From: "Frank Haber" 

Might I remind you youngsters that the average big-engine American car in
the 1940s needed a ring job at 65,000 miles?  And that was with much lower
temperatures everywhere hot, and a vented crankcase.  Why?  Metallurgy,
Dustin, metallurgy.

For the Brits, I'll just breathe the name "Lucas," and mention
carbon throwout bearings.  How many miles could an Austin 7 or Ford Popular
run before overhaul, at 40 mph on crowned roads?

The only thing I think we've lost is shade-tree repairability, which hurts.

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5