At least in the US, a fact that shouldn't be forgotten is that in the
80's, nobody wanted convertibles. Most british roadsters were not
replaced by new models, and if they were, they were 80's style, meaning
that we probably wouldn't like the 80's replacement of the Spridget
anyway.
Hint: TR7.
Fiat Spiders practically were not sold after 1981, Alfa almost dopped
out, etc.
The market just wasn't there.
It is very similar today, the market demand is changing away from powerful
sports cars, towards SUVs and a couple of roadsters. Gone are RX7,
3000GT, 300Z, MR2, and numerous others.
Ulix
On Wed, 4 Nov 1998, Mike Gigante wrote:
> All this is true unfortunately. It is true largely because the spridgets
> were
> not updated with time.
>
> The spridgets were almost universally acclaimed
> as fun, lively, excellent handling in the early years.
>
> Unfortunately, the weight went up by nearly 50% over the years,
> the engines were choked by emmissions, the handling suffered
> (weight, ride height, weight distribution). Is it any surprised that
> the car didn't generate the same level of enthusiasm?
>
> With some imagination and leadership BL might have made
> some different decisions (instead of the easy but poor ones
> they actually chose) and kept the spridgets (through the Midget)
> at the forefront of fun, economical open top sports cars.
>
> As it was, the Midget was in actuality outdated and outclassed in
> its price/performance category and the reviews (brutally) reflected
> this. Just think what an alloy short stroke twin cam 150 BHP motor
> with 5 speed box might have done to the performance figures. It was
> technology they *could* have brought to bear if they wished...
>
> I blame BL, not the reviewers.
>
> Mike
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ron Soave <redlotus@spacey.net>
> To: spridgeteers <spridgets@autox.team.net>; Ulix Goettsch
> <ulix@u.washington.edu>
> Date: Tuesday, November 03, 1998 12:54 PM
> Subject: Re: 1979 Road Test
>
>
> >> While the minority of contemporary automotive journalists felt like Don,
> >
> >Maybe not just a minority. In 1976 Road and Track said:
> >
> > "Anyone who would buy a Midget when an X1/9 is available for only $1000
> >more would have to be a complete masochist."
> >
> >Ron
> >Masochist-at-Large
> >
>
Ulix __/__,__
.......................................................... (_o____o_)....
'67 Sprite
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