John,
I don't really fancy that idea either...
Just as I didn't like that they [Rover Group?] put MG on some
souped up Euroboxes like the Metro etc. That one would have
been more appropriate to be called a Triumph if one should be
true to the history of the two marques, right? Triumph actually
did live on producing nice family sedans [and the odd sports
car to sell abroad] while MG [mostly] made non-sedans... So the
other way around would have been more appropriate I think.
And the thought of present day Americans building a modern
German designed automobile and then badging/selling it as a
classic British Marque: Triumph, Austin Healey, MG, Sunbeam
or whatever else BMW bought when they bought Rover Group, is
a pity. And probably only meant to fool the general American
public... [Since us EUropeans won't be fooled by such a simple
sales gimmick, right?]
And - since us Swedes didn't take part in those wars You Brits
and Germans seems to like doing now and then I can say this
above without any historical loads or biases on my shoulders...
I don't have to use names like Limeys, Huns, Yanks or anything,
I just think it's a pity to mix up a nice origin in an effort
to sell modern cars. [In fact we've been in peace nearly as
long as the USA have been in existence - since the last 184 years
or so... The last "war" was a minor skirmish with the Norwegians
in 1814...]
Just my tuppence... YMMV
/Odd
jonmac wrote:
> Guys
> I'd appreciate your views. As many of you may have seen over
> the last 24 or so hours, there's been some speculation on the
> British Cars list on the revival of Austin Healey and possibly
> Triumph.
>
> It appears from the extensive rumour that this(these) cars might
> well be badge engineered cars which are essentially BMW's to be
> built (?) at Spartanburg.
>
> Marque loyalties apart, does anyone have a view to either of
> these illustrious British sports car names appearing on a car
> which in all truth is German in its origin.
>
> I know I do. I'd rather their names were left as a memory rather
> than adorn a vehicle which is essentially a damned Hun! It's as
> bad as building a replica Messerschmitt and called it a new world
> Spitfire.
>
> Sorry - but that's the way I feel and if Doctor Hassellkuss or
> Berndt Pischetsrieder read this view, I guess I'll find my
> employment at HMC a thing of the past. Giving up Rolls Royce to
> BMW was bad enough but putting a British name on a German car
> beggars belief. Anyone got a rope and a high beam. I might need
> it!
> John Mac
--
Odd Hedberg
Pomonagatan 4
S-74236 Östhammar International liaison secretary,
Sweden Triumph Club of Sweden
'70 Spitfire Mk3 FD82497LO Signal Red
'80 TR8 EFi DHC TPZDV8AT211468 Midas Gold
E-mail: odd@triumphclub.se / odd.hedberg@bigfoot.com
Club URL: http://www.triumphclub.se/index.htm
Home Phone/Fax: Int+ 46-1731 7131 / 46-1731 8131
Geographical Position: N 60deg 15min E 18deg 23min
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