Oct 1: Second Time Around

When something is very good, it sure is worth repeating or doing a second time. Sometimes, something is repeated and it's not really worth a second go around. Here are a few examples, but please keep in mind that in today's blog, I'm holding back on my opinions, just stating the facts (for a change).

Remember the generally well respected Fiat 124.......

Remember the generally not so well respected Lada.......

You know, of course, that they were the exact same car. After a useful life in the rest of the world, Fiat let the Russians produce this car under licence, which they did until the late '90's. I believe they have updated it and recently started producing it yet again (Alex, can you verify?).

Another old chestnut that has had a second life is this Renault 12.......

Showing up again in Romania as the Dacia 1300........

Typical rather unusual French styling. This one even made it to Canada for a brief time, before we Canucks realized that we had seen and driven it years ago. Pretty sure that this model is now truly dead.

Not all of these second time arounders were done in Eastern Europe. India also got a couple of European classics, which are still being sold there today........

The British Morris Oxford from the mid 1950's became the Hindustan Ambassador........

I think I recently read that the Ambassador's production is finally coming to an end. By the way, the goat was an dealer installed option.

Another Italian became an Indian classic........

The Fiat 1500 morphed into an iconic Indian car that has recently made the headlines........

Iconic as the ubiquitous, and I do mean that in every sense of the word, black and gold Hindustan 1500 taxi of Mumbai. It made the headlines, because there is a movement to phase these "gems" out in favor of a more modern car. How much more modern can you get than a car from the '60's? 

As these countries modernized and developed a middle class, local demand for better quality, up to date cars followed. The result is that these European hand me downs have outlived their usefulness. Or just maybe there is some life left in their old technology platforms yet.

Second time around!

Until next time.........