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There are many curious and instructive situations in automotive history. And today the AvtoVzglyad portal will tell you how American automakers have come to realize the value of
In America in the 60s, the Volkswagen Beetle was actively gaining popularity. There was a great demand for small and cheap cars after the soldiers returning from Europe started taking them back to their homeland. In addition, the Beetle’s advertising campaign was based on the slogan that is impossible in our time: “Even half the car goes.” And this even more spurred people to buy “insects”.
As a result, the local car beau monde literally languished in impotent rage. And all because he simply had nothing to oppose the European baby. Because in America at the time, the term “compact car” meant a body length of at least five meters, six seats and a large 6-cylinder engine. Too luxurious and expensive even by today’s standards. General Motors, Chrysler and Ford feverishly tried to stop the European competitor at least something.
So the Ford company decided not to invent anything new and beat a brutal competitor in its own field and with its own weapons. While Ford of Europe already had the very successful Ford Cortina subcompact, the American division quickly decided to develop a new model. This was due in no small part to the somewhat cavalier attitude of Americans towards European engineering traditions. And on September 11, 1970, sales of the Ford Pinto began.
It had a classic layout for that time. A longitudinally mounted 4-cylinder engine transferred torque to the rear wheels via an automatic or manual transmission. The front suspension is independent, the rear axle is a continuous axle suspended on springs. The car was positioned as an inexpensive, youthful sports car for those who like to save money. The advertising slogan sounded simple and positive: “Little carefree car.” The first Pinto was received by Charles J. Pinto of Pinto, Maryland. The life of a carefree little car has begun.
By the end of 1971, 100,000 babies had been sold. However, in 1977 the car showed problems. It turned out that in a rear-end collision, the fuel tank design leads to the neck breaking, the tank shifting towards the rear differential and collapsing on impact with it. This created a fire hazard with sad consequences (several cases where people died were recorded). But something else was even worse.
Information appeared in the press that Ford was aware of the problem, but preferred not to act on it, since paying compensation to the victims of such accidents would be more profitable than making changes to the design of the car. Its cost was estimated at just $11. As a result, this situation was called the Ford Pinto Memorandum. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration pressured the company to recall the dangerous vehicle. And in 1978 there was a recall of the t/s to correct deficiencies.
And in 1980 production of the model stopped altogether. It seems that history is unlikely to repeat itself in our time. Not at all. The AvtoVzglyad portal recalls that the crisis in the supply of electronic components has led to the fact that in our time the same AvtoVAZ produces cars that do not have airbags and ABS systems as standard. And this despite the fact that they were certified taking into account the presence of these elements. Is it true that even now the thirst for profit prevails over moral principles?
In America in the 60s, the Volkswagen Beetle was actively gaining popularity. There was a great demand for small and cheap cars after the soldiers returning from Europe started taking them back to their homeland. In addition, the Beetle’s advertising campaign was based on the slogan that is impossible in our time: “Even half the car goes.” And this even more spurred people to buy “insects”.
As a result, the local car beau monde literally languished in impotent rage. And all because he simply had nothing to oppose the European baby. Because in America at the time, the term “compact car” meant a body length of at least five meters, six seats and a large 6-cylinder engine. Too luxurious and expensive even by today’s standards. General Motors, Chrysler and Ford feverishly tried to stop the European competitor at least something.
So the Ford company decided not to invent anything new and beat a brutal competitor in its own field and with its own weapons. While Ford of Europe already had the very successful Ford Cortina subcompact, the American division quickly decided to develop a new model. This was due in no small part to the somewhat cavalier attitude of Americans towards European engineering traditions. And on September 11, 1970, sales of the Ford Pinto began.
It had a classic layout for that time. A longitudinally mounted 4-cylinder engine transferred torque to the rear wheels via an automatic or manual transmission. The front suspension is independent, the rear axle is a continuous axle suspended on springs. The car was positioned as an inexpensive, youthful sports car for those who like to save money. The advertising slogan sounded simple and positive: “Little carefree car.” The first Pinto was received by Charles J. Pinto of Pinto, Maryland. The life of a carefree little car has begun.
By the end of 1971, 100,000 babies had been sold. However, in 1977 the car showed problems. It turned out that in a rear-end collision, the fuel tank design leads to the neck breaking, the tank shifting towards the rear differential and collapsing on impact with it. This created a fire hazard with sad consequences (several cases where people died were recorded). But something else was even worse.
Information appeared in the press that Ford was aware of the problem, but preferred not to act on it, since paying compensation to the victims of such accidents would be more profitable than making changes to the design of the car. Its cost was estimated at just $11. As a result, this situation was called the Ford Pinto Memorandum. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration pressured the company to recall the dangerous vehicle. And in 1978 there was a recall of the t/s to correct deficiencies.
And in 1980 production of the model stopped altogether. It seems that history is unlikely to repeat itself in our time. Not at all. The AvtoVzglyad portal recalls that the crisis with the supply of electronic components has led to the fact that in our time the same AvtoVAZ produces cars that do not have airbags and ABS systems as standard. And this despite the fact that they were certified taking into account the presence of these elements. Is it true that even now the thirst for profit prevails over moral principles?
Source: Avto Vzglyad
Donald Salinas is an experienced automobile journalist and writer for Div Bracket. He brings his readers the latest news and developments from the world of automobiles, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the latest trends and innovations in the automotive industry.
