Barnstormin': Were the Big Three Really That Good?

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Barnstormin': Were the Big Three Really That Good?

The big 3 were definitely arrogant back in the 60's and 70's. The cars of the muscle car era weren't that great either. The quality control sucked backed then. Go to a show and asked a guy who ordered one how many problems the car had when he picked it up at the dealer. I read one article where the 65 GTO convertible this guy ordered had 47 things wrong with it. That more than qualifies it as a lemon by today's standards. The shit they tried to shove on us in the 70's was proof of their arrogance. What a bunch of heaps. When the Japanese started importing cars in real numbers, Americans got to see what a reliable, well built car was supposed to be, not what the Big 3 tried to tell us one was. They paid for it. Not only were they not prepared for the emissions regs, but they actually believed no Americans would like Japanese cars. Maybe, they should've sent some guys to Japan to see what was going on. They did, eventually, in the 80's. Too late, they had to play catch up. Don't get me started on the Big 3 not seeing the gas crisis of 73 and 75 coming. They knew it, and ignored it, just like they did three years ago. What's pathetic about this is that they've haven't learned a damn thing in the last thirty years of mistakes.

[BOWTIE6872]

Re: Barnstormin': Were the Big Three Really That Good?

The big 3 were definitely arrogant back in the 60's and 70's. The cars of the muscle car era weren't that great either. The quality control sucked backed then. Go to a show and asked a guy who ordered one how many problems the car had when he picked it up at the dealer. I read one article where the 65 GTO convertible this guy ordered had 47 things wrong with it. That more than qualifies it as a lemon by today's standards. The shit they tried to shove on us in the 70's was proof of their arrogance. What a bunch of heaps. When the Japanese started importing cars in real numbers, Americans got to see what a reliable, well built car was supposed to be, not what the Big 3 tried to tell us one was. They paid for it. Not only were they not prepared for the emissions regs, but they actually believed no Americans would like Japanese cars. Maybe, they should've sent some guys to Japan to see what was going on. They did, eventually, in the 80's. Too late, they had to play catch up. Don't get me started on the Big 3 not seeing the gas crisis of 73 and 75 coming. They knew it, and ignored it, just like they did three years ago. What's pathetic about this is that they've haven't learned a damn thing in the last thirty years of mistakes.

sorry.. rev
we the buying puplic ignored the gas crunch #1 and #2
and we failed to remember those days untill a few years ago..
the car makers only , gave us what we wanted..
big cars/big suvs and trucks..
as proof, look at how much bigger the import car companies cars/truck have got'n..
if there wasn't a market for it.. they'd not try to get in on the action..
sorry,, IT is WE that ignored the gas issues. of the 70's
and we are the ones that didn't learn from it..

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Barnstormin': Were the Big Three Really That Good?

That's also true. But how is it that Toyota and Honda had cars ready to go when the most recent gas crisis hit and GM only had big gas guzzlers?

[horsewidower]

Re: Barnstormin': Were the Big Three Really That Good?

That's also true. But how is it that Toyota and Honda had cars ready to go when the most recent gas crisis hit and GM only had big gas guzzlers?

The car market had already pretty much been ceded to imports. They were making big bucks on the SUV truck market, they didn't need cars. It was pretty short sighted, but they were giving the consumer what they wanted in the most profitable platform. Far more margin on a truck or SUV then on a car.

Bob