American Spirit, Lithuanian Passion

When the most notable cars of the last decade include standouts like the Hummer, the single most inefficient car in the history of this generation and the Ford Focus, a symphony of beige, what incentive is there to buy American? Ah but I hear the voices asking, “Surely there are better cars than those?” Well, there are.

Yes beyond the Hummer and a selection of pickup trucks that require an attraction to a close relative, the country was known for two things. The first is Ford Motors, the pioneer of the assembly line and the world’s first true car, the Model T. Second, a far more recent development, the muscle car industry. Arguably started in the late 40’s, the origins of the muscle cars we know today weren’t made until mid-60’s with the Pontiac GTO. After that the true names came into production.

The Challenger, the Mustang, the Camero. The brands took off in a flash, reaching their height before falling out of favor in the mid-70’s due to a number of factors. That is, until 2004 when many companies, from Ford to Holden rereleased some of the classic muscle cars to the modern world and started a resurgence in their popularity.

Naturally the American Spirit car show held in Palanga is not focused entirely on the muscle car. Cars dating back to 1924 are on display for the public to look at in awe. The very point of the show is to showcase the cars America produced that are not beige. It’s to show the cars with style, panache, drama, and a majesty all their own. Even the United States Ambassador Anne E. Derse got into the spirit by driving to the ceremony in a Cadillac.

The only question then becomes, why pick that car when beautiful vintage Mustangs are just around the corner? She responded, “The Cadillac Company produces Cadillacs for all embassies and all ambassadors all around the world. And so every ambassador has a beautiful Cadillac car to drive. And I’m required, well not required, but I drive that car with pride.”

Ambassador A. Derse first heard about the American Spirit festival last year though lamented being too late to take part. This year, refusing to let it slip past, the embassy reached out to the organizers of the event and those organizers were more than happy to have the Ambassador get involved. On the first day she started each and every car off on the rally stage organized through the streets of Palanga.

The course, stretching some 155 kilometers around the city of Palanga included several small challenges outside of the drive. Participants had to take pictures of various Palanga landmarks before speeding back to the start/finish line. When asked about her thoughts on the origins of such a festival, she responded how pleased she was that such a thing existed in a location one might not expect.

She commented on the belief in the spirit in the American car, that, “American cars stand for something special. American cars stand for freedom.” Though her term as Ambassador ends this year, Ambassador A. Derse intends on returning to Lithuania. Maybe not as a politician, but definitely as a happy tourist.

With so many beautiful cars on display, it’s hard not to agree with the Ambassador about the nature of American cars. True, America has put out a great many depressing boxes of beige. But on the other hand American car manufacturers have contributed some of the best cars in history to the world.

True they may not allhave the “sophisticated” engineering put into German or Italian cars, but in the end that’s not what’s important. American cars have their place in the history and mythos of the industry. No one can deny the influence and popularity of so many American cars. The American muscle cars started a genre of automobile unto themselves. Cars like the Mustang, the Camero, and the Challenger have taken leading roles in the world since their inception decades ago and have refused to leave the spotlight since.

They like their cousins, uncles, aunts, and nephews in the car world, symbolize something more than ramshackle engineering and an inability to go around corners. They are the bare essence of car. They may not have ceramic breaks or active technobabble suspension. But they have what’s important. An engine, a steering wheel, and the spirit to push the boundaries of sensibility, style, and sanity. And thank whoever you want for that.