Leica a la Carte is a la Dead

[coogee]

LOL at the picture of that Rover - pure filth!

 

[CMur12]

LOL at the picture of that Rover - pure filth!

Or sacrilege.

- Murray

 

[bennyng]

Ahh, not telling. Actually, I went for black paint, 0.58 VF, M3 rewind and advance lever, no script at all and special leather. Standard nylon strap (because I'll put on a Gordy or cord strap), standard framelines (ie includes 75mm). The leather choice might be the thing you object to, going by your reaction to my other 0.58 MP.
I'll have an unveiling party when it comes, which at Leica's glacial speed will be next millennium sometime.

Goodness Peter!! We should definitely plan a unveiling party. Perhaps you tell them you would like to pick it up at Ginza? I'll pop by!

Cheers,

 

[Sumarongi]

I still want a Citroën DS21 ... Someday!

What I should have, actually, is something more like a Ford Transit ... That way, I'd have something I could carry my cameras and bicycle in. But I like driving the SLK too much.

Dear G,
if you should have a Ford Transit, I'd be happy to offer you a swap? I'd suggest, say, a six week trial period, right during the coming school summer holidays -- oh, my erm lovely children are included in that swap

 

[David Hughes]

The SM was very special, but the even more exotic XM of middle 1990s era was even more so. I had one of those as a hire car on one trip to the UK: it was a fantastic sedan, looked and drove as if it had come from somewhere Other Than Here.

Citroen have not distributed to the USA since about 1973. It’s a terrible shame.

Hi,

They changed the rules about headlamps on cars in the USA and the SM then became illegal; I think some were fitted with boring round headlamps but in a nutshell they stopped exporting to America.

I started with the 2CV and stopped after the rust got to my GS1220 and started buying boring cars, also the local expert retired. I'd still like a 50's Citroen and Dyane but the prices have gone through the roof here. We still see DS's and so on here. This was in a car park recently.

What more can I say except that I'm jealous...

Regards, David

 

[robert blu]

https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Second/i-6XRgTkq/0/c79398c9/O/Photo%2046612.jpg[/IMG]
...
What more can I say except that I'm jealous...


Regards, David

Did you mention a Dyane? It was my first car, I was very proud of it, almost 50 years ago (sigh!), max speed 95 km/h with tail wind...but I still remember many journeys I went through with such a car yes, I was young in that time...

Back to the topic, the idea of the Leica a la carte is a good things if money permits it...in my case...I have ot.her priorities..

 

[Godfrey]

...
They changed the rules about headlamps on cars in the USA and the SM then became illegal; I think some were fitted with boring round headlamps but in a nutshell they stopped exporting to America.
...

Actually, with respect to headlamps: United States automobile headlamp standards were codified somewhere around 1935 and became a part of the NHTSA Federal specifications by the 1960s. Those specs, dating from the 1930s, mandated a sealed beam headlamp with 35,000 BCPS to promote consistent lighting and driver safety—which was a plus in those days given the variably terrible automotive lighting situation of that time but was woefully out of date by the 1960s. Enforcement was spotty until the 1968, but things like Citroen's advanced "turn with the steering" driving beams, self-leveling headlamps, aerodynamic headlamp covers, etc, were never actually approved; they were possible to slip in on import cars (US made cars never had them) until the 1968 to 1973 time period. Post that date, the regulations were enforced more and more stringently—I remember them being clamped down in force about 1973—until the late 1970s/early 1980s when the hue and cry of sealed beam headlamps being WOEFULLY inadequate to modern highway road speeds finally caused changed and more modern lighting standards to be adopted around the end of the 1980s/into the 1990s, allowing far more modern systems.

I don't recall SMs being modified to be without the aerodynamic covers, but they couldn't bring in the steering beams and had to use sealed beams behind the cover glass at least to meet the NHTSA standards. This was true from the beginning of the run. A travesty. But it didn't stop them from bringing the cars to the USA.

No, what stopped Citroen and many other automakers in their tracks were the new bumper and "no damage" parts of the NHTSA vehicle construction codes in the early 1970s, as well as the US specified emissions codes at that time. The stupid bumper laws added hundreds of pounds to every vehicle and caused major redesign of the chassis structure on many, even those with advanced safety designs (like all Citroens of that day). At the same time, the new emissions regulations seemed to do everything possible to emasculate every engine and destroy any hope of performance. Citroen had a small market here, having never made a big effort to support US style parts and service expectations, and just decided that the cost of development for US market distribution was simply out of the ballpark to keep up with and still be profitable.

These regulations destroyed many fine car designs until manufacturers got a handle on how to build for them a decade or so—and many billions of dollars in development—later. They've added vastly to the complexity and difficulty in servicing automobiles, never mind to the costs of running a service business.

G

 

[dave lackey]

Actually, with respect to headlamps: United States automobile headlamp standards were codified somewhere around 1935 and became a part of the NHTSA Federal specifications by the 1960s. Those specs, dating from the 1930s, mandated a sealed beam headlamp with 35,000 BCPS to promote consistent lighting and driver safety—which was a plus in those days given the variably terrible automotive lighting situation of that time but was woefully out of date by the 1960s. Enforcement was spotty until the 1968, but things like Citroen's advanced "turn with the steering" driving beams, self-leveling headlamps, aerodynamic headlamp covers, etc, were never actually approved; they were possible to slip in on import cars (US made cars never had them) until the 1968 to 1973 time period. Post that date, the regulations were enforced more and more stringently—I remember them being clamped down in force about 1973—until the late 1970s/early 1980s when the hue and cry of sealed beam headlamps being WOEFULLY inadequate to modern highway road speeds finally caused changed and more modern lighting standards to be adopted around the end of the 1980s/into the 1990s, allowing far more modern systems.

I don't recall SMs being modified to be without the aerodynamic covers, but they couldn't bring in the steering beams and had to use sealed beams behind the cover glass at least to meet the NHTSA standards. This was true from the beginning of the run. A travesty. But it didn't stop them from bringing the cars to the USA.

No, what stopped Citroen and many other automakers in their tracks were the new bumper and "no damage" parts of the NHTSA vehicle construction codes in the early 1970s, as well as the US specified emissions codes at that time. The stupid bumper laws added hundreds of pounds to every vehicle and caused major redesign of the chassis structure on many, even those with advanced safety designs (like all Citroens of that day). At the same time, the new emissions regulations seemed to do everything possible to emasculate every engine and destroy any hope of performance. Citroen had a small market here, having never made a big effort to support US style parts and service expectations, and just decided that the cost of development for US market distribution was simply out of the ballpark to keep up with and still be profitable.

These regulations destroyed many fine car designs until manufacturers got a handle on how to build for them a decade or so—and many billions of dollars in development—later. They've added vastly to the complexity and difficulty in servicing automobiles, never mind to the costs of running a service business.

G

Give me chrome any day!!!

 

[davidnewtonguitars]

Speaking of odd (in America) cars, I drove a 50's Puegeot 403 in 1970.
After driving it a while I found 4th gear by chance.
I found it quite dignified, so it wasn't for me.

 

[dave lackey]

Haha... not that one! I use Safari...,

Chrome as in rolling art (Harley Davidson, classic cars, Art Deco)...

It would be the "a la carte" choice for me if there was such a thing with buying a car or truck. Dreams are nice, right?

 

[robert blu]

Haha...
Dreams are nice, right?

Yes, dreams are nice and not expensive
robert

 

[David Hughes]

Actually, with respect to headlamps: United States automobile headlamp standards were codified somewhere around 1935 and became a part of the NHTSA Federal specifications by the 1960s. Those specs, dating from the 1930s, mandated a sealed beam headlamp with 35,000 BCPS to promote consistent lighting and driver safety—which was a plus in those days given the variably terrible automotive lighting situation of that time but was woefully out of date by the 1960s. Enforcement was spotty until the 1968, but things like Citroen's advanced "turn with the steering" driving beams, self-leveling headlamps, aerodynamic headlamp covers, etc, were never actually approved; they were possible to slip in on import cars (US made cars never had them) until the 1968 to 1973 time period. Post that date, the regulations were enforced more and more stringently—I remember them being clamped down in force about 1973—until the late 1970s/early 1980s when the hue and cry of sealed beam headlamps being WOEFULLY inadequate to modern highway road speeds finally caused changed and more modern lighting standards to be adopted around the end of the 1980s/into the 1990s, allowing far more modern systems.

I don't recall SMs being modified to be without the aerodynamic covers, but they couldn't bring in the steering beams and had to use sealed beams behind the cover glass at least to meet the NHTSA standards. This was true from the beginning of the run. A travesty. But it didn't stop them from bringing the cars to the USA.

No, what stopped Citroen and many other automakers in their tracks were the new bumper and "no damage" parts of the NHTSA vehicle construction codes in the early 1970s, as well as the US specified emissions codes at that time. The stupid bumper laws added hundreds of pounds to every vehicle and caused major redesign of the chassis structure on many, even those with advanced safety designs (like all Citroens of that day). At the same time, the new emissions regulations seemed to do everything possible to emasculate every engine and destroy any hope of performance. Citroen had a small market here, having never made a big effort to support US style parts and service expectations, and just decided that the cost of development for US market distribution was simply out of the ballpark to keep up with and still be profitable.

These regulations destroyed many fine car designs until manufacturers got a handle on how to build for them a decade or so—and many billions of dollars in development—later. They've added vastly to the complexity and difficulty in servicing automobiles, never mind to the costs of running a service business.

G

Thanks, very interesting.

Talking of servicing, years and years ago I got TPO's with the exotic, fast and exciting car I ran and sold it and bought the cheapest car in the paper that evening. I drove it like the old one for a week and frightened myself but it kickstarted a habit I apply to a lot of things like cars and cameras; alternate boring and then exciting ones.

As for the cheap one I kept it for about 3 years and can remember the technician at the local dealers being upset as I had the last car they serviced where they could stand and listen to it and then start work instead of plugging it into a computer and being told what part to exchange.

Regards, David

 

[jaapv]

Seems silly.

Why not extend to digital Ms and drop film bodies when availability drys up.

B2 (;->

It has been extended to digital M cameras. Leica will modify them to customers' wishes as a retrofit. O have such a Monochrom: a-la-carte leather and engraving, an M9 too, and I just sold my a-la-carte leather M240.

 

[pyeh]

Goodness Peter!! We should definitely plan a unveiling party. Perhaps you tell them you would like to pick it up at Ginza? I'll pop by!

Cheers,

Benny, I'm thinking Sydney Opera House and black tie event.
Everyone will be invited.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Ahh, not telling. Actually, I went for black paint, 0.58 VF, M3 rewind and advance lever, no script at all and special leather. Standard nylon strap (because I'll put on a Gordy or cord strap), standard framelines (ie includes 75mm). The leather choice might be the thing you object to, going by your reaction to my other 0.58 MP.
I'll have an unveiling party when it comes, which at Leica's glacial speed will be next millennium sometime.

Photos or it didn't happen

 

[pyeh]

OK, so it arrived. I was very surprised at the speed - almost suspicious. The camera shop called me Tuesday morning and I picked it up that afternoon. This made it almost exactly 8 weeks from order. The camera box says it was made on 11 June 2018.
Have to say I am very pleased with the look of it. I'll be putting a roll through it soon. Excited.
I wonder how long it takes Leica's alleged one remaining tech to assemble an alc MP. Unless of course it's done in Portugal, where they might have two remaining techs.

Edit: jonmanjiro very kindly put this picture up on my behalf.

 

[dave lackey]

OK, so it arrived. I was very surprised at the speed - almost suspicious. The camera shop called me Tuesday morning and I picked it up that afternoon. This made it almost exactly 8 weeks from order. The camera box says it was made on 11 June 2018.
Have to say I am very pleased with the look of it. I'll be putting a roll through it soon. Excited.
I wonder how long it takes Leica's alleged one remaining tech to assemble an alc MP. Unless of course it's done in Portugal, where they might have two remaining techs.

Peter,

Can't wait to see what you post!!!

We are envious, you know that already, right?

 

[jonmanjiro]

Despite the Ostrich lumps, Pete... it does look good! Very good!

 

[pyeh]

Dave, there's the picture! Dusty already.

 

[dave lackey]

Excellent!!!

I like the cover, a lot. And, yes, the lone soul who put that together did an admirable job!

Enjoy it immensely!