Bangert, your post stirs up some memories for me. I was a loyal, "slam dunk" supporter of GM. My cars, until 1994 were GM. What turned me off to buying any more GM s was the arrogant attitude that GM's brass exhibited in the 80s regarding quality and customer service. I remember reading back then that GM executives would let known electronic and mechanical defects slide through assembly lines on new models even though the costs to fix them were relatively minor. The attitude that "GM is good for America" still prevailed. Profit must be considered, but at what cost? Unions were blamed for GM's ills, yet the top brass's lucrative salary contract guaranteed them Millions in salaries, bonuses, stock options; regardless whether profits were up or down. The writing was on the wall, the big giant's "Roman Empire" style dominance was beginning to weaken. Several friends of mine bought GM cars brand new as did the transit agency I worked for. Minor glitches and problems are to be expected, but wow! From what I experienced GMs seemed to be abundant in this area. Anyone remember the fuel tanks on the pickups that exploded on impact? Top it off, there were countless reports of owners complaining about poor customer service. I visited a Chevy dealer to buy my wife a car. Perhaps it was our jeans and T-shrits, but the salesman treated us like we were wasting his time. GM lost two loyal customers that day! So what happened? Me and my hot rod friends, little by little, started buying Toyotas. Ironic, as I had stated that I would never own a Japanese car. I have had to eat humble pie since then. So for me, the GM I enjoy.........is the one from my childhood and teen years. Yes, the new Corvettes and Cadillacs are impressive and better in quality, but I'm no longer interested.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
QUOTE: Originally posted by Leon Silverman The solution to the 2.25" minimum is to sell "stretched" versions of the smaller cars. The purchaser could then cut out the stretch section out of the middle of the model, glue the remaining halves together, and produce an authentically kitbashed (kit slashed?) model of the real vehicle.
QUOTE: Originally posted by emeraldisle PROSECUTE A FEW OF THEM FOR THE DEATHS INSTEAD OF ALLOWING THE MONEY GRUBBING ATTORNEYS TO FILE THESE LAWSUITS, AND YOU'LL SEE AN END TO THIS STUPIDITY,
QUOTE: Originally posted by bnsf6733 The first post on this thread has got to be the longest in the forum.
QUOTE: Originally posted by chutton01 I wouldn't mind if they sold stretched late-model Lincolns (yes, I know, not GM - however I could use some limos for a limo garage on my layout). And you know, I see Ford F350/450/550s (Super Dutys) practically everywhere, hauling, towing, and pulling everything, and rather few Silverados. I think that if they actually started making Japanese models (German models are VERY well covered), plus Ford and Chrysler products, nobody would even notice the lack of late model GM products... (except Police Car modelers - it seems the Lumina is becoming a Police Standard around these parts (New York/NJ). Still, to be safe, when this news first came out, I brought 2 late model Boley Top-Kicks, just in case...
'bout time this thread got revived.
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
Steemtrayn,
Maybe and Maybe not,,,,,,,,,Some will not look at the date,of the thread and that will be a new beginning,,or so it would appear,to them..
Cheers,
Frank
brothaslideI guess we'll be running a lot of Fords on our scale highways.
That's OK with me, that's what I drive in real life too.
Government Motors iswelcome to keep their stuff.
Sheldon
Jim
steemtrayn 'bout time this thread got revived.
maxman steemtrayn 'bout time this thread got revived. A waste of time. Let's all do some modeling instead.
But other equally old threads insist that we don't do modeling anymore. More on topic, do we know if in fact General Motors followed through on this threat to smaller-than-S models? I don't follow the scale vehicle market that closely to know.
Dave Nelson
The issue is not General Motors...
More than that I cannot say lest I run afoul of the dictates against politics on this board.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
dknelson... More on topic, do we know if in fact General Motors followed through on this threat to smaller-than-S models? I don't follow the scale vehicle market that closely to know.
I recently bought a 1971 Camaro in HO scale; don't remember who the manfacturer was or where I got it from, but it was brand new and I don't remember seeing it back in 2005.
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
CSX_road_slug dknelson... More on topic, do we know if in fact General Motors followed through on this threat to smaller-than-S models? I don't follow the scale vehicle market that closely to know. I recently bought a 1971 Camaro in HO scale; don't remember who the manfacturer was or where I got it from, but it was brand new and I don't remember seeing it back in 2005.
Does,Classic Metals, 40's,50's era, Trucks and Cars count?? they are not a 71 Camaro,,but they surely were put out after 2005 and there are others..
I still see the 1955 Chevys offered by Model Power and a number of 1950 Chev pickups offered.
In fact when this thread was first posted I did buy enough 1955 chevs and 1950 pickups to last me forever, as well as a number of other GM cars such as the 1950's Buick and Caddys as well.
No years later and these are still available............
Then of course there is the Woodland Scenics vehicles, no brand names that look very much like cars that I remember, but without being identified as such
ATLANTIC CENTRAL brothaslideI guess we'll be running a lot of Fords on our scale highways. That's OK with me, that's what I drive in real life too. Government Motors iswelcome to keep their stuff. Sheldon
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Geared Steam ATLANTIC CENTRAL brothaslideI guess we'll be running a lot of Fords on our scale highways. That's OK with me, that's what I drive in real life too. Government Motors iswelcome to keep their stuff. Sheldon Ford fans are the ones that trade in every 5 years, GM guys drive ours for 20 (because we can)
Geared Steam,
Just My Two cents,,,,,,,,Are you one of the guy's,that gets a Antique Ford body,puts a Chevy motor in it,with a Ford rear end??
One interesting story I heard
Was a train manufacturer that ran foul of one of the railway company's for producing its trains livery on the correct model of train.
So they just said shove it and stopped producing it, they produce a lot of other company's trains using the same moulds because they are correct models. and they sell well
The rail company that jacked up is now bust must have had to spend all there money on advertising
No body has thought of all the free advertising the hobby industry can and in all probability does produce.
I think the fair usage argument has some merit our models look like a given car but they are not one hundred precent copies
You can't drive one into town to do the shopping for the week.
Some claim model making is an art form that's fair usage is it not
regards John
That's funny, my 2000 F-150 (13 years old) just turned over 200,000 miles, is not all rusty like a Chevy truck, and runs great, just getting broke in.
Question - number one selling vehicle in the world? Ford F-150 pickup.
I drove Chevys for years, until front wheel drive came along. Chevy does not even make a car to compete with this:
Big car comfort, all wheel drive, 360 HP, 360 lb ft torque, twin turbos, same engine as a Ford Taurus SHO, easy entry and exit for us old people, plenty of room for those trips to the train show, blue tooth, navigation, adjustable pedals. memory seats, leather seats, 20" rims, 390 watt audio, rear view camera, etc, etc, and 26 MPG highway. Been driving Fords for 20 years, never got rid of one in only 5 years - except for a crash. But what do I know? Sheldon
Big car comfort, all wheel drive, 360 HP, 360 lb ft torque, twin turbos, same engine as a Ford Taurus SHO, easy entry and exit for us old people, plenty of room for those trips to the train show, blue tooth, navigation, adjustable pedals. memory seats, leather seats, 20" rims, 390 watt audio, rear view camera, etc, etc, and 26 MPG highway.
Been driving Fords for 20 years, never got rid of one in only 5 years - except for a crash.
But what do I know?
I haven't read through all this thread, but what about all those other GM products we have a lot of. Is this the end of F7's, GP 9's, and SD40's? May as well kill the hobby.
I'd swear off GM cars and trucks, but I've already done that. They made lousey trucks 15 years ago. That's another story for another place.
By the way, I'm anxiously awaiting the day that 3D scanners and printers come down in price and I can make any d*** model car or truck I want.
GM sold EMD in 2005 and I would guess the marketing/intellectual property rights went with EMD. I think they are owned by a subsidiary of Caterpillar these days.
It was a brilliant move, really. GM opted to sell off something that was running in the black to get cash to prop up operations that were hopelessly hemorrhaging money.
- Mark
Adelie GM sold EMD in 2005 and I would guess the marketing/intellectual property rights went with EMD. I think they are owned by a subsidiary of Caterpillar these days. It was a brilliant move, really. GM opted to sell off something that was running in the black to get cash to prop up operations that were hopelessly hemorrhaging money.
The original post is from 2005!
Based on current availability of GM licensed HO and N cars, I'd say that this worked out just fine. Time to let this thread die again.
S&S
Modeling the Pennsy and loving it!
"Time to let this thread die again"
Why if you don't like reading it don't read it.