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A lot of it has to do with economies of scale. It is less expensive to continue building a certain model without any major changes. And if a particular model car is very popular and posts good sales, there is no reason to change, and re-tool the assembly line.
A lot of it has to do with economies of scale. It is less expensive to continue building a certain model without any major changes.
And if a particular model car is very popular and posts good sales, there is no reason to change, and re-tool the assembly line.
Well, they certainly looked at it differently back in the 50s and 60s when they would pretty much change the whole body style every year (or almost every year).
Another thing ... Is there a reason most all new cars look pretty much all the same from a distance?
I can't tell the difference between a Hyundai Sonata and a Toyota Camry until I get right up next to them. Other than Rustang vs Camaro, the regular Ford and Chevy sedans look pretty much the same too.
But, it's really easy to tell the difference between a 57 Chevy and a 57 Ford ... even from far away.
Yup ... not all, but the majority of sedans and SUVs nowdays are pretty much "Cookie Cutter" examples of each other.
It probably has a lot to do with the most efficient design. The best showing in a wind tunnel combined with best ergonomics for a sedan like a Malibu or taurus or Camry is going to be the same across manufacturers. Plus ease of production of certain shapes for fenders, etc. will make cars look the same in the run-of-the-mill sedan . They save the flash for more expensive top end cars. They cost more so production costs are less relevant. IMHO.
Another thing ... Is there a reason most all new cars look pretty much all the same from a distance?
Government regulations and CAFE standards.................
I can't tell the difference between a Hyundai Sonata and a Toyota Camry until I get right up next to them. Other than Mustang vs Camaro, the regular Ford and Chevy sedans look pretty much the same too.
But, it's really easy to tell the difference between a 57 Chevy and a 57 Ford ... even from far away.
Yup ... not all, but the majority of sedans and SUVs nowdays are pretty much "Cookie Cutter" examples of each other.
answer to most of your questions above.............. add in the fact that the OEM's are looking for lowest manufacturing costs due to shrinking profit margins on smaller vehicles................. in the "old days" OEM's would utilize the same frames, and powertrains / drivetrains for numerous years while making less expensive sheet metal changes................ once the government increased it's presence in the automotive industry for safety, fuel economy, etc. regulations and OEM's went to more cost effective, lighter weight "unibody platforms" with sub frames or modules in place of full frames, major yearly changes are too costly and difficult to accomplish......................... unless the end user consumer is willing to accept these higher costs and pay for them during vehicle purchases
Those were some great days. When you control a market more or less you can do that. Everything is relative too, a lot happens in 60 years. Those two had to be some of the best. Loved them both. This one still looks great too. 1960.........
1960 Cascade Green 1of 140
1960 Cascade Green
I would prefer this over anything made in Germany. Beautiful.
I agree. Late model C1's and C2's are, in many ways, the peak of Vette development. Clearly not in a technical sense but in an aesthetic and desirability one.
I agree. Late model C1's and C2's are, in many ways, the peak of Vette development. Clearly not in a technical sense but in an aesthetic and desirability one.
The C1 and C2 still turns heads 60 years after they were first introduced. My first sports car was a C2 split window which I wished I never sold. I went to a local cars and coffee meet last Saturday, and there were many exotics such as Porsche GT2RS, GT3, and GT4, and a few Ferraris, but no car got more attention than a 1965 Corvette, split window. The C2 was impeccably restored, and it looked like it just rolled off the assembly line. I asked the owner if he was willing to sell, and he told me that he rejected an unsolicited $130K from a collector. There was a 1970 Porsche 911E parked next to the C2, and if I were the 911 owner, I would have chosen another spot. Just a couple people checking out the 911, but around 20 were gathered around the C2.
T I went to a local cars and coffee meet last Saturday, and there were many exotics such as Porsche GT2RS, GT3, and GT4, and a few Ferraris, but no car got more attention than a 1965 Corvette, split window.
If you saw a '65 split window, you were truly looking at 1 of a kind, considering the only year it was made (by Chevy) was '63.
The VW Beetle changed the game. But it wasn't until foreign competition and loss of market share when there really wasn't enough volume to change a car every year. Those amortized costs had to carry on for several years. Slight changes to trim and grills are largely an unnecessary cost and usually harm the original styling more than help. Hopefully, quality and defects are worked out.
The C6 had an update in '08 with LS-3 and minor interior trim. And then additional trim levels with Z06, GS and ZR1.
08-24-2017, 04:12 PM
