Honda Cars Of Rock Hill

dealers adjust to dip in Japanese auto sales

According to reports earlier this week, Japanese automakers experienced their worst May sales since 1968. They were overcome by the combination of March's tsunami and earthquake, which stopped Japanese production, and the economy, which affected sales worldwide. Car buyers were just as likely to buy a used vehicle or defer their purchases to the long-awaited better times.

Nor was it a good month for U.S. auto companies, which saw sales fall 4 percent from May of last year. That drop was nothing like Toyota's, though, which saw a 28 percent drop in U.S. sales and a 38 percent drop in Japanese sales from May 2010.

Ironically, 1968 was not a good year for Japanese auto sales either. Again, it was a combination of production and consumer buying habits.

The Toyota Corolla made its U.S. debut that year. The car was simple in design and virtually indestructible. Toyota executives hoped the Corolla would reverse the sentiment that Japanese cars were poorly designed, shoddy vehicles. With a price tag of $1,700, the Corolla was one of the cheaper offerings that year, $300 less than a very pedestrian, four-door Rambler American.

But 1968 was smack in the middle of muscle mania in which Detroit turned out a steady stream of head-turning, pavement-sizzling cars. The Pontiac GTO was MotorTrend's Car of the Year in 1968.

MotorTrend writers gushed over the car its owners affectionately called the "Goat."

"It goes, rides, handles, steers, stops and looks like a car should," Motor Trend wrote. "We halfway believe Pontiac took the best parts of all cars made, poured them into a mixing bowl and stirred up a GTO. But they didn't have to. They've been working their way toward this beautiful result for the past four years."

The GTO cost $3,200 and had a 350 horsepower, V-8 engine that could pin you to the seats when you slammed the accelerator. The only problem MotorTrend could find with the car was that when the ashtray was open, it made it difficult to shift into first or third gear.

The Corolla, in comparison, had a 60 horsepower, four-cylinder engine. American buyers found the car underpowered and too small.

There was one Toyota advantage, though: The Corolla sipped gas. The GTO, well, detractors said GTO stood for Gas, Tires and Oil. That wasn't much a concern in 1968. Gas sold for 34 cents a gallon - 15 cents less than McDonald's newest sandwich, the Big Mac.

Zoom forward 43 years, and fuel economy is one of the factors that has made Japanese cars among the most sought after.

York County, SC | York County dealers adjust to dip in Japanese ...

According to reports earlier this week, Japanese automakers experienced their worst May sales since 1968. They were overcome by the combination of March's tsunami and earthquake, which stopped Japanese production, and the economy, which affected sales worldwide. Car buyers were just as likely to buy a used vehicle or defer their purchases to the long-awaited better times.

Nor was it a good month for U.S. auto companies, which saw sales fall 4 percent from May of last year. That drop was nothing like Toyota's, though, which saw a 28 percent drop in U.S. sales and a 38 percent drop in Japanese sales from May 2010.

Ironically, 1968 was not a good year for Japanese auto sales either. Again, it was a combination of production and consumer buying habits.

The Toyota Corolla made its U.S. debut that year. The car was simple in design and virtually indestructible. Toyota executives hoped the Corolla would reverse the sentiment that Japanese cars were poorly designed, shoddy vehicles. With a price tag of $1,700, the Corolla was one of the cheaper offerings that year, $300 less than a very pedestrian, four-door Rambler American.

But 1968 was smack in the middle of muscle mania in which Detroit turned out a steady stream of head-turning, pavement-sizzling cars. The Pontiac GTO was MotorTrend's Car of the Year in 1968.

MotorTrend writers gushed over the car its owners affectionately called the "Goat."

"It goes, rides, handles, steers, stops and looks like a car should," Motor Trend wrote. "We halfway believe Pontiac took the best parts of all cars made, poured them into a mixing bowl and stirred up a GTO. But they didn't have to. They've been working their way toward this beautiful result for the past four years."

The GTO cost $3,200 and had a 350 horsepower, V-8 engine that could pin you to the seats when you slammed the accelerator. The only problem MotorTrend could find with the car was that when the ashtray was open, it made it difficult to shift into first or third gear.

The Corolla, in comparison, had a 60 horsepower, four-cylinder engine. American buyers found the car underpowered and too small.

There was one Toyota advantage, though: The Corolla sipped gas. The GTO, well, detractors said GTO stood for Gas, Tires and Oil. That wasn't much a concern in 1968. Gas sold for 34 cents a gallon - 15 cents less than McDonald's newest sandwich, the Big Mac.

Zoom forward 43 years, and fuel economy is one of the factors that has made Japanese cars among the most sought after.

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