Phil, you raise an excellent point about brand names. (And, btw, your
history is spot-on -- When Standard's Sir John Black negotiated the
purchase of Triumph, said purchase consisted of little more than the name,
as most all of the factory and spares had been destroyed by German bombing
of Coventry earlier in WW II. But even before WW II, Triumph had been in
receivership of some sort.)
Anyone remember the fuss about 20-25 years ago, when people were horrified
to discover that they had lowly Chevrolet engines in their Oldsmobiles (or
whatever)? (Like it mattered even then.) Nowadays, many "Japanese" cars
and some European vehicles are assembled in the US with very high
percentages of local content, including major stampings and such.
Meanwhile, some of the most "American" cars are built in Canada or Mexico.
But the old loyalties die hard....
--Andy
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Andrew Mace e-mail: amace@unix2.nysed.gov *
* *
* Mrs Irrelevant: Oh, is it a jet? *
* Man: Well, no ... It's not so much of a jet, it's more your, er, *
* Triumph Herald engine with wings. *
* -- Cut-price Airlines Sketch, Monty Python's Flying Circus (22) *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
p.s. Rover, Rover, Bo-Bover
Banana-Fana-Fo-Fover
Fee-Fi-Mo-Mover...Rover!
(with apologies to Shirley Ellis and Carole King/Gerry Goffin -- but I
couldn't resist!)
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