I miss the chrome

[Matt Deckard]

What's with today's cars? They are a boring sight to see and even the more expensive autos seem to lack the elegance of those from yesteryear. Used to be a time when lustering metal shined back at you. You could see your reflection in the bumper when you washed your car and you felt good. Today it's plastic and foam, and when you bump into a shopping cart the whole thing has to be replaced..

Where is my chrome? where is my metal?

 

[The Reno Kid]

You are so right.

What's with today's cars? They are a boring sight to see and even the more expensive autos seem to lack the elegance of those from yesteryear.

There are few (if any) modern cars that appeal to me at all. They are certainly more comfortable than the old iron, but they have no "soul." They just don't look like cars so much as congealed lumps of plastic. Even fifty years from now, I just can't see anything that's being produced today inspiring the same That is so cool! reaction that a '48 Cadillac or a '36 Auburn or even a Nash Metropolitan elicits from almost anyone who sees one today. Then again, maybe I'm wrong. Perhaps we are even now living in some future generation's "golden age." Boy, I hope not!

 

[jamespowers]

Where is my chrome? where is my metal?

Quite simply you can thank the idiots who want to outlaw certain chemical processes. Chrome plating is expensive now because it costs 20-30 times more than it did back then due to the prohibitions. The cost is now prohibitive for an average production car.
The metal is gone to meet the CAFE standards. You can get tons of mileage out of a car made from tissue paper and fiberglas. :eusa_doh: Just make sure you don't hit anything or no one hits you.

ouch!

Regards to all,

J

 

[Wild Root]

Buy vintage and get what you want!

When you look at it, a fully restored Plymouth or Chrysler can sell for 11,000. to 25,000. that is the cost of most modern cars today; you'll get a car that's totally drivable and get the look you want. Yes, you wont have the luxuries of a modern car but, the feeling I get when driving a vintage car is so worth sweating off a few extra pounds!lol

There are safety risks when driving a classic car but, I feel if the good Lord wants one of his children to come home, an airbag isn't going to mean anything.

=WR=

 

[raiderrescuer]

There are safety risks when driving a classic car but, I feel if the good Lord wants one of his children to come home, an airbag isn't going to mean anything. =WR=

With all that real Steel, I wonder just how much of a disadvantage you would be at wih no airbags. All the new cars seem to crumble, not dent like the vintage cars.

The new cars seem so "disposable", I haven't seen an official survey but it seems 20's-50's cars lasted at least 30-40 years but yet it seems hard to find any 80's cars except for the Junkyards. Heck, looking at the Car Lots I don't see too many early 90 models either.

 

[shoeshineboy]

new cars have been so designed to "crumble"...I know the argument about having the steel around you to protect you and stuff, however, take the steering wheel for example of a vintage car...it is nothing but a straight piece of pipe...in a seriuos head on collission the steering wheel breaks and your chest goes into the "pipe"...serious chest wounds....

the hood of these cars that did not crumble would break off at the hinges and become as knives to the occupants..

I love vintage cars, so please do no take me wrong...today the motors mounts of the engines are designed to break away and allow the engine to drop to the ground and not in your lap...

inflatable knees blockers...advanced multi stage air bag that adjust the speed of actuation by the severity of the crash..in milliseconds...

roof, hood, trunk are designed to absorb the shock-not you.....allowing the car to bow...

they took off hood ornaments because the safety people said that "kills" people when struck by them...let me get this straight...I run over you in a 56 chevy and the hood ornament kills instead of the massive vehicle behind it....gotta love thier thinking, don't ya...

i miss the chrome, too...

mark the shoeshine boy

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Maybe chrome grills are next:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/16/AR2006011601437.html

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Maybe the chrome is here, on the grills:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/16/AR2006011601437.html

 

[Cousin Hepcat]

Maybe chrome grills are next:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/16/AR2006011601437.html

I saw those and briefly thought of posting them here to see peoples reaction... but then decided it's just too nasty

Chrome on cars seems to be becoming More popular in some circles, but Not in a tasteful way... as in , people wanting to get their bling on...

Hummer H2 Corner Light Bezels by "Fierce": $485

talk about nasty looking, low profile tires are the ugliest development I can remember seeing in cars... and some models only come that way, like from what I've read, the PT Cruiser I want. But the car folding up instead of thrusting the engine / hood / steering shaft into you is a good thing.

 

[mysterygal]

What I think is really ugly on cars is the plastic look...my nieghbor just bought some jeep thing that has this plastic stuff all over it, couldn't give me that! I have always been a fan of british cars...absolutely love them, to me they have so much character. Most cars today have no character they just look like everything else. The mister has a 64' stingray corvette...now that thing gets some looks when we're out in it

 

[Wild Root]

That would be the Honda Element...

Yeah, they look weird and well, I'd never drive one my self... some do but, for me, it's going to only be 60 year old cars from now on.

=WR=

 

[mysterygal]

yeah, that's the one..the neighbor's is a bright yellow though
Another great thing about older cars is that they are so much easier to work on than these computerized vehicles. And usually pretty cheap to fix too

 

[yachtsilverswan]

Chrome's penultimate expression - the Dagmar bumper.

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Named (not too subliminally) for the 1950's Rubinesque television star

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[Wild Root]

Another great thing about older cars is that they are so much easier to work on than these computerized vehicles. And usually pretty cheap to fix too

Amen to that! You have no idea how true that is!!! I've spent less money keeping my P-15 on the road then other yucky 80's used heaps!!! $700. for a timing belt?!?!? %&#^@%&* THAT!!! It's not even worth that much! lol Soon as I got rid of that Mazda, the Plymouth has been my daily and I love it to death! Never go back to 80's or 90's used bombs... NEVER!!!

=WR=

 

[The Reno Kid]

Soon as I got rid of that Mazda, the Plymouth has been my daily and I love it to death! Never go back to 80's or 90's used bombs... NEVER!!!

I wish I could drive mine every day. Unfortunately, it's just not practical. It makes me feel better that someone does, though. Keep the faith!

 

[mysterygal]

Oh believe me, I DO know how expensive fixing a newer car can be! we had a newer BMW...was a blast to drive but was getting kind of high on miles and was going to need some repair work to it. Needless to say, we got rid of it

 

[mysterygal]

ok, this is a little fftopic: but my nine year old brought home this piece of paper with this song on it and thought it fits
Car Repair Song (to the tune of 'If you're happy and you know it')
How fun to drive my car all around,
here and there and all over town.
Oh no, what is that smoke? maybe something somewhere broke!
I need help for the car has broken down.
Raise the hood up and see what you can see.
I wonder what all those things could be!
All I know as I stare is that I need a car repair.
I must find a car mechanic instantly!
Oh, mechanic, won't you come and help my car?
It's down the road a ways but not too far.
It stopped and wouldn't go and what to do I just don't know.
For I have no idea what its problems are
Bang! Bang! Clink! Clink! It's all done!
And off I drive again for some fun.
SSSSS! what's that? oh no, a tire is flat!
Would you like to buy a car, anyone?

 

[Paisley]

I had a '66 Mustang for over ten years, and I've had a '98 Honda Civic since 2001. Although the Mustang was cooler and more fun to drive--it was really fast with the 289 V8--I really do prefer the Honda. The Mustang always had something that had to be fixed and it had emissions problems; the Honda has only been in the shop once or twice for repairs other than routine maintenance. The Honda also gets better gas mileage, it's quieter, and it gets better traction in the snow. Of course, it also has better safety features--shoulder belt, headrest at the proper height, air bags, etc. It's been a good car. I just wish I'd been able to get it in silver, but I got a deal on a green one with one owner.

 

[Wild Root]

I had a '66 Mustang for over ten years, and I've had a '98 Honda Civic since 2001. Although the Mustang was cooler and more fun to drive--it was really fast with the 289 V8--I really do prefer the Honda. The Mustang always had something that had to be fixed and it had emissions problems; the Honda has only been in the shop once or twice for repairs other than routine maintenance. The Honda also gets better gas mileage, it's quieter, and it gets better traction in the snow. Of course, it also has better safety features--shoulder belt, headrest at the proper height, air bags, etc. It's been a good car. I just wish I'd been able to get it in silver, but I got a deal on a green one with one owner.

Ah, I smell a turn coat in here! lol

Well, when that Honda reaches say, 200,000. miles, she'll be ready for the wrecking yard, that Mustang is going to out last all these modern cars and it will go up in value on the way. Yes, old cars aren't practical but, I'll die before I dress in vintage and drive a modern plastic hulk... yes, it's more of a vanity thing but, ah life is short and I get more enjoyment out of an old rusty gas hog then saving money and driving something I'm ashamed of.

=WR=

PS. Honda's are great cars but, no chrome! Tisk, tisk.lol

 

[jamespowers]

new cars have been so designed to "crumble"...I know the argument about having the steel around you to protect you and stuff, however, take the steering wheel for example of a vintage car...it is nothing but a straight piece of pipe...in a seriuos head on collission the steering wheel breaks and your chest goes into the "pipe"...serious chest wounds....

the hood of these cars that did not crumble would break off at the hinges and become as knives to the occupants..

I love vintage cars, so please do no take me wrong...today the motors mounts of the engines are designed to break away and allow the engine to drop to the ground and not in your lap...

inflatable knees blockers...advanced multi stage air bag that adjust the speed of actuation by the severity of the crash..in milliseconds...

Interesting. None of that happened here ont his crash test in 1955:

but it did here on this nice new 2002 Kia:

And on this nice new uh, whatever it was:

Then again this nice new Honda slipped on a wet spot (those surefooted vehicles) and crashed head on into a Jeep:

I think I'll take my chances with my 1957 Chevy thank you. [huh]

Regards,

J