In part

["Mahoney, John" <JMahoney@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>>
IMHO, hybrids will never outsell conventional drivetrains.  The american driver needs a car that will serve for long trips on the interstate as well as the daily commute.  Why carry the extra weight of batteries and have that eventual expense of battery replacement when the conventional drivetrain can be made yet lighter and more fuel efficient?  All of the majors are now developing lighter chassis using more aluminum, magnesium and plastics to improve the efficiency.
<<

Or diesels could outsell everything --- probably in Europe --- instead.  (Mercedes' Bluetec already meets CA emissions, so westward ho, ho, ho?)  And what about the Swedes?  Ultra-efficient today with ethanol and CNG!

The problem with American weight reduction (of cars, that is, not of the 35% of kids in CA schools called fat) is that we have to start at such a degree of excess and disadvantage --- both in footprint and poundage --- that our improvement won't hit moving targets, as the world moves ahead faster and farther than we can.  We tarried too long at the Faire and we diddled with squat when we could have been working or learning.  Rome is burning and we're late to the water trough.

Yes, big people in big countries want big vehicles to haul themselves and their big stocks of big stuff around: Aussies and North Americans have chosen bigger cars.  Whether we can forever, remains to be known.  

IMHO, Lido tends toward overstatement (as is expected from any "larger-than-life" personage...), but I found his word timely to list discussion.

His concern --- and he has an abiding love for America and for -all- the American auto industry --- nonetheless, is valid; when Toyota and Toyota wannabes take the lead in motive technologies, they can effectively make America's Big-3 their follower, rendering anything left of our domestic industry irrelevant; perhaps requiring our "All-American" icons such as Cadillac and Mustang to rely on non-American-developed ideas, parts, and even manufacturing equipment.  "Made in America" isn't the same as "Born in America" --- something Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, etc. work hard to make Americans overlook.  Toyota in NASCAR isn't the same as when GM, Ford, Mopar, and AMC went racing, however welcome its presence (and its presents) in America are.  Toyota is not American, unless the definition of "American" now is Wal-Mart.  Someday the only "Born in the USA" label there will be on a CD.  And Bruce wasn't singing about AMC muscle cars.

With Germany and Japan now positioned as "premium wage" areas in the global auto industry, with Korea, Thailand, India, Poland, Russia, etc. taking up the vast "middle" ground, precious little room remains for an overpaid and under-achieving (or overweight and under-educated) America.  That America eventually won't even be able to buy bargains at Wal-Mart --- let alone to drive a Chevy by Chery, Chrysler by Kia or Ford by Fiat.

Money won't solve our problems.  We already spend more on education and health care than just about anyone else.  We -must- meet the enemy.  US.

http://tinyurl.com/bnmth

Almost as timely as Iacocca's word, here's another quote:

"[Twelve-months from design to production] enables us to develop a variety of vehicles that reflect market needs and demands while fulfilling the advanced development structure."  

Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe, this Monday in New York

Faster development also saves/earns Toyota billions of dollars.

Watch out world: watch out for the final fall of Big-3 America. 
 

>>
I wonder what the car collectors or just the ordinary car hobbiest will have to choose from in the future.
<<

Now, they just open a newspaper.  I did, last night.  (Comments mine.)

"Cadillac Braugham"	(A Shakespeare edition?)
"Cadillac D-Elg" 	(20" spinners included?)
"2000 Daewood"		('Fore or after Viagra?)
"Dodge Intrepied"	(For a walk to get gas?)
"Infiniti 245"		(Q: Does it run 2 V-8s?)
"Kia Specte"		(The anti-Silver Ghost?)
"Lincoln Continentail"	(W/extra luggage space?)
"VW Rabbit CABRIOLLET"	(W/sticking Switchgear?)

Those were just used cars; let's scan the "classic and antique" ads:  

"'78 Eldorado Baritz"			
"'66 Impala SS contvertable"		
"'53 Pontiac Cheiftain"		
"'66 Pontiac GTO.  Body only, no drive tran."

(Bury it, buy it, bide it.  Build it with an AMC "big block" smile!)

And especially for all you AMC historians, a rare Jeep Chokeree Ltd.

I don't ask American car folks to read and write like PhD candidates, but a bit more attention to detail should help them AND help America.

Seriously, since few cars built after the mid '70s will be collectible, and many that could become collectible will be nightmares of technology, future generations may re-discover the past.  Veteran cars, Model Ts, or non-Full classic-era cars may be bought by Gen Z-ers.  Forgotten "ugly" cars from the '30s through the '60s may become beloved.  Mavericks and Pintos could be restored like they were Mustangs; Gremlins could be as cool as AMXs.  It'll all depend on supply and demand.

One of the oldest active car guys I know may have an answer.  He doesn't collect AMC cars; he doesn't even collect American cars, but does have a variety of European classics.  A Bugatti Brescia, Porsche 356, Vauxhall, and an A-Z car, his Abarth Zagato 750 "Double Bubble" (to which the AMC Pacer is related) with only about 2500 miles on it.  It is 46 years old.

In the eight years he's owned it, it's had some engine work, new Webers, new radiator, disc brake conversion and softer shocks.  Here's -his- word:

"The biggest drawback to ownership is the lack of parts availability and competent service.  Beyond the Fiat parts (which are themselves in short supply) lurks a host of unique bits that have virtually ceased to exist.  As yet, demand for these items has not grown to the point where many new replica pieces are being manufactured.  The very few parts that remain available via dedicated sources are expensive, and the wait for them to actually show up can be a long one."

He's much more of a mechanic than I am and he knows about machine tools.


AMC fans can learn from what he spoke.  Quickly.  He's now 85 years old.