Gifs Show How Great Cars Evolved Or Just Got Enormous These Awesome Gifs Show How Great Cars Evolved ? Or Just Got Enormous you don't rely appreciate how cars have grown over their lifespans till you see these
You a website that does Americans too? Then one that does the story of the Incredible Shrinking Airplane Seat.
That was really interesting. I watched the Accord one over a couple times, watch the back door where it starts with a large cutout for the rear wheel and ends with the back door totally away from the wheel.
There's a guy who parks his old Suburban (mid seventies) and Smart car next to each other on the street and both are done with an identical two tone silver blue paint job! It's hysterical.
I saw a first gen 911 driving around today, here in São Paulo, which is extremely rare, and was once again surprised at just how small the car is compared to what's on the street today. Even my BMW 635 surprises me as it seems huge when I drive it or look at it alone, due to the long hood, but once I park it near any modern car it shows just how small it actually is given it was based on the e28 chassis....
I imagine it's to add room for all the wires and computers. When I was a Jag tech, my friend had an 05 XJ, one week old, come in for a tail lamp bulb being out. He chased it for a day and located an open wire somewhere in the harness inside the car. He ended up having to gut the interior completely, seats, dash, carpet, everything. I couldn't believe how big that wiring harness was, or how the hell they got it in the car. Warranty paid somewhere around 7-9 hours, I think it took him two days to get it replaced.
So jm2 might have more of an insight into this that most. I guess I assume the reason cars grow is for safety reasons. Can this be reversed safely? Beyond that, is there a market for a smaller car or are they huge because that's what the people want?
No company ever stayed in business building things the buyers didn't want. the public votes with their wallets & credit cards. The size issue is due to a number of factors besides what the market demands.Certainly safety is part of the equation, but adding up all the options, features,electronics,etc. contribute to making things larger. All those things have to be packaged somewhere.And let's not forget the human anatomy is growing in size. We aren't as small as former generations. When you factor in all the safety items i.e. airbags,foam, all the sections in the vehicle grow. Creeping weight is the enemy of all car programs. Some companies deal with it more effectively than others. There has to be a fanatical obsession with every part and what it's weight is. The Cadillac ATS & the new CTS are examples that if there is a focus on weight, cars can be lighter than they used to be. It's much easier to make something larger than making something smaller. Cellphone mfg. learned this early on.
The mustang one was really interesting. You see the wheelbase grow markedly. then in the latest genration hood height grows hugely. Its those euro pedestrian safety regs, gives us ugly front ends and high hoods/beltlines. The 3 series was even worse, after the e46 I was like WTF.
That's not it really... Look at American cars. They grew and grew through the 70's or so and then began to shrink. They are now much smaller and much safer.
Here's a pic with my 308 next to a Honda Fit (or a compact car in the same class as one): Image Unavailable, Please Login
Was driving my E type & it felt like I was in a Lotus Exige. All these stupid giant SUVs everywhere felt like a mongoose in a herd if elephants. Got to keep out of their way , luckily she's still fast
Yeah but... in many cases the parking stall widths haven't changed. Although, in some cases, the code has (increasing from 8.5" to 9' wide). However, there's no enforcement. City of Orlando ORDINANCE NO. 2010-33 Lots of big door-banging SUVs in the Walmart parking lot, and the strip malls as well. BTW, there was another thread here that had comparative photos posted, but I couldn't find it.
Was driving around this weekend & came upon a huge gaggle of Austin Healeys (though nary a Sprite in the bunch). Those things made my "little" Z3 look ginormous.
Whenever I see a pic of a modern sportscar with the driver framed in the window, he seems child-like compared to that same pic in an older sportscar. Here's a few side-by-side comparisons of some mass market classics and their modern retro counterparts. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
