Quote:
Originally posted by dad911
People have been ricing since autos were first invented. Chopped hot rods of the 50's, spoilers & hood scoops in the 60's & 70's, etc. 8-ball & Skull shift knobs, welded chain steering wheels...... Same game, diferrent name.
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not quite the same! yes, there is a certain amount of kitsch to be found in every artistic human endeavor, and although I have never been a huge fan of american-style conversions (i.e. Barris, et al.), I still respect the designs as they do follow certain artistic principles. "ricing" however, does not follow any artistic principles at all. what most "ricers" think of as cool today is merely an exercise to see how much crap they can add to their cars to make them appear as spastic as possible
never in my life have I seen so much rolling detritus, whose appearance is the visual equivalent of an epileptic seizure. furthermore, although it was common to find "cruisers" adding such things as fuzzy dice and 8-ball shift knobs, the emphasis was more on engine performance mods and bodywork that kept a modicum of clean lines. this is not apparently so with ricers, as they seem to spend ungodly amounts of money on products that do absolutely nothing to enhance performance, even though they are marketed as such. one example is the ellectronic blow-off valve simulator (yes, that's right - it comes complete with speaker) that is supposed to make your car sound like it has a turbo. in God's name why?? back in "the day" one would have been laughed - if not outright beaten - into oblivion for attempting such a poseuristic (hey, I've coined a new word!) stunt
on the visual side, one reason for the current trend in automotive bad taste is that the advent of low priced CAD-CAM equipment has allowed anyone with a modest sum of money and little else in the way of design skills to go into the accessory business. have you seen any of the latest wheels, accessories or even fiberglass panels lately? there is no cohesiveness of design, no visual logic, no nothing (yep, it's a double negative - deal with it
) for example, consider the wheels that some of these guys are putting on their cars. the patterns of some are downright ridiculous. their designs have nothing to do with the rest of the car! it's the same as wearing a pair of ghetto baggy jeans, a western button-up shirt, and a pair of dockside penny loafers. making design tools available to the common man will not create more artists. never has and never will. oil and canvas have been around for millenia, but only the true artist can make them come to life
remember folks, the reason why the 911 is such a revered design after so many years is because there was a brain attached to the other end of the pencil. talent like Butzi's is rare, but it takes this type of talent to create forms that are truly wonderful to behold and can stand the test of time
just a rant, but hey, you started it