Re: Packard Motor Company returns...sorta...

Nate Nagel wrote:
> 
> Aardwolf <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> > Nate Nagel wrote:
> >
> > > Aardwolf wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > > Ennui Society wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >>Does Bugatti Veynon 16.4 count as ugly "relaunched" marquee? It looked
> > > >>pretty exotic.
> > > >>
> > > >>I think DaimlerChrysler doesn't do excellent job with Maybach marquee
> > > >>which is none other than spiffy version of old S-Class chassis. Had they
> > > >>  redone the car in its own design rather than borrowing from
> > > >>Mercedes-Benz, I might change my thoughts.
> > > >>
> > > >>Pity about the redesigned Avanti on GM F-body chassis. They ought to
> > > >>stick with original Studebaker Avanti with some updates proposed by
> > > >>Raymond Loewy.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I should have clarified that.  What I meant by "relaunched marque" was the 
> > > > idea that
> > > > some outfit someplace would buy the name of a long-dead company, cobble 
> > > > together some
> > > > half-assed homebuilt product using bits and pieces that were already available 
> > > > and sell
> > > > it to rich poseurs with no sense of style simply because it's "exclusive".  
> > > > Bugatti
> > > > doesn't count, it was supposed to be exotic, and a competent product.  Maybach 
> > > > doesn't
> > > > count either, it also is a serious product, actually built by an auto 
> > > > manufacturer.
> > > > Avanti most certainly does count, it's just a Firebird chassis with a 
> > > > needlessly large
> > > > pile of money sitting on it in vaguely Avanti-shaped form.  A refined and 
> > > > stylish
> > > > luxury automobile?  You're driving a friggin' Trans Am!
> > > >
> > > > --Aardwolf.
> > > >
> > >
> > > The original Studebaker Avanti was not particularly refined either,
> > > luxury pretensions notwithstanding.  That doesn't mean that they aren't
> > > a kick in the ass to drive though or that I don't want one badly...
> > >
> > > nate
> >
> > But it was a serious, bona-fide automobile from a real manufacturer.  And it had 
> > some pretty
> > sophisticated tricks for the early '60s--disc brakes and a rear stabilizer bar for 
> > instance.
> > Not to mention real, bona fide style, right down to the detailing.  They managed 
> > to get a
> > pretty large amount of power out of 304 cubic inches, too, even if almost no cars 
> > were ever
> > ordered with those particular engines. (FWIW, I actually like the looks of the last
> > Hawks
> 
> Yuck! (aardwolf likes old guy cars... aardwolf likes old guy cars...
> :P)
> 
> Well, the fact that *some* people like them I guess is success enough,
> I'm sure not everyone likes '54 Commander Starliners either (although
> I suspect those people of lacking souls)
> 
> > --either those or the '55 Speedsters were the best looking ones, as far as I'm
> > concerned.)
> >
> 
> I'll agree with you there, so long as you graft a '54 nose on it.  The
> dash and instruments of a Speedster could be a model for "how to lay
> out a plain yet elegant and functional instrument panel."  Right up
> there with the early Porsche 911 IMHO.  And besides, I've got a thing
> for leather seats.
> 
> nate


The real Avanti is a spunky looking thing:
http://motormarket.orcon.net.nz/1963studebakeravanti.htm