balthazar

Assumedly, there were other '73-77 GM intermediate sedans built in the same style as the GA. I had to update my earlier post, so I added in the Fleetwood S60S (see above).

Definately ChryCo. Chrysler started aircraft turbine projects prior, during & after WWII, but automotively; a test vehicle was unveiled in '54, and that program ran up thru a '78 model.

subaru has a design history of any sorts ?? New one on me. Cadillac Series 60 Specials were the same way, at least '65 thru '76.

There is a raging problem with modern design- specifically : the rear end. Observe out on the road: 95% of all recent sedans/coupes feature the same elements: angled decklid sides dropping to a horizontal bumper, complete with a 'minivan indent' along the lower edge. Those same angled sides force taillights to likewise be angled, with perhaps 15% crossing the seam with lighting on the decklid. Roofs are all the same from the rear, backlights also... high profile, sharp-edged decks are an aerodynamic mandate.... really- what's left to juggle?? : taillight elements, reflector placement, and whether or not the license plate is in the decklid or the bumper. Whoopie-sh!t. Face it- this is the end of the line. Aerodynamics in the name of CAFE are not going to allow anything other than a short, high, sharp-edged deck, and the diminuative dimensions & numbing practicality-first mindset of design will not allow anything less than the maximum trunk opening and minimal lift-over height, or risk ridicule. And that's why this is so wonderfully refreshing, because the design is NOT dictated by panel seams... like every other sedan on the road : Why there is so much focus on grades of plastics, meanwhile the entire industry stylistic trend of highlighting the most insipid detail of a motor vehicle, the panel seam, goes completely unnoticed is beyond me. Cohesive design should be based on forms, not on the 'cracks' in that form. Hail, hail the Challenger & Camaro.

They really just don't know what to do stylistically anymore, do they ?? shuffle... shuffle... 'split' lights like the years-ago toyota gs & the LaCrosse... off-shelf LED light strips... hoary, tired mercedes grille... ding Done! Reminds my of the current accord- 'gunked up' with swooshes & gimmicks. Messy.

>>"The old car scrapping for tax credits programs in Cali have demonstrated there is NO pollution savings because the bulk of the cars scrapped haven't run in years and were sitting quietly in someone's back yard."<< This is exactly why these types of bills have been defeated numerous times- they don't accomplish anything.

"I call BS." C'mon- that' is a pristine engine compartment with some dust on it. Original hose clamps on factory hoses, no discoloraton, no rust. You're not saying it has 101,129 miles on it, are you ??? It's legit.

>>"GM has 70% of the patents in the emerging technology category."<< I did not read this as 'all patents issued over the last 100 years'. That said- I'm always in favor of more details.

The 'small block bus'.... ooooOOOOOOooooooo !!!

Jeez- 6 whacks in 8 years! When will it be time to move, or are you just inheritantly magnetic? You're epitomizing the phrase 'only the strong survive', sir. Speedy recovery to you both.

Definately something you don't see everyday : a brand new, fiberglas, full-body shell of a stretched-wheelbase '73-74 Charger funny car on a trailer. Just the shell fresh from the mold. Big split rear deck spoiler, elongated front end... I have no idea where whomever had this got it- must've been a big bucks commissioned project.

smallchevy- stacked headlights on a big Pontiac puts it as a 63-67.

Well, 'Sport Coupe' would be Chevy's term, while 'bubbletop' is an enthusiast's nickname. 127K does look high for what's always been claimed as a 'rare' car, but perhaps 'rare' is relative to other Chevys. If you look at other totals (75K Impala convertibles, 323K Bel Air & Impala 2-dr hardtops), it looks to be in line. Why would it be unusually low- doesn't make sense- it should fall in line with other year/make 2-doors. I buy 127K.

Anyone spot the non-Buick in that video ? Oopsie. :wink:

As long as it's strictly an advisory board (as opposed to a policy-making one), GM could squeek out of the deal without being zombie-afied... because those gov't chuckleheads have little idea how to do their own jobs, nevermind run a manufacturing corporation.

>>"...were forced to buy a Kia..."<< Is there going to be a gun at anyone's head ?? If the American automakers cease to exist, I'm restoring vintage American- no hesitation.

Anyone else see the historic-thru-today Opel experiment just isn't working ? In other words, a badge-jobbed Opel Pontiac is not raising my hopes any.

>>"Now, with the exception of a Texas truck plant, it is idling its factories for additional days."<< Didn't the TX toyota truck plant just come off a 2 or 3 month idle period ?? Nice reporting there, Reuters !!

Ironic- on another board I have been in the back-n-forth this week all on the GM bubbletop. There, the 'purists' I guess you'd call it, claim the term 'bubbletop' only applies to '61 GMs with that roof & the '62 Bel Air, the only '62 GM model with that roofline. I am of the opinion -and I'm not the only one- that this term should apply to the '59-60 hardtop coupe, too- the only thing visually different there RE the greenhouse is the windshield; why not also include them ?? Frankly- the lower roofline of the '59-60 is sleeker than the '61-2 with it's funky A-pillar. Othe claim there is that the '62 Bel Air bubbletop is rare, but the figure I found says 127K were built. My dad had one new...

I friggin LOVE driving in snow; kicking the ass end out, doin a few 360s where prudent, churning ahead in the left lane while the rest of the plodders huddle and creep in the right. Whoo-hoo, bring it on! Actually, I am tired of snow in general, not that I get much here, but I don't have any problem driving thru it. I'm in 4WD now, but everything before my current daily has been RWD only.

G4L - that's just not possible; toyota is the perfect business model, the Midas of the industry, never a failure, never a hesitation, ever to be the role model for the rest of the world. No doubt recent considerable sales decline numbers are the result of information sabotage, when in fact toyota has set new 'BEST EVER!!'s. The truth will come out.

Why is that dated 11-20? >>"I don't mean the fine technical points of product plans, quality, fuel efficiency, market share, financial reports and brand image -- or lack thereof. That story we know, especially here, in all its excruciating detail."<< ORly ?? Congress apparently doesn't, nor does most of the corporate media. >>"politicians straining to understand the car business"<< Ahhh; there we go. Article rehashes the obvious, gives no news, and continues to repeat generalities as facts. Still part of the problem.

If you listened to some of the statements/questions posed by Congress, it's patently obvious that the GM/Chrysler merger suggestion has as much congressional analysis behind it as the action of chewing gum. And Shelby should excuse himself for conflict of interest- he's beholden to the foreign corporations.

Friend of mine hates his S-class (haven't talked to him in a while- no doubt he dumped it by now). It was a circa '04. The entire front suspension collapsed and had to be replaced, and he was waiting on some electronic gizmo for 6 or 8 months. He was disgusted. When I looked it over one day, some of the exterior rear trim was misaligned. His S-class pushed him into repeat loaded Tahoe ownership. It's overrated and still riding on outmoded perception, IMO.

Prolly some artificial reef projects that could go forward were there -say- 43 acres of 'reef material' donated for free...