Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2002 01:58:13 +0000 (UTC) From: amesnopsamrak.demon.co.uk (Andrew Stephenson) Subject: Re: GM plans Saab Restructuring
In article <3DE26B46.B35C9BA3nopsamantispamtrick.org> webmannnopsamantispamtrick.org "J Dexter" writes: > [...] > > Also - a lot of people including myself, feel that the over > design, build and sheet metal standards have fallen > considerably since the GM take over (I still proudly drive my > '89 9000 CD daily). So that while Opel probably makes fine new > cars - when I can push my thumb into the rear quarter panel on > a new 9-5 and leave a dimple - I have to say that I feel the > concerns are right.. > > [...] Being able to deform a panel of a new car so simply _may_ not be so great a cause for concern. A friend who worked for British Leyland's buying department in the early 1970s told me that BL used a type of sheet steel which starts soft and work-hardens. In other words: easy to press into shape; strong enough to keep that shape during sensible handling; and hardens due to vibration. He said that Minis (which we were discussing) reached full stiffness after about six months. Maybe car manufacturers still exploit that type of steel. -- Andrew Stephenson
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