The death of the year-to-year changes on american cars...

[77CDV]

Chad,

IIRC, real wood went away in 1970. At least, my aunt's 69 Fleetwood had real wood trim on the doors and dash.

Craig

[Lord Cadillac]

Originally Posted by 96Fleetwood

Actually me (internal med) and my girlfriend (cardiology) plus 4 other friends (chiropractor, obgyn, dentist, and pharmacist) are all saving up to open a practice in Miami, FL I am out of here as soon as I finish residency. I will be sure to give forum members a discount!

I don't mean to hijack the thread but that's VERY cool about opening your own practice.. In Miami, huh? I dealt with heart issues all my life. Did you know that beta-blockers, mainly Atenolol, can cause diabetes?

Otherwise.. I think subtle changes are okay. Like the ones that came along for the Eldorado between 1995 and it's final year. The changes were very subtle - subtle enough that the 95 ETC still looked new throughout the Eldorado's lifespan...

[JimHare]

Originally Posted by I~LUV~Caddys8792

And another thing...I've had my grandpa and older relatives tell me how people used to line up in the showrooms "back in the day" around September-October of each year so they could get a peek at upcoming model years cars...now nobody really seems to care anymore. I wonder if this has to do with the death of the year-to-year changes on the american cars?

I think it has more to do with the fact that "Next Year's Model" can be released any time of the year, nowadays...hell, you start seeing ads for the 2008 GeeWhillikers XE in April.

When we just had the Big Three and a couple ferriners (VW, M/B, etc) then September was IT - but nowadays when everybody and his brother-in-law is a car making country, then there's no reason to 'wait' if you have to push out a new car - in fact, getting it out of the gate nine or ten months before the end of the year gives you a head start on the latecomers...

[Caddy Man]

A VERY good example of changes in American cars can be seen in the 1958-1969 Chevy Impalas. Every year the car was cosmetically a different car.

[gdwriter]

Originally Posted by Caddy Man

A VERY good example of changes in American cars can be seen in the 1958-1969 Chevy Impalas. Every year the car was cosmetically a different car.

And except for 1959 and 1966, they all had three taillights in the back. So even though they were different, they were still clearly identified as Impalas.

[Caddy Man]

Originally Posted by gdwriter

And except for 1959 and 1966, they all had three taillights in the back. So even though they were different, they were still clearly identified as Impalas.

Correct. Gotta keep that Impala flavor. My favorite design has always been the '63. The way ive always seen it though is all the cars were different to the point that one who is slightly familiar can tell each year apart. Now take the Cadillac CTS. I REALLY have to look close at the car to tell what year it is as each year has minor changes that only a CTS owner such as myself would recognize.

[gdwriter]

Originally Posted by Caddy Man

Correct. Gotta keep that Impala flavor. My favorite design has always been the '63. The way ive always seen it though is all the cars were different to the point that one who is slightly familiar can tell each year apart.

For some reason, I don't care for the front end on the '63, but I like the rest of the car. My favorite, of course, will always be the '64:



It's a strange sickness, but show me almost any GM car from 1955 to 1980, and I can tell you what year it is. I can get a lot of FoMoCo and Mopars, too, but I'm better at GM.

[Jonas McFeely]

Originally Posted by gdwriter

It's a strange sickness, but show me almost any GM car from 1955 to 1980, and I can tell you what year it is. I can get a lot of FoMoCo and Mopars, too, but I'm better at GM.

Sound like my Dad. He can differntiate any year of any American car from the '50's to about '80. I mean any make or model. Hes nuts.

I can do pretty well at identifying make and model from the late '60's on up. Not year specific though. But i do best with 80's GMs, or rather anything '80s. And of course everything after that...

[gdwriter]

Originally Posted by Jonas McFeely

Sound like my Dad. He can differntiate any year of any American car from the '50's to about '80. I mean any make or model. Hes nuts.

Does that make me nuts, too?

[Jonas McFeely]

Originally Posted by gdwriter

Does that make me nuts, too?

Nah, you guys are just car guys. Its in your blood, my blood too. I just havnt been around as long.