http://www.bloggernews.net/14080 High-quality English language analysis and editorial writing on the news. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:52:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 http://www.bloggernews.net/14080#comment-204167 Frank Gonda Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:39:00 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/14080#comment-204167 Wow! Toyota's using 30 year old manufacturing processes and somebody is impressed. American Motors, starting in 1963 used common "firewalls" (Dash Panels to those in the business) front and rear floor pans and unisides for 3 different wheel bases and two different width vehicles. Each had a 2 dr, 2dr hardtop, convertible, 4 dr and 4dr station wagon. The door openings were made from two pieces which formed the A, B and C pillars as well as top and bottom rails. The Dash Panel and floor pans were retrimmed and flanged for the narrow wheelbase American. They won the Motor Trend Car of the Year for this. The 1963 Classic was the one chosen. AMC switched back to multipiece construction when they brought in hot shot Ford executives who didn't have a clue. Wow! Toyota’s using 30 year old manufacturing processes and somebody is
impressed. American Motors, starting in 1963 used common “firewalls” (Dash
Panels to those in the business) front and rear floor pans and unisides for
3 different wheel bases and two different width vehicles. Each had a 2 dr, 2dr hardtop, convertible, 4 dr and 4dr station wagon. The door openings were made
from two pieces which formed the A, B and C pillars as well as top and bottom
rails. The Dash Panel and floor pans were retrimmed and flanged for the narrow wheelbase American. They won the Motor Trend Car of the Year for this. The 1963 Classic was the one chosen. AMC switched back to multipiece construction when they brought in hot shot Ford executives who didn’t have a clue.

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