A brief overview of what I see:
I'd like to compare the early 70s to now. Then, I'm going to compare today to 1981, then I will compare 2012 to 1981. Then beyond.
In 1973 gas crisis and emissions put a damper on people to start driving some more conservative vehicles. Those vehicles were boring, and even to the point of killing the heart of the automotive industry: The Convertible.
Did you know that in the late 70s to the early 80s - No one made a convertible in this country? Cars were regarded, as my dad was happy to report - Dead. Since 1968 the heart was lost, and those days were over. The queen was Dead, long live the Computer !
Compare and Contrast the early 70s, early 80s and early Century: Gas prices and emissions kick in, put the heat on and everyone throws up their arms and says "The sky is falling!" IT happens all the time. I remember (Being older than you fuckin children here) when Connecticut was to adapt California emissions and we weren't ever going to have a modified car EVER ! And I remember when they were going to "take my Formula away for being too poluting". Did they ? Hardly. And this continues today.
When they banned stereo systems in my town (They did) I had a 1200 watt thumper that I thought for sure was going to get me in trouble. Did it ? No. In fact, cops used to ask me to demostrate it for them, then let me move on. Same will come of these new "no-mod" laws.
That said, lets talk about fuel prices - AGAIN. It's the hottest issue right now, and everyone, everywhere is talking about them. I've been though this before. I remember moving from New Hampshire to Connecticut and seeing $1.45 prices, thinking "Oh my god, I can't actually afford this !" and I even got a bicycle and started looking for jobs near my house.
But you know what happened ? I made it through. I adapted. I did it on the same money ($10 an hour in 1996). I still bought cigarrettes (When they go above $3.50, I'm quitting.. for real) and things went on the same. I stopped going to the bar ... so much
. That was my adaptation.
So I lived through 1981, as a kid, and I lived through 1995, and I'll live through this too.
If you read any of this, read this right here:
Look back in your old Car magazines and try to put yourself in the era. As the cost of things go up, things tend to get a little... conservative. In the mid 70s when we started to welcome Japanese cars to the US, they were made fun of. Little econo-shit boxes that were embarrassing to drive. Then look into the 80s when Puerto Ricans used to make lowriders and hot little sporty sleds. Then into the 90s when we REALLY started to do some amazing things with these cars. That took over 20 years to come to reality, But I think next time will be different. Here is our next comparison:
Today, fuel prices are outrageous, but we have some hope for the future. To me, talk about buying an Insight or Prius is foolish - my 4Runner even gets 30mpg. But after looking at the other list of cars out today, I can see that it's a REAL difference. We've gotten lazy in our engineering and we have accepted cars that get shitty mileage. I think that automakers can do SERIOUSLY better than they do today. Old Maximas used to be 120 hp, but got 30mpg. New ones are what... 290 hp and guzzle 19 mpg? YEah, we're looking at 1969
all over again. Cars will get more conservative, lose the power, and become (just like in the 70s) Boring and not as awe-inspiring. We can see that now with some cars. Then the Prius / Insight thing is just like introducing the Corolla to the US in 1973. It's not a "real" car and we feel that nothing about it justifies it's price tag. We won't buy.
But you wait - Just wait 5 more years. You'll see so many hybrids out there that take less and less juice, and go faster and faster. Lighter weight wheels, some hotter design influences and the like. You'll go from 1973 Corolla KE20 to 1977 Corolla SR-5 Rally edition KE27. The cars will grow into the situation. Then, when prices level off more and we are making more (Just like in 1979) you'll start to find the real excitement to return in FULL swing - You'll see 60mpg cars with 300+ hp. Then, in 2012, when we return to the peak of fuel production and gasoline shoots to $10 a gallon, you'll see another twist - Puerto Ricans starting a craze of modifying electric-hybrids and hydrogen powered electric cars. Then in 2018 you'll have teenagers (YOUR teenagers) in their garages swapping
Ono-Sendai hydrogen Bullet motors into their
2014 Fuji-Honda AWD Ballade WRCs.
Isn't that a brighter future painted for us all ?
This isn't just some psuedo-confident painting of the future, this is by looking at trends and history - To get a solid idea of the future. We won't be cruising the wastelands with helmets and spears taking the Juice from camps and road warriors. We will adapt.
You couldn't imagine the horror people back then would have when hearing what we're doing today.
The best is yet to come. Stay Tune®d
-> Steve