I've been busy finishing the rims for the troopy. See photos..
And while I was doing the monotonous work of riveting the clips my thoughts wondered around these early Landcruisers in comparison to modern cars. Without any prejudice or subjective favour towards the 40's I don't think anyone ever created something so versatile yet durable and enduring like these vehicles.
I mean looking at the body structure alone, and how the panels and seals create an extremly complex system to serve a great range of purpose. It is really like a Lego toy. It can be open or closed, short, long, medium, this door that door windscreen or no windscreen..
The number of variants within one range are just incredible.
Probably arount the end of 70' early 80' was the peak of this variability, anything after that time has become more differentiated as a result of simplification of producing parts. The omission of the hood clips meant the windscreen will stay upright and so on the list is long.
Why? Did customers interest faded towards versatility or again as in so many other situations in life the customer is only got fed with whatever companies wants to sell instead of providing goods at need. Whatever the answer is it is easier to make and its not forever anyway cars are become recycled rubbish, ultimately just rubbish.
Going back to the 40's and its idea behind the engineering marvel and comparing the technological advancement between today and the 70's, how would it look if today some manufacturer would decide to create another "lego" vehicle so versatile like the 40' series Landcruiser it was back in the day.
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