Loss of US brands :(

**trey** · 09-04-2009 09:40 PM

Originally Posted by ramy

Trey,

Is that your 67 Firebird in the link?

I wish! No, you are speaking to a Camry owner.

Speaking of China I saw footage on the news of some car factory workers working a hammer and nail on the B pillar of a car. I couldn't see what car it was, maybe one of China's own car makers. I don't know, that last time I saw something that primitive was when my mom's Volare was being tuned up.

**Van** · 09-05-2009 09:29 AM

I saw a clip or article very recently about a Chinese car company thats making very basic cars and using wood within the structure, just wish I could find it.

To be sure though its not this wooden car.
Joe Harmon Design-Building The Splinter Wooden Supercar

**Van** · 09-05-2009 09:33 AM

And its definitely not this though the wood was only used in the initial mock up, I have to say that this guy deserves complete and total respect not only for having the patience to spend 10 years building and designing the complete car but also for turning his basement into a drive out garage and not getting divorced in the process. Looking at the quality of the work this guy did with the fabrication he really knows his work.

Man Made Lamborghini Built In 10 years | Automobile | - Shareordie

**trey** · 10-22-2009 08:05 PM

Ha, ha, the only place I thought they were still using wood to make cars was the frame of the English handmade Morgan. Trust the Chinese to destroy the environment just that little bit more.

At one time the GM F body Camaro/Firebird factory was located in Van Nuys. I am wondering what a great help it would be to the state of California if that was still the case. The additional employment would help pay down the debts. IOUs are the first step on the path to full blown socialism.

**Bobby** · 10-22-2009 08:11 PM

My 69 Firebird was made in Fremont, Ca. I remember when all the Chevies were made at the Van Nuys plant, back in the 50s.

**trey** · 12-05-2009 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by Bobby

My 69 Firebird was made in Fremont, Ca. I remember when all the Chevies were made at the Van Nuys plant, back in the 50s.

Van Nuys also used to be a place where car customizing was busy in the '70s, remember the CGE (Carl Green Enterprises) AMC Pacer pickup truck? That came from Van Nuys. And of course there were a number of little supply companies that supported the customizers. They were industrious times. Now I hear about how the government of Caifornia is really open on the idea of marijuana, because finally they will have an economic activity to tax. I suppose you could say the economy is going up in smoke! At some point Cheech and Chong might run that state.

**truckracer** · 12-06-2009 02:16 PM

The de-industrialized America......where we used to have high paying jobs making our own things being strong and independent and now we are "services" where we are told to type hard and fast..... calling people on phones ...closing deals, working hard at making nothing!

**Bob Haller** · 12-06-2009 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by truckracer

The de-industrialized America......where we used to have high paying jobs making our own things being strong and independent and now we are "services" where we are told to type hard and fast..... calling people on phones ...closing deals, working hard at making nothing!

sad aint it?

the reason healthcare is such a large part of our economy?

they havent figureed out how to outsource it YET.

although UPMC has X RAYS read by doctors in fopreign countries.

will the last us worker pleaser turn out the lites?

anything imported here should be required to have the same health safety and enviromental rules if produced here.

the US economy will only get worse we proiduce nothing of value, and chharge a fortune.

our standard of living must tank to the level of the chines to be competive again

**navychop** · 12-06-2009 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by Bob Haller

.....anything imported here should be required to have the same health safety and environmental rules if produced here....

ABSOLUTELY!

**bhelms** · 12-09-2009 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by Bob Haller

...our standard of living must tank to the level of the chines to be competive again

You're on the right track with that statement. Of course, it's not just the Chinese. We have moved to a global economy. Manufacturers will continue to chase cheap labor (which has been proven to be a false business model in many cases) or find ways to take labor out of their products with automation when the volumes and anticipated product life cycles warrant the capitalization. Not until the standards of living in other viable countries have equalized with ours (read that either way) will we become a competitive industrial labor market again. Another driver is locating manufacturing closer to the market, so emerging economies like China with over a billion potential consumers with increasing disposable income are attractive to those who produce commodities. The US must find a way to derive economic growth from service and intellectual properties, and must continue to educate its workers to produce in the morphing economy. The haydays of manufacturing commodity items, perhaps including even cars, between our borders may be permanently gone...