Take it back 40 years
Discussion
Bonefish Blues said:
skyrover said:
but went backwards in appealing design
Design or styling?LuS1fer said:
Bonefish Blues said:
skyrover said:
but went backwards in appealing design
Design or styling?Bonefish Blues said:
Very much why I asked the question - on neither ground do I think the comment stacks up.
I think it does stack up to some degreee in that a greater pool of modern cars are plug-ugly. It is the retro designs which still stand out but these are based on iconic shapes but we still have great desgs like the Aventador and F-Type even if they lack the impact of unfettered 60s and 70s creations.
However, the loss of Hydragas and Citroen's hydro-pneumatic suspension does show we no longer prize comfort and Clarkson underlined that when describing the hard ride of the F-Type.
LuS1fer said:
CrutyRammers said:
The fact that a modern car starts, first time, every time, whatever the weather.
No long minutes of cranking and teasing and pumping while trying not to flood it.
I've had about 30 cars from 1963 onewards and that has never ever been an issue save in a VW Variant.No long minutes of cranking and teasing and pumping while trying not to flood it.
357RS said:
Security. 40 years ago you could get into and start most cars with a selection of keys and twisting a couple of wires together.
This is true. In the 1980s I had a few Mark II Escorts and mates with Capris, Mark II Granadas and so on. I didn't even bother to use the correct key when driving my own cars. If I had a couple of different well-worn Escort keys in my pocket there was about a 90% chance they would work on any of the Fords of the era.After being ferried about in various 1.6 Cortinas in the 70s I would say that the sheer speed of modern cars would be biggest thing. Not just the acceleration, but the ease at which any modern equivalent could cruise at 90+ all day long, yet out-corner and out-brake a 70s supercar.
A 1973 Mk3 Cortina 1600 must've chucked out, what, 70hp and weighed about a tonne.
A 2013 Mondeo has over twice the power (about 150hp from 1.6 Ecoboost I think) but 'only' weighs about 500kg more, so a signifcant increase in power to weight ratio.
There'd also be a huge difference in how the power is delivered, with the old-but-honest Pinto delivering far less 'under the curve' than today's boosted engine.
Add in the witchcraft that comprises modern suspension and tyre technology, along with brakes that actually work, and your 70s rep would be in heaven.
Edit to fix glaring mathematical error
A 1973 Mk3 Cortina 1600 must've chucked out, what, 70hp and weighed about a tonne.
A 2013 Mondeo has over twice the power (about 150hp from 1.6 Ecoboost I think) but 'only' weighs about 500kg more, so a signifcant increase in power to weight ratio.
There'd also be a huge difference in how the power is delivered, with the old-but-honest Pinto delivering far less 'under the curve' than today's boosted engine.
Add in the witchcraft that comprises modern suspension and tyre technology, along with brakes that actually work, and your 70s rep would be in heaven.
Edit to fix glaring mathematical error
Edited by loudlashadjuster on Monday 5th August 12:26
The joy at not having to piss about with points and condensors, deep mistrust when a modern Mini would start on a cold, rainy morning as the originals werent very good at that trick.
The change in scale, not just size, an original Fiat 500 was a tiny, delicate little thing and now its a hoofing great tonka toy in comparison.
The change in scale, not just size, an original Fiat 500 was a tiny, delicate little thing and now its a hoofing great tonka toy in comparison.
I would take a mid-range top spec Audi diesel so people could wonder at the quattro drive system, all the unnecessary distractions within, the effortless nature of performance and brakes, the wonder at how something allegedly aerodynamic had such a huge grille, the bewilderment at everything being electronic or electrically or automatically operated and the astonishment that Britain could not make such a car themselves.
There again, a top-spec Kia Cee'd might be even more of a revelation - a Korean company they had never even heard of, offering a 7 year warranty, air con, 130mph plus performance and proliferating in the absence of a UK-owned motor manufacturer.
They would certainly be shocked at paying four times the price of an average house in 1973.
There again, a top-spec Kia Cee'd might be even more of a revelation - a Korean company they had never even heard of, offering a 7 year warranty, air con, 130mph plus performance and proliferating in the absence of a UK-owned motor manufacturer.
They would certainly be shocked at paying four times the price of an average house in 1973.
LuS1fer said:
CrutyRammers said:
The fact that a modern car starts, first time, every time, whatever the weather.
No long minutes of cranking and teasing and pumping while trying not to flood it.
I've had about 30 cars from 1963 onewards and that has never ever been an issue save in a VW Variant.No long minutes of cranking and teasing and pumping while trying not to flood it.
CrutyRammers said:
Really? I recall "car won't start" or "Mum's flooded the engine" being a fairly common thing in the 70s/80s. Never had to spray the leads with WD40, check for moisture in the dizzy cap or give the points a quick clean to get things going? All pretty common in my motoring yoof...
Indeed. The amount of times I had to take the plugs out and warm them in the oven ... or take the distributor cap off and dry it out! These days I never even consider that the car won't start, they always do! (below... left for 5 days... started first time)
Edited by GetCarter on Monday 5th August 13:27
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