Smart banned from best of france & italy show - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

dsoukup · 10-26-2009, 06:22 PM

Correct me if I am mistaken, but are not all smart cars made in in Hambach, FRANCE? Are we not therefore a FRENCH product? Sure, we are a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler AG based in Germany, but saying we are therefore a German product is like saying the Toyota Camry, Sienna, Solara, and Tundra - all cars or trucks made only in the USA are not American cars and trucks. They are. Don't believe me? Check out the cars.com American-made Index... better yet ask the good folks in Lafayette or Princeton, Indiana, or San Antonio, Texas who work on the assembly lines. Or the people who build BMWs in South Carolina, or Mercedes-Benz products in Alabama.

Why do I mention this?

I own three Italian cars and a Babus smart fortwo. For many years now I have been showing my cars at an event held annually in the Los Angeles area called the Best of France and Italy car show. I have always looked forward to this show because it has always lived up to their own invitation statement: "Come join us at Woodley Park, Van Nuys for a day with the best of French and Italian motoring machinery." The show has always been wonderfully entertaining: a mix of Fiat, Lancia, Alfa, etc. on one side and Renault, Citroen, Peugeot, etc. on the other. Believe me, over the years Italy and France have made some wonderful, silly, even ridiculous cars and this is the place to see them all!

This year I intended to enter two cars: (1) My 1968 Fiat/Ferrari Dino 206 Spider, and (2) my 2009 smart Brabus Cabriolet.

This morning I got a call from a very serious lady who informed me that my Dino was welcome but I would definitely not be allowed to show my smart. The conversation went something like this:
She:"We have to draw the line somewhere. Your car is not French. It's German!"
Me:"Not really. It is made in Hambach, France...as are all smarts."
She: "Smart is owned by a German company."
Me: "Yes, but are not Subarus made in Indiana, or Hondas made in Marysville, Ohio American cars?"
She: "No... besides you car is not old enough"
Me: "How old is 'old enough'?"
She: "Ah... Well... smart is NOT a French car. We have to draw the line. Look you can bring your Dino... we won't even charge you (an entrance fee)."
Me: "It's not about the money. Smart cars are made in France. They are French products. They are indeed fine examples of 'The Best of France'."
She: "We have to draw the line somewhere."

The question is "Should smart be included in this show?" The fact is the world of cars has changed. Definitions have changed. Times have changed: Is Jaguar an English car? Was it American? Is it now Indian? What about Range Rove? England? German? American? Indian? Jaguar and Land Rover were and will be English AS LONG AS THEY MAKE THEM IN ENGLAND! Agreed?

And smart?
It was an idea conceived by a Lebanese/Swiss guy, developed by a German company, powered by a Japanese engine, and has always been made only in one factory in the whole world: HAMBACH, FRANCE - smart is and always has been MADE IN FRANCE.

What do you all think? Is it right that "the line has been drawn?" That we have been excluded?

Aerotaz · 10-26-2009, 06:28 PM

The smart is too good to be called french.

Kermit · 10-26-2009, 06:28 PM

I agree with all that stuff you wrote BUT what does the "W" stand for in the VIN?

Kermit · 10-26-2009, 06:49 PM

Mentioned it already in your other identical thread. I agree with what you say BUT the "W" in the VIN speaks louder than anything.

Now what is odd is when I buy a Japanese car I normally look over the lot to see if they happen to have similar models but with a "J" in the VIN. Just my preference...

h20m0f0 · 10-26-2009, 07:19 PM

I'm sitting on the fence....

Kermit · 10-26-2009, 07:32 PM

hey? was this thread merged?

I'm on the fence too, both sides. I consider the smart to be French. I mean my car smelled like cheese and wine when I got it.

I also give it credit for being Japanese. Its heart is Japanese. Its veins are German (wiring). Some of its skin is Polish?, maybe that's why some people say it looks stupid.

I'm pretty sure I saw Czechoslovakian on it too. It's the REAL world car...not the Ford Escort back in 1981.

While I agree it is French..... Insurance companies, loan organizations, and the DMV think it is German because of the W in the VIN.

I think they should allow it, but when you look at a Honda Accord what do you think you truly see? A Japanese car or an American car?

SmartDrive · 10-26-2009, 07:34 PM

Many Japanese cars are made in Ohio, Canada and Mexico. Does that make them American, Canadian or Mexican? No.Swatch was a Swiss conglomerate, Mercedes is German, Mitsubishi is Japanese and the car happens to be made in France. Auto manufacturers have their cars and constituent parts made in factories all over the world, but the country of origin, the designer, remains constant. The smart is not a French car.
It's considered a German make.

Mike T · 10-26-2009, 08:25 PM

It's a German car made in France....close enough for me, but most would disagree.

I would take my Peugeot 404 Coupé Injection if I was going to that show and leave the smart at home. But the Peugeot's body was made in Grugliasco Italy.....hmmm I guess that would make it a winner on both counts.

Smart Bob · 10-26-2009, 08:41 PM

The lady that makes all the decisions is Tina Van Curen, co-owner of Autobooks, Aerobooks in Burbank. She and her husband are French/Italian car owners and Tina makes the decision as to whether or not your car is elgible to be in this show. Perhaps, if we kept pestering her about entering smarts, maybe she will relent but she is a hard nut to crack.

Kermit · 10-26-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smart Bob

The lady that makes all the decisions is Tina Van Curen, co-owner of Autobooks, Aerobooks in Burbank. She and her husband are French/Italian car owners and Tina makes the decision as to whether or not your car is elgible to be in this show. Perhaps, if we kept pestering her about entering smarts, maybe she will relent but she is a hard nut to crack.

Here's what I would hit her up with if they do categories. I would suggest adding/opening up a "other" category. While it is titled as a German car, the car is still manufactured in France. That would satisfy more people who have French and Italian made cars and open up the possibility of then having more participants without completely offending the insane purists (the true French and Italian made/named car owners). Cadillac Allantes could even enter it since they are Ghia bodied. That's what I would do to make a more successful event. My 2 cents.