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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Friday Ashland publisher offers prize for environmental book Orthodox Church raising funds to build new home 10 things to know for Thursday What does Uncle Foods weekly dinner mean to you? Education Ashland Middle School students put their Spanish-speaking skills to the test Grizzlies claim speech championship Levy backers eye final push Neal Simon: This is a test Grade-school philanthropist Environment Ashland publisher offers prize for environmental book Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Stopping fire in its tracks Some trails, roads remain closed due to controlled burn Earth Day: Hope for our 'pale blue dot' Business Ashland Safeway closes Thursday, to reopen as Haggen on Sunday Cars We Remember: Car enthusiast wishes new model designs were ‘more different’ Ride & Drive: 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Silvio Calabi: Taxis and traffic in the olde worlde Airport Day returns May 16 Politics and elections Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Gray's death Arthur I. 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Detwiler Death Notices Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Ashland boys sweep doubles, beat GP Living on the edge SOU lands two on all-CCC softball team See you in August Wry & Ginger: A pitch to make national pastime better High school Ashland boys sweep doubles, beat GP Living on the edge SOU lands two on all-CCC softball team Ashland softball team rolls past Springfield Penn, Norvell, Baldrica pace Ashland track team at Crater Southern Oregon University SOU lands two on all-CCC softball team See you in August Same old Raiders Ashland softball team rolls past Springfield Who's got next? Voices Latest Stories Landgren cartoon: Deflategate intensifies Matthew T. Mangino: Aging prisoners: An American crisis Our View: Forest work is a bargain Letters to the Editor, May 8 Jeffrey Gillespie: Is there a right to offend? Editorial Our View: Forest work is a bargain Our View: What price history? 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Editor's Notes: This, that and the other Mochas, Midrash and Mysteries: Balancing the gift and the task Chris Honoré: A wider context rarely discussed Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Peter Rowan, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys at Rootsfest Movie listings: May 8-14 Dancing People Company presents 'Salon Series' 5 picks for live entertainment Prepare for lots of dialogue in 'Clouds of Sils Maria' Theater Ticket availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability 'Arsenic and Old Lace' has killer charm Some OSF crew members seek to unionize Music The Farr Side: Mumford & Sons’ latest is full-on rock Interview: Country singer Suzy Bogguss enjoying life on the road The Farr Side: CMAs do it right, in many ways Interview: Offspring plays hits new and old on tour The Farr Side: Slow disappearance of physical music Visual Art Movies Movie review: ‘Hot Pursuit’ is a hot mess George Miller returns to his ‘Mad Max’ roots Tom Hardy adapts to life as Mad Max Movie listings: May 8-14 Prepare for lots of dialogue in 'Clouds of Sils Maria' Food and Drink Taqueria Picaro takes over Tabu space Owner of Mix and Amuse to bring Flip burger joint to Ashland Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Looking Up: Once in a while a star blows up Health Watch: Easy tips to drink more water throughout the day Orthodox Church raising funds to build new home Antionette Kerr: Mother’s Day founder challenged commercialism Breathe easier with whole-house air purification Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Mocha Musings Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: Forest work is a bargain ... Ashland publisher offers prize for environmental book ... Ashland Calendar, Friday, May 8 ... Our View: Forest work is a bargain ... Ashland publisher offers prize for environmental book ... Ashland Calendar, Friday, May 8 ... Cars We Remember: Car enthusiast wishes new model designs were 'more different' By Greg Zyla More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Greg Zyla More Content Now Posted May. 5, 2015 @ 8:07 am By Greg Zyla More Content Now Posted May. 5, 2015 @ 8:07 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Q: Dear Greg, I have long been upset at the people who design the new model cars. All the autos look very much alike, and as a former Lincoln Continental owner, I note the new Lincoln. I think it looks very similar to a Honda, Toyota, Ford, Chevy, etc. Why don’t the design engineers look at past models that were most popular and incorporate distinguishing features into the new design? Personally, I would like to see a flat hood, not curved, with some old-fashioned headlights that have the modern capabilities as to power yet still look like one of their distinguishing models of the past. I want to know when I see a car coming it is a Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz or a Ford. I feel every auto has some excellent design features in the past but few designers take it into account and they all look alike. This is a shame and we are the losers. Sincerely yours, Bill Witthuhn, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. A: Bill, thanks much for your letter and I’ll let you know up front one of the world’s top auto designers, namely the late Harley Earl, has a grandson (Richard) who reads this column. Maybe he’ll send us his thoughts for us all to enjoy on the subject. (Richard Earl has been featured on these pages before). In my opinion, you are correct that the majority of today’s modern cars are getting close to “cookie-cutter” dimensions and design, especially the mid-size and full-size units. Most have very similar design traits and to make matters worse, there are way more foreign manufacturers building cars. This makes it even more difficult to distinguish a vehicle than the days gone by. In 1959, for example, Chevy had a full-size car in three flavors, Impala, Bel Air or Biscayne. Other than trucks and a Corvette to choose from, that was pretty much it. Regardless, you sure knew it was a Chevy coming down the road. Same goes for all the other models from the big three back then, be it Ford Galaxie or Plymouth Belvedere. Today, there are a few builders who have done what you say, and are successful. The Ford Mustang, Volkswagen Beetle, Porsche Carrera and Dodge Challenger come quick to mind, as these modern vehicles still evoke design cues from the past successfully. I’ve said many times in the past that if Chrysler ever found the tooling for a 1967 Plymouth Belvedere GTX, and then built it like they do the Challenger, I’d be the first one at the dealership to order one! As for novel modern day expression, foreign manufacturer Nissan (formerly Datsun) had always been ahead of the curve when it came to design that push the envelope (i.e. the Nissan Juke). Nissan has never been afraid to introduce a new design, which certainly costs a lot of money in modern day car building than it did in the past when a “new design’ meant a hood, grille and fender enhancement on the same chassis. The reality of today is that the electronics, mechanicals and safety offerings probably overrule design budgets more so than we realize. Still, I believe as you do that certain popular design traits from the past can be included in modern day design, allowing for more identification properties. Perhaps someone reading this column employed in the car design business will give us his or her thoughts on the subject. Overall, there are millions of happy Mustang owners that to this day, love the retro styling of the world’s first ever “Pony Car.” I know I do. (See photos). Thanks again Bill and have a good day. Greg Zyla writes weekly for More Content Now, BestRide.com and other GateHouse Media publications. He welcomes reader input on old cars, auto nostalgia or old-time motorsports at 303 Roosevelt St., Sayre, PA 18840 or email at [email protected]. By Greg Zyla More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Greg Zyla More Content Now Posted May. 5, 2015 @ 8:07 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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