THE NOT SO BRAND NEW CADILLAC

[anniv 63]

An interesting documentary on BBC4 this week about Detroit , its rise and demise particularly in the motor manufacturing sector.
One is left in no uncertain terms that this bit of the American Dream is over and for good.
It begs the question ,how companies like Fender, Gibson et-al made quality products to last a lifetime, and the motor industry there
got it so badly wrong with oversize chromed junk.
We might have at one time marvelled at James Dean or Marilyn Monroe swanning around in Caddys Buicks etc then we woke up to
reality.!!!
Seeing the amount of industrial wasteland and scrapped rusting car bodies of these dream cars brought it todays nightmare.
Don't think Martha and her Vandellas were exactly Dancing in the Street anymore around Detroit!!!
As the Beach Boys might have said "She will have fun fun fun till her daddy takes the rusty T Bird to the scrapyard" !!!!

Mike

[cockroach]

I would take some of that documentary comment with a large pinch of salt!

At least America still has a car industry (even if its not all located in Detroit) - anyway, what happened to the British car industry? British Leyland etc?

Not relevant comparing guitars with cars.

As for the cars themselves, particularly past American vehicles, those opinions probably wouldn't reflect the opinions of many other motorists in America and elsewhere.

Despite the modern view, many old US cars were durable, affordable and very well specified- there are a hell of a lot of old US cars still running, restored and usable worldwide.

However, British cars of all types (and a lot of posh European brands) have had a dreadful reputation as regards reliability and durability for years in many countries. Anyway, Asian cars are generally better than US or European cars these days....

[anniv 63]

Well I must admit the British Car Manufacturer back then got an awful lot wrong too, in terms of build and quality.
However I don't think quite as much (I.M.H.O) ,
of an industrial wasteland was left in the Midlands as the truly awful desolation in
Detroit as this documentary showed.
Yes the U.K. suffered badly too particularly late 1970s early 80s, that uncompetivness and situation management of
that time, I am sure lot of site members or those who worked in the industry will painfully recall.
On a lighter note perhaps my Eastern European Hatchback with its 12 year anti perforation warranty may see out the
remaining years of my time on the road!!!

Mike