On 2/12/97 4:26 pm John McEwen said
>While I realize that I neglected to mention it, as I had assumed that my
>e-mail address would announce the fact, I am not an American but a proud
>member of the Commonwealth and recognize Elizbeth II as the Queen of
>Canada. I have owned many LBCs and FBBs (Fast British Bikes) over a period
>of 40 years and feel qualified to make statements about them. I might add
>that I drove my first LBC in 1954 - even though I was not yet old enough to
>be licensed.
Sorry John, I didn't notice your email address.
>
[snip]
>
>Today, how much of the British industry is British owned?
Not much, but it's not where the money comes from, it's how it's used.
The UK has a wealth of automotive talent, remember that we're the centre
of Formula One technology.
>You compare the
>Corvette to the XK8. Ford owns Jaguar, GM owns Corvette. Compare the
>price. Here in Canada, an XK8 costs nearly twice as much as a Corvette. I
>would expect it to be a better car.
>As to determining the quality of
>materials from examining the cars on the stand at an auto show, I am not
>sure what you mean. Perhaps the Jaguar has real wood. Did you compare the
>chassis by lying on the floor to look at them or the engines by examining
>their internal construction? I am quite certain that the Corvette will
>still be running long after the Jaguar has become recycled steel. American
>automobiles have bee the world's best, without question, in terms of
>durability and cost of operation over the long term. This was true in the
>'30s to the '70s. It will probably be true in the '90s.
But the 'feel' of a car is important, and the Corvette does not ooze
quality like a Jag.
US cars are reliable because they are mechanically simple - and that's
not a criticism.
>
>You mention the large number of Japanese cars in the US. This is true
>because the Americans are no fools. The Japanese build an excellent car
>and more important, they build it in the US at a competitive price. Nearly
>every Japanese manufacuturer has a US factory. For that matter, the Honda
>Gold Wing motorcycle - the world's best touring bike - is manufactured only
>in the US and has been since 1981.
So Japanese cars are better than many US ones (and many UK ones), or at
least were until the rest of the world caught up.
>
>You mention the new British Triumph Motorcycle. This excellent machine is
>manufactured in Britain, in a new purpose-built plant, and is owned by
>largely British interests. However, many if not most of its components are
>manufactured elsewhere, principally in Germany, Italy and Japan. This is
>typical of the world today.
My point exactly. It's the people who design the machine who are
important, not where the money or the components come from.
>
>You mention Harley-Davidson. Yes, the design of this machine is antiquated
>but this is by choice. The choice of the customer. The machine is
>thoroughly modern in all other respects and features many Japanese and
>Italian parts because they are the best. H-D production is still largely
>spoken-for prior to manufacture and there are still waiting lists. In
>fact, the H-D is rather like what many of us have wished for - a "new" MG.
>It is a vehicle which evokes the traditions of the past in a new
>embodiment. It is also incredibly successful.
Fair enough, very like an English Morgan, a company, you'll be pleased to
hear is still UK-owned. Sadly, the H-D has acquired a rather sad image in
the UK - that of a toy bought by middle-age art-directors going thro the
male menopause! This is a shame, cos they are great looking bikes - until
you come to ride one round a corner!
>
[snip]
>As to improvements in radio systems, most cars today use
>compact disc systems with much less demand for radio being manifested.
>Radio is somewhat of a dying industry in North America.
That's why new technology is needed. Interestingly, Canada is adopting
digital radio, but the US isn't.
>
>BTW, do people in Britain still drive at night without using their
>headlamps? When I questioned this system some years ago, my uncle replied
>that this was done to "save the electricity".
Wow! never heard of that one! Sounds fun though. I know during WW2 cars
had to have their lights blanked off, leaving just a slit, so German
bombers couldn't spot cities. Is that what you are thinking of?
Thanks for an interesting correspondence!
Cheers
Philip Raby
Editor, MG World
PO Box 163, Bicester OX6 3YS, UK
Tel: 01869 340061 Fax: 01869 340063 Mobile 0467 767361
www.chp.ltd.uk
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