Choises for the modern driver

["Wm. R. Ulman" <twolaneblacktop@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I really have to chime in here on this one.  If we were to look back 35
years when our cars were still in daily service, and look around to see
what else was on the road we would see a very different picture.
Imperials were very limited production due to people buying Cadillac's &
Lincolns over our cars.  Mustang, Camero and even Barracuda's were a
dime a dozen, and making there way into teenagers hands at a horrific
rate for their final destruction.  Gas was 32 cents a gallon (whatever
happened to the "cents" key on typewriters?) and quality was job none on
most American cars.  The Edsel was still a joke, as were fins on cars.
People complained about the poor build quality of all cars back then.
In the late '60's the Japanese had not yet hired West Coast auto
designers to come in and make over their brands i.e.: Toyota.
Volkswagen was the really only viable import at the time for the masses,
and getting an automatic transmission from them was a joke.  Full size
cars were not so much as in vogue as much as being just what America
drove.  Drum brakes and bias ply tires were still standard equipment,
and air conditioning was a luxury few Americans opted for.  People died
in collisions at a far greater rate than they do today.  Long hair
styles of the time helped to kill off the convertible (that is a fact)
long before the governments rollover standards were challenged in the
courts.  By the time the courts ruled persons who buy convertibles know
the inherent dangers of such cars, Detroit had abandoned the style.  

There are hundreds of other examples, but you all should get the jist of
it by now.  The PT Cruiser came along as a mass produced auto, unlike
the Prowler, and filled a nitch that people obviously wanted.  By the
way, I was surprised to find out that the PT Cruiser has an EXCELLENT
rating for quality.  Something the American auto makers claim to have
these days, but unfortunately cannot hold a candle to the Japanese
imports.  I would also like to note that prior to the 1994 model year,
Dodge truck sales were at the 1-3% sales range, and with the retro
styled front clip of 1994 they jumped to something like 15% market
share.  Ford did not like that one bit.

It will be interesting to see how/if today's cars hold up to time.
Computer chips are usually obsolete by the time they get to market and
people may have to go to Hemmings to get chips and trim when restoring
their PT Cruisers in the future.  Most any car that was immensely
popular when new becomes a collector car after enough years have passed.

Hope your new year is going smoothly everybody!

Bill Ulman
Seattle, WA
'66 Crown Convertible (Doris Day)

-----Original Message-----
From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Woolf,Richard
Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2004 4:46 AM
To: 'mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'
Subject: RE: IML: Cars w/No Soul!


Ernie,

 You're right about the PT Cruiser. When they first came out I thought
"wow what a cool looking vehicle!" Now I don't even look at them. I
think that if more modern cars had some character there wouldn't be so
many PT Cruisers on the road. There would be more choices.

I would really like to see the Imperial come back with a V-8, rear wheel
drive, all the goodies, and of course lot of character. It could be
done. Lincoln and Cadillac needs some competition. Are you listening
Detroit??????

Rich Woolf
'66 Crown
'73 LeBaron