SRT Division shutdown?
I often wonder... looking back, seems like my favorite car designs were mid 60s through early 70s. For me, Mopar 68-70 b-bodies, 67-73 a-bodies, and the e-bodies. Chevy had Camaro, Nova, and Chevelle. Ford had Mustang, Fairlane, and Galaxy. And when I saw any of these, I instantly knew what it was. They had personality. Do kids growing up now think about anything like I or we did?
I like the new Challenger ok. My first car in 1971 was a 68 Charger R/T so I am partial to that body style, and while the latest Chargers look good to me, I would struggle to want one because it's a 4 door. I like the first retro Camaro body style, but after those were updated, I didn't like them as much. The Mustangs have gotten better looking to me, but they're everywhere.
Now I would prefer the looks of retro cars instead of 600+ horsepower cars. And why not use the Plymouth name? Road Runner, GTX, Cuda, and Duster? And use the very identifiable body lines and roof lines. I loved them.
Just my .02
Most want a car that needs zero maintenance, and looks good to impress their friends.
Now days many struggle put the correct fuel in their vehicles, drive without phones, live with their parents (? Parents insurance???), do not negotiate at the dealer, often drive with several wrecks in their experience, have been known to sleep while their Tesla drives them on the highway, never consider checking: (oil, tire air, coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid levels-EVER!), they don’t know how many gears their transmission has, or know how many cylinders their engine has, or liter displacement, whether or not they can tow with an I4, or 3 liter V6, which vehicles consumer reports and others say steer clear from, know what a near flat tire looks like...
I hate to say it, but they are like domesticated livestock, and we are more of the past as a bucking, hell raising, thinking animal in comparison.
Even the testosterone filled youth often start with a 4 cylinder or 6 cylinder vehicle.
An engine with a sharp spike at the end of the Dyno graph RPM range where for 300 RPM’s they have 600 horsepower!...
The moment they experience torque, they mustang or Hell-Cat their way into a crowd or obstacle.
When was the last time you saw a guy drive on two side wheels?
A young person that could punch it and lift the front end of their car? AND keep it straight, safe?
Every time some young family member asks me something vehicular related, I realize they are at square one. ‘A car has 4 wheels and takes me places.’
Maybe motorcycle people besides us classic car guys are the last to enjoy the drive, BECAUSE of the car!
