Hi Fred
I think you have hit the nail on the head, have you thought of trying to
sell this formula to BMW. Ooops perhaps it's a bit late now you have made it
public.
I did like some of your analogies!
And whilst on the subject I think at least some of the Triumph range of
vehicles DID compete directly with the BMW marque and compete quite well.
(and may have done better without the constraints applied by Leyland to stop
them from competing with group products!)
Graham.
2.5 PI MKII
Sprinted Dolomite
2000 MKI
Toledo
1300 Front Wheel Drive
http://www.triumph-iw.co.uk
----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred Marks" <marks_fred@yahoo.com>
To: "Laura Gharazeddine" <Laura.G@141.com>; "David Massey"
<105671.471@compuserve.com>; "Bowen, Patrick" <pbowen@intellinetics.com>
Cc: <Triumphs@autox.team.net>; <Spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, January 12, 2001 5:20 PM
Subject: BMW "Z" as TR (Long, Was is TR coming back?)
>
> Laura-
>
> Depends on HOW it is done.
(To avoid
> goring anyone's ox I won't name any in particular, but
> there are some LBCs which IMHO come pretty close to
> being "butt ugly.")
> The basic elements are there. Long bonnet, short
> decklid, bulges in the right places, big motor. The
> formula could work. Just make sure to make it a
> Triumph. Hmm. What does that mean exactly?
>
> To me that means make it something simple, but
> special.
> Don't overengineer it and make it too fancy. Basic Z3
> underpinnings, 6 cyl, 5-speed. Good brakes, good
> suspension. Take out all the power crap, if I wanted
> that I'd buy another Beemer. No power assists. Two
> good bucket seats, a nice walnut fascia. Tune the
> exhaust loud(er). Make her light, strong & fast.
>
> Build her in England, and wrap her up in a roadster
> body that is sleek, simple and purposeful, and not
> necessarily "retro." Sell it for under 30 kilobucks
> and I know I'd be a player.
>
> I see nothing wrong with continuing evolution of the
> species. Put a TR3 next to a TR6 and they look
> nothing alike, but they're still equally Triumphs.
> Even more striking if you compare a TR8! Anyway, It
> wouldn't be so much like digging up old mum & "tarting
> her up" so much as it would be like having the
> opportunity to date "old mum's" hot granddaughter :-)
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