The parking spaces that were established half a century ago have become too small. It’s not breaking news: it’s obvious. In the parking lots of the buildings, neighbors have had to do tricks to continue parking their new vehicles in the property’s parking space. And cars have grown exponentially.
It is common to see vehicles twisted or stuck to the one next to them on one side, to facilitate the driver’s entry and exit, even if following a strict regime. The owners have covered the columns with thick fabrics to prevent scratches on the sides of the car or, at the very least, reduce their effects. Some cars’ noses or butts clearly go beyond the established limits. But no one says anything, everyone agrees, because the evil of many is the consolation of fools.
In the sixties, the most popular was the Dodge, also known as “the American car.”
Now Fiat has released a new 600 model, which in terms of its measurements has nothing to do with the original, of course. A case similar to what happened with the Mini, which from model to model, will end up having the size of a van. When we see a 600 of the old ones, we are surprised at how five people could fit in there with all the bags and packages. Because it is true that the new generations are getting faster, taller and stronger, but those of us who got into those 600 are the ones boomers today, that we already did the same volume that we do now (apart from the extra kilos).
In the sixties, only wealthy people could afford large vehicles. Back then, the most popular was the Dodge, also known as “the American car.” But the Dodge already had problems when its owner wanted to park it in a conventional garage. In Barcelona, practically at every intersection there was a public parking lot, which took advantage of the interior of the blocks, then full of warehouses. The usual sign read: “Cars are admitted for boarding.” That last word caught my attention, derived from ward, which had the meaning of taking care of a person or an animal, synonymous with pension, and which was extended to vehicles.
Next to that sign, they used to hang another one: “Dodge and similar are not allowed.” The American car already had then the difficulties that most cars have today with parking spaces. That is why the bravado of going into a dealership to buy “the biggest one that haiga ” (“phrase attributed to the owners of these cars, who were considered wealthy and uncultured people,” explains the RAE in its dictionary), it had to be accompanied by the availability of a generous place to store it. Today everything is haigas
