OnIf I recall correctly they did the same thing back in the 1940's.
The result; France lost its domination in the luxury car market.
Anything over 2.7 liters was taxed as a luxury car. Bye-bye Talbot-Lago,
OnDelahaye, Delage, Bugatti, Hispano-Suiza, etc..
It's interesting to compare England's "export or die" auto industry with
OnFrance's "tax and die" industry. If France had adopted a similar philosophy
Onluxury cars would have still been associated with Talbot-Lago, Delage and
OnBugatti vs Rolls Royce, Jaguar and Bentley. How did taxing a historic and
Oninnovative industry to death improve matters?
Ironically when I explain to people that the most valuable, most sought
Onafter cars are French Pre-war luxury cars I get a look like they are waiting
Onfor the punch line. These are the same consumers who think the
badge-engineered Cadillac Escalade/Chevy Tahoe is a luxury vehicle.
I was fortunate to see this 1937 Delage D8-120 S up close in Paris back in
2006. http://www.flickr.com/photos/54291245@N00/sets/72157603434623156/
OnOne can only imagine what a modern Delage would look like if they had not
Onfolded back in '53.
Received on Tue Dec 11 23:42:32 2007
