In a shocking revelation, this government-designed and produced vehicle was pretty ugly.



Two of them escaped the crusher.

[jalopnik.com]

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Unpaid Social Liaison

but safe as hell!

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High on a threshold yearning to sing
Down with the dancers having one last fling

That is an interesting story! Thank you for posting it.

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A funny tale, but containing some inaccuracies.... for example, anti-lock brakes were somehow innovations as a result of this project, when they were developed in France during the 1920's.

I remember that program. The fate of those cars is a sad commentary on the american auto industry, which fought tooth and nail against safety and economy regulations. This is very similar to the story of Tucker, an american brand that tried to bring safety to automobiles but was sabotaged by the Big 3. If Detroit had seized on the idea that safety could be a selling point we would have led the world in this. Unfortunately we didn't and ended up riding the coattails of the germans (Mercedes) scandinavians (Saab, Volvo) and brits (Rover) who engineered safety directly into their cars.

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"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (1987) -- Carl Sagan



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/28/2010 12:03PM by davester.

Nice going Higgins. Saab, Volvo and Rover are all kaput. Ford, Chevy and Chrysler are still kicking. Putting Rover on any list other than the junk pile is silly.

Which goes to show you that quality isn't always what consumers go for in the U.S. Remember Dak, you're a Mac user, but Microsoft is the Big Three (rolled into one). The best doesn't always (rarely) win...

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Dakota
Nice going Higgins. Saab, Volvo and Rover are all kaput. Ford, Chevy and Chrysler are still kicking.

Sloppy analysis. GM bankrupted Saab after 20 years of ownership (you remember GM right ? The company that took how many billions from the gov't to stay afloat?). The company that sold Saab to GM certainly created some multimillionaires who profited from GM's need and desire to purchase the safe and efficient technology davester has already referenced.

I feel really sorry for Saab. They were forced to sell re-skinned Subaru cars. Not that Subaru had bad designs, but my guess is the promo blurbs about Saab 'designing jets' but selling Japanese cars must have made a lot of engineers quit (assuming they had not already quit in disgust after being bought by GM).

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In tha 360. MRF User Map

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Filliam H. Muffman
I feel really sorry for Saab. They were forced to sell re-skinned Subaru cars. Not that Subaru had bad designs, but my guess is the promo blurbs about Saab 'designing jets' but selling Japanese cars must have made a lot of engineers quit (assuming they had not already quit in disgust after being bought by GM).

And from 2003 on re-skinned Malibus. Just at a much higher price point because GM was bilking the SAAB name. I'm glad that I recently was able to acquire a Viggen. One of the last true SAAB's.

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Sam3
I'm glad that I recently was able to acquire a Viggen. One of the last true SAAB's.

The car or the plane?

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Comedy Central: Best news channel that isn't a news channel.

Fox News: Best comedy channel that isn't a comedy channel.

From the article:

"The fender and front fascia were plastic composites that could take a 10-mph smack unscathed."

Compare that to most present-day cars, which requires a $1,000 trip to the auto body shop for 5 mph bumper taps because the bumpers are now contained on a single panel of body moulding and are generally useless.

Looks like a Pacer

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I'm not a bad guy! I work hard, and I love my kids. So why should I spend half my Sunday hearing about how I'm going to Hell? -Homer.

Luv the Kenosha Kaddilacs!

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Unpaid Social Liaison