And then there were three. That's capitalism, folks. Start out with a couple of dozen car manufacturers and eventually unbridled competition will crown a champion. We're down to the semi-finals now, and it doesn't look good for the homeys.
Everybody is kicking our butt, from an upstart Korean company most Americans can't spell OR pronounce (Hyundai) to luxury performance sedans that we don't even have competition for (BMW/Audi/Mazda/Mercedes etc.etc.) The automotive version of the OK Corral is here, and guess what? We're the Clantons!
The mighty have indeed fallen, and it's nobody's fault but theirs. From the 1970s on, America's big three had no answers for an increasingly sophisticated and knowledgable car-buying public. When we demanded economy, they gave us Chevettes and Pintos(we bought VWs and Hondas); if you had money to burn you could buy a dressed up Ford they called a Lincoln(We bought Benzes and Beemers.) Pickup trucks are about the only competition we can throw out there these days, and the Japanese have their sights squarely on our last gasps.
We used to make some pretty decent cars (see pics) but it's been decades since anything has really turned our heads.
So then, is it goodbye, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler? I'll shed a tear or two -- I loved my 1954 Ford Skyliner -- but my little MINI (90,000 miles and counting, no rattles, fun to drive and 40 MPG) will keep me smiling.
Curious about those beauties across the top? Top to bottom,left to right: 1936 Lasalle, 1951 Kaiser, 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk, 1936 Cord, and a 1936 Duesenberg.
No comments:
Post a Comment