Your message below about the Yugo is totally and 100% incorrect! The Yugo
was a direct rip off of a lousy Fiat that had failed in all markets several
years before 1980 (when the Yugo was introduced). I believe Yugo even
bought the plans and rights on it, but I would have to check a lot of things
to be sure of that.
><< I defy you to find a single car that was developed in a vacuum.
>
><snip>
>
>Ever hear of the Yugo? Apparently it was designed by a communist Smurf in a
>vacuum left in some closet with no light!
>
>Sorry, I promised myself I wouldn't, but couldn't resist, so consider yourself
>defied!
>
>Dr. Doug
>
>Three complete assemblages of British car parts - 69 vintage.
>
><end snip>
> Elements of any car can be found in earlier cars, the only
> difference is how public the automaker is about admitting it. Not
> that I think it's necessarily a bad thing. I dont' want to deal
> with an automaker that tries to totally re-invent the automobile with
> every new model they build.
> I think that the Japanese have given us a lot of improvements in
> terms of safety, reliability and fuel efficiency. And for the rest
> of the sour grapes, you have to ask yourself who's still selling cars
> in LARGE numbers, and who isn't?
> It's kind of like Bill Gates. Everybody likes to bash him, but
> with $35 billion, he must be doing something right. With the sales
> figures Japanese car companies have, they might be somewhere on the
> right track. As for the Miata being an MG knockoff (Not that you
> said it, Ray, but others have.) Where was the MGB when Mazda
> released the Miata? I think that a Miata is about as close to the
> essence of an MGB as you're going to get, while still keeping in all
> the federally-mandated bells and whistles, as well as the level of
> reliability most people have come to expect. I think the fact that
> they're still selling so well after nine years with the same body
> should tell you something.
> Don't get me wrong, I love my MGB, but I don't think automotive
> design had its birth in England, nor do I think it ended in 1980.
> Scott
> Scott Gardner
> gardner@lwcomm.com
> www.lwcomm.com/~gardner
>
>
> - >>
>Scott,
> You are correct in the statement that no car has been developed in a vacuum.
> But my observation still stands: the Miata is nothing more than a
>replica/repro of the Lotus Elan. Yes, it's updated (it couldn't be sold
>otherwise), and yes, it's a neat little car. BUT.....MG's tried hard to make
>large improvements throughout the companies' existence; in short, no looking
>back. The Miata is a redo of a 60's car.
>As for the grapes.... I enjoy mine and drive it often (well, before the B
>kneecapped me....) It does most things well, but it's not a ground breaker.
>The Japanese auto makers are generally very conservative in their design
>changes. This has served them well for the most part. The fact that the
>Miata is selling well with the same body says a lot about the original
>Lotus......
>Don't know Bill Gates...like his house, though.
>I don't say that auto design began and ended in GB. By 1980, you must
>remember that the B design was 20 years old.....unheard of as far as sports
>cars are concerned.
>Time passed the B by because of short sightedness on the part of several
>people....now the F is here, and the F IS the spirit of the MG.
>Safety Fast!
>
>Regards, Ray
>
>
>
Phil Bates
58 MGA
67 MGB
75 Jaguar XJ12C
66 Land Rover
52 MG TD replicar (VW)
86 Peugeot 505 Turbo Gle
86 Honda Accord LX-i
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