Wednesday, April 23, 2014

THE CARS THAT TIME FORGOT

I saw this picture on 9gag and it struck a chord with me.

It is a comparison of the Lada and the BMW 5 Series through the years and we see that while the BMW has changed and grown ever larger, the Lada has stayed basically the same.

This is my ode to the concept of a "timeless car".  A truly groundbreaking or well-loved car that simply refuses to die or be remodeled--an iconic car.  Some examples I can think of at the top of my head include: the VW Beetle, Ford Model T, Mercedes -Benz G-Wagen, Toyota FJ Landcruiser and the Hindustan Ambassador/Morris Oxford.  Heck, the Mitsubishi L300 probably belongs there too.

These cars seem to take you to a time long past--a nostalgia for a simpler time.  When an economy car meant no-frills and simple, robust construction.  They were light because people never demanded amenities like airbags, computers, satellite navigation.  They can be built and maintained cheaply too.  And one can fit a part from a brand new vehicle on a car built 20 years ago without changing its look.  Can't do that with the BMW now.