Re: Non-AMC powered cars in AMO, and another 'irk'.
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Re: Non-AMC powered cars in AMO, and another 'irk'.



Snip!


Hear hear!

Nothing is so depressing as attending a car show for one marque vehicles where there are rows of identical cars lined up neatly - separately only by color or esoteric differences. I occasionally attend the local Mopar Show with one of my old Mopars. However, I'm not into "muscle cars" - preferring instead to enjoy the beauty and elitism of '50s Mopars. I own the ancestor of all Mopar muscle - a Chrysler 300B. Occasionally I take my '46 New Yorker Highlander.

I am somewhat depressed to attend these shows as the emphasis is on the very thing that John decries. I call them "Bubble Gum Cars" - four or five basic designs, identifiable by color and an obsessive concern with under hood trivia. He who has the cleanest car and the biggest engine is automatically elevated to superiority and all others must bow down. Blecch!

Meanwhile, all of the interesting cars (not built between 1966 and 1973 are lined up in a random fashion around the perimeter. The general public which attends walks quickly through the fields of bubble gum and congregates around the perimeter - admiring the remnants of their past - while the obsessive few get together to admire stamps, tags and decals (many of which would have been removed by the dealer before the vehicle was delivered to the first owner) and listen to music by "The 1910 Fruit Gum Company".

Yeah, maybe it's a generational thing - but I like all cars. I don't discriminate except to feel sadness that so many seem to have closed their minds to anything but the tiny slice of history they revere. As they mature, perhaps they'll recognize the wonderful nature of all of automotive history. After all, one of the greatest Bubble Gum Cars of all is an AMX - even if it did come with engines by Ford and Mopar:).

Maybe, we'll show them the way some day!

John

I think a mixing of the models, accomplished easily by
simply letting cars line up as they arrive, would act
to 'clean the palate<sp?>' between similar cars. And
it would foster more connection between owners of
vastly different models by placing them in close
proximity, and visitors that might only know about
certain, well-poublicized models would see different
ideas on their way between their 'known' models, rather
than congregating around the ones they know best.

A kind of 'forced-intergration' (that'll go over big,
using that term!) would get folks moving past all the
cars, not able to avoid the 'less-bally-hoo'd' models,
or dismissing them because they aren't 'with the big
dogs'.

I know, I know, not everybody is a 'classist'- I'm
not suggesting that. I am saying that, being at several
shows, I've seen large disparities between the foot
traffic thru the Hurst cars section and the Matador
and Ambassador areas. I'm certain it can be discouraging
for some of these owners. If the cars were properly blended,
foot traffic would equalize all over the field, and such
'less-known' cars would get a few more glances, questions
and comments. Certainly, the 'top dog' cars would only
flourish by comparison with a stripped 4-door sedan on one
side and a beige wagon on the other. Yet, those other two
cars might get some more kudos, too.

Beyond easier judging, there may be other solid reasons
for keeping them grouped that I'm not seeing. Feel free
to educate me. :)

Anyway, just spitballin'.

John







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