What this country needs is more colorful cars!

[Trebuchet]

A couple of weeks ago while driving I suddenly realized how dull the cars around me were. The vast majority were black, gray, silver, or white. Of the few blue ones, nearly all were either dark navy (close to black) or light metallic (close to silver.) Most of the red ones were dark red, although there were a few bright red ones of sportier models. Yellow? Forget it. I've seen maybe half a dozen in two weeks, most of them VW New Beetles.

We need more color! Bright Blue. Yellow. Orange. Two-tones even. The roads are too darned bland.

By the way, since I started noticing this, my little blue car died and I had to get a new vehicle. It's silver....:cry:

[Jens]

BTW, which country do you mean? I assume either the UK or the USA, but I suppose I could be mistaken.

[redshifter]

Silver is a popular color these days; never cared for it myself. I think I read somewhere that marketing folks decided that people perceive silver as a 'luxury' color.

I saw an absolutely beautiful deep red Alfa Romeo 8C at the vintage races out at PIR today. I didn't think any of those were going to be imported to the US. And no one does red like Ferrari.

[Ara Pacis]

I'm kinda partial to the metallic burnt orange color, if it can be found. Not to be confused with rust.

[captain swoop]

Silver, White, Red and Black are usualy the cheapest colours offered as 'standard' (Well they are in Europe) Anything else is extra, it can be up to an extra £2000 depending what you want and you usualy have to wait.

Every company provided car I have drivern has been Silver, if you look around in the UK that colour outnumbers everything else put together.

[Nowhere Man]

I like bright blue myself. Had to settle for dark blue on the latest vehicle.

Fred

[Nicolas]

Silver is a popular color these days; never cared for it myself. I think I read somewhere that marketing folks decided that people perceive silver as a 'luxury' color.

I saw an absolutely beautiful deep red Alfa Romeo 8C at the vintage races out at PIR today. I didn't think any of those were going to be imported to the US. And no one does red like Ferrari.

No one does red like Ferrari indeed. It's also a very rare example of red that doesn't seem to go pale after some years of sunlight. Though i must say that my colleaugue's very old red VW Golf 1 also still is red, not pale pink. In between the rust, that is.

[mahesh]

First noticed predominance of colour silver, in 2000/2001. This in the UK.

Hasn't particularly varied much since then. Not that that's important.
Sorry Trebuchet, raining on your car...

[geonuc]

And no one does red like Ferrari.
Amen.

I do agree, though. The dominant color choices today are a bit bland, and that's on top of the similar styling the various makes exhibit.

[Delvo]

Sometimes more creative colors have been offered, and been discontinued, apparently because people weren't buying enough of them. Several years ago, for example, one of the colors you could get a Dodge truck in was purple (not very dark but not very bright). It's no longer offered, and I haven't seen any. A type of car I was interested in was also available in orange, but isn't anymore, and I haven't seen any (although in that case I admit I didn't like the shade of orange they were offering, so I can understand).

What I don't get is why they discontinue colors that seem to be popular. The PT Cruiser palate originally included a dark purple, and lots of them on the road now have that color, but you can't get a new one in that color anymore. (...although you can get one in a loud shade of blue.) And Chevy & GMC pickup trucks in the late 1990s often came in a darkish but shiny bronze color, but over the years the company starting making it lighter, more yellow/beige and less brown, and then decreasing the saturation so it was paler and less of an intense stand-out yellow and more of a wussified sandy or pine-woody color that blends in with all of the white, off-white, and beige cars. You'd never imagine a connection now with the original bronze if you hadn't been watching the evolution over the years.

[Delvo]

Had to settle for dark blue on the latest vehicle.You could have it repainted. Whatever vehicle I get next, I might have it redone in yellow or purple.

[eric_marsh]

I was at a big car meet two weeks ago and took a bunch of photos. If you like colorful cars, feast your eyes on these: http://gallery.me.com/emarsh#100312

[Perikles]

I have never understood why a car has to be one colour - why not a harlequin collection of different colours?

I have also been told by a car dealer that green cars have a much lower secondhand value than identical ones of a different colour. Why does nobody like green?

[mahesh]

yah....biiig car meet....:D

[Argos]

I like silver/ grey cars. My car is silver. Just keep it that way.

[eric_marsh]

I have also been told by a car dealer that green cars have a much lower secondhand value than identical ones of a different colour. Why does nobody like green?

Traditionally green race cars were considered bad luck. There may have been a carry over into the mainstream.

[Nowhere Man]

You could have it repainted. Whatever vehicle I get next, I might have it redone in yellow or purple.
I needed a new car in a hurry, having just trashed the bright-blue Jeep. Also, finances were tight at the time. Well, maybe next time.

Fred

[raptorthang]

Non-obtrusive colours are much better for society. Why is it some folks need to be assaulted by more lights, more noise, more bright colours.

This move away from shiny-in-your-face colours has been most welcomed in our natural areas, parks, etc. One can focus more on Nature and less on what appears as gaudy Christmas bulbs bobbing all over the place.

If one has the need for attention or 'look at me', then get your crayon-box coloured car...or, if you can't afford it, then wear a shocking lime green hat.

[Nowhere Man]

With or without a propeller?

Fred

[kleindoofy]

... why not a harlequin collection of different colours? ...
http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/9717/800pxvwgolfharlequin.jpg

These cars were semi-popular in parts of Europe about 10 years ago.

The only people I personally knew who drove them were three women with extremely low self-esteem who wanted to prove to the world how creative they were.

Needless to say, they never really caught on.

Neither did the cars. ;)

[Perikles]

Needless to say, they never really caught on.

Neither did the cars. ;):lol::lol: Thanks for that, the photo answered my question. Terrible idea.

[novaderrik]

cars are generic in color because most people just buy whatever the dealer has in stock on the day they are looking for a car. as a result, a lot of silver or dark blue cars are sold- which leads the dealers to think those colors are popular, which leads them to order more of them, which means more silver or blue cars on the lots, which leads the consumers to think they are popular, which leads them to buy them.
also, insurance companies charge more for some models of cars that are painted a catchy color- a red Camaro or Mustang or Challenger costs more to insure than an equivalently equipped dark blue Camaro or Mustang or Challenger.
then add on that some wingnuts want to ban the sale of darker colored cars because they might require the air conditioning to be run more during the summer- despite the fact that the ac is going to be run all the time during the hot months by most people in certain parts of the country no matter what color the car happens to be- and you wind up with bland cars on the roads.

[KaiYeves]

I like the colors on the Brazilian Obvio (http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2008/2008-Obvio-828-Front-Angle-1280x960.jpg).

[Nicolas]

Traditionally green race cars were considered bad luck. There may have been a carry over into the mainstream.

Eh? What about "British Racing Green"? Lotus did "quite well" in it...

[Graybeard6]

The green car superstition was only a US track racing phenomenon. It was dispelled when Jim Clark won the Indianapolis 500 in a green Lotus.

[Ara Pacis]

I got a white car once. I chose it via a process of elimination, not the color. When asked if I liked the color, I said that it would hide the fact that I didn't wipe the snow off. The salesman went around the office telling everyone while I was there, trying to make me look like an idiot. I guess he didn't understand satire. Well, he was a used car salesman.

[raptorthang]

I have never understood why a car has to be one colour - why not a harlequin collection of different colours?

I have also been told by a car dealer that green cars have a much lower secondhand value than identical ones of a different colour. Why does nobody like green?


I like Green. We have a green Jeep Cherokee. Up until the mid 1960's, green cars were very popular. Then with the coming of no wax perma-shine paints it was difficult to finish a body in 'green'. Most metallic green cars from the 70's and 80's were custom paint jobs. From about the mid 90's the technology was refined for most manufacturers to offer green cars again.

[roverich]

I got a white car once. I chose it via a process of elimination, not the color. When asked if I liked the color, I said that it would hide the fact that I didn't wipe the snow off. The salesman went around the office telling everyone while I was there, trying to make me look like an idiot. I guess he didn't understand satire. Well, he was a used car salesman.

If the sales person tried to make me look foolish , i would have taken my business elsewhere ...

I have a green landrover and while it started out green , its mostly faded paint and the clear coat is gone from too much washing from the previous owner i guess ...So its kinda white ... in places ...Oh yea ..land rovers colors are messed up ...The paint color says avalon blue , but its green ...

[HenrikOlsen]

Non-obtrusive colours are much better for society.
But in some ways silly on the road.
Would you actually rather want people to overlook your car while you're driving?

[matthewota]

Not only new colors, but different body styles. Too many American cars look alike these days...

[Trebuchet]

Not only new colors, but different body styles. Too many American cars look alike these days...

Not just American cars. Even the German ones look like the Japanese ones to me. And they're all painted silver.

I've seen a couple of those harlequin cars here in the US. That might be carrying it a tad too far.

When I was much younger, my uncle had about the prettiest car I ever saw. 1955 or 56 Packard, loaded, including self-leveling suspension. Hot pink and white!

Just to add to the color issue, my new vehicle is a Ford. I had one before and had sworn I'd never have another. It seems decent, though.

[TJMac]

The green car superstition was only a US track racing phenomenon. It was dispelled when Jim Clark won the Indianapolis 500 in a green Lotus.

I am not disagreeing with this statement, but I sure had it the other way around in my mind. I was even prepared to make a post about how "British Racing Green" was the problem... Although I cannot find anything about it now, I remember (perhaps falsely) reading in a car mag, about how that color was somehow more difficult to see. As I type that out, it doesn't ring true, so maybe it's just my imagination.

A friend of mine had a little MG back in the 80's, which I rather wanted, in that color. Problem was, Im just a little to big physically to fit in such a small car.

[Larry Jacks]

I like my gold colored car. It doesn't show dirt to badly. In the winter, my car gets very dirty following a snowstorm and it's often too cold to wash it. Not showing dirt is a nice quality in a Colorado car. Brown is a good color for the same reason.

[Ara Pacis]

I'm told that having a red car helps avoid bird strikes.

[danscope]

A couple of weeks ago while driving I suddenly realized how dull the cars around me were. The vast majority were black, gray, silver, or white. Of the few blue ones, nearly all were either dark navy (close to black) or light metallic (close to silver.) Most of the red ones were dark red, although there were a few bright red ones of sportier models. Yellow? Forget it. I've seen maybe half a dozen in two weeks, most of them VW New Beetles.

We need more color! Bright Blue. Yellow. Orange. Two-tones even. The roads are too darned bland.

By the way, since I started noticing this, my little blue car died and I had to get a new vehicle. It's silver....:cry:

Hi, The reason many favour silver is that it responds and stands up well to the UV rays that work to destroy your paint job. It isn't hard to blend and
repair silver.
In my opinion, we need good solid cars that are easier to maintain and don't require an eight inch metric allen wrench just to change the air filter.
And I would still be driving my Taurus if they made a manual transmission.
Too bad.
My Subaru Outback serves me well. Bullet proof. If they want to sell cars, they had better make them better in more ways than just paint.
Best regards,
Dan

[kleindoofy]

I'm told that having a red car helps avoid bird strikes.
As far as I know, higher wages and better benefits help too. [bdbm, rimshot!] ;)

But really, bird strikes? I've never even heard of a bird hitting a car, much less that a red color could help avoid it happening.

[HenrikOlsen]

I've been in a car when it had a bird strike, a corvid, probably a crow, flew across the road about one foot above ground as we where driving along, hit the car in front of the engine compartment (aka we hit it).

It happened so split-second fast that I doubt it would have mattered one jot what color the car had been.

[Larry Jacks]

The worst bird strike I've ever had in a car (actually, a van) was a pheasant. I saw it fly up in front of me and managed to swerve so it struck the corner of the windshield. It must've weighed at lease 2 KG - the whole van shook on impact. I've convinced that it would've come through the windshield had I struck it staight. For the record, the van was white and blue and so distinctively ugly that it should've scared off any living creature. I doubt the color mattered in the least.

I don't know about birds but red is one of the colors that the human eye is least sensitive to. About 20 years ago, some fire departments started painting their engines a yellowish color because it supposedly helped reduce accidents. It seems some people couldn't see those big red trucks with flashing lights and blasting sirens.

[roverich]

Hi, The reason many favour silver is that it responds and stands up well to the UV rays that work to destroy your paint job. It isn't hard to blend and
repair silver.
Dan

It also depends on where you live as far as the color of paint standing up ...Silver might be easy to repair but it also is the first color of paint to get damaged due to acid rain here in va.

[Trebuchet]

And I would still be driving my Taurus if they made a manual transmission.
Too bad.

I had a Mercury Sable, a rebadged Taurus. It was a complete piece of...well, I'll say junk. Even before my wife's accident turned it into quite literal junk.

I did have a co-worker who had a Taurus SHO with a manual transmission. It was not a pleasant experience for him.

And recall from above, I just bought another Ford. It seems ok but I'm still a bit nervous.

[GeorgeLeRoyTirebiter]

My mother suffered a bird strike in a car. Many years ago, she hit an owl while driving home from her job at a sawmill in the Cascades. She didn't see the owl before it hit. It came through the center of the windshield, landing in the backseat. It wasn't intact enough to identify the exact species.

[danscope]

I had a Mercury Sable, a rebadged Taurus. It was a complete piece of...well, I'll say junk. Even before my wife's accident turned it into quite literal junk.

I did have a co-worker who had a Taurus SHO with a manual transmission. It was not a pleasant experience for him.

And recall from above, I just bought another Ford. It seems ok but I'm still a bit nervous.

Hi, The body and engine of that taurus wagon held up. But those transmissions were are terrible. No more for me.
The Subaru was made in Indiana, not so bad.
It takes a while to analyze a car and determine it's chump factor.
Occasionaly a car stands out; Dodge Dart, Chevy Nova, Buick Regal.
But there are a lot of lemons out there. Not good.
Expensive gambling, isn't it?
Best regards,
Dan

[novaderrik]

My mother suffered a bird strike in a car. Many years ago, she hit an owl while driving home from her job at a sawmill in the Cascades. She didn't see the owl before it hit. It came through the center of the windshield, landing in the backseat. It wasn't intact enough to identify the exact species.
i took out an owl once- the stupid thing landed in the road about 20 feet in front of my '76 Monte Carlo. scared the crap out of me- one second i'm just driving along at 60mph on a back road in June at about 10pm, and the next second a giant bird with a 6 foot wingspan is taking up most of my forward view. it hit with a loud "thud" and feathers flew everywhere.
then, a few months later in the exact same spot- but with an 81 Malibu that had the engine from the Monte Carlo in it- i took out an entire armada of sparrows. dead sparrows filled almost every little nook in the grille and all over in the engine compartment, and when i pulled the motor back out of that car a few weeks later to put it in a '70 Nova i had just acquired, i found about 10 maggot covered sparrows underneath the radiator.
over the 15 years since then, i've also hit pretty much every other form of bird that exists in this area of the country- except for a bald eagle. so, yes, bird strikes do happen.
i've also taken out a few skunks and got my mom's '86 Mustang up on 2 wheels when a rather large raccoon ran out in front of me and flattened the occasional fox, but i've never actually damaged a car by hitting an animal of any sort.

[darkhunter]

I've hit a couple of pigeons--one hit right in the midlle of the windshield (Made the CD player skip) and took out my wiper blades, and the other hit the front bumper (found feathers in weird places for months...).

[Trebuchet]

Since we've drifted this far off topic, when I was about 4 years old my folks found out what happens to a '52 Chevy when you hit a cow at around 15 mph. Cow got up and walked off. The Chevy didn't fare as well, the radiator was wrecked.

And getting slightly back on topic, I remember that car as being navy blue!

[Krel]

I'm told that having a red car helps avoid bird strikes.

It didn't stop that pigeon from flying into the grill of my Chevy Blazer a few years back.

David.

[Ara Pacis]

I've hit several animals over the years, including several birds. The most recent was an Olds Alero v. a small black bird. The car doesn't have much of a flat grill and the center is a solid ramp. The bird, one of several, vascilated about which way to fly and instead of left or right or up, chose straight ahead, until I caught up. It disappeared for a split second below the hood, then vaulted up and over the car from the ramp at the front. I thought it was trying an X-treme sport or something.

What I don't get is how some animals can just disappear. They run out in front of you and then you never see them again. I saw a rabbit just evaporate that way. then there was the 'possum that would have survived if it had kept it's head down as I drove above it... which it was too stupid to do. then there are the doubly stupid squirrels that run out of the street, then back into the street to get run over.

The strangest was a couple of deer that ganged up on me. One was off on the right, off the side of the road, trying to distract me while her friend slammed into the left side of my car. I couldn't believe it, I almost got jacked by a couple deer. And yes, it hit me, the cracked pannel was on the side of the car, not the front. I never saw it before or after.

BTW, that car was maroon. I dunno if that shade of red is more visible or not, but probably less useful at night.

[roverich]

A friend of mine was broad sided by a bull moose ...He was driving a t600-a kenworth tractor trailer ...The trailer he was hauling at the time was a low boy otherwise known as a whale , for the about of furniture you can load into it ...Anyway , the moose hit the side of the tractor right around the drivers side fuel tank and front mud flap . The mud flap has a piece of 5/8 plate welded to the frame ..It tore the plate off the frame and the moose made his way under the drivers side tandems . Roy was going around 75-80 miles an hour ..The trucks tandems left the ground while the moose was making his way to the rear of the truck ..The whale trailers have belly boxes that are around 6-8 inches off the ground and the moose wasn't fitting between the belly boxes and the ground without something giving ..It was a compromise between the boxes and the moose , or what was left of him ... ..The belly boxes were torn from the trailer and the moose was chopped into pieces about the size of a small chuck roast ...Total damage was around 30,000 dollars to the truck and trailer , and the few items in the belly boxes and of course , the moose wont be the same ... Oh yea ...His truck and trailer is white with yellow stripes and blue lettering ......

[DonM435]

I prefer white, silver or gray, just figuring it'd stay cooler (speaking temperaturewise).

Don't some insurance companies charge higher rates for red/pink/orange cars? Not because they're intrinsically unsafe, but rather a driver who chooses such is perceived as reckless (and hence wreckfull).

[NEOWatcher]

...Don't some insurance companies charge higher rates for red/pink/orange cars? Not because they're intrinsically unsafe, but rather a driver who chooses such is perceived as reckless (and hence wreckfull).
I've heard that too.
It certainly wouldn't be a direct safety issue. I remember in the mid 70's seeing plenty of articles about "safe" colors based on visibility. A bright orange was top with yellow being a close second.
I think those were popular too. In fact, my parents owned an orange '74. My first car (a '72) was yellow, my next two ('74, '81) were orange (all used cars)
Since then. blue, white, brown, blue, pewter. And that last one would have been blue if the dealer's lot wasn't covered in dust that day.

[Larry Jacks]

A friend of mine owned an orange 1974 Vega. The color helped hide the rust.

[NEOWatcher]

A friend of mine owned an orange 1974 Vega. The color helped hide the rust.
How'd you guess... Do I know you?
Mine lasted 2 months before the frame was rusted to the point of breaking.

[mahesh]

....Every company provided car I have drivern has been Silver, if you look around in the UK that colour outnumbers everything else put together.

I saw a letter-to-the-editor today, asking why are all the cars the colour of fog? :D

[jfribrg]

If I had my way, every car in the country would be pink. That way we would have a pink car nation.

[Tucson_Tim]

If I had my way, every car in the country would be pink. That way we would have a pink car nation.

Uhh! That deserves a suspension. :lol:

[eric_marsh]

Here's my wife's car, "Dory." Colorful enough?

http://homepage.mac.com/emarsh/.Pictures/dorywheels.jpg

[Tucson_Tim]

Here's my wife's car, "Dory." Colorful enough?


You don't ride in that with her do ya? And I thought my wife's RAV4 was too goofy to ride in. :)

[roverich]

Here's my wife's car, "Dory." Colorful enough?

http://homepage.mac.com/emarsh/.Pictures/dorywheels.jpg

I heard that those "smart" cars were expensive to repair ...In a 5 mile an hour collision it could be as much as 3000 dollars damage ...Insurance companys are saying there going to charge more to insure them ..

[Tucson_Tim]

Is that the same car model that Russell Crowe drove in the movie "A Good Year"? If so, I take back what I said earlier--I want one of those.

[roverich]

I prefer white, silver or gray, just figuring it'd stay cooler (speaking temperaturewise).

Don't some insurance companies charge higher rates for red/pink/orange cars? Not because they're intrinsically unsafe, but rather a driver who chooses such is perceived as reckless (and hence wreckfull).

I agree with you on the lighter colors staying cooler but on the color of the car thing ...My insurance agent asked me what kind of car , not color ...Its a rover , i pay through the nose anyway ...Mine is avalon blue(green)....

[eric_marsh]

I heard that those "smart" cars were expensive to repair ...In a 5 mile an hour collision it could be as much as 3000 dollars damage ...Insurance companys are saying there going to charge more to insure them ..

Well five mile an hour bumpers were legislated back in the 1970s but at speeds above 5 mph what you say could be possible - I don't know. I know that the Smart has very high safety ratings, but that doesn't mean that the car itself survives.

[roverich]

It was just something i heard on a radio station news report ... I have heard the cars were safe , but the repair costs were astronomical ..No pun intended ..LOL

[Ara Pacis]

Here's my wife's car, "Dory." Colorful enough?

http://homepage.mac.com/emarsh/.Pictures/dorywheels.jpg

That's not a car, that's a roller-skate. :D

[One Skunk Todd]

My car:

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb32/oneskunktodd/DSC00020.jpg?t=1247072576

Not sure how to post it inline so people don't have a chance to shield their eyes.

:)

[Larry Jacks]

An Aztec? You actually bought one of those things?

[korjik]

That's not a car, that's a roller-skate. :D

It has to be a car. Roller skates are inline now

[One Skunk Todd]

An Aztec? You actually bought one of those things?

Yep.

[Nicolas]

My ride is a Skoda Octavia 1 Combi Tradition. Apart from a very impressive name, that is one dull, silver hatchback. It's the oldest Octavia model (2001?) in its 2007 variant with the nice three-stepped hood. But it remains dull. And not very colourful. :)

But I'll make up for it! I'm looking into buying an old, simple car, and modify its looks (not the technical aspect) to a rally version. Not all the skirts and spoilers (maybe a bit), but colours, striping, numbers, commercial stickers, Hella headlights...And some interior work. Remove the rear seat maybe, maybe some old Recaro seats and stuff, if I find a victim to weld it for me a roll cage... Not that I'm going to race with it, just fun tours and maybe at the limit a hillclimb contest at an oldtimer meeting.

At the moment, I'm hunting down a 1984 Skoda Rapid Coupé. That's the 1200CC, 54bhp, 85Nm car weighing less than 900kg and still managing to consume between 6.5 and 10 liter/100km... :) Those figures are ridiculous for a rally version of course, but as said that's just optical. The whole car is maybe a bit ridiculous for a rally version. Or ridiculous an sich. But then again, I've got few complexes to compensate for. :) And hey, with its rear mounted engine and rear wheel drive, it's called the "Porsche for 1/50th its price".

At the moment, I'm photoshopping the rally version. I shouldn't be doing this, as I'm getting too excited about buying that car now, and there's a good chance its condition or price do not allow me to buy it. Limited budget and technical skills...

But if I've got myself my hobby rally car, that will be quite some extra colour on the road, so don't blame me!

[Tuckerfan]

yep.

Why???????

[One Skunk Todd]

Why???????

It's a comfortable, roomy, good looking car. :)

[Tuckerfan]

It's a comfortable, roomy, good looking car. :)

You, sir, have all the taste in automobiles, that a termite has in fine art. :p

[One Skunk Todd]

You, sir, have all the taste in automobiles, that a termite has in fine art. :p

So you're saying I prefer, say, old masters on wood panels, vice modern works on canvas? :P

I'm not sure what the auto equivalent would be.

[Tuckerfan]

So you're saying I prefer, say, old masters on wood panels, vice modern works on canvas? :P

I'm not sure what the auto equivalent would be.

No, I'm saying that any interest you might have on the subject is purely destructive! :p

[roverich]

Heres something to think about ...Think about the uglyest car you have ever seen ...Now , think about this ...Someone somewhere is saying " Man i gotta have one of those" ...

[Tucson_Tim]

Heres something to think about ...Think about the uglyest car you have ever seen ...Now , think about this ...Someone somewhere is saying " Man i gotta have one of those" ...

Well, in my youth I owned one of the ugliest--the AMC Gremlin. And I don't think anyone wants one, even today. :) (Although AMC did much worse with the Pacer and Matador.)

[roverich]

Well, in my youth I owned one of the ugliest--the AMC Gremlin. And I don't think anyone wants one, even today. :) (Although AMC did much worse with the Pacer and Matador.)

Hi tim , I have seeen some pretty cool Grem"s at the drag strip ...The way they are laid out with the back wheels right under the back bumper , they are wheel standers if you put enough power to them ...But your right ..The pacer is one ugly car , but the boys from "waynes world" liked it ...

[danscope]

Yes, but you know, if you go to a drive-in theatre, the AMC Pacer is well suited to viewing the film,...... if you like that sort of thing. And it is
certainly wide enough to enjoy your bucket of pop corn. :)
There is always a small interest group for mst objects.
Best regards,
Dan

[roverich]

That's not a car, that's a roller-skate. :D

I just noticed that those wheels on the smart cars were 15in. rims ..That is one serious optical illusion ...They sure don't look like 15in. rims ... They dont look any bigger that the original mini's tires and those were only 12in. tires

[Tucson_Tim]

Well, I also had the good fortune to own a 1969 AMC AMX, the two-seater with the 390 ci engine, yellow with black racing stripes. A very pretty car.

An example: http://www.chooseyouritem.com/classics/photos/1078000/1078165.1969.AMC.AMX.2-Door.Fastback.Coupe.jpg

[roverich]

Well, I also had the good fortune to own a 1969 AMC AMX, the two-seater with the 380 ci engine, yellow with black racing stripes. A very pretty car.

An example: http://www.chooseyouritem.com/classics/photos/1078000/1078165.1969.AMC.AMX.2-Door.Fastback.Coupe.jpg

Very fast also ... And very sought after ...

[Tucson_Tim]

Very fast also ... And very sought after ...

I made a typo - it had a 390 ci engine. The 1969 AMX and my 1984 Saab 900 Turbo are the only (relatively) cool cars I've ever owned. It's been utility vehicles ever since--cargo vans and pickup trucks. Boring.

[roverich]

I made a type - it had a 390 ci engine. The 1969 AMX and my 1984 Saab 900 Turbo are the only (relatively) cool cars I've ever owned. It's been utility vehicles ever since--cargo vans and pickup trucks. Boring.

There is nothing wrong with owning utility vehicles ..After all , you need something to haul the scope sometimes .

[Tuckerfan]

There is nothing wrong with owning utility vehicles ..After all , you need something to haul the scope sometimes .You could have done it with this version of the Pacer. (http://usera.imagecave.com/tuckerfan/pacerpickup01.jpg) I'm sure someone is sorry they never put it into production. (Not me, and I like Pacers!)

[redshifter]

You could have done it with this version of the Pacer. (http://usera.imagecave.com/tuckerfan/pacerpickup01.jpg) I'm sure someone is sorry they never put it into production. (Not me, and I like Pacers!)


The El Pacero?

[Ara Pacis]

While we're on the subject, PT Cruiser, HHR, or dog vomit?

[DonM435]

There's a certain kind of wheel decoration that I've only encountered a few times, but I think it really shouldn't be allowed. They're these garish hubcaps that keep spinning (momentum, inertia) after the car (and its wheels) have stopped.

If you're going through an intersection and catch a vehicle with said decoration out of the corner of your eye, you get the impression that the car is moving forward. This could cause someone to jam on the brakes and get hit from the rear.

Bad idea. Has anyone else seen this?

[NEOWatcher]

So you're saying I prefer, say, old masters on wood panels, vice modern works on canvas? :P

I'm not sure what the auto equivalent would be.
An old master with wood panels and roof under canvas (vinyl).

Actually; I thought the Aztec was ugly too, mainly because it looked to me like a subcompact in a forced perspective. But; now it just seems a bit ahead of its time, because everyone went chiselled and overgrown.

[One Skunk Todd]

Actually; I thought the Aztec was ugly too, mainly because it looked to me like a subcompact in a forced perspective. But; now it just seems a bit ahead of its time, because everyone went chiselled and overgrown.

I'm hoping to keep it long enough that it becomes collectible. :)

[Tuckerfan]

I'm hoping to keep it long enough that it becomes collectible. :)

Somewhere, a Pinto owner is rolling in hysterics at this statement.

[orionjim]

I am going to try and come to One Skunk Todd’s defense, but I will probably be laughed off this forum. I worked as a manufacturing engineer at Pontiac (not a product engineer; so don’t blame me).:D

When I first saw the Aztek I thought it was the ugliest vehicle ever built. But many of the more aggressive designs take awhile to appreciate, but it has been over 10 years since I first saw it and it’s still ugly. :doh:

The thinking was to build a vehicle for the sportsman and the projected numbers for sales that I heard were around 20,000/year. They knew, because of its look, the average buyer wouldn’t even consider it.
Note: Wikipedia says the projected numbers were 30,000/year; but my memory might be failing.
On the other hand you have the Buick Rendezvous that came out a year after the Aztek and was a nicer vehicle, nice interior and great ride. Of course it cost a bit more to purchase and it outsold the Aztek about three to one. But like they say beauty is only skin deep; remove the outer skin and you have the same vehicle as the Aztek. IOW, in this case ugly doesn't go clear to the bone.

So they build very few, it was voted the ugliest car ever built and it is a fairly solid vehicle and should last. And if worse comes to worst he can always bolt on some Buick sheet metal. I think I know why he likes it!

BTW: Monday I took delivery of a new Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe, and I think the product designers have redeemed their self; unfortunately just a little bit too late.


Back to the OP on "this country needing more colorful cars", I think I’ve done my part with the Solstice. The car is red and is close to the Ferrari red, but not quite there. See attachment.

...

And no one does red like Ferrari.

I agree with redshifter, but they are getting closer.


Jim

[eric_marsh]

I had a '68 AMC Javelin that I hot rodded. I'd really like another, just because it's different than the other pony cars of the era.

Here's one of my projects that I need to get into the shop and get running again. It sat for a number of years but now that I've got a lift I can pull the engine and put a transmission in that ought to hold up a little better than the last one did.

http://homepage.mac.com/emarsh/.Pictures/new_wheels.JPG

Here's the engine I built and installed into it. It's a Chevy 406. Used to be a lot of displacement for a small block engine but that's all changed.

http://homepage.mac.com/emarsh/.Pictures/engine_rear.jpg

[Tucson_Tim]

Here's one of my projects that I need to get into the shop and get running again. It sat for a number of years but now that I've got a lift I can pull the engine and put a transmission in that ought to hold up a little better than the last one did.

Here's the engine I built and installed into it. It's a Chevy 406. Used to be a lot of displacement for a small block engine but that's all changed.


For us who have not paid much attention to cars in the last 20 years, what is that car? Nice motor.

[eric_marsh]

It's an 88 Pontiac Fiero GT. I bought it new and at 100k miles decided to do an upgrade.

[orionjim]

Nice Eric!!!!!!!!! I had an ’84 with the Iron Duke. Fun to drive but not much power.

For us who have not paid much attention to cars in the last 20 years, what is that car? Nice motor.
That’s a 1987 Pontiac Fiero GT (I might be off a year). (I was off a year).

How long did it take you to do the exhaust? That had to be a job! I also like how you handled the scoop.

Did you ever see the 1984 Indy Pace car? It was a ’84 Fiero with a forward facing air scoop. See:
http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/chevy/145/pacecars.html

The problem with it is you couldn’t see anything out the rear window. I think they did a limited production run on it because I remember seeing several around.

Jim

[Tuckerfan]

I am going to try and come to One Skunk Todd’s defense, but I will probably be laughed off this forum. I worked as a manufacturing engineer at Pontiac (not a product engineer; so don’t blame me).:D

When I first saw the Aztek I thought it was the ugliest vehicle ever built. But many of the more aggressive designs take awhile to appreciate, but it has been over 10 years since I first saw it and it’s still ugly. :doh:IMHO, the people responsible for the Aztek need to suffer the same fate as Mussolini, so as to serve as an abject lesson as what not to do. As the Buick proves, they could have built a much nicer looking vehicle without nearly so ugly an appearance. If they had simply cribbed from this (http://usera.imagecave.com/tuckerfan/taxi01.jpg) design (http://usera.imagecave.com/tuckerfan/taxi02.jpg) by Syd Mead (the guy who did the design work for Blade Runner), they'd had a much better looking vehicle.

BTW: Monday I took delivery of a new Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe, and I think the product designers have redeemed their self; unfortunately just a little bit too late.I knew a guy who traded his BMW for a Solstice and was much happier with the performance. Of course, the Solstice was one of the few GM vehicles actually designed by a "car guy." Lutz found a GM engineer who's hobby was taking Chevy Cavaliers, converting them to rear wheel drive and racing them on the weekends. Lutz told the guy what kind of car he wanted, said he could use any parts currently in production provided that the total cost of the vehicle was below a certain price, left the guy alone, and he came up with the Solstice. That's how you design a decent car. If more car makers would do that, we'd have much prettier cars on the roads. Someone was trying to buy Pontiac from GM, and I hope that GM sells it to them, rather than dumping a noble brand into the dustbin of history.

[Ara Pacis]

...he could use any parts currently in production provided that the total cost of the vehicle was below a certain price, left the guy alone, and he came up with the Solstice. That's how you design a decent car. If more car makers would do that, we'd have much prettier cars on the roads.

Now, maybe if they tried that with rockets...

[geonuc]

There's a certain kind of wheel decoration that I've only encountered a few times, but I think it really shouldn't be allowed. They're these garish hubcaps that keep spinning (momentum, inertia) after the car (and its wheels) have stopped.

If you're going through an intersection and catch a vehicle with said decoration out of the corner of your eye, you get the impression that the car is moving forward. This could cause someone to jam on the brakes and get hit from the rear.

Bad idea. Has anyone else seen this?Oh, yeah, plenty of times. My wife wanted a set for her Honda Civic. :lol:

[geonuc]

It's an 88 Pontiac Fiero GT. I bought it new and at 100k miles decided to do an upgrade.
Fiero's are popular cars to hot rod. Because of the suspension, maybe? Or because you can stuff a V-8 into them relatively easily?

[Tuckerfan]

Fiero fans might find this story of interest. (http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/10/diy-madness-all-wheel-drive-pontiac-fiero-hybrid/)We've seen plenty of custom Pontiac Fieros in our day, often kitted out with some sort of Italian-inspired bodywork and possibly an engine swap, but we've never come across a Fiero quite like this one. This all-wheel drive hybrid Fiero (seriously, how cool is that?) was built to compete in the Grassroots Motorsports $2009 Challenge. Powering the rear wheels is the original 2.5-liter Iron Duke four-cylinder powerplant, but that's the only part of the drivetrain that remains as The General intended.(emphasis in the original)

[orionjim]

...
I knew a guy who traded his BMW for a Solstice and was much happier with the performance. Of course, the Solstice was one of the few GM vehicles actually designed by a "car guy." Lutz found a GM engineer who's hobby was taking Chevy Cavaliers, converting them to rear wheel drive and racing them on the weekends. Lutz told the guy what kind of car he wanted, said he could use any parts currently in production provided that the total cost of the vehicle was below a certain price, left the guy alone, and he came up with the Solstice. That's how you design a decent car. If more car makers would do that, we'd have much prettier cars on the roads. Someone was trying to buy Pontiac from GM, and I hope that GM sells it to them, rather than dumping a noble brand into the dustbin of history.

You are correct that Lutz assigned the design to someone and had them build the "prototypes" using current production parts, but almost every major component of the end product is new.

The Solstice uses what’s called a kappa platform that has hydroform frame rails and a hydroform cage assembly, (similar to the Corvette), see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Kappa_platform

This platform is only used on the Solstice, Saturn Sky and the Opel GT.

I think the standard 2.4 liter Ecotec engine was used on a few different brands but the 2.0 liter Ecotec turbocharged engine is only used on Solstice, Sky and Opel GT. Although I hear it may be used on the Fisker Karma hybrid, See:
http://www.htgp.org/tech/karma-fiskers-plug-in-hybrid .
This car is going to be built by Fisker Automotive. (Neat car and back to Trebuchet's OP the colors I’ve seen are beautiful :) ) .

GM/Pontiac did use standard components on the Fiero. The Fiero had what was called a sheet metal space frame with machined surfaces for bolt on body panels. (This makes it the perfect kit car.)

The Fiero had a Chevette front suspension and steering, the rear suspension and engine cradle was from the X-car. And the first year it had the old Iron Duke engine.

The Fiero concept came from John DeLorean when he was head of Pontiac. They could never get the ok to build it though. Around 1980 the Fiero was resurrected as a small commuter car (not sports car) but as it went through the design phases the sports car aspect gradually came back. So it ended up as a commuter/sports car.

As far as GM selling Pontiac... I won't even go there.

Jim

[eric_marsh]

Nice Eric!!!!!!!!! I had an ’84 with the Iron Duke. Fun to drive but not much power.

How long did it take you to do the exhaust? That had to be a job! I also like how you handled the scoop.

Did you ever see the 1984 Indy Pace car? It was a ’84 Fiero with a forward facing air scoop. See:
http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/chevy/145/pacecars.html

The problem with it is you couldn’t see anything out the rear window. I think they did a limited production run on it because I remember seeing several around.

Jim

Jim,

I don't remember how long it took me to do the exhaust, but it was at least a couple of days. The welds are kind of ugly because that's the first job of that kind that I ever did. I'd give myself points for ambition but take some away for the details.

The biggest problem I've had is heat buildup in the engine compartment. I put the Challenger T/A hood scoop on it in an effort to give the heat a place to go but it wasn't enough. I also looked at the Indy Pace car scoops. I think I need to yank the scoops and just use lots and lots of venting in the rear deck.

Eric

[eric_marsh]

Fiero's are popular cars to hot rod. Because of the suspension, maybe? Or because you can stuff a V-8 into them relatively easily?

I think that a major factor is because they are a mid engine car. Also, they are popular as kit cars, perhaps because of the mid engine design.

[Tucson_Tim]

There is nothing wrong with owning utility vehicles ..After all , you need something to haul the scope sometimes .

So, you have a Range Rover? I've always wanted one of those, a Land Rover, or a Jeep. But, of course, I would never take it off-road.

[roverich]

So, you have a Range Rover? I've always wanted one of those, a Land Rover, or a Jeep. But, of course, I would never take it off-road.

Yea , i have a old land rover discovery ... They have the same suspension as the range rovers ...I bought a used one a few years back with a mechanically sound drive train for 4k and 85 thousand miles on it ...As long as the fluids are changed regularly they will last a long time ...The body's on the discos are some sort of aluminum alloy as they dont rust which is nice ...And off road they are very capable as long as you dont hi-center them ... They are all wheel drive all the time and dont get the best mileage just because they weigh 4600 pounds but if you keep your foot out of it and dont do any jack rabbit starts you can get around 15 miles per gallon ...

[danscope]

Yes,hat's the secret. If you drive nice , you get something like nice mileage.
Vehicles last longer. It's all about miles per dollar.
My 94 grand cherokee is still serving me well. Drive smart and prosper.
Dan