Satellite65
Well-Known Member
Auto manufacturers, both domestic and foreign, have been 'recycling' names since the beginning. Is the new Chrysler 300 anything like a '57 300? Where are the fins? What about the new Chevy Malibu? Nothing like my friends '69. It's also important to note that the 'Dart' itself was a recycled name. The original Dart was actually a B body. I wonder if people were miffed when that car was downsized to become the A body Dart that we all think of when we hear the name.
I think that without looking like the old ones, in a certain respect this new 'Dart' captures the spirit of the old in the sense that the original (A-body) was designed and marketed as a low cost, economical, mass market vehicle. I know that's kind of hard to swallow when we think of 340 4-speed cars, 383 GTS's and Hemi S/S's but it was what it was, a little shitbox whos purpose was to bring sales and profitability to the corporation right then and there. No one at Chrysler ever said "These cars are going to be so cool that people are going to love them 40 years from now" and the guys that designed this one don't care either. As long as it sells well, makes money and gets through the warranty period without too much aggravation that's good enough for them. It's always been that way.
I think that without looking like the old ones, in a certain respect this new 'Dart' captures the spirit of the old in the sense that the original (A-body) was designed and marketed as a low cost, economical, mass market vehicle. I know that's kind of hard to swallow when we think of 340 4-speed cars, 383 GTS's and Hemi S/S's but it was what it was, a little shitbox whos purpose was to bring sales and profitability to the corporation right then and there. No one at Chrysler ever said "These cars are going to be so cool that people are going to love them 40 years from now" and the guys that designed this one don't care either. As long as it sells well, makes money and gets through the warranty period without too much aggravation that's good enough for them. It's always been that way.
. and when it comes to gas mileage my 68 b-body does pretty good. 25+ MPG stop and go traffic with less than conservative pedal. ive been from orange co. N.C. to townsville VA. AND BACK on the same 19 gallon tank with three gallons to spare plus i can smoke this year models V6 camaro. If my old car gets better gas mileage, is faster, most definitely safer, and significantly more attractive than the modern junk they have to offer than ill just keep on loving my classic daily driver. When i drive my 68 plymouth road runner clone i feel like my automobile is superior to all modern traffic in every way, i feel secure, i feel confident, i feel empowered, i feel intelligent, but above all i feel LOONEY meep meep. why don't car manufacturers build quality cars like that again?
