CARS. Lost Poems on Metal


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Imagine, the time when you stood as a mere spectator beside a road and you simply enjoyed all those cars that went by with all its grace. If you are a 90's born, this might make sense to you. If you are older, this might tickle your amygdala even more.
I have been a car lover all my life. Since childhood with those simple lines that I did on a slate and all the way up until now where I could draw some decent curves and few renders as well. Car designs always fascinated me. It is a language all on it's own and if you'd understand that, those 'words' will mesmerize you.

Car body designs evolved from what it was like when it all began. From Ford Model T till the ever so graceful Cadillacs of the sixties. Back in the fifties to sixties, they were all grand. Big with lots of chrome and cars from this period, it is ok if they don't run. One glance and they take you on a trip around those curves. Life was grand yeah?! Then came the seventies where the design language changed. You had cars from Japan, France, Germany, Italy, US all with their own masterpiece. After eighties, things were getting better with more reliable technology and certain features.

I think nineties was one of the best times to be in. It had some kind of a charm, the freedom and when it came to cars, it was just perfect. Right from the body design to the interiors and the equipment levels. As a kid I enjoyed going through newspapers, magazines looking at car ads and even on TV. My mom would bring me the pictures or call me when it use to be something about cars on TV.
In India back then, the roads were filled with Esteems, Ambassadors, 800s, Padminis, Sumos, Sierras and the Safari was just coming in. I had a deep liking for the Gypsy. All those cars you could think of were beautifully designed. Roads were like a moving art gallery with such beautiful cars. Abroad, there were those Toyotas, Hondas and Mitsubishis, BMWs, Audis, Mercedes and many more. Watching these cars glide on the road was a treat for the eyes. The 2002 model Land Cruisers , if you ask me, those were one of the most well designed SUVs ever.

It was a time when car designers were like poets. It was poetry etched on metal. You'd have a big smile on your face to own one, drive one or simply look at one.
Sadly, it isn't like that anymore. They are no longer the kind of art I knew once. No more "cars" in the future, they are changing. Now they are more of "computers on wheels" with no charm at all. After the years 2005-07, It all began to change. The design language was changing, getting worse. The advent of new technologies. The way cars are built have changed. They are getting much lighter and there are numbers to satisfy, be it bhp, kmph, kmpl or the one's on bank notes.

But can you call everything a 'development'? To think about it humans have always ruined something good in the name of 'advancement' or 'development'. This planet isn't spared as well. Think of the old VW Beetle or Mini and the new ones. What do we have in cars, I mean computers on wheels today? No good design to begin with. Take a look at new launches, those designs don't call out to you. They don't inspire at all. Manual transmission is slowly fading away. I agree, AT is useful in some cases. But come on, what to 'drive' with an AT. I love to look at my car, her bodyline, her curves before I get in and enjoy my drive with that MT, full of life. Air fuel mixture getting released in the cylinders and dopamine in my brain. Not too many electronics to bother me. Just the useful one's, lights, AC, a good music system. She is a car, not a computer. She is art and not a gadget. I still drive a 90's made for this reason.

I don't buy car mags or watch TV shows on cars like I use to ten years back because there is nothing to see. New launches are ugly and facelifts are uglier. Only very few cars worth to look at, very few. Crdi and TSi technology makes sense. But too many electronics, come on, do we even need most of them? If getting enslaved by phones aren't enough, we now get it as a feature. Maps are good thing, but once in a while lose yourself. Are we simply getting fooled in the end ? Incase of an emergency where there isn't power supply, the doors are locked for good. ABS and Airbags but no structural rigidity.
Will you fall in love with a Swift Dzire like you did with an Esteem? Please, I don't want to talk about Alto800. Do you think Garaj Baras music video would have looked so good with Safari Storme? Do you think new hatchbacks are cute like before? Admit it, you still love the very first Scorpio ad just for it's looks. Why did you even love watching Fast and Furious way back then? Not so interested in Xenon like you were with Tata Mobile. Yes, it captured your imagination.
World is changing, life is changing. Cars are just a part of that. If you think about it, the future isn't really so promising. We are losing our ability to see the beauty in life. Freedom is an illusion. We are enslaved with technology and we rarely realize it.
Well, I don't belong to this planet for various other reasons than just cars. This was a small attempt to sum up the things about automotive world as seen by a diehard car lover. You may have your opinions against this or for this. You should have an opinion. I hope this did tickle your amygdala.

Love Cars. Live Cars
Peace
 

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Akash1886

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Well a good attempt to narrate the past of automobiles. Quite a contrast we see now from the past. As it's often said, all good things have to end some time so eventually the designs too got evolved. I would say more than want it was necessity. You see we used B/W TV then came Color TV then Flat TV then came Plasma, then the LCD and LED and now we have theatre size screens too. So in order to keep up with pace of time it has to be done whether you call it development or advancement.

I was born before 90's and at that time we never had the privilege of reading/knowing about cars because we did not have much resources neither there were many cars at that time in India. The faint memory I have was that of a Maruti ss80 that our land-lord got. It was a craze back then.

As I grew up, I was a proud owner of an India master piece Ambassador and then a Premier Padmini or popularly called "FIAT". It had a superb design and in 2006, there was a phase where the sense of traveling in a dated design prevailed so sold it. Keeping emotional feelings aside, it was a practical decision because as the time passed, spares became scarce. Today, I am proud to say, I yet own a great designed car i.e Esteem among 2 others.

We old timers find it difficult to accept the change. So, its difficult for people like me to accept certain designs but then scenarios have changed now. Traffic has become dense and driving sensibilities have evolved. With cars of 80's and 90's you can not combine the sensibilities of today. Hence, with time one has to move on and accept the change. In world, if anything that is constant, it is "Change".

With the timeless designs of 80 and 90's one can't combat the traffic of today. The average driving speed has changed with improved infrastructure, so products as suitable have to be bought. In the 80 and 90's there was nothing like sales target, competition of brands so what ever 2-3 brands we had, we had to choose from it and secondly those days owning a car was a honor and not like today where buying a car is as easy as you buy a phone recharge[:)].

The cars of 80-90's were timeless in design because to make one piece it used to take 2-3 months. Now, to make one car at factory it takes 2-3 hours. So, the speed has come in and the competition has risen. To compete with competition, design had been sacrificed. Can anyone ever compare any car of today to a Classic Contessa? No! Simply because, now perceptions have changed and tastes have changed. Out of 100 you'll find merely 5-6 people who still have the love for a ageless design.

Having said that, it is the need of the hour which has left us with a dilemma to choose from the existing options only. Whether like it or not, you have to buy from present options only. If you go to a Maruti dealer, he'll show you a Ciaz but not a Baleno. If you go Honda, they'll show the present gen City IVtec but not the Z-type Vtec.

If you compare previous generation of cars from that of today, they, as you said, have become more complex. But that is required because you can't stretch a technology beyond a limit. For Example, Window 98 and Window XP were one of the best Operating systems of Microsoft, but after a point both of them rendered to be useless, even after being so user friendly, simply because they could not co-relate to new software. Likewise, the older vehicle designs, were shelved because the advancement of technology rendered them useless. In today's time you may certainly wish for a AT Box in a Contessa or Padmini but that is not going to happen because not just the mechanism but many other aspects of the car need to be re-worked which involves really big investment. Hence, Mantra of today is Minimum Investment and Maximum Gain. The new age cars are the result of that.

Every development has its own benefits and negatives. Cars are an essential commodity today and with the available resources, everyone wants an updated and in-vogue product. It is just like, you suggest someone to use a Nokia 3310 in today's smart age. Though even the 3310 shall also fulfill the purpose of making and receiving call/messages but now there are other more competent devices(read phone) that can serve more than one purpose. Similarly, one can commute from A to B in a 90's car too but then if he/she wants to an AC or steering mounted controls then that are not readily available but the same are available in cars of today.

Apart from that, a major concern with passing of time is safety. 80-90's car relied on structural strength with use of metal bumpers because that time infrastructure was not that developed. But now its all fibre body with use of additional safety devices because to make a car more efficient in all respects. That time 80-90's petrol and diesel costed 10-20 Rs/Litre but now its 55-65 Rs/Lt. so the need of an efficient car is a must. Therefore to sum it up, new age designs might not be that pleasing but certainly are the need of the hour for various practical reasons. Everyone would like to own a classic, but it is not a cake-walk today to maintain it. Even I also want a Premier Padmini, but where will I get the parts of it? Even if I am able to source, then in long term how'll I find a mechanic for it? Hence, no choice left but to keep evolving my choice and taste with time.

Regards

Akash
 
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Thanks buddy, your post did create some disturbance to my amygdala. If you look a bit deep, amygdala is also associated with motivation. And that's what has made the changes to what cars are today. I did pause on some of your points to think. Them and what I feel are below:

... I think nineties was one of the best times to be in. It had some kind of a charm, the freedom and when it came to cars, it was just perfect...
Any industry / company that does not try to change status quo simply perishes. What is perfect at some point of time, needs to be perfected more.

... It was a time when car designers were like poets. It was poetry etched on metal. You'd have a big smile on your face to own one, drive one or simply look at one. Sadly, it isn't like that any more ...
Old designs are classic or retro. Some people like that and many look away :-) Process of evolution of human tastes. Can't blame manufacturers as they need to satisfy their customers.

... After the years 2005-07, It all began to change. The design language was changing, getting worse. The advent of new technologies. The way cars are built have changed. They are getting much lighter ...
Lot many designs for Indian and International market are too damn good. I won't call the change worse. Carbon fiber is used in abundance in Formula 1 cars with drivers walking out alive after extremely severe crashes ! Too bad it has not yet been adapted in passenger vehicles. But yes, sheet metal designs suits a market like India, where repair costs are important (the electric Reva guys demoed how easy it was to repair it). I hate it when sheet metal becomes too thin in many popular cars. Once happened to see Horn of a Cow piercing a car's door and getting stuck [anger].

... No good design to begin with. Take a look at new launches, those designs don't call out to you. They don't inspire at all...
When they were launched, Maruti Zen/Esteem, Mitsubishi Lancer, Ford Escort/Modeo/Fiesta, Fiat Siena/Palio, Daewoo Cielo/Matiz, Hyundai Accent brought so much refreshing design change. Why, we used to like TATA Indica in 1998, for its stand out rear lights [clap]. Stand out ? OMG.

Hyundai Getz and Fiat Palio were very modern yet understated, when launched. Orig Punto design was fabulous, IMO; did it sell hot ?​
Chevy Beat is striking and Chevy Cruise looks very purposeful (OK OK looked). The pundits called these in-your-face designs. Customers didn't buy. After Etios launch, there were some reports claiming that it reminded of "Esteem".​
Currently, so many cars have brought modern design cues in India. But, as the market is dominated by Maruti which follows a please-all-please-none design approach (except Original Zen and Swift), we see such type of cars all around us. Again can't blame manufacturers. Yet, I am happy to see all those Swifts, i10s, i20s, Vernas, Puntos, Lineas, Beats, etc refreshing the roads toady.​

... I agree, AT is useful in some cases. But come on, what to 'drive' with an AT...She is a car, not a computer. She is art and not a gadget... But too many electronics, come on, do we even need most of them? ...
Not everyone can take a cab daily or hire a driver amidst the growing chaos in City traffic. AT is a much needed and welcome comfort, which ensures a Car lover's love continues. It is still the driver who navigates, accelerates and brakes (not for long if Google has its way). The so-called-computer in a car aids a driver unobtrusively.
Train ticket booking, bank dealings, making a STD call were a messy afair not so long back. They are very convenient nowadays, due to these computers.​
Fighter planes, which are the ultimate Mechanical Marvels have become THE DECIDING factor in a war in this Technological Era, thanks to these Computers.​
The Electronic Counter Measure (ECW) and Electronic Counter Counter Measure (ECCW) play so much role in keeping wars to either a reasonably short period. Heck, these even prevent wars from happening. Embedded Computing is the foundation of both these ECW and ECCW.​
From just ensuring two parties talk to each other, the mobile phone revolution has ensured that a mini Computer is in many people's pocket.​
Nooooooo way buddy, I'm not going to hate computers in my day-to-day life, as long as I retain the critical controls.

...Maps are good thing, but once in a while lose yourself...
Four days back, we had to attend a function in Chamrajpet, Bangalore. Because of the locality, it was decided to go in a Maruti Alto. All three in the car had Smart Phones, but with 15-20 % Battery left. Meaning Maps were OFF and we asked for directions 20 plus times in the last 5 km. Some Auto drivers would say this way and another guy would say that way. How we missed G Maps !

... Will you fall in love with a Swift Dzire like you did with an Esteem? Please, I don't want to talk about Alto800...
Swift Dzire has way too much competition. The original Alto brought such a good Option for the buyer, who did not want M-800 but could not own a M-Zen. The boot space was impressive at that price point and many owners really found (and still find) Alto very useful. Mind you, I hate Maruti and their Cars, but am not going to blast them due to that.

... Do you think new hatchbacks are cute like before? ... future isn't really so promising. We are losing our ability to see the beauty in life. Freedom is an illusion. We are enslaved with technology and we rarely realize it ...
These can join the list of Bad Predictions (Things People Said: Bad Predictions) like ""I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." -- Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943".

... Well, I don't belong to this planet for various other reasons than just cars...
Your message is loud and clear Optimus Prime [:D] Hope all other Autobots are also doing well.
 
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It was a time when car designers were like poets. It was poetry etched on metal. You'd have a big smile on your face to own one, drive one or simply look at one.
Sadly, it isn't like that anymore. They are no longer the kind of art I knew once.
Even though others won't necessarily agree, I think there should be some examples here (NOTE: Copyright respective owners. None of the images were captured by me, all were taken from various sources. Obviously...).

M800. I liked it. It ruled the roads in my town (I agree it is no Volvo when it comes to safety, but it could be altered to be!):


Then came the Alto. We owned one for an year:


K10 looked better IMO:


Then came the NEW twins. Again, K10 looks better in my opinion:


The 800 didn't have the elegance and simplicity and understated looks from the old model. Not that I would've bought it if it had!

Esteem:


I'm not sure if dZire is an evolution of Esteem, hence here is Baleno:



Old dZire:


Newest dZire:


What the HELL happened!?

I don't need to say anything about Hyundai, do I? I will.

Accent:


Xcent:


4S Verna:


There are many I missed out on, but you get the point.

Hope I helped.

Peace.
 
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@Akash1886
@shrid
Thank you for the meaningful and detailed feedback. Mine was more of from the heart and your's was from the mind. I agree with you, we need to adapt to changes and accept things as they are and choose what suits us best. I think it is all about that balance between heart & mind decisions.

Even I will have to keep up with time and go for new cars as per the needs. But I will always have my sweet old ride for the weekends. It will be a special moment each time I take her out for a drive.
Nothing lasts but nothing lost.

When it comes to cars and certain things my views may be different. I hold an opinion and I get that from people, "come on, you don't belong to this planet". I am used to it. Life goes on.

I never loved any car for the numbers. Sure, I'd love to drive one's with huge Bhps and all that. But numbers don't make you smile, memories do. Each car is special on it's own, right from an M800 to a Rolls Royce.
You should watch the movie, it is more of a documentary, "The Beetle" by Yishai Orian. It has a beautiful story.

Thanks again. I appreciate it. [:)]
 

Akash1886

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Mine was more of from the heart and your's was from the mind.
Reason was, no matter what heart may say in today's time, one surely has to be practical in a choice. Scenarios in today's time have given mind an edge over heart.

I think it is all about that balance between heart & mind decisions.
Very hard in present time buddy. Very hard!!

But I will always have my sweet old ride for the weekends. It will be a special moment each time I take her out for a drive.
Nothing lasts but nothing lost.
Me too love to do so, but, equally important is the fact that you have to be devoted in all respects to the one you love. Take care of it at all times. Keep it in best of shape at times. In today's time its not the cup of tea for everyone. One may surely have resources to do so but they are not the only thing.

I never loved any car for the numbers. Sure, I'd love to drive one's with huge Bhps and all that. But numbers don't make you smile, memories do.
Absolutely, your words reminded me of a statement by a gentle soul, "We could have driven all the way in a 1 Crore Porsche, but, the excitement we got to see with "this car" (read Nano) is different!"

Each car is special on it's own, right from an M800 to a Rolls Royce.
Definitely, just like every person on this earth, every car has a USP. Every car is built for a unique purpose.

Regards

Akash
 

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