<VV> Press Mention

[Wrsssatty@aol.com]

The March 2004 issue of Motor Trend features an article by Karl Ludvigsen
titled "Changing Directions" about drive-by-wire steering.  In the article
Ludvigsen mentions that Detroit was experimenting with "replacements" for the
steering wheel from the late 1950s into the 1960s.  He theorizes that the
Corvair
had a hand in delaying the implementation of such avant garde technology.
"Why
didn't systems like these become options on upscale cars of the 1970s?
Lawyers, probably.  In the wake of lawsuits against the Corvair, Detroit was
wary of
anything that verged on radical."  It is noted that Karl Ludvigsen writing in
the November 1959 issue of Sports Cars Illustrated had this to say about the
then-new Corvair:  "Let us be honest, as usual:B  The Corvair is fundamentally
a profound oversteerer...Chevy spokesmen have said that they didnbt feel a
front anti-roll bar was needed ... one of the first things that should be done
to
this car is to replace that anti-roll bar.B  Since this would only actually
counterbalance the difficulties that exist at the rear, however, thorough
redesign should commence at that end.B ...For all its novelty the Corvair is
surprisingly naive in this major respect."  One can't help but wonder how many
lawyers
were inspired to file those "lawsuits against the Corvair" by Karl
Ludvigsen's earlier words!

Bill Stanley