Voitures Anciennes

[RobertArthur]

For sale: a fantastic V12-powered Ford Model T Hot Rod.

The Lincoln-Zephyr V12 Engine.

[Polarengineer]

I am surprised the fuel pump fitted is large enough.

[RobertArthur]

Fuel pump not large enough? At the end of the (short) track the V12 should be faster than a simple V8. Already a speed devil as I understood from generally well-informed sources. As illustrated in "Automobile Design Graphics (Taschen)". On the back cover of that book, the following quote from Steven Heller: "Americans were seduced into accepting the automobile as the embodiment of modern dreams, urges and passions. Brochures promised a better life through automotive pleasure."

First prize in the 1935 Exhibit of Outdoor Advertizing, a nice poster, including my well-informed sources.

[RobertArthur]

Not for the first time, also with a slightly modified mid-thirties engine under the hood, the Citroën DS.

[Hotrodder]

The dash instruments behind the wheel appear to be very comprehensive. I wonder about the lack of proper instrumentation in cars today is due to cost cutting or the lack of people today who show any interest in what is going on with the car. As long as the phone works, that's enough.

[RobertArthur]

To be honest, I wonder what the added value is of those large LCD displays in today's cars. Sometimes you have to click through quite a few menus before you get to a function that used to be immediately visible. From an ergonomic and road safety point of view, there is room for improvement: your attention should be focused on what you see through your windscreen and around you. Taking your attention off the road for three or four seconds to look at such a display can be dangerous. Using your mobile phone while driving is now subject to increasingly heavy fines. Focusing your attention on a display with all kinds of fancy functions would contribute to road safety? I doubt it.

Not to mention the recessed door handles– they only work when there is still electricity available (accidents?).

Sometimes the programmers seem to realise that those old-fashioned round gauges weren't so bad after all, and after all kinds of fine-tuning, you can get them back on a display. Another problem: it's all or nothing. In the past, sensors and their readouts were separate, independent circuits. Now everything runs on a CAN bus system and a computer-like black box. A shared communication system reducing wiring complexity and many metres of expensive copper wires. I want my switches back....the end of my afternoon rant.

[curtis]

Quite agree.

[Polarengineer]

I wonder how you shut down, pull the plug and reboot these car control computers.

[curtis]

By paying a large sum to the concessionaires

[Hotrodder]

My latest mistake was to buy a 2006 Peugeot and when I decided to replace the battery I found there is a specific procedure to follow when doing so. Just disconnecting the old one and reconnecting to a new one is a recipe for disaster. Doing it right includes dropping a window, leaving the key in the ignition, turning it on and off in a certain sequence, do not open any doors, and careful timing of all these to avoid the onboard computer turning into an expensive Trumplike mistake that effectively immobilises the car.