>> initial popularity/nostalgia etc.,
That was the most cogent phrase in the discussion, along with reference to the
stock styling configuration (the term 'beauty ring' instantly brings to mind
'oxymoron'). It's no accident in Bill Lau's story that the vocal admirer was
a woman. Nor that the exclamation one hears so often from outside the
community is "Cute!'.
I was wandering around a parking lot / display area at Hot August Nights
today. Two things struck me. Well, the first thing almost struck me, a
nicely detailed car with a lumpity lump engine driven by a guy with yelow
pallor and an oxygen tube under his nose. Less focused than a woman in an SUV
with magnetic signs on the door and a cellphone in her ear. But I digress.
The second thing that struck me was that many of the extravagantly done
street rods have gone whole hog into modern tech. Ultra no -clutter engine
bays with late model Vette EFI that looks like a styling excercise in
attractive minimaliism.
'Nostalgia' from a numbers point of view has a lot to do with 'initial
popularity'. Look at the period ads from Rootes. 'Growl,growl' and a picture
of a car that looks like a Nash with a chrome strip down the side. Look at
the period reviews, even the ones that said guardedly positive things about
performance. I particularly remember one that shows the car (ugly wheels)
from the rear taking off and smoking ONE back tire. Huh??!
Let's face it, the styling short of a really worked car is somewhat
feminine. I LIKE that, but in it's time, it was a faster MG (short, small in
relation to any American iron) competing against out of the box and well known
muscle (3-two's GTO's, Shelby's, etc.) for cachet.
Didn't happen, so for the masses there's not much for nostalgia to tap
into. The inevitable guy whose 'Uncle had one'?? His father had two sisters.
But he did at one point see a car with aftermarket wheels and a 4-barrel.
That sort of exposure does not translate into bmarket interestb in the
sense that other Shelby related vehicles have experienced it. And wonbt
unless Michael J. Fox gets involved.
Chris Hill
P.S. b Donbt believe the styling is feminine? If you wander around a
T.U., especially as the Rally sets up, itbs impossible not to notice that
the typical Tiger owner is a man of slightly above average height and very
solidly built. Put him in the driverbs seat and he looks EXACTLY like Bob
Hoskins stuffed in that little car zipping around in Roger Rabbit. Any
psychologists on the list? Bye for now. If therebs anyone I havenbt
managed to offend, Ibll try to do better tomorrow.
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