Great Amercian Cars

rskarvan

Just thought I'd start a thread about the great American auto industry. Henry Ford started it all. Henry Ford was the inventor of modern industrial manufacturing methods.

jflail2

My dad had a chevelle pretty much exactly like this one, except his interior was white and the green was a lighter green.



He was going to put it on blocks for me to have, but couldn't afford to, so he had to sell it. If I ever hit the lotto, I'm buying him one as close to his original as possible. You can tell it was his all-time pride and joy ride!

Serendipity

My neighbor had a 1999 Buick (can't remember the model) and it seemed to last forever. No mechanical problems + no problems whatsoever in the 7-8 years it has been around.

That's an example of a great reliable American car.

TroyD

American cars have generally sucked for approx. 30 years.

Actually Ron, go back to Eli Whitney and that's closer to the mark. Henry revolutionized the auto industry but not manufacturing as a whole.

Think a model T would have been so cheap if the UAW involved?

BDT

disneyjoe7

American cars began to suck after I say 1974 or so, emission laws really gave them an issue. Then I think just corporate geed took over, to finish the job.

rskarvan

MOTOR TREND CAR OF THE YEAR AWARD (LAST 30 YEARS)
2006 Honda Civic
2005 Chrysler 300
2004 Toyota Prius
2003 Infiniti G35 Coupe / Sedan
2002 Ford Thunderbird
2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
2000 Lincoln LS
1999 Chrysler 300M
1998 Chevrolet Corvette
1997 Chevrolet Malibu
1996 Dodge Caravan
1995 Chrysler Cirrus
1994 Ford Mustang
1993 Ford Probe GT
1992 Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan
1991 Chevrolet Caprice Classic LTZ
1990 Lincoln Town Car
1989 Ford Thunderbird SC
1988 Pontiac Grand Prix
1987 Ford Thunderbird
1986 Ford Taurus LX
1985 Volkswagen GTI
1984 Chevrolet Corvette
1983 American Motors Renault Alliance
1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
1981 Chrysler K-cars, Dodge Aries/Plymouth Reliant
1980 Chevrolet Citation
1979 Buick Riviera S
1978 Chrysler, Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon
1977 Chevrolet Caprice

rskarvan

HENRY FORD INNOVATION:

Assembly Line Innovation: In response to growing demand, Ford built a new factory using standardized interchangeable parts and a conveyor-belt based assembly line. The factory was able to build a car in just 93 minutes, producing around 1 million vehicles a year (one every 24 seconds). With this advancement in production, Ford was able to market to the general public. The factory had everything it needed to construct the vehicles including a steel mill, glass factory, and the first automobile assembly line.

Dennis Gardner

Here is the shame of the auto industry. Big auto smashed the little guy. Great car, ahead of its time.http://http://www.tuckerclub.org/index.php

madmax

American automakers have been trying to duplicate the management and construction methods other countries have been using for years to try and improve their quality. Some day they may approach the quality of a Japanese vehicle, not today though.
madmax

TroyD

rskarvan wrote: »

HENRY FORD INNOVATION:

Assembly Line Innovation: In response to growing demand, Ford built a new factory using standardized interchangeable parts and a conveyor-belt based assembly line. The factory was able to build a car in just 93 minutes, producing around 1 million vehicles a year (one every 24 seconds). With this advancement in production, Ford was able to market to the general public. The factory had everything it needed to construct the vehicles including a steel mill, glass factory, and the first automobile assembly line.

I'm well aware of that, I'm SAYING that the American industrial revolution took root over 100 years prior....

As far as that list goes...PFFFFFFFFFFFT.

I wouldn't give a squirt of piss for half those cars. A Reliant? Please.

BDT

heiney9

TroyD wrote: »

American cars have generally sucked for approx. 30 years.
BDT

Have to agree in general. Of course what do I know I've owned Volkswagens and Audi's my whole life. I like to have fun when I drive. Also grew up with my Dad racing Austin Healeys and MG's and an occasional Porsche. Sorry for ruining the whole American Auto UAW thing by never owning a piece of American Iron.

H9

RuSsMaN

Ford GT, past and present
Shelby Cobra
Chevelle LS6
Impala 409
I always liked the AMC offerings too, the SC/Rambler, The Machine, Hornet SC360 etc.

The late 80's turbo Chryslers and Plymouths were real sleepers, and fun to drive.

More modern, I like the vintage re-designs, Camaro, Challenger, Mustang etc - it's nice to see some cars with sexy lines again. Everything was starting to look like a bar of soap. I wish Pontiac had made the GTO stand out a little more.

Cheers,
Russ

heiney9

RuSsMaN wrote: »

Ford GT, past and present
Shelby Cobra
Chevelle LS6

Cheers,
Russ

That's why I stated in general. Just saw a Ford GT at a local charity car show and got up real close. I had a woodie!!!

H9

TroyD

Yeah, I mean there have been some good cars but, since the death of the muscle cars, American designs have been less than inspired. There are a few exceptions but they are, indeed, few.

Sorry Ron, I'm not buying your line of BS about the American auto industry. Juding by sales trends over the past few decades, I'm not alone, either.

BDT

Systems

The C6 Corvette is world class.

GaryZ06

GV#27 wrote: »

The C6 Corvette is world class.

I agree

engtaz

Cuda

MSALLA

American cars started to improve in the mid 90's.I've worked on just about every car out and they all have week points and strengths. Today's american cars quality is on par with any import out in the same price range.

Sami

There's only one current American car that I would like to try out, Ford GT, but plenty if you look back in the history books. 50's and 60's Corvette's are quite high in my book but they have lost a lot since. Viper's rock someones boat, and they are quite cool but the ones I have had a chance to drive didn't ride that well.

Barracuda's/GTO's, '64 Stang, '69 SS Camaro, original Cobra, GT40, plenty to choose from but most unfortunately priced too high. Or is it fortunately?

halo

1986 - Buick:

• T-type
• Grand National

1987 - Buick:

Regal Turbo "T"
• WE-4 Turbo
• Turbo T-Limited
• Grand National
• GNX

ABSOLUTE BAD ASSES

sucks2beme

I'll throw one out there. Dodge Dart with a slant six. Easy to work on.
Fairly dependable. Easy to afford. Not going to win a beauty contest.
That's what's missing in American iron. Anyone can build a $75k dream
machine. Show me a cheap car that keeps ticking after you heap abuse on it for 10 years.
Believe that I beat the hell out of some of the old Detroit iron.
First time you break a heater hose on some newer cars, kiss the head(and car) goodbye.
That's where Toyota shines now. Break a timing belt, no problem. The valves were designed
NOT TO CRASH THE PISTON!
Show me a car that you get tired of looking at before it gives up the ghost,
and I'll show you a car that will capture the hearts of hard working stiffs.
Corvettes, Vipers, Cadillac SUVS. Who cares. Bring me a Nova that
gets groceries for 10 years, 6 years of your kid's high school /college,
then gets tubbed for drag racing. That's a car!

Face

GV#27 wrote: »

The C6 Corvette is world class.

I'd love to add one to the stable.

jflail2

Hell yea Halo. A friend of mine had a Grand National back in HS. I nearly had to change my shorts several times after riding with him in that thing!

Beekyman

How cool!! Another Dodge Dart fan! My first car was a 1972 Dodge Dart Swinger with the 318 V8 and aftermarket dual exhaust.
Plenty of power to get you in trouble with both the police and your parents yet built like the proverbial tank! There was also plenty of room to carry around 5 other yahoos along with you as you were raising hell in town
Very easy to work on and I learned alot about cars from that first car.
I put that car through hell, simply put I did stuff to it that would simply trash newer cars.
Was it ugly? Oh hell yeah but it was solid!

I'll second the Dart!

66chevyIISS

I'd have to say a 1966 Chevy Nova Super sport lol

Mike682

sucks2beme wrote: »

I'll throw one out there. Dodge Dart with a slant six. Easy to work on.

The slant six was a solid engine that could take a hell of a beating.

Speaking of Darts. How about a hemi dart? Pretty damn fast, had to be special ordered at the dealer and basically wasn't street legal...mopar was not effin around

http://www.autofacts.ca/classics/fast.htm#disclaimer

disneyjoe7

sucks2beme wrote: »

I'll throw one out there. Dodge Dart with a slant six.

You couldn't kill that ENGINE drove 3 miles with NO WATER to cool it, ran into a telephone pole placed a tire under the car bend frame, hood, radiator, everything car was totaled. 70 Dodge Dart. Sold the car it to a car builder who what'd the engine, even when I stated what I did, he stated back I could have driven it with no OIL he would still wanted it.


Goes back to what I stated Corporate Geed, they built an engine that couldn't die. They stopped making because it was too good.

MSALLA

That slant 6 and the Ford 300 cuin. six were both bullet proof.

ledhed

GMC Syclone and Typhoon - just awesome

audiobliss

Dang, man...did someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?!

ledhed

MSALLA wrote: »

American cars started to improve in the mid 90's.I've worked on just about every car out and they all have week points and strengths. Today's american cars quality is on par with any import out in the same price range.

I'd agree there. My mom's full size Buick with a bigger engine gets better gas mileage and has had less problems at over 170K miles than my Toyota Avalon has had in only 100K.

If we are talking about classics, you can't forget the shoebox Chevys. Especially the Nomads...