Lot of 'apples and oranges' comparisons going on here.The Studebaker was built of steel and looks like a ladder frame under the coachwork instead of that unibody crap of now that came out in the late 50s. Put MODERN metalurgy into that frame, body and engine, computer controlled engine management with fuel injection instead of a carburetor and points, plugs, and condenser, and see what it could do.
And no power windows; roll the window down with a handle on the door. Add A/C and power steering, and GPS, and a multispeed manual trans of 6 speeds, or an auto trans of 6 speeds, and see what happens.
Comparing engines from back then to engines now is pretty retrograde intelligence, especially since you could rebuild one on a weekend in your garage back then. Been there, done that, and helped a lot of friends do that. And a clutch, pressure plate, and throwout bearing replacement on that manual transmission was a pretty easy Saturday afternoon job. Try THAT with one built after 1973, I dare ya!
“I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer” ― Douglas Adams
You can keep the computerized crap - but I'm with you on the metallurgy - vastly improved. In my part of California, most people didn't buy A/C equipped cars as there was no need for them - but here in Florida? Uh, yea!
-Zorba, "The Veiled Male"
"If you get it and didn't work for it, someone else worked for it and didn't get it..."
@zorba Don't forgot that many of the items on the cars are legally mandated and much different in other countries. Take a the VW UP versus the Golf.
Granted the Golf is a much larger car. The Up is the size of the old VW rabbit from the late 1970s. The Golf is nearly half a ton heaviers at 3300 pounds. The Up weighs around 2400, a bit lighter than the Scotsman, and gets close to 60mpg. You can't get it in the US.
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. Winston Churchill
@zorba Don't forgot that many of the items on the cars are legally mandated and much different in other countries. Take a the VW UP versus the Golf.
Granted the Golf is a much larger car. The Up is the size of the old VW rabbit from the late 1970s. The Golf is nearly half a ton heaviers at 3300 pounds. The Up weighs around 2400, a bit lighter than the Scotsman, and gets close to 60mpg. You can't get it in the US.
Oh, don't I know. That is the "other half" of the problem, and a detested half at that. I'm sick and tired beyond all description of the Cradle to Grave Nanny State.
My dad had a '77 Rabbit - he didn't have a good experience with it, but that's neither here nor there - it was fine for what it was. "Golf" has always been a stupid name for a car, but whatever. My wife and I had a '96 Passat TDI. Loved it and its over 50 MPG mileage - but we didn't have a good experience with it either - kinda similar to what my dad dealt with. The engine was great - the "technology" wasn't. And I don't think VW knows how to make an idler pulley with a decent bearing, or such was my experience and what I've read on the 'net.
-Zorba, "The Veiled Male"
"If you get it and didn't work for it, someone else worked for it and didn't get it..."
Replies
― Douglas Adams
Granted the Golf is a much larger car. The Up is the size of the old VW rabbit from the late 1970s. The Golf is nearly half a ton heaviers at 3300 pounds. The Up weighs around 2400, a bit lighter than the Scotsman, and gets close to 60mpg. You can't get it in the US.
Winston Churchill