Motor Vehicles for the World of the Financial Crisis

Posted for: Jack Windsor of Low head Tasmania. Jack is the author of this piece of writing. Anyone wanting to give him feedback or discuss the issues he raises here is free to do so.
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Henry Ford, Lord Nuffield and Adolf Hitler all saw the need in their time for a peoples’ car. There was the T model Ford, the Baby Austin and the Volkswagen Beetle. All were mass-produced and sold in the millions in a transport hungry world through difficult times. These vehicles were very basic, very simple, mass-produced and sold at a price that was affordable to most people.

Why is the present day motor industry in such great financial trouble? I think that it is because the engineers and designers have lost the plot. What we need today; not what we would like; but what we need is another peoples’ car, in many ways similar to those olden-day vehicles. Do we really need all those gimmicky extras like radios, CD players, air conditioning, electric windows etc. etc? We do need a heater for cold climates?

I am of the opinion that the whole industry could benefit from building and mass producing another peoples car, suitable for both the young and old. We really don’t need to drive at more than 100 kilometres per hour all day, nor do we need that dangerous cruise control. Keep your eyes on the road and your foot on the pedal and stay safe and awake.

We don’t really need those fuel hungry V8 Super Cars do we? Or the big sixes. Why do we need four valve cylinder heads and expensive turbo chargers? Yes, fuel injection is here to stay. Big bodied family cars capable of seating six people with medium sized engines, yes. What was wrong with the old Hillman Minxes, Skodas and Fiats? They got us there in one piece without too much expense.
Electric, steam, diesel and all sorts of petrol engines have been tried out over the last century and without a doubt, the petrol engine reigns supreme to all others; but don’t give us two strokes. Righto Mr. Rudd, tell those idiot cars makers to make sensible cars again if they want you to give them a subsidy from the taxpayers purse so that they can remain in business.

Do we really need those central locking systems and power windows? The money they cost would be better spent on a new fridge or washing machine don’t you think? We don’t need the four wheel drive V8 engined fuel guzzling fashionable bricks to take the kids to school in. Plastic is the thing; less heavy metal, simplicity is the way to go. They did it in the past, why not now? What would be wrong with an up to date version of the old Model A Ford, built on a steel chassis with a fibre glass body, 12 volt lights and ignition, fuel injection and hydraulic brakes.

Australia is in the grip of a recession and its getting worse; soon people will be living on rabbits, soup, and runner beans again; living in backyard sheds whilst waiting to build their own houses like it was back in the 40s and 50s.
Yes Mr. Rudd, it is not always what we want that counts; but what we need. All these austerity cars from several manufacturers should be made to comply with the need to have interchangeable parts, the same as in army vehicles to minimise the spare parts problems.

I can visualise Australia coming out in front once again and leading the World of the future. The new car could be called the Gogo; whoops, sorry! Ruddmobile, and would go down in history as the greatest innovation of all time in the motor industry. Like its predecessors of the past, it could revolutionise the world of personal transport for decades to come.
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