler American); safety-shaped handles, cranks, knobs and coat hooks; safety-shaped armrests, and high-strength door locks.

Harmonious safety advances also have been made in the area of seating and seat restraints to protect passengers from being thrown forward or injured in a collision or abrupt stop. The principal ones are: Four standard seat belts, with two optional belts for mid-seat passengers and for the third seat in station wagons. Optional shoulder belts for two in the front seat (except convertibles). Anchors for rear-seat shoulder belts (except convertibles). Redesigned backs of front seats to provide a safety shape and greater padding. Manually released positive locks for folding front-seat backs on all two-door models.

Another safety change you'll quickly notice is the addition of side-of-car safety markers on all models for greater visibility at night to motorists approaching from the side. The lights or light/reflector units (reflectors on Rambler Americans) are amber for the front fender sides and red for the rear fender sides.

Among the other standard safety advances for 1968 are: The extension of non-glare finishes to more interior components. A new inside rear-view day/night mirror with twin-pivot and protected edges. New location for the outside mirror. Mechanical stoplight switch in place of the hydraulic type. Body-structure changes for greater front-impact protection.

The many standard safety items with which motorists have become familiar in the recent past continue as standard, of course. These include: Energy-absorbing safety steering column with deepdish steering wheel. Safety-styled padded instrument panels. "Lane-changer" turn signal. Double-Safety brake system with safety warning signal. Four-way hazard warning signal. Padded sun visors. Windshield washers. Variable-speed wipers. Backup lights. High-strength windshield. Safety-rim wheels.

In total, these many safety advances (plus others too numerous to mention here) add up to a thoughtful engineering for safety that matches American Motors' creative engineering for performance, comfort, style and value.

 . . . all further evidence of exceptional cars made for the discriminating individual.