[DMCForum] Re: alternative fuels...

["content22207" <brobertson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ah yes, the great K car -- the car that saved Chrysler.

Bullshit. Lee Iacoca (using free federal money) threw away everything
that predated his tenure and decided to reinvent the wheel. Venerable
designs such as the Slant 6 were hastily replaced by an all aluminum 4
(which apparently was designed to implode at 80,001 miles, just after
the warranty expired). A sideways transmission was also cobbled
together, to implode alongside its powerplant. Given the computer
controlled carburetor that sat on top (unlike the starter motor, which
was sandwiched BETWEEN them), it's a wonder any K cars made it that far.

As soon as Chrysler purchased AMC, whose engineers promptly took over
all design functions such as the cab forward models, the Neon project,
and Dakota/Durango, the K car people were shuffled off to one side to
eek out some forgetable products from that tired platform, and: The
minivan! BTW: Chrysler did not invent the minivan. Volkswagen did it
in 1955. A minivan is nothing more than a van like body superimposed
on an automobile chassis. The Type II bus was built on a Bug I-beam.
Wheelbases are 100% identical. Both shared the same engine (bus
transmission was slightly different). Chrysler no more invented the
minivan than Subaru invented the sport utility wagon (AMC holds that
honor with its Eagle wagons, one of which figures prominently in BTTF
1). Makes little difference -- original minivans were no more reliable
than their K car predecessors.

Lee Iacoca is a shameless self promoter. He is a MARKETING man, not a
car designer. The Mustang was conceived by now forgotten little people
(engineers). Iacoca wanted to fire them when he found out what they
conjured up behind his back, then he realized that the damn thing -- a
dressed up Falcon, complete with its quite pedestrian inline 6 --
would sell. Nothing lights a marketing man's fire more than a saleable
product, especially when he can pass it off as his own. Henry Ford II
finally had the good sense to fire him. 

John DeLorean he is not.

Anyway, back to the K. Don't know how many of them are still on the
road. I haven't seen one in a decade or so. Did a web search using "K
cars still on road" and came up with an owners' club that claims "pre
1985 models are almost impossible to find" (contrast that with
Deloreans). There are 5 Aries/Reliants on eBay right now -- exactly
the same number as DeLoreans (not counting the airport tug, which uses
a Slant 6 BTW).

FWIW: There are a slew of AMC's on eBay. I know of 3 real Eagles still
on the road right here in little ol' Laurinburg, and one hornet. No
Gremlins (sorry Dave), but my real Spirit is nothing more than a
reskinned Gremlin. Better interior though.

Bill Robertson
#5939

>--- In DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "timnagin" <timnagin@...> wrote:
>
> Huh. I thought their turbine engines were quiet, and the only really bad
> thing was melting the asphalt under the tail pipe due to heat.  I
found a
> website on the turbine cars some time ago but don't know where it is
now.
> Hopefully Dave will chime in.
> 
>  
> 
> I saw an episode of My Classic Car recently, I think, where they
were going
> to drive one of the cars.  When he fired the turbine up there was a
clunk
> and it stopped.  Hopefully the engine wasn't destroyed.
> 
>  
> 
> mmmmmmm. K-cars.  :-)
> 
> Greg
> 
>  
> 
>   _____  
> 
> From: DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf
> Of content22207
> Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 9:07 PM
> To: DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [DMCForum] Re: alternative fuels...
> 
>  
> 
> If I remember correctly the cars were terribly loud and not especially
> fast.
> 
> Of course those were the first generation. Chrysler kept experimenting
> with turbines until Lee Iacoca took over. Rumor has it they were on
> the verge of a "Version 5" or some such -- much improved over the
> 1960's test vehicles -- and were finalizing tooling for a production
> run when Iacoca killed it, probably in favor of K cars. Yet more
> genius from the man who ostensibly brought us the Mustang (bullshit).
> 
> If turbine technology were to be revived, it would be perfectly happy
> running vegetable oil. 
> 
> Biodiesel is the wave of the future because:
> - We can grow as many soybeans as necessary right here, on our own
> soil, and finally get out of the Middle East 
> - What is basically a monopoly of refining capacity will be broken
> (anybody can crush and refine vegetable oil)
> - Vegetable oil is non-toxic and fairly non-flammable
> - Byproducts of combustion are much less damaging to the environment
> 
> I will miss my gasoline engines, but even I can see their days are
> numbered.
> 
> Bill Robertson
> #5939
> 
> >--- In DMCForum@yahoogroup <mailto:DMCForum%40yahoogroups.com> s.com,
> "timnagin" <timnagin@> wrote:
> >
> > Why wasn't the Chrysler Turbine user friendly? I thought it
required no
> > maintenance and to just be fed by the consumers who were allowed
to road
> > test the car.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > If the H2 becomes available with a diesel I will club baby seals and
> burn my
> > carbon credits to get one. :-) The sticker price here has jumped
> up almost
> > $10k on the H2 and they can't keep 'em in stock.
> > 
> > Greg
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > _____ 
> > 
> > From: DMCForum@yahoogroup <mailto:DMCForum%40yahoogroups.com> s.com
> [mailto:DMCForum@yahoogroup <mailto:DMCForum%40yahoogroups.com>
s.com] On
> Behalf
> > Of content22207
> > Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 5:36 PM
> > To: DMCForum@yahoogroup <mailto:DMCForum%40yahoogroups.com> s.com
> > Subject: [DMCForum] Re: alternative fuels...
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Chrysler tried this already in the 1960's. Wasn't user friendly at
> > all. MPG's were terrible IIRC. Turbines will run on pretty much
> > anything -- that's true.
> > 
> > Bio-Diesel is the fuel of the future.
> > 
> > Of course all the fuel in the world won't solve gridlock or the aging
> > of our driving population.
> > 
> > Bill Robertson
> > #5939
> > 
> > >--- In DMCForum@yahoogroup <mailto:DMCForum%40yahoogroups.com> s.com,
> > "timnagin" <timnagin@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Check out this article. The actual magazine has pretty pictures
> > though this
> > > link does not.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > http://www.fastcomp
> > <http://www.fastcomp
> <http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/120/motorhead-messiah.html>
> any.com/magazine/120/motorhead-messiah.html>
> > any.com/magazine/120/motorhead-messiah.html
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Greg
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>




 
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