Re: V-8 engine design flaws

Posted by Rusty O\'Toole On 2010/1/25 14:57:57

You would have to go back to contemporary sources to find out just how lousy cars were in the fifties.

You might be surprised. One expert said that the basic car, ie the chassis engine and drive trains were generally reliable and long lived but the accessories were junky. Power windows, power seats, power steering, etc often gave trouble. Chrome resembled tinsel and lasted about as long as last year's Christmas tree.

Tire quality was spotty, many cars came with tires that were lumpy, out of round, and impossible to balance.

Body metal was thin and rusted easily. The designs of the fifties had many traps for mud and slush. Fenders and rocker panels rusted through within 2 years especially in the North. Galvanized metal and other rust proofing methods were not used. They didn't even get paint, except where the customer saw it.

One reason Volkswagen made so many converts was their quality control. Customers got a simple, reliable, well made car, period.

To be fair, if Detroit made the same stripped down model as long as VW made the beetle they could have got all the bugs out too.

At this time there is not much point in going over problems motorists had 50 years ago. Those cars that survive are no longer in everyday use, with a few exceptions.

But it is worth bearing in mind that standards of quality and reliability were not what they are today.