Re: V8 in a spider

["Tony Sims" <simstony@domain.elided>]

Peter writes:

>Once again, why would anyone want to do this?

Because they got an itch.  Because it would be fun.  Because it would create
something unique and interesting.  Because 50 people will tell them it can't
be done or shouldn't be done.  Because they can.

>It makes far more sense effort and cost wise to buy the car that meets your
>criteria then try to modify one.   There has to be something out there that
>rumbles and handles reasonably well for less time and money that it would
>take to attempt this.

Of course it does/there is, but that's not the point.  There are many cars out
there that are more reliable, cheaper to maintain, have more available parts,
yada, yada, yada than any Alfa in the US.  Most of us have one like that,
parked outside in the weather while our impractical, rust-prone Italian leaves
oil spots on the garage floor.  Glass houses...

>It occurs to me that cars are a complete design.   Many experts spend many
>hours getting everything right, and along comes Joe backyard mechanic that
>immediately says they all got it completely wrong and this is the way it
>should be done.

It occurs to me that cars emerge from factories, like most mass produced
products, the end result of a series of compromises.  Design compromises for
engineering, engineering compromises for accounting, everyone compromises to
meet the government regs and the marketing department's consumer profile.
Thanks for nothing, Henry Ford.  If all we were trying to do was fit our
needs, the market would need only 3 or 4 variations of personal vehicles.  I
refuse to have my needs, interests or preferences dictated to by a car
company, or any other company.  Apparently I'm not alone, just look at the
sales performance of most SEMA members.  And, there's still a strong market
for bespoke cars, among those who can afford such baubles.

>Baloney.   Find a professional design that fits your needs and buy it.

You're probably not a big George Barris fan, huh? ;-)

Cheers,

Tony
Portland, OR
74 GTV 2000
70 2800 CS
72 Badvaria
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