  Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 4892 Registered: 10-2003 |
Nice coverage on NPR, with lots of input by WDET, this morning and on their website on this most significant anniversary for Detroit and the World. Read about it and listen Oh how the times have changed with mighty Ford and GM on their knees with rumors of bankruptcy running rampant. Perhaps it is the time for more new innovative thinking like that which propelled Detroit to world fame 100 years ago. Where are we going now? Are we at the end, or at the start? | ||
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 4893 Registered: 10-2003 |
Here was the key to the Model T success [and a partial answer to my questions], something we have similarly seen in the personal computer age. "The car was introduced at $850, but later sold for as little as $260 after mass production reduced the cost." Each year make it better and less expensive empowering more people and more innovation. | ||
Newport1128 Member Username: Newport1128 Post Number: 192 Registered: 05-2007 |
Even though it was competitive when it was first introduced in 1908, the Model T gradually lost market share to other makes which were more technologically advanced. That's why Ford came out with the Model A in 1928. Do you think there's a market for an American-made, stripped-down car (i.e., no a/c. p/s, p/b, a/t, etc.), if it could get 50 mph on the highway? The Geo Metro only lasted a few years, but gas prices were way different back in the '90's. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 7498 Registered: 10-2003 |
According to this guy there is. He buys up Metros and Festivas on the West coast for a couple hundred, fixes them up and sells them to MPG hungry Americans on ebay and craigslist for thousands in profit. http://www.postbulletin.com/ne wsmanager/templates/localnews_ story.asp?z=2&a=348484 | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 1417 Registered: 08-2007 |
great site for Model T fans ...http://www.modelt.ca/ check out the "history" link. It gives a contemporary take on the Model T. I learned that the original T didn't have brakes. Rather they slowed down using the transmission. Also learned that Henry used a different type of steel to make his car... stole the steel from the French. | ||
401don Member Username: 401don Post Number: 629 Registered: 11-2007 |
Maybe in a few years they'll make cheap cars and sell them with no warranty. Sounds nuts but 20 yrs ago a Sony tv had a 3 yr and then a 5 yr parts & labor warranty included. The XBR models were a small fortune. Now most electronics are cheap and disposable with virtually no warranty. We'll buy battery powered, no frills urban runabouts, at least as second vehicles, for under $10,000. | ||
Jerome81 Member Username: Jerome81 Post Number: 1708 Registered: 11-2003 |
www.tplex.org | ||
Reddog289 Member Username: Reddog289 Post Number: 443 Registered: 08-2007 |
Jerome81, thanks for reminding me of that site. |
