>> Only the Japanese figured out how to
>>make the automobile a truly reliable vehicle for the mass public.
>
>Uh can we say, 1938 or so, the Beetle?  Same design 50 years, hundreds
>of thousands of miles each, rust no worse than and pre '90 Japanese >car.
>Certainly a reliable car buy the mid 60's by any standards if given >even
>moderate care.  Now creature comforts of course weren't ever so hot.
>
How about the Austin/Morris/BL Mini, introduced 1959, still in
production. Outsold the VW Beetle. A reliable car , yes, even with the
Lucas electrics. Only problem - rust, I seem to remember that afflicted
Hondas pretty badly too.