Why are there no decent modern classics being made?

[Guvna]

Ferg said:

AnotherClarkey said:

I thought we were done with 'retro'?

You'd hope so, wouldn't you? The cynical 'recreations' which have appeared to feed the fashion victims are of no interest at all to anyone with an affinity with the cars they so blatantly leech from. However, that market is sadly a dominant one in the car world today. A new design? fk that!! Fashion rules....

I would not say it is about being a fashion victim.

People have different tastes. The way a car looks has an impact on what most people decide to buy. I personally prefer the 60's/70's car and bike styling but would find it hard to live without modern comforts and reliability.

[odyssey2200]

TheEnd said:

I think there is a touch of rose tinted glasses going on, whilst a lot of people like the idea, would enough put their money where their mouth is and buy them, especially when you could buy a restored classic for the price of a new car, which has the history behind it.

It's like reproduction antiques, they'll look the same, but they won't be have the same kudos as an actual antique.

The rose tint also doesn't allow you to realise just how ste "classic" cars really are.

You probably wouldn't want to live with one on a daily basis.

Fragility, lack of availability of parts, brakes, handling and performance that are 40 years out of date etc.

"History" as you out it is totally intangible and is a concept created by the classic car industry to make feel better about the old nail you just bought.

I have no problem with buying a classic but you would get far more use out of something that looked the part but had more reliable and modern running gear.

Edited by odyssey2200 on Saturday 1st January 20:01

[Globs]

ewenm said:

Globs said:

A modern E30 would be nice too..

Isn't that what some are saying the 1M is?

I had a look at the 1 series, it's about the same size but still a totally different car. The E30 is a really really well designed carefully built car. I'm not sure if all the new safety features would weigh it down too much though.

[AnotherClarkey]

Thinking more about the original post, I suspect that modern re-creations of classic bikes like Triumph have done are at least partially successful because they offer things that modern race-reps don't. Things like a comfortable riding position, ease of use in real-world traffic and accessible but not terrifying performance. The style is just a side benefit.

If car manufacturers did a similar thing i.e. made a car with nice big windows that I could see out of, was truly comfortable and had fun handling that could be enjoyed at moderate speed I would be interested. I ran a Merc W123 a couple of years ago and am amazed that you cannot buy something similar today. It was a nicer and more comfortable mode of transport than anything current I can find to replace it with. Having said that, if someone did make a modern equivalent I wouldn't want it to slavishly look like a W123.

[vrooom]

modern citroen DS. mmmmmmmm

[i remember]

Guvna said:

Skylinecrazy said:

Eh?

Fiat 500?
Mini?
Merc SLS?

There's quite a few...

They all look like new cars to me. The styling is not true to the originals in my opinion, despite some obvious similarities.

How obvious do you want?










Out of these three i personally think the styling inspriration is the same, but size/ safety/ modernizing has changed them
You've sort of said it yourself in the title, Modern Classic translating to a modernised version of a classic car.

It's a different case of classics that have started to be remade from the original designs. Costs of building the car from 30/40/50 years ago have changed massively and re-manufacturing these cars end up sending the buying price soaring. You then have a car that is very high priced and have to find a large market to find buyers that will then end up making it a profitable sell, which unfortunately is very hard in this day of age!

Edited by i remember on Saturday 1st January 18:00

[Guvna]

i remember said:

I'll take the top one please - with a few new SLS features such as reliability

You don't see the aesthetic difference between the old/new 500 and mini? Or the two mercs above?

[AlpineWhite]

This is like banging my head against a brick wall.

[Globs]

Guvna said:

i remember said:

I'll take the top one please - with a few new SLS features such as reliability

You don't see the aesthetic difference between the old/new 500 and mini? Or the two mercs above?

I prefer the originals too. Firstly they were original, whereas the new ones are just knock-offs of those designs. Second the original's have a much nicer detail and proportion.

You used to be able to tell what a car was at one time, now they pretty much look all the same which makes the modern car very very dull indeed. Modern cars are also difficult to fix and service, old ones were designed for it. The only progress in cars has been the fit and finish and the fuel injection systems, the rest seems to have just come along for the ride.

[AlpineWhite]

Globs

Re the only improvements being fit and finish, and FIE:

Which would you rather drive into a wall in - the original SLS or the new one?

[odyssey2200]

AlpineWhite said:

Globs

Re the only improvements being fit and finish, and FIE:

Which would you rather drive into a wall in - the original SLS or the new one?

How often do you drive into walls?

[ewenm]

Brakes are vastly improved too - the brakes on the Mustang are appalling compared to the Caterham (30 year separation) and the Volvo (43 years apart).

[AlpineWhite]

odyssey2200 said:

AlpineWhite said:

Globs

Re the only improvements being fit and finish, and FIE:

Which would you rather drive into a wall in - the original SLS or the new one?

How often do you drive into walls?

You know what I mean. Which would you rather have a crash in? And while we're here, which would you rather sit in during a bank holiday traffic jam? Which would you rather get started on a cold morning? Which would you rather drive halfway across the country without fear of breakdown or dead arsecheeks?

Pistonheads. Pedantry matters, I know, but sometimes......

[henrycrun]

BMW had a punt with the Z3. Shame it was dropped for the Z4, they could of co-existed together.

[odyssey2200]

AlpineWhite said:

odyssey2200 said:

AlpineWhite said:

Globs

Re the only improvements being fit and finish, and FIE:

Which would you rather drive into a wall in - the original SLS or the new one?

How often do you drive into walls?

You know what I mean. Which would you rather have a crash in? And while we're here, which would you rather sit in during a bank holiday traffic jam? Which would you rather get started on a cold morning? Which would you rather drive halfway across the country without fear of breakdown or dead arsecheeks?

Pistonheads. Pedantry matters, I know, but sometimes......

Read my previous posts

A I would prefer a more authentic looking classic with modern running gear etc mush like the TD2000 I posted the picture of.

Very close to the original but Toyota 2000 engine, gearbox, disc brakes and air con,

[Guvna]

odyssey2200 said:

I would prefer a more authentic looking classic with modern running gear

That is what I am trying to say.

As has been mentioned unfortunately it may be the case that manufacturers simply can't create good looking classically styled cars because of the elf n safety regs.

Shame.

Edited by Guvna on Saturday 1st January 20:20

[odyssey2200]

Guvna said:

odyssey2200 said:

I would prefer a more authentic looking classic with modern running gear

That is what I am trying to say.

As has been mentioned unfortunately it may be the case that manufacturers simply can't create good looking classically styled cars because of the elf n safety regs.

Shame.

Edited by Guvna on Saturday 1st January 20:20

TD cars do

Morgan never stopped.

[Guvna]

odyssey2200 said:

Guvna said:

odyssey2200 said:

I would prefer a more authentic looking classic with modern running gear

That is what I am trying to say.

As has been mentioned unfortunately it may be the case that manufacturers simply can't create good looking classically styled cars because of the elf n safety regs.

Shame.

TD cars do

Morgan never stopped.

Would be nice to see the big boys - Merc, Aston, Ferrari, Ford and Jaguar do it.

[Pigeon]

AlpineWhite said:

Which would you rather have a crash in?

I'd rather not have a crash at all.

If I do have a crash, I want the car to be easily repaired afterwards. So I want something that does not have crumple zones and all that crap which results in a minor shunt fking the whole end of the car up. I want bumpers which can actually take bumps, not easily-destroyed and horrendously expensive bits of plastic.

AlpineWhite said:

And while we're here, which would you rather sit in during a bank holiday traffic jam?

Something with an automatic transmission. Or a bike, so I can avoid getting stuck in the first place.

AlpineWhite said:

Which would you rather get started on a cold morning?

My Volvo 164 started first time every time in the recent cold weather even after being left for over a week.

AlpineWhite said:

Which would you rather drive halfway across the country without fear of breakdown or dead arsecheeks?

If a car breaks down I want to be able to cobble together some bodge at the side of the road which will get it going again enough that I can at least get home somehow. Which is much more possible on a carbs-points-and-pushrods car than a modern one stuffed with electronic junk. Not that any of my classic cars have ever been likely to break down anyway. As for "dead arsecheeks", that has never been a concept applicable to Volvos.

[msheaven]

I dream of the day when pop up lights are made again!