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Topic starter
30/04/2023 3:28 pm
THE NAME GAME
When I was growing up in the mid-1950's through the early 70's, I enjoyed rattling off the names of all the American cars on the road. They all looked different and could be spotted blocks away. We all know that today, that is no longer the scenario. In fact most often, it's impossible to guess what a car is even close up.
And what about all the classic names? The Big Three alone (in their heyday), General Motors gave us Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, and Cadillac. From Henry Ford's plants we got Ford, Mercury, Edsel, and Lincoln, While Walter Chrysler's production consisted of Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, Chrysler, and Imperial. These were just the primary brands, as each also had variations of each of their cars in a multitude of sizes and secondary names.
Back in my kid mind again, I became aware of a couple legendary names slowly fading away and then eventually dropped all together. It bothered me and I was confused. I wondered why and how they met their demise. Getting older and gaining insight to the backstory's of the companies reasons for moving on from these great names, soon made sense.
Or did it? Actually, no it didn't. I was still personally confused how DeSoto's could be no more, when in the 50's they were hot-sellers, especially as late as 1956 and 57, only to be buried in late 1960. I was 9 years old, and I just didn't understand. Even earlier than DeSoto's funeral, I'd seen Ford create and boast about their new Edsel that debuted in late Fall 1957 (for the '58 model year), and then in what seemed like the blink of an eye, it was gone in very early 1960. Of course I've since learned all about the recession year of 1958 and then the "downsizing" of cars as the sixties loomed, so I got over Edsel's rise and fall from grace easier.
I remember my Dad literally owning Oldsmobile's, an uncle was a Buick guy, and another uncle seemed to always drive Mercury's. We had a neighbor who swore by Plymouth's, and then there was a principal at school who only owned Ford's. I guess without realizing it, I was programed that all of these cars were favorites and as such, without giving it too much thought, I assumed they'd always be around.
So when Edsel and then DeSoto were dropped, my young mind deduced "no one bought them, so that's why they were no longer around". But now as an adult for many years, I've seen more of the Big Three favorites removed from the scene. Gone are Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Mercury, Plymouth, and Imperial.
Up until just a few years ago, those cars being gone still confused and bothered me a lot. I mean, how can they quit making Oldsmobile's? How could a bread and butter car like Plymouth be no more? What about Mercury, wasn't it the car "to step up from Ford, but yet stay behind Lincoln" in the food chain?
Then it happened! The lightbulb in my brain went on and I figured it out. This is what I consider to be the most logical answer. It's as simple as this: FORD MOTOR COMPANY builds cars, GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION builds cars, and CHRYSLER COPORATION (ya, ya, I know the company has a different name now) builds cars. So here comes the simplicity of it all. Every car that comes off an assembly line is "just a car" and then when it gets to the end of assembly line, the companies put a "name" on it. So it could have a "Ford" badge on it and it becomes a Ford, or a "Mercury" badge on it and it's a Mercury, BUT, both are still JUST CARS!
Okay, I'm at ease now, having figured out that they're ALL CARS, and regardless of what badge is on their hood or trunk, they're still ALL CARS! That Chevy parked next me, could have an Plymouth badge on it and the Buick that just passed by me, could have a Pontiac badge on it. All are CARS!
Oh, Oh, that lightbulb just went on again. I've been driving Oldsmobile's all my life.
I just envision O L D S M O B I L E on the hood above the grill, and I've "Got a Rocket in my Pocket".
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
30/04/2023 7:58 pm
I've always felt that the car you drive, and are seen in, in some way reflects upon your rung on the economic ladder. An example that comes to mind was in 1963, when my Dad bought a brand-new Buick LeSabre right around the same time one of the neighbors got a new '63 Pontiac Catalina. No argument about who had the "better" car.
Barry Levittan
Long Island, NY
Topic starter
30/04/2023 9:17 pm
I've always felt that the car you drive, and are seen in, in some way reflects upon your rung on the economic ladder. An example that comes to mind was in 1963, when my Dad bought a brand-new Buick LeSabre right around the same time one of the neighbors got a new '63 Pontiac Catalina. No argument about who had the "better" car.
I think after World War II, that was the planed intent of the Big Three car company's, thus their "Ladder of Cars" within their ranks. It was a given that Chevy, Ford, and Plymouth were the "entry level" cars so to speak for each company, and then if you bought a Pontiac, Mercury, or Dodge, it was perceived that you probably had better income. And so it went up the ladder, and if one had a Cadillac, Lincoln, or Imperial, you had reached "envious status". And Ironically, much of the "brand perception" and the "income perception" seemed to prove true.
But I'll also point out that it didn't only happen with the rank of cars, as it could also take place within a brand itself. Example: In 1965 my dad bought a new '65 Ford Custom 4-door sedan and then shortly after his brother (my uncle) bought a new '65 Ford LTD 4-door hardtop! To my dad, his brother had to show him up. Dad's Custom was a plain jane basic car with black-wall tires and dog-dish hubcaps, while uncles car was the top of the line LTD, hardtop with chrome, white-wall tires and full chrome wheel covers. Park the two cars next to each other to the eyes, there was little doubt which car was better.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
30/04/2023 10:22 pm
George, you remind me here of my experiences as a newcomer to this continent.
As a teenager arriving in North America from Britain and moving to the new upper middle class Don Mills suburb north of Toronto, I was introduced to the ‘Keeping up with the Jones’ hierarchy of Automobile ownership.
Where I came from, Rolls Royce, Daimler and Bentley were upper class vehicles while wealthy business people drove, Jaguars, Alvis, Rover and Humber. Austin, Morris and Hillman were for the middle classes. Everyone else rode buses.
Here the car was king and everyone had one but there was a completion between neighbours to buy new and constantly ‘better’ cars to compete with next door. Not as stratified as British society and certainly more dynamic with ‘upgrades’ from Chevrolet to Buick and finally Cadillac etc. as incomes allowed, a real eye opener and education for a newcomer to this culture.
Topic starter
01/05/2023 9:14 am
George, you remind me here of my experiences as a newcomer to this continent.
As a teenager arriving in North America from Britain and moving to the new upper middle class Don Mills suburb north of Toronto, I was introduced to the ‘Keeping up with the Jones’ hierarchy of Automobile ownership.
Where I came from, Rolls Royce, Daimler and Bentley were upper class vehicles while wealthy business people drove, Jaguars, Alvis, Rover and Humber. Austin, Morris and Hill a were for the middle classes. Everyone else rode buses.Here the car was king and everyone had one but there was a completion between neighbours to buy new and constantly ‘better’ cars to compete with next door. Not as stratified as British society and certainly more dynamic with ‘upgrades’ from Chevrolet to Buick and finally Cadillac etc. as incomes allowed, a real eye opener and education for a newcomer to this culture.
Love your story David. THANKS for sharing!
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
David Green reacted