The General Car Thread - The Facelift.

[Auzkhia]

RIP Auto Industry Legend: Lee Iacocca, dead at 94.

The article is a good summary of his legacy in the automotive industry, working as an executive at both the Ford Motor Company and the Chrysler Corporation, known for the Ford Mustang, and the K-Car platform that made many Plymouth, Dodge, and Chrysler sedans, coupes, convertibles, wagons, and minivans.

For some reason I thought he was already dead...

He was quite old, living past 90 is still kinda a big deal? How many things or people are around form 1924?

[Petrolheadia]

RIP Auto Industry Legend: Lee Iacocca, dead at 94.

The article is a good summary of his legacy in the automotive industry, working as an executive at both the Ford Motor Company and the Chrysler Corporation, known for the Ford Mustang, and the K-Car platform that made many Plymouth, Dodge, and Chrysler sedans, coupes, convertibles, wagons, and minivans.

I'd say that the guy started 90s and 21st century motoring as we know it, with its idea of platform sharing going well beyond one segement.
He was the guy behind the platform underpinning a vast variety of cars - compacts, midsizers, entry-level luxury, personal luxury, sports, minivans, even limousines...

However, the lower cost drive of his days likely set in the cheapening rot that led to Chrysler's loss of independence.

[Costa Fierro]

RIP Auto Industry Legend: Lee Iacocca, dead at 94.

The article is a good summary of his legacy in the automotive industry, working as an executive at both the Ford Motor Company and the Chrysler Corporation, known for the Ford Mustang, and the K-Car platform that made many Plymouth, Dodge, and Chrysler sedans, coupes, convertibles, wagons, and minivans.

As I said in the Tesla thread, it'd be fitting for a K-platform wagon to take him to his final resting place.

[NeoOasis]

RIP Auto Industry Legend: Lee Iacocca, dead at 94.

The article is a good summary of his legacy in the automotive industry, working as an executive at both the Ford Motor Company and the Chrysler Corporation, known for the Ford Mustang, and the K-Car platform that made many Plymouth, Dodge, and Chrysler sedans, coupes, convertibles, wagons, and minivans.

I'd say that the guy started 90s and 21st century motoring as we know it, with its idea of platform sharing going well beyond one segement.
He was the guy behind the platform underpinning a vast variety of cars - compacts, midsizers, entry-level luxury, personal luxury, sports, minivans, even limousines...

However, the lower cost drive of his days likely set in the cheapening rot that led to Chrysler's loss of independence.

Cheap manufacturing and corner cutting isn't a Lee staple. That's more of a McNamara thing. Chrysler and GM did it as well, but Ford's cost cutting was pretty radical even for the time.

[Cannot think of a name]

For those fans of French niche luxury brands long past, there are a trio of Facel Vegas for sale at Beverley Hills Motorclub, including a slightly bitched up Facelia for $20k. I can't imagine what a hassle finding restoration parts for a Facelia would be like. There's a non-fucked up one on Hemmings for $50k so I'm going to say too high.

[Petrolheadia]

I'd say that the guy started 90s and 21st century motoring as we know it, with its idea of platform sharing going well beyond one segement.
He was the guy behind the platform underpinning a vast variety of cars - compacts, midsizers, entry-level luxury, personal luxury, sports, minivans, even limousines...

However, the lower cost drive of his days likely set in the cheapening rot that led to Chrysler's loss of independence.

Cheap manufacturing and corner cutting isn't a Lee staple. That's more of a McNamara thing. Chrysler and GM did it as well, but Ford's cost cutting was pretty radical even for the time.

Chrysler was no small peanuts either. They ended up upengineering (is that a word?) K-cars to Maseratis and Imperials, and by the 90s had far lower R&D spending than the other Big Three makes.

[Petrolheadia]

On a sidenote, which Iacocca car would you most like to have, and which you would least like to have?

Favourite: Lincoln Continental Mark III. I would love to own a classic American personal luxury coupe, and this might be the segment's gold standard.

Least favourite: Plymouth Reliant coupe. This is one of the cars where less doors = less style, its drivetrain is rather unappealing and it shows why it is so cheap.

[Elwher]

On a sidenote, which Iacocca car would you most like to have, and which you would least like to have?

Favourite: Lincoln Continental Mark III. I would love to own a classic American personal luxury coupe, and this might be the segment's gold standard.

Least favourite: Plymouth Reliant coupe. This is one of the cars where less doors = less style, its drivetrain is rather unappealing and it shows why it is so cheap.

I agree with your least favorite, but the first generation Mustang would be my favorite associated with him, and the GT40, while more of a Shelby project, was also during his tenure and would be my absolute fav.

[Auzkhia]

On a sidenote, which Iacocca car would you most like to have, and which you would least like to have?

Favourite: Lincoln Continental Mark III. I would love to own a classic American personal luxury coupe, and this might be the segment's gold standard.

Least favourite: Plymouth Reliant coupe. This is one of the cars where less doors = less style, its drivetrain is rather unappealing and it shows why it is so cheap.

Any of the minivans, but especially the luxury 1990 Chrysler Town and Country, it was a Voyager/Caravan that looked like a New Yorker.

[Cannot think of a name]

For those of you who have been longing for a well preserved Chevette...

[Elwher]

For those of you who have been longing for a well preserved Chevette...

I has no longing for them new, so...thanks but no thanks.

[Cannot think of a name]

For those of you who have been longing for a well preserved Chevette...

I has no longing for them new, so...thanks but no thanks.

You know you had a fold out of a Chevette pinned to your wall dreaming of that neckbreaking 0-60 time of 'eventually.'

[Elwher]

I has no longing for them new, so...thanks but no thanks.

You know you had a fold out of a Chevette pinned to your wall dreaming of that neckbreaking 0-60 time of 'eventually.'

I'd rather have owned a Yugo...at least that one was so bad it was interesting.

[Petrolheadia]

You know you had a fold out of a Chevette pinned to your wall dreaming of that neckbreaking 0-60 time of 'eventually.'

I'd rather have owned a Yugo...at least that one was so bad it was interesting.

It wasn't bad, more like an ordinary Euro subcompact from the 80s. Same sort of car as the Opel Corsa, VW Polo, Ford Fiesta, Peugeot 205...

[Auzkhia]

You know you had a fold out of a Chevette pinned to your wall dreaming of that neckbreaking 0-60 time of 'eventually.'

I'd rather have owned a Yugo...at least that one was so bad it was interesting.

It was a perfectly adequate cheap car based on a Fiat. A lot of cheap cars were kinda terrible, but it was one of the cheapest cars one could buy.

[NeoMarylandia]

Tesla cars are kind of cool, but I prefer older classic cars. My favorite is the 1960 Chevy Impala.

[Cannot think of a name]

Already at more than I'd ever spend but I like GTV6s and a Calloway turbo'd one would be fun until it breaks.

[Novus America]

Tesla cars are kind of cool, but I prefer older classic cars. My favorite is the 1960 Chevy Impala.

The 60 Impala is a beautiful car. As far as looks I would say 1955 to 1965 is the best.
But they simply did not have the technology.
If only we kept the same style but with modern tech.

[NeoMarylandia]

Tesla cars are kind of cool, but I prefer older classic cars. My favorite is the 1960 Chevy Impala.

The 60 Impala is a beautiful car. As far as looks I would say 1955 to 1965 is the best.
But they simply did not have the technology.
If only we kept the same style but with modern tech.

That would be cool!

[The Two Jerseys]

Tesla cars are kind of cool, but I prefer older classic cars. My favorite is the 1960 Chevy Impala.

I want one of those just because of the jet/rocket flying down the side.

[NeoOasis]

I'd rather have owned a Yugo...at least that one was so bad it was interesting.

It was a perfectly adequate cheap car based on a Fiat. A lot of cheap cars were kinda terrible, but it was one of the cheapest cars one could buy.

A lot of cheap cars were road legal in the US on release... unlike the Yugo which apparently catastrophically failed all emissions test. And cheap cars tended to have interiors that matched... unlike Yugo which had supply issues due to some political issues. Doesn't help that the Yugo could barely keep up with traffic. Maybe it was adequate compared to other domestics, but I wouldn't take it over anything Japanese.

(Also Yugo sold far more than a token quantity in the US... that's impressive.)

[Auzkhia]

Tesla cars are kind of cool, but I prefer older classic cars. My favorite is the 1960 Chevy Impala.

I like the 1996 one a lot better.

Mind you, I have a soft spot for the W-body ones, both SS versions are cool too.

[Cannot think of a name]

Anyone got $60k to spend on an Italian sports car with an American engine that everyone will think is a weird body kit on a Vette?

[Novus America]

Tesla cars are kind of cool, but I prefer older classic cars. My favorite is the 1960 Chevy Impala.

I like the 1996 one a lot better.

Mind you, I have a soft spot for the W-body ones, both SS versions are cool too.

1996? It was completely bland and unremarkable. A functional car, but one that looked like pretty much all other mid range mid 90s meh sedans..

[Auzkhia]

I like the 1996 one a lot better.

Mind you, I have a soft spot for the W-body ones, both SS versions are cool too.

1996? It was completely bland and unremarkable. A functional car, but one that looked like pretty much all other mid range mid 90s meh sedans..

94-96: It was a performance Caprice, in the way that a Marauder was to the Grand Marquis, a few years later.