December 17: All I want for Christmas

In my world no one gets a car for Christmas, but in the world of my clients, that kind of gift is not so unusual. Oh well, so much for being born into reality. Want to dream a little? Hey, it's the week before Christmas, so take a few moments, relax and treat yourself to a daydream of what would be in your driveway on the 25th, if wishes came true?

It's a dream, so anything goes and a good time to show you what the Car Modeling Cat (CMC) and I might put under our Christmas tree, if baby Barry had been born to high rolling parents........

This year we're going to go with a old car. One that was unusual in its day and is simply bizarre now. Looking at the CMC checking things out, you can see what I'm about to show you, the unusual and Batmobile styled 1959 Chev El Camino, a car made into a pick-up.......

......and a pick-up that featured the same wild wings, that the crazy looking Chev sedans and convertibles wore so proudly. When you check out the bar of soap styling of so (too) many of our cars these days, this one sure stands out from the crowd. Even back in its day no one mistook it for anything else. A different time, my friends.

Check out that line in the ad below........ "Chevrolet brings you the brightest new idea of the year!". Happily oblivious to the fact that their #1 competitor had a similar car (truck?) in their line up for the previous two years. Ah, truth in advertising!

 

As usual the CMC and I worked our modeling magic on this oldie to make it look as close to the real thing as possible.......

 

Back to Christmas wishes or dreams. What is on your wish list? A new Tesla, a hot Mercedes, the new Corvette or a classic oldie? Go wild, as dreams are cheap, only reality costs. As to the CMC and I, we know we can get the El Camino of our dreams and this is how it will look on Christmas day.......

Yes sir.......unfortunately only an ornament hanging from our tree, but sadly not under it or in the driveway. 

Vacation alert.........yes, it's that time of year again. My wife and I will be headed to Spain on the 27th and back here on the 15th. As always camera at the ready for any Spanish oddities that I can share with you.

Merry Christmas!

Until next time.......

December 10: Buick - an obituary?

Put on your best black outfit. Pull out that box of Kleenex. Oh, this is a very sad occasion for all of us, or at least some of all of us. Let me explain.

Buick, that venerable old American nameplate and the darling of the citizens of China, has just announced, that it will no longer sell cars in the United States of America. That means Canada, too. When I write "cars", I mean that literally.

There was a time when sedans were royalty in our automotive world and Buick was as high as number three in sales. Cars like this ruled the road.........

..........as they cruised by the poor folks, who could only afford Chevs, Fords or Plymouths. Folks who longed to move up the automotive food chain, so that they could ride the highways in Buick glory. Announcing as they drove by, that they too had achieved their slice of the American dream.

Even not that long ago, the Buick line looked like this........

.........one sort of suv and several sedans of various sizes. All that's history, my friends, as the suv tide has washed what was the traditional American sedan out to sea or wherever they get washed out to. So, it's not surprising that Buick's line up these days looks decidedly different........

Not a car to be seen. Well, that's not quite accurate, but it will be next year, since Buick has just announced, that their traditional sedans in North America will be sent to the trash pile of automotive history after the 2020 models. Like I wrote at the beginning of this blog, a sad occasion for some of all of us.

An obituary for Buick sedans or maybe eventually the entire brand? Buick sales in North America are around 200,000, much less than half of where they were in the late '90's. Even with their new line of suvs, they have experienced a steady decline over the past few years. Hard to sustain a brand on those numbers, except for one important fact.

Take a look at a few of these current models........

 

 

All Buicks and no this is not in some alternative universe, only accessible to video gamers or those on heavy medication. If you've been paying the least bit of attention to the world car market or have read my previous blogs, you'll know that Buicks are selling in big numbers in good old China. How about just over a million a year?

And although the Chinese also like their suvs, they are big sedan buyers. The van? Well surprisingly, the luxury van is a status symbol in that part of the world. Go figure.

So, back to my original read it and weep comments. Can Buick stay relevant in our market? While we bid a tearful graveside farewell to the traditional Buick sedan, can their suv sales keep this brand in GM's North American portfolio?

Good question. Anyone know the answer?

Until next time........

December 3: When enough is never enough

Feeling pretty good, aren't you? This has been a great year and you've added to your millions thru hard work and astute investments. Time to treat yourself. A Rolls Cullinan is certainly out of the question and a Bentley Bentayga seems excessive, even though you've got the coin to float that boat, if your heart so desired. No, you've always been a Mercedes type of person, so moving up to their top of the line suv, the GLS seemed like the right thing to do. It has success written all over it. And since this is your reward, you've put your name on the very best Benz suv that money can buy, the GLS 63.

Oh oh, what is this you've just heard? Your world has suddenly deflated. Mercedes has slapped your pride and joy suv in the face. You, with all your success, have rewarded yourself with what you thought was the best Benz suv on their lot, a $175k CDN chunk of rolling joy. Now this shows up.........

No one told you what was coming and now you have second best, your mere Mercedes-Benz has been trumped (gawd I hate that word) by Benz themselves with their one upmanship suv, the Maybach GLS 600........

Sure, it's basically a jewel encrusted GLS, but it is a Maybach. How jewel encrusted you ask? Well, you can see for yourself the trim bits.........the two tone, the new grille, the extra chrome, the "they'll be hell to clean" rims. But what else makes this a Maybach?

How about some luxurious luggage, so that everyone in the Super8 knows what you pulled up in? Nice touch, but how about something a little more in your face? Something that will amaze even the most jaded valet parking attendant around the casino in Monte Carlo.........

 Ah, now you're talking. Of course, these being the back seat, means your passengers will get all the benefit of those beautifully soft sacrificed cows. Solution? Get a chauffeur, after all you've had a good year.

When enough is never enough and when you have lots of this at your disposal.......

......then roll the Maybach way. And regrets to anyone of you who thought that their creme de la creme "garden variety" GLS was going to be the envy of the neighbourhood. Maybe the rappers will only come out at night or the oil sheiks will stick with their Cullinans, so you can still be the cat's meow at your local golf course.

The sure sign that you could have done better........

Until next time.......