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Are Old Car Models Still Produced?
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#1
 
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Are Old Car Models Still Produced? -
08-06-2003
, 03:21 PM
#2
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Is that so for most car models? I mean if I am looking for, say for example, a 1991 BMW 3-series or 1989 Honda civic, the same model is produced brand new somewhere in world? Or was this a "special case" for VW Bugs? |
precedent.
Back when it was a current model worldwide, the Beetle was
produced in Mexico and Brazil as well as at the Wolfsburg
factory. It's still being made in Mexico because it's a
good vehicle for Third World markets: inexpensive to buy,
operate and maintain, not to mention simple and rugged
enough to endure local conditions. Those are the very
qualities which ensured its success in postwar Europe, in
fact.
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I thought that car manufacturers make 1990 cars in 1990, 1995 cars in 1995, 2000 cars in 2000, etc., and that is it... no more production. |
very similar to those of a decade or three ago, but they're
still nominally 2003 models. The German-produced ones that
were sold in the Sixties and Seventies didn't differ much
from one year to the next, either, but there were still
discrete production-year designations.
By the way, you can identify a Mexican-produced Beetle by its
front turn signals; they're incorporated into the bumper
instead of perching atop the front fenders. There are probably
other detail differences as well, but that's the one I've
spotted in photos.
Geoff
--
If you want peace, work for superior firepower.
#3
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| keseko <keseko2000 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> writes: Is that so for most car models? I mean if I am looking for, say for example, a 1991 BMW 3-series or 1989 Honda civic, the same model is produced brand new somewhere in world? Or was this a "special case" for VW Bugs? It's a special case for VW Beetles, although it isn't without precedent. Back when it was a current model worldwide, the Beetle was produced in Mexico and Brazil as well as at the Wolfsburg factory. It's still being made in Mexico because it's a good vehicle for Third World markets: inexpensive to buy, operate and maintain, not to mention simple and rugged enough to endure local conditions. Those are the very qualities which ensured its success in postwar Europe, in fact. I thought that car manufacturers make 1990 cars in 1990, 1995 cars in 1995, 2000 cars in 2000, etc., and that is it... no more production. Well, the Beetles coming off the line in Mexico today may be very similar to those of a decade or three ago, but they're still nominally 2003 models. The German-produced ones that were sold in the Sixties and Seventies didn't differ much from one year to the next, either, but there were still discrete production-year designations. By the way, you can identify a Mexican-produced Beetle by its front turn signals; they're incorporated into the bumper instead of perching atop the front fenders. There are probably other detail differences as well, but that's the one I've spotted in photos. |
version of the Sentra there as well as the US 1991-1994 version as the
Tsuru. I can only wonder why.
http://www.nissantsuru.com.mx/index.html
#4
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It isn't just Volkswagen in Mexico either. Nissan produces the current version of the Sentra there as well as the US 1991-1994 version as the Tsuru. I can only wonder why. |
magazine) that said some old British models are still being produced
in India and Pakistan for reasons similar to those for continued
Beetle I production. I forget what car it was, though.
Emanuel
--
http://home.att.net/~epbrown01/1966-rolls.jpg
http://home.att.net/~epbrown01/1983-porsche.jpg
#5
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There was a recent article in Practical Classics (a UK classic car magazine) that said some old British models are still being produced in India and Pakistan for reasons similar to those for continued Beetle I production. I forget what car it was, though. |
It's the Hindustan Ambassador, which is based on the 1948
Morris Oxford:
http://www.yuvrajgroup.com/products/ambasdor.htm
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~FS7S-KNUZ/E-Amba.html
Despite the car's styling, the interior is reasonably up to
date. I wouldn't mind having one of the things, preferably
a diesel. It'd make a good commute car, not to mention a
conversation piece.
_Practical Classics_ is a very good magazine. It's one of
my favorite car mags.
Geoff
--
If you want peace, work for superior firepower.
#6
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The rear air cooled engined VW Beetles produced in Mexico were not 60's and 70's version. It just seems that way because unlike every other car, the body style and engine changed only in minor ways. That a car is produced for such a long time while changing very little is very special and astonishing case. Especially considering the only reason production stopped is because the Mexican government started caring about air quality. Were it not for that it might have been produced for yet another fiftyfive years. Nowhere in the world will you find a similar case for any other car. |
Other examples are quite numerous, although not quite as long-lived as
the Beetle. It was not entirely without changes though, the last versions
had fuel injection and other modern conveniences. There were many, many,
many detail changes throughout the Beetle's German lifespan too.
Did you know that the Mk I Golf is still in production in my country?
(South Africa).
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No one would be able to sell a newly made 1989 version of a Honda Civic profitably anywhere. They are not made. |
of older cars still being sold around the world. Off the top of my head
there are the two afore-mentioned, the Maruti (produced in India, it's a
late-80s Suzuki), the Romaninan Dacia (which may also just have stopped
being produced) was a Renault 12 basically, the Citroen ZX is built by a
company in China (not badged as such of course), another Hindustan, the
Contessa, is based on a 1972 Vauxhall Victor, etc etc etc. The reasons
why these cars can be and are produced still is that the cost of the
basic bodyshells and other bits (yes, that's a technical term ;-) have
long since been amortised and the only expenses come in keeping up with
legislation - either safety or emissions.
Ciao
Zak
--
================================================== ======================
http://www.carfolio.com/ Searchable database of 10 000+ car specs
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#7
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On Thu, 07 Aug 2003 19:35:35 +0200, Artist <"Artist" artist (AT) sj (DOT) artist.com>> wrote: The rear air cooled engined VW Beetles produced in Mexico were not 60's and 70's version. It just seems that way because unlike every other car, the body style and engine changed only in minor ways. That a car is produced for such a long time while changing very little is very special and astonishing case. Especially considering the only reason production stopped is because the Mexican government started caring about air quality. Were it not for that it might have been produced for yet another fiftyfive years. Nowhere in the world will you find a similar case for any other car. Well you're wrong, sorry. See the Hindustan Ambassador mentioned before. Other examples are quite numerous, although not quite as long-lived as the Beetle. It was not entirely without changes though, the last versions had fuel injection and other modern conveniences. There were many, many, many detail changes throughout the Beetle's German lifespan too. Did you know that the Mk I Golf is still in production in my country? (South Africa). No one would be able to sell a newly made 1989 version of a Honda Civic profitably anywhere. They are not made. Although for that specific case you are correct, but there are a number of older cars still being sold around the world. Off the top of my head there are the two afore-mentioned, the Maruti (produced in India, it's a late-80s Suzuki), the Romaninan Dacia (which may also just have stopped being produced) was a Renault 12 basically, the Citroen ZX is built by a company in China (not badged as such of course), another Hindustan, the Contessa, is based on a 1972 Vauxhall Victor, etc etc etc. The reasons why these cars can be and are produced still is that the cost of the basic bodyshells and other bits (yes, that's a technical term ;-) have long since been amortised and the only expenses come in keeping up with legislation - either safety or emissions. Ciao Zak |
production for the South American market until the early 1990's ...
is so?
--
~~Philip
cantankerous | kan-TANG-kruss | adjective: difficult or irritating to
deal with.
Example: Philip was always cantankerous in the morning, given to
snapping
and snarling until he'd had his first cup of coffee and a soothing
hot shower.
#8
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Informative post, Zak. Thanks. I have heard that the Frazer was in production for the South American market until the early 1990's ... is so? |
1972. I am quite probably wrong on this though!
Ciao
Zak
--
================================================== ======================
http://www.carfolio.com/ Searchable database of 10 000+ car specs
================================================== ======================
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