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Semantical question, what year is my car?

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drooartz

drooartz

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Minor question -- what year would you consider the Tunebug to be?

Title: 1960
Build Date: 20 November, 1959

In modern terms, the 1960 would seem correct (most cars are built before their official model year). By some reckonings of old cars 1959 would be the proper year since that's when it was built, even if late in the year. It easily could have been 1960 by the time it arrived off the ship in the USA.

Not a particularly deep question, but it's a Monday and I'm having trouble focusing at work... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
I know many Imported cars werent Titled until they were sold. But most of my Classic American Cars have been Considered a different year. For example my 1963 Corvair was in fact Manufactured in Feb of 1962 However all of the badges, emblems and factory specs were in line with 1963. Since most model year changes are intriduced as early as September of the Prior year I would say it is pretty safe to say you do indeed have a 1960 Tune Bug. Hopefully yopu can get some work done now.... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
Even back in the fifties, it was normal to open a model year around September of the previous year. So, lots of cars made in, say, 1959 are really 1960 models. It's the model year for which they were designed, not the actual date of manufacture, that matters. This is true for both American and British makes.
 
<Psychoanalyst>How does your car feel about it's age?</Psychoanalyst>
 
[zen guru] If the car is fast, what is a year? [/zen guru]
 
I think in our world it is a 1959.
 
<Politically Correct> Aaaaargh Agism!!! <Politically Correct>
 
Drew,
An interesting debate, no wrong answers. I think you have properly identified it by build and title date; you can refine this even further by aggregating a list of "features" specific (I use this term loosely) to the cars which preceeded yours as well as those of your cars vintage and then of those later cars. Several specs actually changed during the month of November, 1959, according to Horler. I qualified the use of the word "specific" earlier because we all are aware of exceptions to the rules.

I think it interesting that the unveiling of the Brit cars seemed to involve less hooplah than for the introduction of the new models in the US. I can remember as a kid in the late 50s and early 60s driving with my Dad by the Ford dealership (he was a Ford man) a day or two before the annual model introduction and seeing new vehicles under covers...even those on the showroom floor. Most new vehicles back then traveled by train rather than tractor/trailer and you would see a long freight train with many car racks will all the cars covered. On unveiling day the TV ads ran continuously...who cared about who got shot on Bonanza...I wanted to see the new Chevy! And my Dad always made it a point drop by the "Ford place"...just to look. He wasn't one of the "new every year" crowd, but every 2-3 years we'd ride home in a new Ford.

To punctuate this discussion, you might want to take a look at some of the dealer brochures on my web site (www.raysmg.com) under the "Documentation" link. There was very little change to the text during the production run of the Bugeye (I've only got one of the single page brochures featured), but the later Midgets and Sprites got the Mk. I, Mk. II, etc. treatment to differentiate between models; rarely in printed material will you ever see reference to "...the new 19XX Sprite/Midget".

Ray
 
I guess this question comes from folks asking me what the year of the car is. 1960 is the year I have used so far. If you were to look at production dating, it would fall in 1959. Sprites really didn't have model years, just a running series of changes as needed.

It comes down to this -- for non-enthusiasts, which year would you use?

I know the assorted years and list of changes by production number, so I can figure out parts and such, but it's nice to have a year to give folks without sounding like an anorak and putting them to sleep.
 
Not sure how I'd answer a verbal question - but put the actual build date on any sign for a show - that's impressive especially for people who don't know it's relatively easy information to get /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
Build date for the win. That's when the little car came alive and starting looking for you.
 
drooartz said:
It comes down to this -- for non-enthusiasts, which year would you use?
Click to expand...
My BGT has a build date of 69, which is what I wanted on the licence plate (unless the owner was born, or the car is registered a 1969, you can't have it.)
The 'non-enthusiast' at the DMV went by what was on the title, a 1970.
THEN, I asked a cop for a 'VIN Correction sheet', which is a sheet of paper that a cop fills out if the VIN # on the car is different from what's on the title, and pointed out the build year as being in error on the title. He went for it.
Long story short, if I ever get around to sending that sheet along with $85, the car can be just as easily a '69.
So it is possible to lean the non-enthusiast any way you want, legally.
What's on the title is gospel, so why not change the title...?
 
I might try that, Barry. I'm not looking to run year-of-manufacture plates (I've got TUNEBUG plates instead /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif ) so the title date is not all that important. It's an interesting question, anyways. I haven't decided which year I'll use in casual conversation, but I'm leaning towards 1959 now.

I liked Jack's comment: "That's when the little car came alive and starting looking for you."

It's a silly thing, really, but I'm in between projects (okay, I'm really in between funding) right now, and it's really cold. Good time for esoteric discussions.
 
Bugeyes are like puppies. They need to find their place in the world and their proper garage/home to make em really smile.

It is the ones out back under a tree, unloved, and uncared for that make me sad.

Miss Agatha is always so pleased to see me in the morning, and loves to be pampered with new parts. She does not even mind haveing her engine pulled often as she knows it is going to be all better soon then she can run and play with her friends at the Lake of the Ozarks.

I told her that she was going to get her picture taken with lots of other Spridgets and she durn near bounced.
 
The BIG question is does your car ACT its age? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
 
bugimike said:
The BIG question is does your car ACT its age? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
Click to expand...
or do you? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
 
Tunebug just wants to get back on the road. The original owner put him away in the late sixties, and he really hasn't been driven since. Far too long for a little sports car to sit doing nothing. That just won't do.

My wife asks me how old I am, and I answer "I'm 4 years old." /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
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