I don’t think this is really a direct reply, and I hope you’ll forgive me. You see, it was actually a loaner while my engine was being rebuilt. If I remember correctly, it was a 1970 or 1971 Dodge Sportsman van with a V8.

Over the years, I unsuccessfully sought that specific vehicle. Today’s luxury vans and minivans differ greatly, and the rising prices have made such a model unattainable for me.

Visibility was excellent. Large windows provided clear views at stop signs, making traffic monitoring effortless.

Later, I had a VW van that had many advantages but really lacked power and air conditioning. I could have lived without the power, and while living in California, I could have lived without the AC. However, the small engine came with reliability problems. Also, it didn’t have sufficient heating on cold nights.

I will say this for the VW van: Put chains on it, and it would go through ten inches of snow. I know; I did it.

Now if they would just put a V8 in something like that VW and keep it basic. Somehow, I don’t think that is going to happen.

I don’t know how to say it, but it just looked to me the way a car should look. over the years, cars as well as the starfire went through changes. To me, they were not improvements. They got smaller, more expensive, but not as good.

The Starfire had a distinctive look. When you see one, it is instantly recognized. No other car ever looked similar before or since. Now similarities seem to goals.

Yeah. What a shame. Oddly, it is what we let our government do to us. Cars used to represent the owner. Cars now seem to all be designed by a small group of people to represent the government’s idea of the ideal transport. Individuality is being qushed, and not only with cars.

My car was was designed and built by Nissan. Yet, since I bought it, I found it has many resemblances to other cars, designed and built by other manufacturers, in the US & in Europe. I don’t understand that.

I guess, if the trend continues, all cars will look the same with a different logo on it.

Which begs the question, just who is copying whom.

Daily writing prompt

What is your all time favorite automobile?

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