Re: Shortage of Oldies. Yeah, my three cents...

[Toby Erkson <Toby_Erkson@ccm2.hf.intel.com>]

Interesting number of view points on this topic.

Having been raised (literally!) with my baby I was dumb struck the first 
time I saw an early model T3.  Like the Beetle it was homely, but still 
cute.  And what's with that slope nose?  The shark snout on my girl looks 
way better.

To me the late model T3 is the best looking and has all the modern advances 
for the T3 line (everything is as improved as it can be for the stock 
vehicle) -- why would someone want an inferior model such as an early model 
would be?  That's just a rhetorical question and I already know the answer: 
 It's whatever strikes your fancy.  (Please folks, don't send any mail on 
that question, I'm just playing Devil's Advocate, the pure logic view, the 
whatever-view).

Why do people customize their vehicles?  I don't know since it depends upon 
what you consider customizing and it depends upon the individual.  
Inferiority complex?  My degree is in computers so I won't pretend to be a 
psychiatrist and give some lofty, oh-it's-just-so-obvious answer.  
Customizing individualizes a vehicle, sets it apart from the crowd.  A 
question to present to purists (people who prefer stock) would be, "What's 
the matter, don't you have ANY creativity?  Jeez, talk about anal 
retentive!"  Now, I know this isn't true because restoring a vehicle can 
consume just as much time and money as a customization AND everything must 
be time-period correct as well (i.e. no carbs if it was a stock FI system). 
 I can respect the work of a restoration since I know how much work and 
research is involved.  I also respect the work of a good custom, be it mild 
or wild, because it shows me the individually-creative side of the person.

The last paragraph below says it all.

     Toby Erkson
     air_cooled_nut@pobox.com
     '72 VW Squareback 1.6L bored and stroked to 2.0L
     '75 Porsche 914 stock 1.8L for sale

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Shortage of Oldies
Author:  type-3-errors@umich.edu at SMTPGATE
Date:    4/5/97 1:22 AM

...
Having said that, I do like the early style better.  I'll even up the
ante a chip or two.  I like bone stock.  Period accessories are okay.  I
don't even like seat belts if they were not originally optional.  But I
guess they are acciptable because I prefer life to death.

It seems a huge percentage of T3 owners customize.  Is it an inferiority
complex?  Do their "ugly step-sisters" need a face-lift before they are
acceptable?
...
  But that is the beauty of the automobile hobby scene - the diversity.
 Things could get a little boring if every car looked exactly alike.
...