The re-introduction of former 'muscle' cars from a period long gone in new, more modern skins, is a testament to the incredible genius of
the creators of those cars- of that bygone era. These modern day 'retro'
sculptures, on wheels, are wonderful reminders of the design
integrity and simple beauty of the many styles of auto history's
past. ...(First, came the Thunderbird, a few years ago) ..Now, we have the Charger, Challenger, Mustang, Camaro and the
Corvette, american made beauties, whose recognizable silhouettes and
design profiles, are a walk down memory lane, as you travel the roads
and highways in Canada and the United States of America. ...
The car makers of those cherished models have not forgotten their mandate: to give
the public what they want in a newer more modern version of the
original..... The integrity of today's models is a reflection of
yesteryear. They have distanced themselves from the rest of the herd.
... Everything new today becomes old. So it would seem that the
opposite would hold true, that the 'old' can be re-imagined and
called 'new'.
Growing up in Toronto, in the 50’s and 60’s, I rarely found
myself in a car. Our family did not own a car and neither parent
drove. I walked everywhere or used transit. ... Few vehicles were
in my life until I met my husband and began my teaching career, north
of Toronto. ... Learning how to drive was done, just in time and
just in case. ...With a terrible sense of direction, I would rehearse
every trip for my new job, the day before I was to begin. ... Cars
had to be an integral and important part of my life, then. Driving
became a necessity- as it is, now, for many people, whose jobs/careers
depend upon a car..
One look at some high end lines would indicate that in the process
of creating lower priced versions of themselves, these brands have
lost something in the process, bearing little resemblance to the
original that set themselves apart from every other model, in the first place. Other
than the signature plate, hood ornament or the grill itself, brand
identification, on some models, is difficult to discern or ascertain.
Could a tweaking, of this or that, change the design to reflect the
original, in a more defined/refined way? ... Many of today's cars
are incredible pieces of machinery, safer, with better gas mileage
and more aerodynamic. Years earlier, the public made it known, to
car makers, what they thought of the crop of gas guzzlers being sold,
then. (The period of cheap gas was gone) Now, with newer innovations
, design modification and with science, as an ally, car choice has
never been better or greater. The retro look is now sought after by
young and old alike. With new generations to serve and with a
proven history, it makes sense for car makers to reformulate,
redesign, re-engineer their past lineup, those proven top sellers, to bring forward a brand new
crop of these former favourites. Discarding the past, completely, makes no sense. Simply update, re-engineer, while safeguarding the integrity of the original in look, feel and profile. Simple.......
We bought used, repeatedly, leased occasionally, then new when it
made sense. ...One of the cherished vehicles of our family's past was the Jeep
Grand Wagoneer, a car whose look, design and large boxy-safe-
profile made it a hit with us.(Dark blue with wood grain on the outside) When it became apparent that its use
was coming to an end, I offered to paint it. We could neither
afford a new vehicle, body work, nor a new paint job. (And since my
husband put in 12 hour days, it made sense that I would paint the
Jeep.) So it was painted, with much care and precision by me and our
12 year old son, using the carmaker's paint. Preparing the car for 'spray' painting was
painstakingly done The paint job gave us another year. Then, we
had to let the Jeep go. Looking back, I think about that car and lament its passing into history. Could it return in a
modern day version of itself? Could the makers of this classic
vehicle, The Jeep Grand Wagoneer, revisit the drafting board and
bring it back? Others did. I can only hope.
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