Will todays assembly line euroboxes ever become......
Discussion
I think that the problem with bread & butter cars as future classics is that they are not worth saving, when did you last see a Maestro? or a Sierra? let alone a Cortina or an Avenger. Many hundreds of thousands of these cars are built, but they then become rarer than hens teeth and finally dissappear forever, whereas anything interesting is preserved. IIRC there are hardly any surviving Maxis, yet of the 208 Bentley 'R' type Continentals built, 197 are still known. When I worked for Daewoo, I once asked a Korean why they didnt have a museum or heritage centre, he looked at me like I was quite mad, he was right of course, why would anyone want to preserve the 1st, or last Nexia?
Balmoral Green said:
I think that the problem with bread & butter cars as future classics is that they are not worth saving, when did you last see a Maestro? or a Sierra? let alone a Cortina or an Avenger. Many hundreds of thousands of these cars are built, but they then become rarer than hens teeth and finally dissappear forever, whereas anything interesting is preserved. IIRC there are hardly any surviving Maxis, yet of the 208 Bentley 'R' type Continentals built, 197 are still known. When I worked for Daewoo, I once asked a Korean why they didnt have a museum or heritage centre, he looked at me like I was quite mad, he was right of course, why would anyone want to preserve the 1st, or last Nexia?
At last! Someone who thinks the same thing. We will have zillions of old MG's and Minors/1100's but what about the others? Austin Maxi, Princess? They may not have been the best cars ever BUT they are part of our motoring history. I wonder if car companys keep ALL their models?
I am sure I saw a piece somewhere that a film/tv company required a set of 80's stuff but could not find any cars to fill it. 1930-1950's no problem then that was it.
Perhaps in 50 years time we will understand and appriciate(sp?) all sides of motoring.
Look at the cars we are driving now. Only the odd ones will be preserved and others 'left to die'.
added: Its very strange now that the youth of today are now trying to find the odd and quirky motors of the past 3500 Rovers/Triumph TR7's etc, Austin 1100's X19's etc
>> Edited by scared but happy on Monday 29th August 21:56
Oh, I don't know! You peeps! Do you all remember your "very first car"?............
Well, one day when you're very old and grey and the young ones think they look great, or "cool" or "the Biz" or whatever the then vernacular is........ You'll be able to say: "I had one of those when I was young y'know!...young man!"
............
Well, one day when you're very old and grey and the young ones think they look great, or "cool" or "the Biz" or whatever the then vernacular is........ You'll be able to say: "I had one of those when I was young y'know!...young man!"
............Well, there was a little show I went past today in Crowland, when I was on the way to the Wyevale Garden place and I popped in on the way back - mostly British motors - Midgets, MGBs etc.
Did see a brown Austin 3litre which was quite rare and also a Viva HB (C reg) in good nick.
Some garage there had a stand and were asking a fiver off 8 grand for a knackered Stag though which lowered the tone. In white as well - I had one once. never again.
Couple of TR3s, loads of old Minis, all looking the same though, a couple of Capris, several XJSs one being an R reg (1976) - so a real early one - shouldn't think there are many left of that vintage that haven't rotted away.
Oh, and an Ultima too, in red.
But the best car there? A 1960 Buick Invicta. Class. For sale too - £8950.
I saw an early Sierra there and actually thought: "Wow, an early Sierra" but that was it - Y reg I think.
>> Edited by MikeyT on Tuesday 30th August 02:10
Did see a brown Austin 3litre which was quite rare and also a Viva HB (C reg) in good nick.
Some garage there had a stand and were asking a fiver off 8 grand for a knackered Stag though which lowered the tone. In white as well - I had one once. never again.
Couple of TR3s, loads of old Minis, all looking the same though, a couple of Capris, several XJSs one being an R reg (1976) - so a real early one - shouldn't think there are many left of that vintage that haven't rotted away.
Oh, and an Ultima too, in red.
But the best car there? A 1960 Buick Invicta. Class. For sale too - £8950.
I saw an early Sierra there and actually thought: "Wow, an early Sierra" but that was it - Y reg I think.
>> Edited by MikeyT on Tuesday 30th August 02:10
DennisTheMenace said:
Modern cars are like white goods
Functional (and bloody good at fulfilling their basic remit), but just with nothing worthing of note or interest about them. Last time I drove a Ford Focus was in 2000, and I have to say I thought it was a bloody good car, and I'm sure the current ones are even better. The only problem is that they're not in the slightest bit interesting.Modern cars wont survive to be classics imho, because of the specialist technology tools that have been created to maintain them - in 50 years who will have a computer with a usb interface (or whatever they use) and the software to read fault no. 10056, never mind know what it means and how to fix it.
Barring some amazing developments in 'no more nails', or people stop having accidents, theres always going to be 10mm bolts
Barring some amazing developments in 'no more nails', or people stop having accidents, theres always going to be 10mm bolts
I think there is a big difference between 'Classic' and 'Old' To me a classic car is a motoring milestone either through design (Mini, Citroen DS, E-Type, Lotus Elite (original), Audi Quattro etc) or through its competition history (Ferrari 250GTO, Ford GT40).
Too many people label old cars as classics (IMHO). A Ford Focus (not a greatr motorsport success), that will just become an old car whereas a Mk1/II Escort has international competion history on its side with rally success and dominated the field until the arrival of the Audi Quattro
The world needs more innovative cars!
davidy
PS Some design successes are total comperial failures NSU RO80 (modern equivalent Hoda Insight)
Too many people label old cars as classics (IMHO). A Ford Focus (not a greatr motorsport success), that will just become an old car whereas a Mk1/II Escort has international competion history on its side with rally success and dominated the field until the arrival of the Audi Quattro
The world needs more innovative cars!
davidy
PS Some design successes are total comperial failures NSU RO80 (modern equivalent Hoda Insight)
I've just taken a neighbours car to be MOTed.
It's a Rover 213 automatic. D reg. With a proper pull out choke (handbag thoughtfully removed
)
44000 miles and owned by a fastidious engineer.
Does it deserve preserving? It drove OK (when you consider that it must be the slowest car I've ever driven, including 850 minis).
In fact it was eye opening in a lazy and relaxed way (apart from getting out of junctions which required extreme patience and impecable timing).
So - museum no. Dusty garage with a dotty old dude and an oil can - yes.
It's a Rover 213 automatic. D reg. With a proper pull out choke (handbag thoughtfully removed
) 44000 miles and owned by a fastidious engineer.
Does it deserve preserving? It drove OK (when you consider that it must be the slowest car I've ever driven, including 850 minis).
In fact it was eye opening in a lazy and relaxed way (apart from getting out of junctions which required extreme patience and impecable timing).
So - museum no. Dusty garage with a dotty old dude and an oil can - yes.
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff