I’ve often wondered why turbochargers didn’t have some type of electric assist at low end to get rid of turbo lag. Well, now some turbos will. Of course, I’ve often wondered why we don’t have thermo-chromic roof shingles that turn a lighter color at higher temperatures to reflect heat and turn a darker color at lower temperatures to absorb heat. Actually, I think some company has developed such a product, but as I understand it, stupid, arbitrary HOA covenants are a big obstacle. Don’t get me started…
A friend once said to me that I should stop coming up with ideas and start developing them. Well, I’m not an engineer and I am not well connected. In general, no man is an island. I cannot develop an ecosystem out of thin air that would allow me to actually develop these ideas on my own or even let me do what I want to do for a living (assuming I knew what that was) and earn reasonable compensation. Almost all of us need some help on occasion. No one who can help has been willing to help me for a long time.
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From autoevolution.com a picture of a Cadillac Allante convertible with the optional hardtop in place. In my previous blog I often wrote of my interest in these cars. In fact, even though I am not a member I receive emails from the national Cadillac Allante/XLR club.
The Allante was a failure; no other way exists to describe it. It was underpowered at first, very expensive and fraught with reliability issues. In its seven year run, only about 21,000 were produced. Many car enthusiasts have put the Allante in the same category as cars like the Pontiac Fiero in that as the Allante was finally developed into a good car, General Motors pulled the plug.
I think the exterior design is breathtaking and I don’t mean that in a Seinfeld kind of way. Of course, the body was by the legendary Italian company Pininfarina, so the looks should be no surprise. Here’s another one in a different/better color and better wheels:
From classiccars.com a picture of a 1993 Allante in green and with wire wheels. In my opinion these wheels really suit the car. I have no room in my garage for another car and, to be honest, as a retired person on a pension I should not be dabbling in automobiles just as a hobby. If I were still earning a good living, though, I would probably buy a “toy” car every now and then, drive it for awhile and then sell it to buy something else. Oh well, as the line from Diner says, “If you don’t have dreams you have nightmares.”
Disaffected Musings 