Comments on: 10 Automotive Turkeys http://blog.collectorcarads.com/10-automotive-turkeys/11/2010/ Articles, pictures, videos and observations about classic cars Thu, 17 May 2012 07:08:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: D. Yaros http://blog.collectorcarads.com/10-automotive-turkeys/11/2010/comment-page-1/#comment-2749 D. Yaros Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:52:03 +0000 http://blog.collectorcarads.com/?p=540#comment-2749 I feel qualified to comment on your "turkeys," having owned 2 of them; a 1973 AMC Gremlin and a 1976 Ford Pinto. I understand that AMC slapped cars together with whatever parts they had on hand. That being so, they did function fairly well. Longevity was, obviously, not their strong suit. Ergo the 'rarer than hen's teeth' status today. As for the Pinto, it was reliable, economical, practical and easy to repair. When I sold mine it had a mere 185,000 miles on it! And Ralph Nader notwithstanding, reports of them blowing up are just that, reports. More fiction than fact. For my perspective on the collector car hobby, monthly, take a look online at Car Collector Chronicles. It is free, has no ads, and cover all aspects of the hobby. Find it here - <a href="http://www.scribd.com/people/view/7936333-dave" rel="nofollow">CCC</a> I feel qualified to comment on your “turkeys,” having owned 2 of them; a 1973 AMC Gremlin and a 1976 Ford Pinto.

I understand that AMC slapped cars together with whatever parts they had on hand. That being so, they did function fairly well. Longevity was, obviously, not their strong suit. Ergo the ‘rarer than hen’s teeth’ status today.

As for the Pinto, it was reliable, economical, practical and easy to repair. When I sold mine it had a mere 185,000 miles on it! And Ralph Nader notwithstanding, reports of them blowing up are just that, reports. More fiction than fact.

For my perspective on the collector car hobby, monthly, take a look online at Car Collector Chronicles. It is free, has no ads, and cover all aspects of the hobby. Find it here -
CCC

]]> By: Seal http://blog.collectorcarads.com/10-automotive-turkeys/11/2010/comment-page-1/#comment-2724 Seal Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:23:28 +0000 http://blog.collectorcarads.com/?p=540#comment-2724 Well I have fond memories of the Pinto! I was just a wee young lad at the time, and my Mom and I would tool around town in her metallic brown Pinto in the early-80's. I still remember the strawberry air freshener hanging in the mirror and listening to Abracadabra on the radio. And just about burning my hand when I was curious enough to touch the muffler after a drive, lol!... When my Mom sold it, the car needed some valve work. But a mechanic who did valve work bought it, so just as well. Well I have fond memories of the Pinto! I was just a wee young lad at the time, and my Mom and I would tool around town in her metallic brown Pinto in the early-80’s. I still remember the strawberry air freshener hanging in the mirror and listening to Abracadabra on the radio. And just about burning my hand when I was curious enough to touch the muffler after a drive, lol!… When my Mom sold it, the car needed some valve work. But a mechanic who did valve work bought it, so just as well.

]]> By: compact cars http://blog.collectorcarads.com/10-automotive-turkeys/11/2010/comment-page-1/#comment-2722 compact cars Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:08:35 +0000 http://blog.collectorcarads.com/?p=540#comment-2722 Every mistake of a man inspires him to find the next best solution. So the turkeys in the automobile industry doesn't means that it has failed but it makes the way for the improved and higher quality version. Every mistake of a man inspires him to find the next best solution. So the turkeys in the automobile industry doesn’t means that it has failed but it makes the way for the improved and higher quality version.

]]> By: PINTOBEAN http://blog.collectorcarads.com/10-automotive-turkeys/11/2010/comment-page-1/#comment-2715 PINTOBEAN Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:05:22 +0000 http://blog.collectorcarads.com/?p=540#comment-2715 I dont agree at all with this list I own a 1980 pinto with 187.000 orig miles they were dam good cars ive had alot of fun with mine We just celabrated the 40 birthday of the pinto and just had a pinto stampede back in june from col to penn for the all ford show we had 70 pintos show up and yes mine was one of them and had two people drove thiers from calli no problems I dont agree at all with this list I own a 1980 pinto with 187.000 orig miles they were dam good cars ive had alot of fun with mine We just celabrated the 40 birthday of the pinto and just had a pinto stampede back in june from col to penn for the all ford show we had 70 pintos show up and yes mine was one of them and had two people drove thiers from calli no problems

]]> By: Dave Schumacher http://blog.collectorcarads.com/10-automotive-turkeys/11/2010/comment-page-1/#comment-2714 Dave Schumacher Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:47:37 +0000 http://blog.collectorcarads.com/?p=540#comment-2714 I would love to have either the Edsel, the Scotsman, the Valiant or the Packardbaker today. Any of those would draw a crowd at any old car event. Hell, the Vega, Pinto & Gremlin probably would as well. I would love to have either the Edsel, the Scotsman, the Valiant or the Packardbaker today. Any of those would draw a crowd at any old car event. Hell, the Vega, Pinto & Gremlin probably would as well.

]]> By: Dwayne Hoover http://blog.collectorcarads.com/10-automotive-turkeys/11/2010/comment-page-1/#comment-2713 Dwayne Hoover Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:47:44 +0000 http://blog.collectorcarads.com/?p=540#comment-2713 I had a Vega it always got me where i wanted to go gas mileage was great and the best thing was I never had to change the oil I just added 2 quarts a week I had a Vega it always got me where i wanted to go gas mileage was great and the best thing was I never had to change the oil I just added 2 quarts a week

]]> By: Don Ellickson http://blog.collectorcarads.com/10-automotive-turkeys/11/2010/comment-page-1/#comment-2712 Don Ellickson Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:26:50 +0000 http://blog.collectorcarads.com/?p=540#comment-2712 The pinto wasn't the only car with a drop in fuel cell you idiots! It was a industry standard at the time and it brought an end to that practice by all manufacturers - like the fuel cell behind the seat in pickup trucks that ended in the early 70's cause some dumbass engineer thought it was a good idea! Live and learn the hard way I guess! The pinto wasn’t the only car with a drop in fuel cell you idiots! It was a industry standard at the time and it brought an end to that practice by all manufacturers - like the fuel cell behind the seat in pickup trucks that ended in the early 70’s cause some dumbass engineer thought it was a good idea! Live and learn the hard way I guess!

]]> By: Richard http://blog.collectorcarads.com/10-automotive-turkeys/11/2010/comment-page-1/#comment-2711 Richard Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:59:11 +0000 http://blog.collectorcarads.com/?p=540#comment-2711 I had a friend w/a Pinto back in the day. I worried about his safety, but he stubbornly refused to replace the car. After dropping two cylinders, it sounded like a sewing machine was coming from 100 yds away. I actually like the styling of the early Gremlins. 'Can't explain why, I just do. As for the way they drove I can't say, but considering the cars of the era, they probably did drive like a truck. My mother tried to talk me into a used Vega once. No sale!! The Yugo's were actually well built cars from a sheet metal standpoint, so much so that doing body work on them actually cost more than the car was worth. Of course they were slow and handled like a 4WD. They were so heavy and under-powered they couldn't get out of their own way. What about the 4th generation Acura TL's?? They are about as ugly as fugly gets!! Even Acura didn't stay w/the body style too long. R.I.P. 2009-2011 TL. I had a friend w/a Pinto back in the day. I worried about his safety, but he stubbornly refused to replace the car. After dropping two cylinders, it sounded like a sewing machine was coming from 100 yds away.
I actually like the styling of the early Gremlins. ‘Can’t explain why, I just do. As for the way they drove I can’t say, but considering the cars of the era, they probably did drive like a truck.
My mother tried to talk me into a used Vega once. No sale!!
The Yugo’s were actually well built cars from a sheet metal standpoint, so much so that doing body work on them actually cost more than the car was worth. Of course they were slow and handled like a 4WD. They were so heavy and under-powered they couldn’t get out of their own way.
What about the 4th generation Acura TL’s?? They are about as ugly as fugly gets!! Even Acura didn’t stay w/the body style too long. R.I.P. 2009-2011 TL.

]]> By: Dave Danielson http://blog.collectorcarads.com/10-automotive-turkeys/11/2010/comment-page-1/#comment-2710 Dave Danielson Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:50:00 +0000 http://blog.collectorcarads.com/?p=540#comment-2710 I agree with the Pinto, the Vega, and the Yugo. The rest I like. I agree with the Pinto, the Vega, and the Yugo. The rest I like.

]]> By: Harry http://blog.collectorcarads.com/10-automotive-turkeys/11/2010/comment-page-1/#comment-2709 Harry Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:29:58 +0000 http://blog.collectorcarads.com/?p=540#comment-2709 I do believe that the exploding Pinto was only during one or two years. mid 70s. I had a 1971 Pinto that was a great car, had the 1600 cc British engine and I also had an 80 model (last year made) and it was a great car as well. Ugly but ran great and got good mileage. Neighbor had a gremlin with the V8, loved that car. I do believe that the exploding Pinto was only during one or two years. mid 70s. I had a 1971 Pinto that was a great car, had the 1600 cc British engine and I also had an 80 model (last year made) and it was a great car as well. Ugly but ran great and got good mileage. Neighbor had a gremlin with the V8, loved that car.

]]>