Old vs new American car design

lpast said:

Im old and Ive owned lots of old cars....new cars are better built, better designed, more comfortable, less maintenance, cost less to maintain, break alot less. Newer cars are all around better EXCEPT....they are not faster for the most part.

Click to expand...

Did you read the intro?

He was asking only about design.

Who voted for new cars?

Show of hands?

With style alone as the guide, how can anyone say a new car, any of them, are better?

The '50's and '60's cars were designed by teams for a certain purpose. New cars can't hold a candle, but we won't have to worry about new cars being classics, they fall apart too easily.

I have a 2000 Durango with very few miles on it but for the life of me I can't stop all the plastic parts from breaking on the interior making it look worse than all my '60's and '70's cars put together.

Mason66 said:

Who voted for new cars?

Click to expand...

for design or performance?

Show of hands?

Click to expand...

design back then ... sometimes
performance. does not come close to what is available today

With style alone as the guide, how can anyone say a new car, any of them, are better?

Click to expand...

maybe style ... but form certainly did not follow function back then

The '50's and '60's cars were designed by teams for a certain purpose. New cars can't hold a candle, but we won't have to worry about new cars being classics, they fall apart too easily.

Click to expand...

so wrong
anyone who drove back then would not be saying this
for example, the vega had an engine with a design life of 40,000 miles
this was the era of planned obsolescence
in the 50's, cars were traded in about every four years

I have a 2000 Durango with very few miles on it but for the life of me I can't stop all the plastic parts from breaking on the interior making it look worse than all my '60's and '70's cars put together.

Click to expand...

you bought a dodge/chrysler product. bad decision

justabubba said:

for design or performance?


design back then ... sometimes
performance. does not come close to what is available today


maybe style ... but form certainly did not follow function back then


so wrong
anyone who drove back then would not be saying this
for example, the vega had an engine with a design life of 40,000 miles
this was the era of planned obsolescence
in the 50's, cars were traded in about every four years


you bought a dodge/chrysler product. bad decision

Click to expand...

Just on design, the new cars have nothing.

The most popular cars have been styled after earlier styles.

Who was talking about the Vega. Nobody thought that was a good car, in style nor function. That is why almost all of them now have V8s.

Real cars stopped after 1973 so stick to that time frame, on style only.

What is wrong with a Chrysler product?

The Durango is a good truck, nothing in it's class, but it is made of plastic, just like all new crap. I am glad they reduced the weight so much so I can get that 12 MPG out of it.

Anyone who drove one of those cars back then, I still drive them today. I know what I am talking about when it comes to old cars.

Hmmmm......let's see.... some idiot graduate of a "defensive" driving course had a green light turn yellow right in front of him. So the idjit stopped.

Dead.

Since the idjit's Lexus only weight three ounces, it stopped really fast.

The Mayor, driving behind him, fully expected to have more than enough time to make it through that light with plenty of time to spare.

But suddenly, there was an idiot stopping for a formerly green light. The Mayor's 20 year old full size cargo van weighs considerably more than some idiot's fuel efficient Lexus.

To show just how stupid the idiot was, the Mayor's van pushed the idiot's Lexus right out into the intersetion WHILE THE LIGHT WAS STILL YELLOW.

No. The Mayor was not following too closely. The Mayor was not exceeding the speed limit. The idiot was an idiot, as most people who drive "defensively" are. If the idiot had been driving with safety first and foremost on his mind, he wouldn't have stopped dead in front of another, larger, vehicle traveling at 40 mph.

Naturally, the Mayor now has to replace a head light, and yes, a grill, a bumper, and fender. He even had to plot a route home that one night that didn't involve any left turns. But a quick cut with a grinder fixed that up.

The idiot, with his stylish Lexus, has to buy a new car, since they're certainly going to total a ten year old car with its' trunk wrapped around the rear wheel.

The cargo van's all steel construction, with it's low CG, makes it perfect for clearing those pesky Lexuses off the road.

The Mayor prefers, because the Mayor is focused on his own safety, to drive a 3,000 lb gas hog because they win positional disputes.

justabubba said:

for design or performance?

Click to expand...

I was asking about design. Obviously, one cannot compare 50's technology with today's power steering, ventilated disk brakes, ABS, ESP, airbags, etc. So it's the style.

Contemporary cars somehow look to me like toys that have been blasted with an enlarging machine - they are plastic and lack detail. :roll:

VanceMack said:

Cars from the 50's and 60's had soul...personality. Their look was unique. Modern vehicles (for the most part) look almost interchangeable. Blech.

Click to expand...

Form follows function.

Profile drag dictates fuel mileage. Government interference in the automobile marketplace by its imposition of the unconstitutional CAFE standards established unrealistic fleet-wide fuel mileage targets. The answer to profile drag problems is streamlining and the removal of clutter.

All cars look alike because Congress is defining what cars should be.

The Mayor doesn't recall any permission in Article I, Section 8 permitting Congress the authority to design automotive vehicles.

Y'all want style in your cars, repeal both the CAFE standards and the laws of aerodynamics. The Mayor doesn't expect either repeal to happen.

Canell said:

I was asking about design. Obviously, one cannot compare 50's technology with today's power steering, ventilated disk brakes, ABS, ESP, airbags, etc. So it's the style.

Contemporary cars somehow look to me like toys that have been blasted with an enlarging machine - they are plastic and lack detail. :roll:

Click to expand...

actually, you asked about "style"
since we are discussing looks only, i'm in for a '63 split window vette
just don't make me drive it at speed other than in a straight line
and please do not require me to stop quickly
and can you source the leaded fuel required to keep the cylinder walls sufficiently hard

my 2002tii, after driving American made barges, convinced me that domestic cars were built for people who didn't know any better

justabubba said:

actually, you asked about "style"
since we are discussing looks only, i'm in for a '63 split window vette
just don't make me drive it at speed other than in a straight line
and please do not require me to stop quickly
and can you source the leaded fuel required to keep the cylinder walls sufficiently hard

my 2002tii, after driving American made barges, convinced me that domestic cars were built for people who didn't know any better

Click to expand...

One thing you forgot was the fact tht you can't see behind you. That is whyit was a one year design and many owners of them back in '63 had the split removed.

I admit it is a beautiful car but I wouldn't want to drive one. Most people can't see over the huge steering wheel.

Mason66 said:

One thing you forgot was the fact tht you can't see behind you. That is whyit was a one year design and many owners of them back in '63 had the split removed.

I admit it is a beautiful car but I wouldn't want to drive one. Most people can't see over the huge steering wheel.

Click to expand...

it was clarified that functionality was NOT a consideration ... only the "style" of the American autos of that era
like the ford falcon

[/ be assured this is sarcasm]

justabubba said:

it was clarified that functionality was NOT a consideration ... only the "style" of the American autos of that era
like the ford falcon

[/ be assured this is sarcasm]

Click to expand...

I realize this thread is about style but my comment was in response to what you wrote "just don't make me drive it at speed other than in a straight line
and please do not require me to stop quickly
and can you source the leaded fuel required to keep the cylinder walls sufficiently hard" The lack of cornering, braking capability or the lack of leaded gas is not about style either.

Mason66 said:

Who voted for new cars?

Show of hands?

With style alone as the guide, how can anyone say a new car, any of them, are better?

The '50's and '60's cars were designed by teams for a certain purpose. New cars can't hold a candle, but we won't have to worry about new cars being classics, they fall apart too easily.

I have a 2000 Durango with very few miles on it but for the life of me I can't stop all the plastic parts from breaking on the interior making it look worse than all my '60's and '70's cars put together.

Click to expand...

I like the new Camero, Mustang, Challenger, Charger etc better than the originals. The 60's and 70's Mustangs and Camero's are cool, but again the new ones look hot. The old 50's cars are cool, but don't look near as cool as what I mentioned.

Here is a good example...

I love the original Hemi Cuda...



Here is a concept of what the new one would be...



The new concept for the new one is so hot, you can see steam coming off of it.

It's cool that some companies try to save some of the old design.

Old cars had style and highly unique appearances with it easy to spot the maker and model. Now? They all appear clones of each other.

Nothing beats the pure beauty of a classic muscle car. I've never heard or felt a modern engine that can put a smile on my face like a big old-school V8.







...Mustang fan, if you couldn't tell.

Infinite Chaos said:

I take your point about safety but good design goes hand in hand with good safety. That said, American car design like the ones below are just stunning pieces or road art.

Click to expand...

I hate to burst your bubble, but that's not really American car design. Carroll Shelby used the body and chassis of a British AC Ace roadster to build the Cobra. The motor though, that's all American. :mrgreen: I'm still trying to convince the wife to let me build a kit of one of those.

Check my baby out... 13k.mi and so awesome it lights on fire at 120mph.

It depends - what style is the 'new' - some 'new' looks ugly, some don't. Some new is sleek, classy, comfortable - others aren't. A 1930 Studebaker looks different than a 1950 Studebaker and the 'new' was better - far better - when redesigned in 1950. . . .which I love.

In general - I like fastbacks but not the super slopes - I don't like deep sweeps and down turned hoods like the Shelby and Ferrari. .. though the history of those vehicles is very interesting and they're classics, collectors and unique - they just aren't quite my look. Nor do I like the beefy new look of Cadillac, Camero and others.

Aboveall - I love my 2006 GTO. Because it's mine. Everything to annoint a car and make it naughty - we've done in it and/or on it. . . benefits of living in the country.



Overall top favorite of mine is a classy Morgan - I swear I want to breath on one someday.

Aunt Spiker said:

Aboveall - I love my 2006 GTO. Because it's mine. Everything to annoint a car and make it naughty - we've done in it and/or on it. . . benefits of living in the country.

Click to expand...

You're making me miss my toys.

Oddly enough, though I like my cars old, the majority of them were new, with the exception of a 1966 Mustang that looked just like this:



I also had a '00 Stage 2 Roush that looked like this:



...which I traded for an '04 Cobra that looked like this:



Then I got settled down, had kids and now all I drive is this:




Sad story... I know.

:'0

..........

theangryamerican said:

You're making me miss my toys.

Oddly enough, though I like my cars old, the majority of them were new, with the exception of a 1966 Mustang that looked just like this:

I also had a '00 Stage 2 Roush that looked like this:

...which I traded for an '04 Cobra that looked like this:

Then I got settled down, had kids and now all I drive is this:

Sad story... I know.

Click to expand...

LOL Don't worry - you will be blessed for your prosperity.

My husband had a 1972 Camero fully juiced up - then a Harley and other cool rides. . . then stepped down to a 90's Blazer and then a 89 Nissan Sentra (which he still drives) and after all those years I felt he deserved the GTO and I secured the car for him.

I've fasttracked that loan - we'll pay it off in 18 months if things go according to plan - and he can get another nice car.

I still want a Studebaker - I've wanted one since I was a kid. I will have one some day

^ Want. Focus RS500

SE102 said:

^ Want. Focus RS500

Click to expand...

As amazing as the RS500 is, it still looks like a shoebox. :2razz: No soul to it.

This, on the other hand...

I don't need soul, my soulless machine goes faster.

SE102 said:

I don't need soul, my soulless machine goes faster.

Click to expand...

speed whore LOL

My husband souped up the GTO - put in a new camshaft and brought it down to a 114. . .that thing feels like a vibrator on wheels. MPG? Nevermind that - it's GPM now. LOL

Mayor Snorkum said:

Form follows function.

Profile drag dictates fuel mileage. Government interference in the automobile marketplace by its imposition of the unconstitutional CAFE standards established unrealistic fleet-wide fuel mileage targets. The answer to profile drag problems is streamlining and the removal of clutter.

All cars look alike because Congress is defining what cars should be.

The Mayor doesn't recall any permission in Article I, Section 8 permitting Congress the authority to design automotive vehicles.

Y'all want style in your cars, repeal both the CAFE standards and the laws of aerodynamics. The Mayor doesn't expect either repeal to happen.

Click to expand...

The Mayor should recognize it is incredibly bad form to **** up a perfectly good thread about cars with politics. Perhaps The Mayor should check to see if that 'life' he ordered used from the Pawn Shop has come in yet...