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It's Time to Play "WHO AM I"?

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  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I'll 2nd the Chapman answer.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    It was certainly the right car at the exact right time. A bullseye that has yet to be repeated.

    I agree, and in my opinion this is precisely the problem with the domestic auto industry.

    The biggest hit in US auto history took little effort, and was more marketing than substance. Not that the Mustang was bad, but it was indeed a glorified Falcon.

    To this day, domestics are looking for cheap and easy hits in the same manner, limiting their effort and investment.

    They have to let go of the idea that it will ever be as easy to build a hit as it was that one time.
  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    It was certainly the right car at the exact right time. A bullseye that has yet to be repeated.

    I agree, and in my opinion this is precisely the problem with the domestic auto industry.

    One could argue that the Chrysler minivans from the 80's was a bullseye ... station wagons were passe, so the introduction of this new segment changed the way families thought of transportation ever since.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    They were successful, but not in the way the Mustang was. The Mustang created Ford-for-life cult-like fans.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    It sounds like Colin Chapman because it is!

    The man who changed the Indy 500 forever!
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Oh, yeah. There was nothing like that Mustang craziness in 1964. They had people camped out at the dealerships. I remember a guy playing cash for one and having the dealer put it up on a lift until the paperwork was done so that nobody else could get to it.

    The Chrysler minivans were a big hit but not that lustworthy thing that the Mustang was.

    I remember my uncle buying one for my aunt and how big a deal that was.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    When I see people camped out in front of dealers waiting to buy a Chrysler minivan I will fully embrace the Mayan prophecies for 2012. :P
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    :D
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    :D
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I'm a box.

    I'm asymmetrical.

    I an so envious that my sibling gets a turbo motor, I could Puke.
  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    Nissan Cube.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yup.

    Thought about it when I read that the Tiida gets a turbo engine option overseas. A Cube Turbo would be fun and practical, plus it looks 100 times better than a Juke.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    The Chrysler minivans were yet another stroke of genius from Lee Iacocca.

    Too bad he's too old to run for President. Seriously.
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,558
    I think Lee is working on the TARP subsidies...

    "Buy a car, get a check!"

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  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    I have to believe that even today you could do that kind of thing - take an existing product, play with it to create a new niche and basically print money.

    Iacocca was a genius with that.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    edited April 2011
    Exactly why I think he would have run our country like a BUSINESS!

    Trump could do the same thing but he has too much baggage AND, he's a hothead.
  • lemmerlemmer Member Posts: 2,689
    And Trump tends to bankrupt things from time to time. And he started with a huge pile of money from Daddy, so I am not convinced he has much business acumen.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    True. The hothead part bothers me the most. I think he would be too quick to push the button nor do I think he would listen to much advise.
  • bhill2bhill2 Member Posts: 2,596
    edited April 2011
    One thing not yet mentioned that made the original Mustang so popular was the incredible variety of ways it could be configured. Want a cheap but sporty-looking set of wheels? 101 hp 6, 3 speed stick, maybe a radio, $2500 or so. Want a cute little runabout for driving to work and the store? Same engine, automatic transmission (if desired), power steering and brakes for easy driving, maybe the pony interior to spruce it up some. Want a stormer (in a straight line)? 271 hp V8, 4-speed, various performance equipment (some of which were a very good idea). Have it your way, whatever your way was. Actually, the base V8, automatic, power whatever, and additional options to taste made a nice reasonably priced car with more than adequate performance.

    2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    That's what I meant.

    A buddy's dad waited six weeks to get the one he wanted in 1965.

    It was blue with the pony interior. Loaded including A/C. He picked the "D" engine that was the 289 with a 4 BBL. Four speed with the full length console if I recall correctly.

    Topped off with red stripe tires on those beautiful chrome wheels that were an option. Man, what a sweet car that was! Metallic blue.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    "If you can find a better country, buy it!" LOL!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Trump would have taken one look at GM and Chrysler, and said, "You're Fired!"

    :D
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Isn't THAT the truth!!
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Okay, super-challenge question:

    "I was the first car sold in America to have on-board diagnostics"

    Who Am I?

    Correct Answer Gets the "Shiftright Memorial I-Bow-Down-Before-You" Award.
  • omarmanomarman Member Posts: 2,702
    In memory of Warren Weiant I'll guess VW. He drove a VW squareback and claimed a lot of good things about VWs that I never really could see. The new super beetle offered some "free" dx service from the dealer in '71. I don't know what the catch was -- other than keep you coming back to the dealer! Maybe just putting a bit of distance between new buyers and backyard mechanics was reason enough or the onset of clean air legislation put VW on the path early. Did anyone else get there ahead of them?
    A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.
  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 16,860
    I'm actually thinking the Chevette was the first car you could have your Chevy dealer mechanic "plug into" for diagnosis. Don't know if that's specific to your question or not though.
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    I honestly don't have a clue. I'd guess a Mopar though because they often seemed ahead in electronics.
  • 210delray210delray Member Posts: 4,721
    I'm going with VW also, around 1971; they had ads about a "security blanket" for the car, which included a plug-in diagnostic port (akin to todays OBD ports, but in the trunk compartment, which of course was up front in the rear-engine cars of the time).

    The system must not have worked out, because when I bought my 1975 Rabbit, there was no diagnostic port.
  • jwilliams2jwilliams2 Member Posts: 910
    edited April 2011
    I think VW had the first on board computer, and Datsun had something more advanced in the mid seventies.

    But GM came out with the first OBD system in '80 or '81, with that years Cadillac having the first system that could actually show trouble codes and data in the Climate Control display.....
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Uplander, you are the champ! The Chevette was the first car in America to have on-board diagnostics. This comes right from Beverly Rae Kimes, so it's a good source for this information.
  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 16,860
    Thanks, Mr. S. I remember our '77 Impala could be "plugged in" too.
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • omarmanomarman Member Posts: 2,702
    edited April 2011
    Here's a link to the samba forum regarding the VW diagnostic plug. It includes a youtube linked tv commercial for VW which features Buzz Aldrin hosting a demonstration of a '72 VW bug being tested.

    I also found the old "84 MPG! ... Honest 25 mpg" VW tv commercial on youtube. Now that was funny stuff!
    A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    For your prize you win your own Chevette!....

    Second prize is two Chevettes.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 16,860
    As a full-fledged Chevy guy then, I much preferred a '76 or '77 Vega to the same year Chevette. The Vega was (somewhat) improved by that time. I knew a girl who had a Chevette Scooter--a used one. She thought the glovebox door had broken off. I told her they weren't built with one.
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    If you like the Vega but you didn't like the possibility of flying shrapnel from an exploding engine tearing into your flesh, you could have opted for the Astre, with the "Iron Duke" 4 cylinder engine ( also of Canadian parentage originally, I believe).
  • bhill2bhill2 Member Posts: 2,596
    In 1955 my three models could be descriptions of Rocky Marciano, General Maxwell Taylor, and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Who am I?

    2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])

  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    Studebaker Champion, Commander, President?
  • bhill2bhill2 Member Posts: 2,596
    edited April 2011
    I knew it wouldn't last long. Congratulations.

    2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])

  • bhill2bhill2 Member Posts: 2,596
    By the end of the '50s you could choose among my models depending on whether you wanted a French sword, something unvanquishable, or someone that mourning becomes. Who am I?

    2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])

  • jwilliams2jwilliams2 Member Posts: 910
    edited April 2011
    I would guess you would be a Buick....LeSabre, Invicta, and Electra....
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    And you would be correct.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • m6vxm6vx Member Posts: 142
    And I would have had 2 of 3..... had I been near a computer earlier!
  • bhill2bhill2 Member Posts: 2,596
    You people are good!! Someone post one; I'm running out.

    2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    I only had two of the three myself but once I saw the response I knew he had it right.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    edited April 2011
    I invented a new kind of engine. I sold the patents based on my "pitch" that this was an invention that was ready for prime time---but it wasn't, and the poor folks who bought it had to spent an enormous amount of money and energy trying to make my creation marketable.

    Who am I?
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    Felix Wankel?
  • bhill2bhill2 Member Posts: 2,596
    I'll go with that answer (Felix Wankel) too.

    2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    I remember with my '86 Monte Carlo, if you unbent a paper clip and stuck the ends in the right spots in some connection under the dashboard, it would make the check engine light to flash in sequence, which corresponded to a trouble code.

    On my '88 LeBaron, all you had to do was turn the ignition key on-off-on several times, and then the check engine light would flash sequence, and all the trouble codes were two digit. So for a code "33", it would flash three times, pause, and then flash three more. And at the end of every sequence, it would flash an "End of Codes" signal, which was "5-5"

    My '79 New Yorkers have a diagnostic plug in the engine bay, by the air cleaner. It's a big, wide thing, like those old printer ports from something like an old TI 99-4/a computer.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Yes, Herr Wankel---good job, boys!
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited April 2011
    And your wiper fluid doesn't work.
This discussion has been closed.

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