And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Nice. I wonder how hard it would be to find glass to replace that back window?
That's a 73. My neighbor across the road has a 72 the same color in mint condition. His dad bought it new in late 71 and it has been garaged ever since. He drives it once a year, on his dad's birthday. Gorgeous vehicle.
Government has nothing to do with it. There are plenty of new outrageous cars that can be bought today. You just don't like them or can't afford them.
-Tesla Model X: runs on electricity, out accelerates every muscle car and sportscar, has falcon wing doors and a single touchscreen that replaces every knob in previous cars. Quite outrageous if you ask me. -Tesla Cybertruck: Stainless steel body, extremely angular design, largest single windshield wiper ever, can out accelerate a Porsche 911 while towing a Porsche 911. -Toyota Corolla GR: For about $40K you get a 300hp 1.6 liter 3 cylinder engine that can gap most muscle cars and a very outrageous design. - Honda Civic Type R: For about $40K you get over 300hp out of a 2 liter engine. The new version is very understated but the previous generation was VERY outrageous and incredibly fast. It set the fastest time around the Nurburgring for a front wheel drive car. -2023 Corvette. Rear engine and supercar like specs for a fraction of the price. -2023 Prius: Incredible industrial design. -Rivian R1T: Tell me where have you ever seen a pickup that looks remotely like this one! -All the Genesis lineup is outrageous and out of this world. -Kia EV6: This car seems like it came from a Sci-Fi movie. Very outrageous if you ask me! -Dodge RAM TRX-Ford Raptor: There is nothing in any of these trucks that is not outrageous. From their specs to their design everything is over the top. -Fiat 500e: Not yet available in the US but coming soon. It has incredible industrial design and will become the cheapest electric car in the market. It is also available as a convertible (I believe the only remotely affordable electric convertible in the market). -Toyota Camry TRD: If traditional sedans are your thing... this one can get you from 0-60 in under 6 seconds while retaining all the Toyota quality and durability. -Hyundai Ioniq 5: Very forward looking design over 300 miles of range and can be recharged from 10% to 80% in under 20 minutes. -A long list of sub 12 seconds over 500hp cars from the lot. You can get these cars in the shape of a 2 door coupe, 4 door sedan, SUV, convertible, etc and from American, German, Italian and many more countries. Mustangs, Chargers, Camaros, Durangos, AMG, BMW M, Alfa Romeo, etc, etc, etc
As you can see there is a VERY long list of outrageous cars available today. I purposely limited my list to cars that are available in the US and from mainstream brands. No Ferraris, Porsche or Bentleys, etc... If you have no upper $ limit the list is infinite...
The bottom line is at least 2 fold: 1. Government has nothing to do with the availability of outrageous cars. The market dictates if those cars exist or not. It is called supply and demand and is drive by capitalism. In today's market we have an incredibly wide and diverse variety of outrageous cars. This wide supply can only point to a similarly wide demand. 2. If you don't like any of the outrageous affordable (or not) cars that are available today and you long for the outrageous cars of the past it has more to do with you than with the government.
You don't like government. That is fine. It is your right. But you can't blame government for everything you don't like.
You don't like modern cars. That is fine too. But don't pretend that there is no variety out there or that older cars were better.
Today you can get trucks that are electric, hibrid, diesel or gas powered. You can get them with 4, 6, 8 and 10 cylinder engines in 2WD, 4WD and AWD, RWD or FWD, manual or automatic, 2 door, 4 door, extended cab, from American, Japanese and Korean manufacturers. You can get them as body on frame or unibody. You can even get cars that run on hydrogen in California!
Name me ONE time in american automotive history when you had more options available to you as a consumer.
By the way... a new Buick Riviera in 1971 was $5,253. That is about $40,000 in today's dollars... For UNDER $40K today you can get yourself a lot of very interesting cars: 2023 Toyota Camry 2023 Toyota Tacoma 2023 Ford Bronco 2023 Ford F-150 2023 Jeep Wrangler 2023 Ford Explorer 2023 Ford Bronco Sport 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 2023 Toyota Tundra 2023 Toyota RAV4 2023 Chevrolet Camaro 2023 RAM 1500 2023 Dodge Charger 2023 Toyota Highlander
All under $40K. And all will also save your life in case of an accident. Which is a lot more that can be said for the 1971 Buick Riviera...
Any modern car is 1000 times more reliable than the average 1970s car. Significantly more fuel efficient and longer lasting. How many 200,000 mile 1971 Buick Rivieras have you seen? At the same time 200,000 mile Civics, Corollas or F150s are a dime a dozen!
Again, you may dislike government and new car designs. That is a matter of opinion and you are entitled to yours. But then there are FACTS and you are NOT entitled to your own set of facts. It is a FACT that the variety of offerings in today's automotive industry has never been wider. It is also a fact that today you get a lot more for a similar amount of money adjusted for inflation that you got in 1971!
BTW I own 4 cars. 2 are modern and one is a 1957 BMW and the other is 1965 Jeep. I own my old cars because I love them but they are not better at anything than my modern cars. I like the way they look, I like the way they drive, I like the feel, the smell and the memories they bring back... but they are not better cars.
Several cars/ trucks listed can not, repeat not be had for less than 40k. Jeep wrangler, Ford bronco, tacoma, to name but a few.
If your getting a new bronco, not the sport, point me to it. There are 3 used broncos locally, for north of 50k, one being 57k, USED. A 2023 model at that.
Maybe some on your list is possible, but key word is some.
2023 Base Bronco MSRP $34,890, Big Bend From $39,130, Black Diamond From $41,500. Fully loaded Broncos are a lot more expensive... 2023 Jeep Wrangler Sport has an MSRP of $31,195. 2023 Toyota Tacoma starts at $28,600 an extended cab and $29,400 for a crew cab.
Not hard at all. I understand these glass is still manufactured and can be had for about $400. Just for reference the windshield on a Honda Odyssey is $500-$600. So $400 for a piece of glass that fits a car that has been out of production for 50 years doesn't sound that bad.
Man, lookit all that chrome on the rear bumper. And those guards could take a hit without cracking or tearing like our current cars do. Hit a squirrel and bumper is totalled. And then you have to buy half of the bottom front cause its all molded together.
I always thought the designers put that roof glass on backwards. My lotto bucket list would be to buy one, saw the top off, spin it 180° around, and put it together the right way.
Cars should have started looking like Hot Wheels™ and jet fighters decades ago.
66 is my favorite year for the Riviera. My Uncle was into Buicks and had a 64 Riviera and a 70 Electra. Both mint and both went bye bye in a bad divorce.
Comparing availability & price of a currently manufactured part to one that has been out of production for 40 years is brutal. Finding this part is doable but will require a little work. Finding someone to install it will be harder,
Because the Feds mandate lots of car requirements that determine the shape/look of them. That is why most cars look like all the other ones on the road. just blah... BTW, those mandates mostly originate in Europe.
Glass currently not available new or affordable used .... 77 caprice (2 door) rear window, monte carlo/grand prix aero coupes, oldsmobile Vista wagon roof windows,
I believe that's a '73. Saw a back glass on ebay for about 4 bills.
ReplyDeleteThat's a 73. My neighbor across the road has a 72 the same color in mint condition. His dad bought it new in late 71 and it has been garaged ever since. He drives it once a year, on his dad's birthday. Gorgeous vehicle.
DeleteAbsolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIt was hard to get replacement glass for those even back in the day, so now I'd imagine it would be near impossible.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's not a split window
ReplyDelete1971 was the only one with the actual split glass in back, but the 72& 73’s are certainly no slouches either
DeleteProbably as hard to find as the roof glass on a 1970's Olds Vista Cruiser wagon.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, sadly today with all the government mucking around it seems we just can't build gorgeous, slightly outrageous cars like that any more.
ReplyDeleteGovernment has nothing to do with it. There are plenty of new outrageous cars that can be bought today. You just don't like them or can't afford them.
Delete-Tesla Model X: runs on electricity, out accelerates every muscle car and sportscar, has falcon wing doors and a single touchscreen that replaces every knob in previous cars. Quite outrageous if you ask me.
-Tesla Cybertruck: Stainless steel body, extremely angular design, largest single windshield wiper ever, can out accelerate a Porsche 911 while towing a Porsche 911.
-Toyota Corolla GR: For about $40K you get a 300hp 1.6 liter 3 cylinder engine that can gap most muscle cars and a very outrageous design.
- Honda Civic Type R: For about $40K you get over 300hp out of a 2 liter engine. The new version is very understated but the previous generation was VERY outrageous and incredibly fast. It set the fastest time around the Nurburgring for a front wheel drive car.
-2023 Corvette. Rear engine and supercar like specs for a fraction of the price.
-2023 Prius: Incredible industrial design.
-Rivian R1T: Tell me where have you ever seen a pickup that looks remotely like this one!
-All the Genesis lineup is outrageous and out of this world.
-Kia EV6: This car seems like it came from a Sci-Fi movie. Very outrageous if you ask me!
-Dodge RAM TRX-Ford Raptor: There is nothing in any of these trucks that is not outrageous. From their specs to their design everything is over the top.
-Fiat 500e: Not yet available in the US but coming soon. It has incredible industrial design and will become the cheapest electric car in the market. It is also available as a convertible (I believe the only remotely affordable electric convertible in the market).
-Toyota Camry TRD: If traditional sedans are your thing... this one can get you from 0-60 in under 6 seconds while retaining all the Toyota quality and durability.
-Hyundai Ioniq 5: Very forward looking design over 300 miles of range and can be recharged from 10% to 80% in under 20 minutes.
-A long list of sub 12 seconds over 500hp cars from the lot. You can get these cars in the shape of a 2 door coupe, 4 door sedan, SUV, convertible, etc and from American, German, Italian and many more countries. Mustangs, Chargers, Camaros, Durangos, AMG, BMW M, Alfa Romeo, etc, etc, etc
As you can see there is a VERY long list of outrageous cars available today. I purposely limited my list to cars that are available in the US and from mainstream brands. No Ferraris, Porsche or Bentleys, etc... If you have no upper $ limit the list is infinite...
The bottom line is at least 2 fold:
1. Government has nothing to do with the availability of outrageous cars. The market dictates if those cars exist or not. It is called supply and demand and is drive by capitalism. In today's market we have an incredibly wide and diverse variety of outrageous cars. This wide supply can only point to a similarly wide demand.
2. If you don't like any of the outrageous affordable (or not) cars that are available today and you long for the outrageous cars of the past it has more to do with you than with the government.
Don't just blame EVERYTHING on the government.
Gov't interference at all levels has made modern vehicles unaffordable.
DeleteFor the same reason most of them look identical. The OP was right.
You don't like government. That is fine. It is your right.
DeleteBut you can't blame government for everything you don't like.
You don't like modern cars. That is fine too. But don't pretend that there is no variety out there or that older cars were better.
Today you can get trucks that are electric, hibrid, diesel or gas powered. You can get them with 4, 6, 8 and 10 cylinder engines in 2WD, 4WD and AWD, RWD or FWD, manual or automatic, 2 door, 4 door, extended cab, from American, Japanese and Korean manufacturers. You can get them as body on frame or unibody.
You can even get cars that run on hydrogen in California!
Name me ONE time in american automotive history when you had more options available to you as a consumer.
By the way... a new Buick Riviera in 1971 was $5,253. That is about $40,000 in today's dollars...
For UNDER $40K today you can get yourself a lot of very interesting cars:
2023 Toyota Camry
2023 Toyota Tacoma
2023 Ford Bronco
2023 Ford F-150
2023 Jeep Wrangler
2023 Ford Explorer
2023 Ford Bronco Sport
2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2023 Toyota Tundra
2023 Toyota RAV4
2023 Chevrolet Camaro
2023 RAM 1500
2023 Dodge Charger
2023 Toyota Highlander
All under $40K. And all will also save your life in case of an accident. Which is a lot more that can be said for the 1971 Buick Riviera...
Any modern car is 1000 times more reliable than the average 1970s car. Significantly more fuel efficient and longer lasting. How many 200,000 mile 1971 Buick Rivieras have you seen? At the same time 200,000 mile Civics, Corollas or F150s are a dime a dozen!
Again, you may dislike government and new car designs. That is a matter of opinion and you are entitled to yours. But then there are FACTS and you are NOT entitled to your own set of facts. It is a FACT that the variety of offerings in today's automotive industry has never been wider. It is also a fact that today you get a lot more for a similar amount of money adjusted for inflation that you got in 1971!
BTW I own 4 cars. 2 are modern and one is a 1957 BMW and the other is 1965 Jeep. I own my old cars because I love them but they are not better at anything than my modern cars. I like the way they look, I like the way they drive, I like the feel, the smell and the memories they bring back... but they are not better cars.
Several cars/ trucks listed can not, repeat not be had for less than 40k. Jeep wrangler, Ford bronco, tacoma, to name but a few.
DeleteIf your getting a new bronco, not the sport, point me to it. There are 3 used broncos locally, for north of 50k, one being 57k, USED. A 2023 model at that.
Maybe some on your list is possible, but key word is some.
2023 Base Bronco MSRP $34,890, Big Bend From $39,130, Black Diamond From $41,500. Fully loaded Broncos are a lot more expensive...
Delete2023 Jeep Wrangler Sport has an MSRP of $31,195.
2023 Toyota Tacoma starts at $28,600 an extended cab and $29,400 for a crew cab.
Google is free.
Not hard at all. I understand these glass is still manufactured and can be had for about $400.
ReplyDeleteJust for reference the windshield on a Honda Odyssey is $500-$600. So $400 for a piece of glass that fits a car that has been out of production for 50 years doesn't sound that bad.
If it's anything like 1st generation Barracudas, it's surprisingly common to come across reasonably priced ($300 give or take) solid back glass.
ReplyDeleteMan, lookit all that chrome on the rear bumper. And those guards could take a hit without cracking or tearing like our current cars do. Hit a squirrel and bumper is totalled. And then you have to buy half of the bottom front cause its all molded together.
ReplyDeleteI always thought the designers put that roof glass on backwards.
ReplyDeleteMy lotto bucket list would be to buy one, saw the top off, spin it 180° around, and put it together the right way.
Cars should have started looking like Hot Wheels™ and jet fighters decades ago.
66 is my favorite year for the Riviera. My Uncle was into Buicks and had a 64 Riviera and a 70 Electra. Both mint and both went bye bye in a bad divorce.
ReplyDeleteComparing availability & price of a currently manufactured part to one that has been out of production for 40 years is brutal. Finding this part is doable but will require a little work. Finding someone to install it will be harder,
ReplyDeleteI'm sure someone makes and expensive replacement piece that doesn't fit worth a shit.
ReplyDeleteIt costs just as much to build ugly cars as beautiful ones, why build ugly cars?
ReplyDeleteBecause the Feds mandate lots of car requirements that determine the shape/look of them. That is why most cars look like all the other ones on the road. just blah... BTW, those mandates mostly originate in Europe.
DeleteGlass currently not available new or affordable used .... 77 caprice (2 door) rear window, monte carlo/grand prix aero coupes, oldsmobile Vista wagon roof windows,
ReplyDelete