Rob Hall

Sounds like tinfoil hat conspiracy theory stuff to me..

No different from today...take a typical '12 Ford or Chevy, '12 Hyundai or Honda...anyone can easily tell them apart if they pay attention to modern cars.

True...if there was more demand for stripped models w/ AM radios and crank windows, the companies would build them. In a daily driver that I'm going to spend an hour or more in every day I want it loaded w/ all the modern creature comforts... Another thing I find annoying like iDrive is the push-button start systems.. I don't see much value in not putting the key in the ignition.

I'd argue cars are way more differentiated styling-wise today than they were in the '20s, 30s, 40s, or early '50s.

Improved in comparison to it's predecessor..the Caliber. More efficient, better performance, better interior materials and options, etc. From what I've read, it's much more competitive in it's segment than the Caliber was.

Good post James...it's best to just ignore the grumbling of the luddites and carry on

Actually, the Dart is a 'C-segment' car, like the Caliber and Neon, and the Focus. A-segment cars are the really tiny subcompacts like the Spark or Fiat 500.

LoL...I can tell the bottom one is a Ford because of the blue oval emblem and the bumper that looks like that on the AMT Model A kits...

Well, it is a new and improved car..it probably has no parts in common w/ the Neon. And that's only about 12 years (that's a 2nd gen Neon in the pic). The Caliber replaced the Neon, the Dart replaces the Caliber, so it's the same market niche.

Neat....from the '70s, I think? Never seen or heard of those kits.

Beautiful build..somehow I missed this thread last year. What is the object on top of the passenger's side of the front seat?

I don't understand it either. It seems like some people just shut down and lose their curiousity and stay fixed at some point in time in their interest and thinking and end forever wallowing in nostalgia. My older brother is like that...seems like a depressing way to live.

Bah...I couldn't imagine living with such a negative outlook. Countless things have been invented in the last 40 years that have moved things forward. So many innovations and advancements in technology....personal computers, the World Wide Web, high speed internet, cell phones, HDTV, digital media for music and movies, etc. I really like the Charger and Challenger lights...

The new trend seems to be horizontal trapazoids, either w/ straight lines or curves..

True...I have done that from about 100 feet away. Those triangle taillights have been heavily overused...

I don't have an issue distinguishing today's cars, each brand has their own styling cues...

It was worse before...cars of the 30s, 40s, early 50s...very little differentiation between brands other than grilles...there were always a few standouts, but so many cars within year ranges of those decades look all the same to me..

Citroen has had some interesting designs in recent years...I like the DS models...too bad Citroen has been gone from the US since the '70s...the French have done a lot of interesting designs over the years.

I don't see anything 'cookie cutter' about the modern Mustang, Challenger, Camaro, Charger, etc. They are all very distinctive designs w/ no resemblance to each other. As far as retro goes, I see nothing wrong w/ a bit of retro--the '05 and up Mustang looks much better than it's predecessor, as does the Camaro, IMO. There is a wide variety of designs out there today, from retro styled to ultra modern...probably the blandest segment w/ some 'cookie cutter'-isms are the FWD compact and midsize sedan segments... but there is a lot of going on design wise today...look at Nissan--they have a lot of distinctive--even weird designs on the market today.

X3!!! I have zero interest in the Tucker..as far as subjects of that era, I'd love to see the '49 Buick Roadmaster Riviera ht or '49 Caddy Coupe de Ville kitted.

Nice list! I'd love to see any and all of those.

IIRC, ERTL did the diecast Olds a few years before the model kit was announced. The Studebaker was done by Johnny Lightning, don't remember an ERTL one.

Close...it was a rebadged Cavalier.. I'd love to see a CTS-v coupe in 1:25th... Yes, there are some good new releases coming out from Tamiya and Aoshima. I hope Revell announces some '12-13 Mustang (GT, Boss 302) and Camaro (ZL1) variations this year...I'd like to see them do an 11+ Charger R/T or SRT8 but I'm not holding my breath.

Agreed. The Cimmaron is definitely a car best forgotten..it was a car that hurt Cadillac's image for decades. I think their new small car (ATS) can do well with younger buyers.from what I've read so far, it's very competitive w/ the BMW 3-series and other compact luxury sports sedans..

Sharp build...I like the color choices and interior detailing.