Classic Cars, Tech Center News, February 05, 2001

RECENT ARTICLE - CLASSIC CARS

TOP HAT JOHN-CLASSIC CARS COLUMN - Tech Center News, February 05, 2001

THE Detroit North American International Auto Show as it is known all over the world, is now history … until next year. So its settled in, what we as spectators saw and we what we did not see. And how we feel about new cars and maybe even old cars. This years show was different than others and shows of years past. No glitz and the hoopla pizzaz was just not in the air. Some comments and what I think I saw and, what I … see.

First off, us press people get the a weeks inside look before the public with new vehicle introductions and info to write about, to induce you the car buyer to want to attend the show. That helps the DADA-Detroit Automobile Dealers Association, who own the show and pay the freight to make it happen. They really do a fabulous job of putting it all together. And, that first week was interesting.

Sunday was the showing of the concept cars from the ‘BIG 3’-oops, I mean Daimler-Chrysler, Ford and General Motors.

Daimler-Chrysler introduced the new Jeep Liberty on Sunday and not concept cars as the motoring press was told it would be. And possibly the only reason the press hung around the Daimler-Chrysler area after, was that lunch was a part of the ticket.

J. Mays of Ford introduced the ‘Forty-Nine’ concept dream car, with his comments that automobiles require design and history, as the two ’49 Fords flanking the design car exhibited-one a stock ’50 and the other a full custom ‘shoebox’.

General Motors showed some, evolutionary cars that I personally … did not like. Sure wish we could have ’55 Chevrolets back-with todays technology, but that ‘aint gonna’ happen on this planet.

All in all the concept cars were more of design studies than concept vehicles and one soon to be production vehicle called Jeep that looked pretty much like a Mercedes SUV or a Nissan SUV.

When Daimler did show the concept cars on Tuesday, it sure was easy to say that none of Tom Gales influence was intact. If they do build any of these sci-fi cars that were shown … whose going to buy ‘em. Oh, and just as these cars were being introduced it was announced that the crowds should stay back, or be punished with a week in an Aztek. Yuck. I usually ‘do’ the show for at least three to four days to catch everything-this year I was done in two-and a half., easy.

And as to the new cars … they all pretty much look the same, as each other. On Sunday after press week I took mom and dad to the show as its been some 20 years since last they saw it. Amazed they were at how much ‘architecture’ was in the show with multiple floor levels for display purposes. Yes mom and dad both commented on the fact that all these new cars … pretty much looked alike.

Dashboards all had analog gauges-I like that part-and the same dash ‘roof’ lines. Even much of the exterior lines were virtually identical which elicited Dads comments that maybe all the stylists and designers went to lunch together. Just look at a Hyundai and a Rolls Royce from behind or the same with a Neon, Olds and Continental. Certain Volvo, Toyota, BMW and a Mercedes-all convertibles-sure look just like the popular Chrysler Sebring convertible but with differing pricing. Dad has the right to say so as he was the former and retired Art Director of the Fisher Body Craftsmens Guild. Dads "Been there and done it". Just look at a Hyundai and a Rolls Royce from behind. Nah, can’t be the same designers.

So what did I like … the Cadillac DTS, the Thunderbird and that 500 horsepower red Viper convertible. Rocketships and ‘coolness’ is where its at … me thinks.