At first, the idea of a new Austin Healey sounds interesting, but haven't we
seen this all before (the Sebring)? Any update of the AH 3000 that measures up
to the BJ8 trim quality, weighes in at sports car fighting weight, and
dispenses with gimmicks and gadgetry is going to be very expensive, not widely
appreciated beyond Healeyphiles, and woefully lacking in the quirks that
define Healey.
Similar misconceptions:
1. New Old houses -- those flawless perfections you see on mountain tops
built for people who think they want to live in a colonial manse, but have
never been in one.
2. US Mint commemorative coins -- they look like crap, and serve no purpose
beyond generating revenue for the mint. No numismatic value, and if you thrown
one at a blind beggar he'll chuck it back screaming it's a subway token.
3. Modern politicians. They quote Lincoln, pretend to act like Lincoln, but
are smart enough not to look like Lincoln.
4. Vintage clothing. Looked great last season, but draws blank stares now.
5. Old fashion home cooked dinners, frozen and ready for your microwave.
Yuk.
Hey, if you want old, buy old and not just deal with the idiosyncracies, savor
them. For me, been there and done that with new sports cars (two absolutely
wonderful Z3-s, the latter of which, with its electronically enhanced
suspension, soft composition tires and 225 hp, drove me, not the other way
around), but I never took them seriously as RetroWonders.
Allen Miller
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