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Oct 14, 2009 21:33:18 GMT
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I'm sure Ford have their reasons for retaining the Panther body-on-frame format. Perhaps some of their government contracts require it? [thread jack] Interestingly enough the CROWN Vic is finally being killed off in the very near future, so the US Police will have to find something else to buy. For the sake of my local economy and my beloved Holden, I'm hoping it's this: Holden Statesman, redeveloped and rebadged into the Chevrolet Caprice PPV (Police Patrol Vehicle). Extremely cool and brilliant car, made right here in Adelaide. Unfortunately will be government sales only, but the US car nuts are already drooling over the possibility of buying one at auction. I would too! It's a proper V8 rear-wheel drive car which actually handles. One thing on it which I find very interesting, and perhaps some others on here might as well, are these: 18" steel wheels! Especially developed for this US Police model, our police cars use normal 16" stuff. They're 5x120mm if you're interested. [/thread jack] That's only a mock-up though. The current Caprice is on the Zeta platform, the same underpinnings as the new Camaro. It's only build at the moment for the Middle Eastern market, as the front end doesn't meet US safety standards. The new Caprice will be made in Ontario alongside the Camaro, but not until Buick has been put to bed for good, at the start of the 2011 model year.
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Oct 14, 2009 22:40:16 GMT
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That's only a mock-up though. The current Caprice is on the Zeta platform, the same underpinnings as the new Camaro. It's only build at the moment for the Middle Eastern market, as the front end doesn't meet US safety standards. The new Caprice will be made in Ontario alongside the Camaro, but not until Buick has been put to bed for good, at the start of the 2011 model year. Very interesting. I can understand that it would need US-spec bumpers, as the G8 did, but I believed that it was going to be manufactured by Holden in Australia. We certainly need it, they've trimmed as many workers as possible from the factory, and the ones which are left have taken a pay cut and are down to a 4 day week. Not to mention we're only running a single shift now instead of morning and afternoon shifts. It's definitely hard times for South Australian industry.
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not until Buick has been put to bed for good, at the start of the 2011 model year. I take it you mean Pontiac or have I missed something big? Last I heard Buick sales figures were up and the General had invested some noticable money in refreshing the Buick lineup, especially with regard to switchgear, trim pieces and other detail items which were still seen as more "Chevrolet quality" on several models.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Oct 15, 2009 14:41:04 GMT
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not until Buick has been put to bed for good, at the start of the 2011 model year. I take it you mean Pontiac or have I missed something big? Last I heard Buick sales figures were up and the General had invested some noticable money in refreshing the Buick lineup, especially with regard to switchgear, trim pieces and other detail items which were still seen as more "Chevrolet quality" on several models. Yeah, I'm pretty certain that Buick are one of the core brands which the new GM will keep and develop. Pontiac and Saturn will go, but they're definitely keeping Chevy, Buick and Cadillac as the three core brands of GM.
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Oct 15, 2009 15:24:08 GMT
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and GMC, which OK isn't a massive passenger brand but will also stay.
I see a Chinese company has bought Hummer but manufacturing will remain in the USA.
Vauxhall-Opel and Saab are still for sale I think? Or did that buyout from Koenigwhatsit finally pull off?
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Oct 15, 2009 15:56:53 GMT
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I'm not sure what's happening with Vauxhall/Opel, other than the fact that theoretically they're not affected by the bankruptcy proceedings because their head offices aren't in the US. Koenigsegg definitely did buy Saab, which should be quite amazing. If they manage to develop a new line of Saabs and manufacture them, they'll be the most Swedish Saabs for a couple of decades. No more re-badged Astras for them!
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Oct 15, 2009 17:10:33 GMT
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Leave off this - I'm really interested.
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CIH
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,466
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Oct 15, 2009 18:45:54 GMT
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I think Opel & Vauxhall were bought by Magner (sp?). A Canadian parts firm anyway. No idea what that means for Vauxhall given the German guv invested a lot of money protecting Opel specifically.
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Oct 15, 2009 19:55:24 GMT
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I heard that Canadian parts company bid had failed. Did they come up with a new bid then?
I don't think that Opel would be able to just ignore US bankrupsy since they are owned by a bankrupt company. I suppose it would only really "affect" them if GM became insolvent or was liquidated or wound up. Multinational finance is a topic above my head.
I suspect, given how production here has been scaled back and scaled back that Vauxhall will become a badge only (ie no plants or anything left here) before too long, sadly.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Oct 15, 2009 20:37:02 GMT
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I'm possibly going to view this on Saturday. ( the car in the original post that is.)
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Oct 15, 2009 21:00:14 GMT
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good luck with it, it needs to be brought into the "family".
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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