I'm not convinced that the advent of black box solid state
electronics will mark the end of the classic car era. Sure,
the custom, manufacturer correct parts will become NLA, and
these type of electronics are basically unserviceable once
they go.
But consider just how much computing power you can get today
in a form factor the size of, say, a phone, and compare that
to what was possible even five years ago.
It's not too far fetched to start to create a programmable
aftermarket 'universal car computer'. All you would need to
fabricate are the proper wiring connectors for your specific
car. The computer would have programmable software modules for
any automotive system that might be computer controlled (from
ignition to entertainment, and everything in between), and you
would update it with the software profile of your specific
car.
Ideally, it would be open source and highly configurable, so
that not only could you precisely match the specs of the
original computer, but you could also customize as well -
modify engine controls to better match a no-longer-stock
engine, for example.
Even the really complex electronics of, say, a Hybrid Lexus,
are just sensors and software in the end. Getting the
manufacturers on board would help in creating the software
profile for specific cars, but it wouldn't truly be necessary.
If the software was reasonably well designed, a basic
understanding of the required functions should be enough to
backwards engineer the programming for any given model. And of
course, you only have to do each model once. Once somebody has
figured it out, sharing the programming is as easy as
downloading a file from the internet.
There will probably be a cottage industry of software mods as
well, like the 'go-faster' chips you can buy in the magazines,
only far more sophisticated and customizable.
Hmm, I think I may have just found my million-dollar-idea...
---- WWWWW"W WW W'WW(WW* ----
>W*WW(WW:B B Mon, 30 Dec 2013 18:20:18 -0600
>W WW*:B B Richard Lindsay <richardolindsay@gmail.com>
>W WW)W:B B Re: [Mgs] [Mg-t] Distributor
>WW :B B Paul Root <ptroot@gmail.com>
>W"WW*W':B B "mgs@autox.team.net List" <mgs@autox.team.net>, "mg-
t@autox.team.net" <mg-t@autox.team.net>
>
>What a topic, Paul!
>
>I wonder which cars will be the classics of tomorrow - if
any. We just
>had this discussion over on a Ferrari list. The general
opinion is
>that the last Ferrari that will be a classic is the 328GTB or
328GTS.
>Those are the last cars that have limited electronics in the
fuel
>injection and ignition. After that, the cars use limited
production
>unique computers.
>
>Consider this: If your Toyota computer fails, there are
original AND
>aftermarket parts to repair it. That's because they sell
MILLIONS. But
>what will one do when one gets in a limited production 360,
458 (or
>similar) and presses the 'START' button ... and nothing
happens?! You
>may just have discovered a really expensive parts car! Say it
can't
>happen? Try to buy a simple MAF for a 1999 348GTS. Used ones
go for
>over $600 and new ones are NLA. And the 348 uses TWO of these
>expensive little buggers!
>
>Perhaps I'm just old and grumpy but I just think the classic
car hobby
>is to have only one future outcome: The classics get older
and more
>costly, without replacements following them. In my
discussions with
>brokers, the general opinion is to hold on to your classics
because
>they're going to climb in value. Seven of my nine cars fit
this
>definition! The other two are daily drivers...
>
>-rick
>
>> It's getting chilly up here in Minnesota too. So cold my 16
year old actually wore a jacket to basketball practice.
>>
>> Tomorrow, high of -4F. He may even button the jacket up
then.
>
>I didn't grow up in Houston so I understand! The confusion
seems to
>abound. I like cold weather. I don't like to be cold. Folks
here seem
>to assume that one is the same as the other. :-P
>
>Happy Monday! I'm now 63 years and one day old!
>
>-rick
>_______________________________________________
>
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