GRAN TORINO

[SOTVEN]

HELLO ALL, I WATCHED CLINT EASTWOOD'S GRAND TORINO YESTERDAY. IN MY OPINION, GREAT MOVIE IN ALL ASPECTS. THERE WAS A SPECIAL FEATURE ON THE DVD ABOUT MEN AND CARS, AND HOW A BOND IS BETWEEN THE TWO. SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT SHARED THEIR OPINIONS MENTIONED THAT TODAY'S CARS ALL LOOK ALIKE. "HALLELLUIAH.." WHY HOWEVER DO ALL CARS LOOK ALIKE TODAY? IN MY PERCEPTION, BECAUSE TODAY'S PEOPLE ALL ARE ALIKE. IT GETS HARDER AND HARDER TO MEET SOMEONE THAT IS GOING TO BE AN INTERSTING PERSONALITY. HENCE THE CARS REPRESENT SOCIETY. BACK TO THE M37, AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN AROUND 115 000 MADE ALL AND ALL. I AM SURE THAT MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN SCRAPPED BY NOW. YET OUT OF 6 AND A HALF BILLION PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET, THERE IS A SMALL HANDFUL OF PEOPLE IN THIS FORUM FROM AROUND THE WORLD, THAT WE TAKE PRIDE IN RESURECTING THIS "OLD IRON." ALL OF US HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF TRANSFORMING A PILE OF OLD ABUSED O.D. PARTS INTO VEHICLES THAT PEOPLE SEE THEM ON THE STREET AND DROOL OVER THEM, HALF A CENTURY AFTER THEY CAME OUT OF THE PRODUCTION LINE, AND IF THAT DOES NOT DENOTE THAT WE ARE SPECIAL PEOPLE IN THIS UNIFORMAL AND DULL SOCIETY, THEN I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING PART OF THIS SPECIAL FORUM, AND FOR STANDING HIGH FOR WHAT YOU LIKE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE OTHERS THINK OR DO. I AM PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS FORUM

[Lifer]

Very nice sentiments, SOTVEN. I could not agree more!

[cuz]

A lot of the car look alike issue stems from the manufacturers using the same data base to determine what people like. Each manufacturer arrives at the same best compromise appearance and goes with it and when they realize the folks like it and they like it no matter which brand it has wrapped inside they are afraid to try a little originality and go out on a limb.

Manufactures tended to accept a little more risk with new ideas and designs in the 50's and 60's like the 1960 Ford full size ugly duckling and the Edsel. Or the winners like the 1955 Chevy and 1964 Mustang.

The only place you see anyone polishing or detailing their own car anymore is on TV commercials or at MV/Classic Car rallys.

[Lifer]

You're right on all counts, cuz. All car manufacturers try to get their cars as close to a "raindrop" shape as they can and still get people inside them. This is good for aerodynamic "slickness" and fuel economy, but all raindrops look alike. I, too, miss the days when I could tell you the year, make, and model of an approaching car from a block away! Back then, we had 2 engine choices per car manufacturer...a V-8 if you wanted power or an inline 6 if you preferred economy. Each brand offered only one of each, too. Nowadays, there are way too many engine options available, which only adds to the confusion when you go car shopping. The first company to come out with a model with some style to it will get my business, even if I don't "need" a new car.

[Lifer]

'Nother thing...I think the most successful of the "risky" car designs of the '50s was Studebaker's Loewy coupes. I sure loved my '57 Silver Hawk! If you really wanted power, you could spend a lot more bucks and get the Packard version with the blower package. It would pass everything but a gas station!

[cuz]

It would pass everything but a gas station!

That was used a lot on LTD's (Little Thirsty Dogs) and of coarse most of the Ford big blocks.

[Master Yota]

The factory offered special cars of today - the mustangs, vettes, and chargers, are still fairly easy to identify at 55mph. The rest of the cars on the road are aptly described as rain drops - all minimally different, but so almost alike that they can't be easily identified.

Fortunately there is still some sense of style in the truck market - at least they are easy to identify and catagorize. As for engine identifcation - does anyone really care about a 4cyl fuel mizer? Thats really only half an engine anyway and not really worth thinking about.

[Tom @ Snake River]

'Nother thing...I think the most successful of the "risky" car designs of the '50s was Studebaker's Loewy coupes. I sure loved my '57 Silver Hawk! If you really wanted power, you could spend a lot more bucks and get the Packard version with the blower package. It would pass everything but a gas station!

Lifer, you and I must think alike. My first restoration project was a 57 SilverHawk, loved the car, but I sold it.
Now I am down to 3 Studebaker weasels. When I show up to a vintage snowmoble show, I always have the oldest. Even beats out the Tucker SnoKitten that was built after the war.

[Nickathome]

Todays cars all copy Toyota. I don't care who they are or what company they come from, they all look like Toyotas. You see a Chevy commercial and they are patting themselves on the back over their latest Sedan.......Toyota. Ford......Toyota......Dodge......Toyota. They all look the same and I can't stand any of them. That's why I like trucks, at least they still have some individual style among the big three.

As to People today and M37's, I find that about as small a population of people show my truck interest as own them. I drive down the street and yes I get some waves and some thumbs up, but more often than not I get what I call the drone response......They don't even bat an eyelash. That stems from the lack of history and simple selfishness of an uncaring population. If it doesn't interest them, they could care less. I did have a guy at the gas station ask me what year my truck was the other day. He was one of the few.

[chris olson]

I totally think of cars these days as an Appliance... just a device to soullessly get the job of transportation done. Just like an appliance you can't really distinguish between a Kenmore and a Maytag from ten feet away.
For most people that is all they need (or think they need)...Somehow those of us that gather here know better.

[Lifer]

You're right, Chris. Back in the '40s, '50s, and '60s, our cars were extensions of our personalities (if not our very souls). They reflected who we were.

Today's kids have no personalities unless they're the destructive type. If they have souls, they're pretty adept at keeping them hidden, too. No wonder their cars are so bland!

We used to refer to "power" as the horsepower applied to the pavement. Today's kids relate "power" to the wattage of their sound systems!

[mikkelborg]

Well put SOTVEN, I couldn't agree more with you. It does feel special to resurrect something like an old M37, and it is pretty amazing to know there are a bunch of other guys out there doing the same thing. From the frame offs, to crazy builds and the simple rolling restorations like my work-in-progress this board is great and I'm proud to be here too.

Lifter, by and large I must agree, but there are exceptions, I'm a kid after all... (20, that counts right?) I think that I am probably one of the younger guys driving an M37. I think the older stuff wasn't just an extension of our souls; I think of each old car as having it's own soul. It's something that I just do not see in new vehicles. The only problem is when that soul decides to be difficult, but when everything is right an old car can be like a close friend.

Your last line made me laugh. I must be fairly old fashioned because I have two distinct personalities... neither of which has a stereo to rate the 'power' on .



Collin

[Josh]

Hey now... not all younger people are useless.... just most.

I'm 26, have an M-37. And a Mazdaspeed 6. Before that, an Audi S4. Before that, a 1996 Escort that was turbocharged, by me. Point being, I can't drive anything "normal". It's just not possible.

Oh, one more thing... Lifer, my truck will have power. Lots, and Lots, and Lots of it...

[cuz]

Collin,
I think it is very interesting that folks like us can enjoy driving two very different vehicles. I have always like the feel and sound of driving jeeps, M37's and I still have a special love for the Fiat 124 Spider I sold a while back. And we are over 40 years apart!

[Lifer]

I think it is very interesting that folks like us can enjoy driving two very different vehicles.

"Very different vehicles" is what I'm all about. Of all the cars I've ever owned, I think my favorite was a Citroen 2CV. It had no "power" at all, but it got me around all over Europe.