Height of automotive advancements
#1
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Height of automotive advancements
So Im going to go out on a limb by saying this
1. The height of automotive greatness in terms of styling 1969-1979. And then again from 1989-2005.
2. Height of automotive greatness in terms of engineering 1992- 2004. then again 2006-2009.
Discuss!
1. The height of automotive greatness in terms of styling 1969-1979. And then again from 1989-2005.
2. Height of automotive greatness in terms of engineering 1992- 2004. then again 2006-2009.
Discuss!
#2
Lexus Fanatic
2. Height of automotive greatness in terms of engineering 1992- 2004. then again 2006-2009.
Last edited by mmarshall; 05-04-15 at 06:50 PM.
#4
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could it be because you own a vehicle in those periods?
automotive greatness in styling in 1969-1979? like what, an AMC Pacer?
i think design improves in fits and starts but almost all older designs and engineering to me becomes just that, old.
because of tech and materials and mfg improvements, we have led lights, aluminum and carbon fiber in more mainstream vehicles, better brakes, suspensions, engines, WAAAAY safer, better looking wheels, better tires, basically better everything.
#5
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Cars looked awful during those years.
Now is the height of everything automotive.
Best looking and by far most diverse styling.
Most well built, most reliable.
Most powerful cars ever offered, most fuel efficient cars ever offered.
Most vehicle types ever offered, by far, most models ever to choose from.
And technical advancement, comfort, luxury, features, safety, ....., are at their heights which is undebatable.
#6
Lexus Fanatic
Originally Posted by bitkahuna
LOL
automotive greatness in styling in 1969-1979? like what, an AMC Pacer?
Last edited by mmarshall; 05-04-15 at 07:19 PM.
#7
For me the height of automotive styling was 1960 to 1972. The Bill Mitchell era at GM gave us some really great shapes like the 61-64 Cadillacs, 1964 Riveria, 1966 Toronado, 1967 Eldorado, 1967-69 Camaro, 1969 GTO, 1968 Chevy truck, 1967 Chevelle, 1967 Buick Wildcat, pick your favorite year 1960's Impala, etc, etc, etc
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#8
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For me the height of automotive styling was 1960 to 1972. The Bill Mitchell era at GM gave us some really great shapes like the 61-64 Cadillacs, 1964 Riveria, 1966 Toronado, 1967 Eldorado, 1967-69 Camaro, 1969 GTO, 1968 Chevy truck, 1967 Chevelle, 1967 Buick Wildcat, pick your favorite year 1960's Impala, etc, etc, etc
Unfortunately, IMO, it was not built particularly well, lacked refinement, and, under the skin, was simply a nice-looking body and interior on a Ho-Hum Ford Falcon chassis.
Last edited by mmarshall; 05-05-15 at 09:14 PM.
#9
Lexus Test Driver
I'd say the present is the best of times. Each year brings more innovation, more improvements, more efficiency, more safety, and more of everything else. It's on-going progress that I appreciate and savor.
If I had to give an important time in auto history, I'd credit 1989-1991. Here we had an updated Acura Legend sedan and Coupe and the all-new, game-changing Lexus LS. I think these two cars created a paradigm shift of how luxury cars were built and sold. The forthcoming Acura NSX also did the same for sports cars. And how can we forget what the four-door Chevy S-10 Blazer, Ford Explorer, and Jeep Cherokee did in replacing the long-running family station wagon and conversion vans? Certainly the late 80's and early 90's ushered in a lot of new buying trends.
As far as past favorites, I think many of us would admit to liking what we first started driving back in the day. That would throw me into GM offerings of the mid-80's, as rough as those were. I still have fond memories and thought they were great at the time. At least one good thing about simple cars back then is you could usually fix things on your own or at least find a corner mechanic that could. Today, with all the tech and computers built in, dealer service and the accompanying costs are almost unavoidable. At least with Lexus, it's a treat to take your car in.
If I had to give an important time in auto history, I'd credit 1989-1991. Here we had an updated Acura Legend sedan and Coupe and the all-new, game-changing Lexus LS. I think these two cars created a paradigm shift of how luxury cars were built and sold. The forthcoming Acura NSX also did the same for sports cars. And how can we forget what the four-door Chevy S-10 Blazer, Ford Explorer, and Jeep Cherokee did in replacing the long-running family station wagon and conversion vans? Certainly the late 80's and early 90's ushered in a lot of new buying trends.
As far as past favorites, I think many of us would admit to liking what we first started driving back in the day. That would throw me into GM offerings of the mid-80's, as rough as those were. I still have fond memories and thought they were great at the time. At least one good thing about simple cars back then is you could usually fix things on your own or at least find a corner mechanic that could. Today, with all the tech and computers built in, dealer service and the accompanying costs are almost unavoidable. At least with Lexus, it's a treat to take your car in.
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People of the older generation are always going to look back and say that's the designs of when they grew up were best. No offense.
I would have to say the height of design and engineering is now and will always be present day
I would have to say the height of design and engineering is now and will always be present day
#11
Lexus Fanatic
No...not necessarily. I'd have to at least partially disagree with that...and I'm part of the older generation myself. The question in the OP concerned not necessarily what what opined as the best design, but the best automotive advancements as well. For instance, I grew up and learned to drive in the 1960s, but, outside of the 1966 FWD Olds Toronado/Cadillac Eldorado, little if any REAL advancement came out of that decade. The Beetle-like, rear-engined air-cooled Chevy Corvair turned out to be a disaster in several ways. The muscle cars back then that many today still worship were mostly just run-of-the-mill sedans, coupes, and pony cars with larger engines....and sometimes body-graphics. The immortal 1Gen Mustang (which I covered in the above post) was a Ho-Hum Falcon compact with a hugely popular body and interior. Some safety improvements, which were driven by Ralph Nader and Federal legislation, took effect by the end of the decade. But, like it or not, widespread use of REAL advancements like disc bakes, electronic ignition, fuel-injection, radial tires, clearcoat paint, car-based AWD, rack-and-pinion steering, catalytic converters, unleaded gas, integrated climate-control systems, electric window defrosters, and many others did not really take effect until the 1970s or later decades. I, for one, am still angry today, that we had to put up with balky and unreliable carburetors until the late 1980s (cold starts and warm-ups could be a true PITA), when the technology (and the means) were there to replace them with fuel-injection some 10-15 years earlier, and most of the auto industry didn't.
Last edited by mmarshall; 05-06-15 at 06:59 AM.
#12
Lexus Fanatic
Today's cars are the best engineered and most reliable. However, todays cars seem to be more competitive than ever.
I think luxury cars from the 70s and 80s were more luxurious that today.
#13
Lexus Fanatic
Originally Posted by LexsCTJill
I think luxury cars from the 70s and 80s were more luxurious that today.
Last edited by mmarshall; 05-06-15 at 11:45 AM.
#14
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Now is the height of everything automotive.
Best looking and by far most diverse styling.
Most well built, most reliable.
Most powerful cars ever offered, most fuel efficient cars ever offered.
Most vehicle types ever offered, by far, most models ever to choose from.
And technical advancement, comfort, luxury, features, safety, ....., are at their heights which is undebatable.
Best looking and by far most diverse styling.
Most well built, most reliable.
Most powerful cars ever offered, most fuel efficient cars ever offered.
Most vehicle types ever offered, by far, most models ever to choose from.
And technical advancement, comfort, luxury, features, safety, ....., are at their heights which is undebatable.
I think luxury cars from the 70s and 80s were more luxurious that today.
#15
^ I too miss the velour seats, especially because you could order your interior in any strange hue or pattern you wanted. Plaid orange golf pant upholstery to match the orange paint on your Coupe Deville, you bet we offer it
Or if you prefer the decor of your local bordello:
That's what I miss about older luxury cars, you could get about any paint/interior/option combo your heart desired. Now days your Benz is either Black, Grey, or White
Or if you prefer the decor of your local bordello:
That's what I miss about older luxury cars, you could get about any paint/interior/option combo your heart desired. Now days your Benz is either Black, Grey, or White