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August 22, 2003
Nigel is most likely wishing he is having a nightmare and will wake up to a
world without pinstripes, racing stripes and other so called auto
adornments.
What I find offensive are all those things "tacked on" to an "original"
design to satisfy American auto safety laws. First the side markers and
lights . . . tacked on, breaking beautiful clean surfaces and lines. Then
those awful rubber boxes "tacked on" the front bumpers of the 74 looking
like the car had hit a UPS truck full of black boxes. Then, followed by even
worse crimes against automotive design . . . rubber bumper Midgets. All
"tacked on" to an original design rather than Leyland going to the expense
to pay the designers to come up with an "original" new car to satisfy
automotive safety laws.
From an art/design perspective I am a purist. The black box bumper guards
were off my 74 when I purchased it and the first act I would have done
should they have not been would have been to rip the ugly, offensive to my
sensibilities, things off and I am sure with the full blessing of the
original designer of the uncluttered Midget.
I suppose the rubber bumper Midgets are not really too awful, the designers
did what they could with the limitations given them and I suppose paint
technology was such at the time they could not be painted, or the
competitive market made the expense prohibitive, to integrate them into the
overall automotive lines. I mean no offense to those who own them. Beauty is
in the eye of the beholder.
That having been said we are blessed to have folks like Nigel who keep
history from being erased or modified, albeit, not all history is agreeable
to the senses. :-)
Don
"Don May" < may.d@... > 24588
Posted on August 22, 2003 08:07 AM
Posted to category(s) Body | Exterior | Racing | Restoration
