The Dolomite Sprint
The government’s scrappage scheme is good news for 300,000 or so people. Well, supposedly good news. They get money off a new car, so that their old scrapper takes the final journey it will ever make. There it’ll probably lie rusted, dead and at the bottom of a pile of a bunch of other (likely previously serviceable cars).
Most worrying of all though is that some cars will actually vanish from the road forever. They’ll literally never be seen again. Cars are, whether you like it or not, a part of all of our shared histories. Think of the cars your parents had. Even if they were horrible repmobiles or even a Lada (yes, my parents did own one) it’s a part of history – my history. Our history.
Soon, British roads will be awash with cars that look ever similar – if not the same. In times of crisis, manufacturers will reuse platforms and parts of cars to reduce costs as much as possible. Few of them are pouring money into developing truly new vehicles. Where will this leave us when the new cars look the same and the old cars are gone? Vanilla city. Fairly soon, you’ll wish you could see a Dolomite Sprint in amongst your daily commute…
Scrappageman says
May 15, 2009 at 9:11 pmI’m not sure if many retro models will vanish from our over-coned roads. Aren’t these models generally owned by proud motorists and collectors? However, If we do lose some character then think about the fact the Government are effectively giving £1,000 with the one hand and taking £1,500 with the other. A nice windfall of £500.
Mr Butterscotch says
May 17, 2009 at 8:30 pmYou’d hope that they are owned by proud men and women up and down the country – many of them are. Unfortunately, we age, which means that we end up wanting something reliable and eventually give up our cool older cars…
mobitronia says
October 2, 2009 at 5:17 amyep but still some vintage car collectors would want these classic cars preserved. Car manufacturers would not make them anymore so it should be treasured with time.