Dan,
Well said! I love my MGs but recognise them for what they are too.
Lets be honest, Cecil Kimber was nothing more than a hotrodder and more
power to him. I don't know how the term knuckle dragger is defined in the
USA, but to call someone here in AUS that would certainly earn one a couple
of nights in the intensive care ward!
Murray Arundell
----------
> From: DANMAS@aol.com
> To: WSpohn4@aol.com; mgs@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: Swaps
> Date: Sunday, 5 July 1998 5:49
>
> In a message dated 98-07-04 10:26:41 EDT, WSpohn4@aol.com writes:
>
> > if you must indulge your knuckle dragging tendencies
>
> Bill,
>
> In one sentence, you've wiped out all my respect for you that grew over
the
> year or so I've been reading your posts. I will not get into a debate
over
> this, but I will say one thing.
>
> There is nothing sacred about any of these cars, MGA, MGB, TC, TD or any
MG.
> They were guilt by Abingdon for one purpose, and one purpose only - to
make a
> profit. Abingdon was driven to produce the MG by precisely the same
reason
> that GM is driven to produce a Caprice. Any mystical or spritual
> characteristics you wish to ascribe to these cars comes strictly from
your own
> personal tastes and interests, not from something inherent to the cars
> themselves. They are simply pieces of machinery, mass produced machinery
> produced to a budget to satisfy a bottom line at that, to be enjoyed as
is,
> modified, or not enjoyed at all, depending on ones taste. As such, there
is no
> real distinction between an MG and a hot rod or a street rod, or, for
that
> matter, a low rider. Yes, in operation, they serve totally different
purposes,
> but the primary purpose of all is the enjoyment recieved by the owner.
>
> You want to claim that these cars are a work of art, and should be
treated as
> such? Yes, unquestionably, the DESIGN of these cars was indeed a work of
art.
> The DESIGN, not the cars themselves. The design deserves to be preserved
in a
> museum for posterity. To that end, a few of these cars should be
preserved in
> museums so that the designers art can be enjoyed. Once the design was
> completed, the art was done. After that, the drawings were turned over to
a
> team of engineers to produce the stamps and dies to mass produce them as
> cheaply as possible, while maintaining a minimum quality level. I'm
sorry, but
> I can't get emotional about a piece of machinery that was stamped out on
an
> assembly line, by semi-skilled workers.
>
> If I am a knuckle dragger, then I am in very select company, company that
> includes such automotive legends as our own Cecil Kimber. After all, it
was
> his "knuckle dragging" desires that motivated him to modify his first
Morris
> automobile that led to the production of the MGs that you have elevated
to the
> status of a shrine.
>
> I will enjoy my cars the way I wish, without any need for your approval,
thank
> you very much!
>
> Dan Masters,
> Alcoa, TN
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