|
|
| Author |
Message |
Tim Keith
Board Sponsor
Joined: 02 Nov 2002
Posts: 676
Location: San Antonio, Texas
|
|
| Back to top |
|
slantzilla
Board Sponsor & Moderator
Joined: 17 Oct 2002
Posts: 9352
Location: Park Forest, Illinoisy
|
|
Post subject:
(Sun Apr 29, 2012 4:40 am)
|
 |
|
|
It might be.
I'm still amazed at the number of K car derivatives that I see around here every day. Some of them are over 25 and still going strong. 
_________________
Proud supporter of Mike Jeffrey Racing Engines since 1999.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
wjajr
Supercharged
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 3631
Location: Downeast Maine
|
|
Post subject:
(Sun Apr 29, 2012 6:47 am)
|
|
|
|
Can you guess how many GM “X”, and Ford Fairmont derivatives I have seen in the last fifteen years driving my tarted up K Car around New England?
Zip, zero nada.
How many twelve year or older super wonderful “better than anything built in Detroit” Korean, and Japanese models I have seen in the last fifteen years while K Car Kruising topless?
Next to zip.
The damn things were and still are water soluble, and instantly begin reverting to a more stable form of FE, that would be iron oxide, once exposed to a salty mud puddle during the first snow storm encountered.
We still see the dreaded rolling junk Chrysler was accused of building in the seventies and eighties around these parts. And, remember Chrysler built in volumes 1/3 the rate of the other car company’s competing models.
I look forward to the new Dart, but I’m troubled that Detroit can no longer develop a successful platform without purchasing or merging with foreign brands to “up the level of engineering” and design needed to compete.
Ford & GM and lately Chrysler finally came to the realization that competing in house with themselves was not good business, hence the elimination of a bucket full of badged engineered brands. Still all three are relying on off shore sourced previous generation platform design to bring new product to our side of the puddle from Mercedes, Opel, Volvo, Mazda, and others._________________ 67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
kesteb
Board Sponsor
Joined: 06 Nov 2002
Posts: 1511
Location: Everett, WA
|
|
Post subject:
(Sun Apr 29, 2012 8:38 am)
|
|
|
|
Kinda ugly, it has that stupid "jokers" grin front grill that the Mazdas do.
Fiat, how many Fiat's are still on the road from the last time they were in this country. I occasionally still see a 124 and wonder how bad the mounting points are for the suspension. Will the rear suspension fall off as it goes down the road...
Fix it again tony, had real meaning in the past.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Red
Board Sponsor
Joined: 28 Oct 2002
Posts: 606
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
|
|
Post subject:
(Sun Apr 29, 2012 9:55 am)
|
|
|
|
| Part Fiat, part Dart...the "Fart"?
_________________
obliquely-inclined state of mind
|
|
| Back to top |
|
SlantSixDan
Board Sponsor & Contributor
Joined: 31 Oct 2002
Posts: 21883
Location: North America
|
|
Post subject:
(Sun Apr 29, 2012 2:43 pm)
|
|
|
|
WJA, you're not going to like the reason why the K-cars and their derivatives haven't rusted away._________________ 一期一会
By birth & parentage: US citizen, 2nd class
By choice: Canadian citizen, 1st class
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
SlantSixDan
Board Sponsor & Contributor
Joined: 31 Oct 2002
Posts: 21883
Location: North America
|
|
Post subject:
(Sun Apr 29, 2012 2:46 pm)
|
|
|
|
I sat in a new Dodge Dart* last week at the SAE annual congress in Detroit. It absolutely blew me away with its thoughtful design and high materials and build quality. I have never got anywhere near such a good impression from a small Chrysler product. Ever. I can't wait to drive one.
*-It'll be awhile before I grow tired of saying "new Dodge Dart"._________________ 一期一会
By birth & parentage: US citizen, 2nd class
By choice: Canadian citizen, 1st class
|
|
| Back to top |
|
emsvitil
Supercharged
Joined: 12 May 2005
Posts: 4715
Location: So California
|
|
Post subject:
(Sun Apr 29, 2012 3:18 pm)
|
|
|
|
| SlantSixDan wrote: | | WJA, you're not going to like the reason why the K-cars and their derivatives haven't rusted away. |
Well?
 _________________ Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
wjajr
Supercharged
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 3631
Location: Downeast Maine
|
|
Post subject:
(Sun Apr 29, 2012 3:19 pm)
|
|
|
|
Dogfart… It is what I called my first Dart in 71.
\VIDan:
WJA, you're not going to like the reason why the K-cars and their derivatives haven't rusted away.
I’m breathless waiting for the rest of the story…
Thirty years of driving K Cars, no 31 years driving the damn things, we had a new 81 wagon for five years as well, and selling them for a year; I most likely have heard it all. LOL
From what little I have been reading on Fiat, that company has had a major turnaround under the direction of its car guy first and CEO, Sergio Marchionne is now producing world class automobiles, and making money.
I think this shotgun wedding between Chrysler and Fiat is going to work well for both compines, as demonstrated by the new Dart soon to hit the show rooms._________________ 67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC
|
|
| Back to top |
|
SlantSixDan
Board Sponsor & Contributor
Joined: 31 Oct 2002
Posts: 21883
Location: North America
|
|
Post subject:
(Sun Apr 29, 2012 8:45 pm)
|
|
|
|
Lee Iacocca couldn't buy the rust-resistant steel he wanted from any of the American suppliers, so he bought it—a lot of it!—whence he could: from Japan Steel. This from the guy who couldn't quit bashing Japan in public.
It was very good quality steel he bought from the Japanese. He turned it into cars that certainly had (and have) their shortcomings and cut corners and pinched pennies, but which didn't/don't rust anywhere near as fast as the competing cars from GM and Ford.
(Source: Lee Iacocca in one and/or another of his books)_________________ 一期一会
By birth & parentage: US citizen, 2nd class
By choice: Canadian citizen, 1st class
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Dart270
Board Sponsor & Moderator
Joined: 21 Oct 2002
Posts: 9592
Location: Blacksburg, VA
|
|
Post subject:
(Mon Apr 30, 2012 3:52 am)
|
|
|
|
My wife had an '87 Aries 2.2 for 15 years starting in 1991 ($2500). Great car, although slow as @!#$. Gave it up in 2006, and someone is still driving it around Blacksburg! She still gets tears in her eyes...
Lou
_________________
Balancing out the driver's weight for more than 50 yrs
|
|
| Back to top |
|
wjajr
Supercharged
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 3631
Location: Downeast Maine
|
|
Post subject:
(Mon Apr 30, 2012 5:28 am)
|
|
|
|
\VIDan:
| Quote: | | It was very good quality steel he bought from the Japanese. He turned it into cars that certainly had (and have) their shortcomings and cut corners and pinched pennies, but which didn't/don't rust anywhere near as fast as the competing cars from GM and Ford. |
I guess I missed or forgot that nugget on far eastern steel when I read Lido’s Bio in ’84. I do recall a steel shortage under way in those high inflationary days however, and every manufacture was bitch’en about the cost of steel. That good stuff never made it into Subbies & Toyotas apparently because those things would dissolve in as few as four Maine winters; the junk yards were full of their rusted hulkettes.
Besides, what’s not to like… all that good Japanese steel is a fitting home for the Mitsubishi 2.6 torque monster Hemi resting under the hood._________________ 67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
