A) Largely tongue in cheek. Hence the grinning smiley face...which you apparently missed...
B) Lemme guess, you think the AMF years were "the good years" at Harley-Davidson...
All backpedaling aside, a common theme amongst a certain group of supposed Mopar enthusiasts is that the
modern series of "semi-hemi" Mopars is that they're not "real" Mopars - because of some supposed influence
or "diluting" of the breed on the part of the newer conglomerate ownership.
It's meant as an insult, no two ways about it - and by inference, anyone who likes/owns one of the modern
generation of Mopars isn't really an authentic Mopar enthusiast, either - the cars and their fans don't "count".
Well, that's just nonsense. On all counts.
If anything, current ownership hasn't messed with the "Mopar-ness" of the modern ones (YET!) and has, in
fact, left them alone for now, recognizing the support the cars have (which equals profit versus investment
to them, of course).
Not to say they won't - because we all know corporations don't buy companies to leave them alone....
To stick with your suggested analogy, however:
When FiatPeugAflawhateverthesumbeech DO start meddling with the success of the modern American Mopars,
THEN your AMF analogy might be applicable - and I'm sure that's coming, sadly.
Until then, though - a Hellcat or R/T Charger or what have you - and therefore, their owners and fans
are most definitely Mopars by heritage and by breed, despite uninformed attempts to the contrary.
The cars are quite amazing to drive, too - something to be proud of, at least for now.
yes i know is a mustang...
