luckyseven
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Owning sneering dismissive pedantry since 1970
Posts: 3,839
Club RR Member Number: 45
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Death of the Motor Cityluckyseven
@luckyseven
Club Retro Rides Member 45
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Dec 13, 2012 17:45:08 GMT
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Felt motivated by the excellent Old Russia thread to add one about the horrendous slide into decay of Detroit, once the industrial powerhouse of the US and the great white hope of the motor car. There are plenty of sites hosting photo essays on the once-grand cities' descent into dereliction, not just the auto industry but the fine baroque architecture and edifices that were once proud titanic visions of the future, now only a shattered vision into the past... For example, the view from the Packard Plant;  or the Fisher Body coachbuilding plant;  Many of the buildings are listed heritage sites, but since the money fled, their renovations and preservation has been held back year after year causing an inevitable encroachment of decripitude. not just the automotive plants, but churches, schools and theatres. The United Artists theatre;  Melted schoolroom clock frozen in time, sepulchral like the Marie Celeste;  More excellent photographs here from the French duo of Yves Marchant and Romain Meffre www.marchandmeffre.com/detroit/index.htmlAnother photo essay here zfein.com/photography/detroit/index.html complete with a whole section on the Packard Motor Works; And here www.urbanghostsmedia.com/2009/10/abandoned-detroit-incredible-images-of-a-lost-city/ including fantastic shots of the derelict Michigan Central Station, once the tallest railway station in the world. It's been disused since 1988 when the Amtrak trains stopped calling. It's now stranded in time, held in limbo between preservation orders and complete lack of funding for restoration  ...and TIME's photo essay by Sean Hemmerle www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1864272,00.html including more superb pics of the motor plants. More Fisher Body Plant 21;  and the Michigan Theatre, now partially converted into the most pallatial parking lot in the world!  No pics of cars, sorry, but it's sorta related and hopefully you'll find the photos as eerie and bitter-sweet as I do. Well worth a look, I reckons. Oh, OK, if you must, here...  have one of my own humble pics of a decrepit Charger lol. Any Mopar buffs who're gonna tell me it was made in Dearborn or something can just go do one ;D What, too depressing? OK, how about this?  Here's to happier times  |
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boomy
Part of things
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Dec 13, 2012 19:24:41 GMT
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Both love it and hate it at the same time.Amazing images, cheers for sharing!
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MattE
Part of things
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Dec 13, 2012 22:09:56 GMT
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What amazing photos, that United Artists theater looks (no words to fill this space!) and man do I want that clock on my wall. The atmosphere captured is fantastic. Used to be a bloke in Leicester with a yellow charger, tuned mopeds that went like foook.
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Last Edit: Dec 13, 2012 22:13:06 GMT by MattE
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Dec 13, 2012 22:44:43 GMT
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Great photos I hate seeing buildings like this going to waste
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Dec 13, 2012 22:46:59 GMT
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I have a fascination with the decline of Detroit. Some good books you can read if you are into it: Made in DetroitWho killed DetroitDetroit, I Do Mind DyingAll of which gives the social and political backdrop to the death of Detroit from various perspectives. If you read only one, read "Made in Detroit". Fantastic book, I couldn't put it down. I've got THIS on my list to read soon too |
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Last Edit: Dec 13, 2012 22:47:49 GMT by akku
1937 Austin Street Rod - 1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1976 Rover V8 - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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luckyseven
Posted a lot
Owning sneering dismissive pedantry since 1970
Posts: 3,839
Club RR Member Number: 45
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Death of the Motor Cityluckyseven
@luckyseven
Club Retro Rides Member 45
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Dec 13, 2012 23:12:06 GMT
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Look like a good read. hmmm, too late for Christmas? lol It's certainly an incredible story, and even when you know some of the goings-on it still beggars belief how a country as rich as America and corporations that at the time were amongst the most influential and affluent the world had ever seen could miss-manage an entire city so badly. Makes you realise that where Clint Eastwood lived in Gran Torino must have been about the most desirable part of the city  Mind you, I guess we have plenty of lost cities in our own country, in no position to get sanctimonious. The mills, the mines, steel foundries, engine building sheds, shipyards, not to mention the car plants... all gone. The main difference is that we don't have the luxury of space that they have in the U.S. There isn't the room to leave entire city blocks as monuments to obsolesence, we're forced to tear them down and turn them into malls and yuppie apartments and arts centres and all the other pointless ephemera we fill modern life with. Blimey, that was a bit depressing, better have an arty 'cuda shot to cheer things up a bit ;D  |
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Dec 13, 2012 23:41:39 GMT
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what a waste
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theres more to life than mpg & to much power is just enough.
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Dec 14, 2012 11:06:50 GMT
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Eariry but facinating, good find.
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Dec 14, 2012 12:27:39 GMT
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Fascinating.... I recently read an issue of Classic American that had included a write up of a road trip round Detroit in a new Mustang, they had some good pictures in there too and it sparked my interest in Detroit as it is now even more. I got this A Savage Factory: An Eyewitness Account of the Auto Industry's Self-Destruction asavagefactory.com/ for christmas last year and read it within a week, absolutely brilliant book and couldn't put it down!! |
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fred
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WTF has happened to all the Vennies?
Posts: 2,957
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Dec 14, 2012 20:15:15 GMT
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Heartbreaking to see such places rotting away.
Guess there are thousands of like places across the world like it
Would love to go and visit mind, just to walk round and take in the atmosphere of past greatness
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'79 Cossie ran Cortina - Sold
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MK2VR6
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Mk2 Golf GTi 90 Spec
Posts: 3,328
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Dec 14, 2012 21:01:18 GMT
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Fascinating thread Luckyseven; thanks for sharing  |
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Dec 14, 2012 21:32:54 GMT
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I plan to go there next year. The population has more than halfed since the mid 50's. Its regaining it sense of community and shows how quickly nature can fight back from mass urbanisation. Don't see it as heartbreaking or a waste in anyway.
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1970 Porsche 911E
2002 Porsche Boxster S
2002 Peugeot Partner 1.9sdi
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Dec 15, 2012 13:58:43 GMT
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You have to remember that America suffers from inner city decrepitude in many places often simply because they had more space it was cheaper to expand your city outwards than rebuild the centre, in more cramped countries you have to knock the old stuff down to make space for new ones OR keep the old ones in good shape and reuse them. I think whats happened in Detroit is partially due to the same thing.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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Dec 15, 2012 14:42:31 GMT
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What amazing photos, that United Artists theater looks (no words to fill this space!) and man do I want that clock on my wall. The atmosphere captured is fantastic. Used to be a bloke in Leicester with a yellow charger, tuned mopeds that went like foook. Was it this one (Dirty Mary Crazy Larry clone):  My old car which I sold to a bloke who tuned scooters! - do you know if its still around? On the Motor City theme, occasionally there are programmes on the Discovery & National Geo channels about the decline of the industry - compelling viewing |
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Last Edit: Dec 16, 2012 7:54:34 GMT by BudgieV8
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(soon to have 1969 Plymouth Satellite Sport Wagon)
ChArLy sAys ..WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH HERE IS A TOTAL LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE LAW... hEhE!!!
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retrolegends
Club Retro Rides Member
Winging it.....Since 1971.
Posts: 3,714
Club RR Member Number: 94
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Death of the Motor Cityretrolegends
@retrolegends
Club Retro Rides Member 94
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Dec 15, 2012 16:25:36 GMT
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Fascinating thread, didn't Clarkson go not to long ago when he tested the Ford GT?
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1974 Hillman Avenger 1500DL1992 Volvo 240SE1975 Datsun Cherry 100a flying custard1965 Hillman SuperMinx Rock N Roller1974 Austin Allegrat Mk1 1.3SDL1980 Austin Allegro Mk3 1.3L1982 Austin Allegro Mk3 on banded steels2003 Saab 9-3 Convertible 220bhp TurboNutter1966 Morris Minor 1000 (Doris) 2019 Abarth 595C Turismo (not retro but awesome fun) www.facebook.com/DatsunCherry100a |
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Dec 15, 2012 18:49:00 GMT
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great pics and i also know the owner of the red charger
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luckyseven
Posted a lot
Owning sneering dismissive pedantry since 1970
Posts: 3,839
Club RR Member Number: 45
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Death of the Motor Cityluckyseven
@luckyseven
Club Retro Rides Member 45
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Dec 15, 2012 21:42:33 GMT
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great pics and I also know the owner of the red charger Yeah? Tell them it's properly nice, then, please?  |
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Llewelyn_
Posted a lot
Hi everyone :)
Posts: 1,975
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Dec 16, 2012 10:03:20 GMT
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What amazing photos, that United Artists theater looks (no words to fill this space!) and man do I want that clock on my wall. The atmosphere captured is fantastic. Used to be a bloke in Leicester with a yellow charger, tuned mopeds that went like foook. Was it this one (Dirty Mary Crazy Larry clone): My old car which I sold to a bloke who tuned scooters! - do you know if its still around? On the Motor City theme, occasionally there are programmes on the Discovery & National Geo channels about the decline of the industry - compelling viewing I know that car, it is still around I think although I've not seen it for a while. Great pics, Motor City is fascinating, I'd love to go! |
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"Back off man, I'm a Scientist" - Dr. Peter Venkman
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p1RATE
Part of things
Posts: 355
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I thought i would add a few pics of another charger from Leicester, my dads.    they certainly made some good looking cars. I heard something on the radio the other day saying that the population of Detroit had shrunk from 2 million to around 700 thousands as all of its industry has disappeared |
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• 13 BMW 320d
• 92 Pink/Purple Mercedes 190e (Project)
• 97 Rover VI 1.8 (track car)
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Love stuff like this (a shame for the people who used to work there obviously). Something fascinating about abandoned buildings though Looks like Mr Dali was at it here  |
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Club Retro Rides Member
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