now a days the cars keep using the same parts year after year, etc. Some cars go 8 to 10 years without a substantial overhaul. The 2018 Veloster looked the same as the 2011 Veloster for exmple
and the switches, etc etc haven't changed much in decades
When I was growing up in the 1950's it was simple to be able to tell one car from another. Not so much now.
ReplyDeleteI guess part of the reason is that design is now dictated very much by aerodynamic efficiency. Once you get that right you're not going to change it much and presumably all the makers converge on the same efficient shape.
ReplyDeleteTony
Going by at 80 mph they all look about the same. Great comparison chart!
ReplyDeleteToday's designers are blocked into the Fed & Euro safety boxes (headlight height, etc). But, yeah, they're tough to tell apart. Can easily spot a 57 Dodge from a quarter mile away!
ReplyDeletesome of the old cars were the same for years
ReplyDeleteBroncos were identical for 11 years and used lots of parts from mustangs pickups and vans
chevy pickups were virtually identical 73-97
dodge pickups were the same from 73-91
but some were changed every year
thunderbirds had different bumpers and grills and tail lights almost every year, and a complete redesign every three years.
So, in other words, you're confirming what I said, with the exception of the Bronco not being a car, and something I didn't address. Yes, some old cars were the same for years, but, you'd have to specify what make and models... like Dort? Cord 810? Packard 120s? They didn't change much. There have been around 4 thousand car manufacturers, and I can't address them all, so, lets be straight, I'm working in generalities, but I rarely say "all, every, and without exception"
DeleteCertainly the VW models went years without anything but tiny changes, and the Citroens and Porsches ditto... but I'm generally discussing American cars... not ones in Europe, Asia, South America, or Australia... I don't speak with authority on anything... certainly not as an expert on anything.
Anyway, there are far too many cars, trucks, etc etc to know them all, but there's no way for me to keep them all in mind. I just don't have the memory clarity to stay cognizant of enough stuff, I deal with too much variety of things
Today's car buyers and I stress the word "today's" car buyers don't place a high priority on style as we did back in the 50's,60's, 70's. They are more concerned with reliability and technology. I will go so far as to say. The whole car buying experience is completely different then days gone by.
ReplyDeleteVery good point. Harvey Earl had brainwashed a generation or two into believing that they had to buy the newest model, year after year, if he changed the design enough (54 to 55 Chev for example) and the tail fin changes. They weren't scared into every choice, basing their priority on number of stars ratings, air bags, recalls, etc. Yeah, reliability and recalls, rear view cameras and safety... I get it. Damn shame that there are no pioneering design changes anymore. That Prowler was a game changer.
Delete