I remember seeing those engine block stereos for the first time around 2000, and even then, thought they were disgusting. The originals from memory were a lot more understated and were more classic-car influenced than todays models, they took more of the chrome and dashboards elements' style. But this engine-styled garbage is just horrible.
The irony is the engine is the 'functional' part of any machines design that can't really be changed and the outer housing is designed to be where all the pretty is. But this engine-stereo crap just makes ugly more ugly by making it the only design element. I can see the beauty in engine design, but theres nothing thoughtful or elegant about any of these pieces of crap.. just banal, obonoxious rubbish.
I don't know who's buying these.. maybe the blind are buying the lions share.
Rock On.