Posted on 07/01/2002 2:52:14 PM PDT by wallcrawlr
Let's get something straight from the outset.
This is not a story about great, historic American cars. For that we would have needed a list of dozens, totaling 100 cars or more. It is about the great American cars that right now, today, should be made again.
Who hasn't watched an old film, flipped through the pages of automotive enthusiast magazine or been struck by the beauty of an old car passing slowly in front of you on a Sunday afternoon and thought: Why can't they make cars like that anymore? .pollbutton { background: #efefef; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; padding: 3px; }
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Some cars, like hoop skirts and rotary telephones, belong in the past. Few people today would wish that Detroit still made the Model T. But there are some cars that seemed cutting edge when they came out decades ago and still seem that way today. The only problem is that few of these models are still made. And, with rare exceptions--such as the new Mini Cooper--if they still exist it is in a pale version of its early self.
Other cars, such as that great '60s muscle car the Pontiac GTO, are claimed to be making a comeback, so we don't need to put them on our list. But we stopped here because we really wanted to include only cars that to us stood as true greats--ideas ahead of their time that might still stand for something, and still be modern sales winners as well.
The hard part, of course, was identifying those American cars that, for reasons of innovation, gorgeous design and ability to adapt to the realities of today's world, would make the cut. We would have liked to have more than the eight we chose, but no amount of arm-wrestling, red-faced shouting and old-fashioned straw-drawing could get them on the list. Although we are sure that our readers will be happy to point out the obvious ones we failed to include.
So, here's your chance. Take a look at our list and vote for your favorite car, the one you think should come back to life above all the others. And your vote will count, too. See, after we publish all our lists of Italian, British and German cars (we'll ask you to vote on those, too) in the coming weeks, we'll then finally wrestle the beast to the ground and, at last, publish our top ten list based on your votes. So have a look, see what you think and don't forget to cast your ballot!
Click on the links below for a description of each vehicle.
Great! Can I borrow it, next Roar?
I could get up into the Tararuas and back down again, with four stags strapped across that nice long bonnet. :)
,,, you strategist! Tell ya what mate, the Tararuas have snow on them right now; down to the 700 metre level. The Morgan's shivering in the garage.
I wish my uncle Frank could see that.
He died in 1997, but he restored Lincoln Continentals (mostly 60's vintage) as show cars.
That was his business - not a sideline - for many years.
My YJ is cool, but it would be neat to own the Original Legend O)|||||(O
He won't sell them for anything... it makes me sick!
Tell him he can't take his Jeeps to heaven! Keep pressuring him and he'll cave sooner or later.....Remember:
Old Jeeps never die, they just get rebuilt.
Unfortunately, it threw a connecting rod... I didn't have the time or $ to fix it then.
I think he will eventually sell one to me. I hope so.
Wish I could but the things just won't die! They run over 200,000 miles without a breakdown. Face it, Jap cars kick ass. If I want to start using my AAA card again, get on a first name basis with my mechanic, and support the UAW, I'll be sure to buy American.
I refuse to buy a car from people who murdered 600,000 people in one city,(Nanking), sneak attacked our fleet at Pearl Harbor, and routinely murdered POW's for sport.
To top that off, they refuse to acknowledge any of these things today. Every one of the Bastards can starve,as far as I am concerned.
Do what you want, I won't have a part in it. My final word to a NWO stooge.
You are being ridiculous. We beat them in the war and obtained their unconditional surrender. They paid the price for what they did. We replaced their imperialist government with a free enterprise democracy very similar to our own. Japan is a modern country that bears no resemblance whatsoever to its imperialist past. The people in Japan today are no more responsible for what happened in 1941 than we are in this country for slavery and the displacement and slaughter of the Indians.
If you want to live in the past and hate the "Japs", then go for it. I guess you probably hate Germans too. Frankly I'm concerned about our enemies of today, such as the Muslims.
Any chance of hosting an NZ election thread, for FR's Commonwealth crew?
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