Design classics?

[Alan the Vanner]

I've been taking a good look at onza100's design for the Maestro bodykit and I've been thinking that the Maestro design hasn't dated that much. Imagine the reaction if MG did something like that back in the '80's? So, I was wandering if anyone else can think of any cars were way ahead of their time? Lambourghini Countach springs to my mind.:p

[D87 SMW]

What about the Ford.... oh, no. Sorry, that's stupid. ;)

Was just looking at some Minis yesterday, what about thems? :cool:

[Maria]

Citroen DS.

[MaestroMatt]

Originally posted by Maria
Citroen DS.

I want one of them! Beautiful cars.

[Alan the Vanner]

Originally posted by F170 GGT
[B]What about the Ford.... oh, no. Sorry, that's stupid. ;)

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

I've thought of another: the Delorean DMC

[Austin-Rover]

Not sure about it being ahead of its time, but the Rover SD1 still looks amazing today - a design classic if ever there was one. The nicest looking car Austin - Rover ever built?

:cool:

[G51 NAV]

ADO16, aka the BMC 1100/1300 series. Far better design than the car that replaced it (ADO 67: Allegro)

[Ricky]

Someone is going to have to say something here for the 205, a car that still looks reasonably fresh even though it was first sold in 1984! I wish I was looking that good at 20!! Shame about the 309, its larger brother, but ever championing the underdog, thats my favourite!!

[D87 SMW]

.... it's French!!! :eek:

[e692wtt]

Definitely agree about the 205. I think the facelifted 309 (1990 on?) has a certain charm as well, especially considering it uses the 205's doors... (again, Britain leads the world - BLMC did this with the Maxi, 1800 and others which shared the same door panels).

I'd say the ADO16 was ahead of its time both in looks and engineering, they can hold their own in modern traffic in 1300 form. A definite world beater with a more-modern engine and some corrosion resistance...

[Alan the Vanner]

I read this earlier on a posting on the discussion forum for http://www.vannin.com :
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if it wasn't for our Fords, our tools would rust.:laugh:

[Ricky]

Originally posted by F170 GGT
.... it's French!!! :eek:

Well, you can't have it all!! The 309 was actually (for the most part) built at Ryton near Coventry, so technically its barely french at all, especially consdering it was intended as a Talbot to replace the Horizon (which is apparently why it isn't a particularly hot looker!), which in itself was originally a chrysler (otherwise known as the dodge omni!)
The 405 was also a british built pug, i believe the ryton plant builds 206's now and it has been remarked that the british do a better job of putting them together than the french, but who am I to point that out??
Thinking about the 309, when I went up to Rockingham to see the Days of Thunder event a couple of weeks ago, one of the highlights of the day for me was spotting that one of the fairground rides (one of the whirly ones that go too fast!) had pre october 89 (old style) 309 rear light clusters as their flashing lights, how innovative!!
Yes, I am sad, i know.....

[e692wtt]

I can remember seeing hundreds of 309s standing in the yard of the old Shoreham Power Station, literally soaked in seawater in the winter storms back in 1990/91, imported via Shoreham. I believe a fair proportion of UK 309s were made at Ryton, as was the 405 Estate - not very well from contemporary Road Tests, which was a shame - and, I seem to remember, the 405 Saloon which was exported as well as supplying the UK market. Of course, things move on, and I believe the 206 is good for the UK 'balance of payments' as well as being better built than the French ones...

I think the problem with the 309 was that it was an 'afterthought', but it was still a damn good car, especially with the XUD or XU9JA (ie GTI) engine... just didn't *look* like a damn good car.

The main character in the film 'Falling Down' drove an americanised Horizon (with non-operational Air Con), before he lost the plot, as a point of interest... and which model did CAR mag reckon was the best Horizon, with stiffened suspension and the best performance of the whole range? The 1.9D... (XUD engine, best in the world in its day, but the petrol engines weren't the best ever...).

[Rich]

Peugeot 309, goodness me, a friend had one of them, she replaced her metro with it, i never forget having to whack the dash to get the instrument lights to work, the day the exhaust fell off, or the fact the seats were threadbear, the paint was peeling the boot wouldn't stay up without the use of a pole and the amount of bits of plastic that would break in you hand. The night the headlight stalk fell off was fun, she tried to push it back in, and kept sounding the horn, but later became a master at turning the stub that remained to get the indicators etc!!! :D

It later failed the MOT terribly, and she scrapped it and got her old Metro back, which had suffered a perished fuel hose after being laid up for about 6 months, then started first time, it eventually suffered a brake faliure pulling into a petrol station, she went in, couldnt stop and went sailing out the other side! She then got a Rover 100 (metro) which was a very nice car, in super condition which was written off in Portsmouth at a junction, now she has an Astra!

Rich

[Alan the Vanner]

Propped up tailgate? That sounds exactly like my Brother's 309! His also has a fuel flap that comes open by itself!

[Quality]

Citroen Ax, first made 1985/6. Still looks fresh, and well made, no rust and no engine problems so ar 20,000 miless to practically 70,000 miles.

I do want an Allegro next, so bad they are cool.

[Ricky]

Originally posted by Quality
Citroen Ax, first made 1985/6. Still looks fresh, and well made, no rust and no engine problems so ar 20,000 miless to practically 70,000 miles.

I do want an Allegro next, so bad they are cool.

Are you mad???? :eek: :confused:

Should read:

"Citroen AX, first made 1985/6. Still looks dated, and hastily cobbled together, no rust (due to aluminium tin foil construction) and a wealth of engine problems ranging from high oil consumption to regular need for head gasket replacement every 5000 miles. Perhaps only saving grace is complete lack of hydraulic suspension, but the downside of this is that when you hit a bump, you end up with half the dashboard in your lap.":laugh:

And yes, before you ask, I have owned one!! Not the happiest time of my life, I confess, but it was testament to french "friday afternoon" build quality..... :banghead: :banghead:

Get the allegro, it is such a step up!! ;)

Propped up tailgate? That sounds exactly like my Brother's 309!
The tailgate on the 309, thats a bloody heavy piece of work, and on the earlier models (pre Oct 89) you need the struts to work the rear windscreen wiper, and they are not easy to get hold of anymore, believe me, ive tried! The earlier ones also hinge dorectly onto glass, thats not a good thing if it slams quite hard I can tell you! As for the fuel flap, again, not the cleverest piece of engineering, have you tried getting one open when the cable snaps??? :rage: :censored: :banghead:

[Landcrab1800]

Since someone mentioned the ADO16, what about its big brother the ADO 17 (Landcrab) Austin, Morris, Wolseley 1800/2200.

Strongest production body made, the only cars with as much or more room inside are MPV's.
Was rallied, with great success, with few modifications (½ roll cage, simple engine mods (became standard on the 'S') and a bit of paint.

Super ride, classified as a 5-6 seater with the boot space as well and only 11" longer than the 1100/1300.
First FWD over 1500cc.
1800S :- 100BHP, 100+ mph, 30+ mpg and cheap to run.
Its alot more comfortable than any car I've ridden in except a RR Spirit.

I could go on but you have to try one.

Comments??

[G51 NAV]

Originally posted by Landcrab1800
Since someone mentioned the ADO16, what about its big brother the ADO 17 (Landcrab) Austin, Morris, Wolseley 1800/2200.
Comments??
Yeah...I remember those...my Dad had one when I was a lad...it was a blue G-reg Austin 1800, which was about six or seven years old even then (same as me, I suppose). It went to the great scrapyard in the sky when both it and myself were about 12 and the MoT man said its structure was so rotted it wasn't worth spending money on. It had only done 70k (ish). Interestingly, it had needed a new clutch at only 60k. I thought nothing of that at the time (being only about 10 years old), but looking back now at a car that had never towed, and that was driven gently, I suppose at 60k the engine was a bit on the young-side to need a new clutch...first few owners must have thrashed the poor sod :(

[H48HPE]

I thought the maxi was nicknamed the land crab, and the 18/22 series/ princess was simply nicknamed the wedge. did anyone else think this or am i the only one??

andy

[D87 SMW]

Originally posted by H48HPE
I thought the maxi was nicknamed the land crab, and the 18/22 series/ princess was simply nicknamed the wedge. did anyone else think this or am i the only one??

andy

Yes, I believe it was...

[Austin-Rover]

the Austin/Morris 1800/2200 was nicknamed the 'Landcrab' from its rally days. I know of people calling its bigger brother - the 3 Litre - the 'Landlobster'

The '18/22 Series' (Princess) was known as 'The Wedge' as you said....

:cool:

[D87 SMW]

Thought you'd know that.... ;)

[Austin-Rover]

Originally posted by F170 GGT
Thought you'd know that.... ;)

Well, someone has to!

Dont think the Maxi ever got the nickname 'Landcrab' despite using the '1800/2200's doors.

:)

[D87 SMW]

Originally posted by RDGelder
Dont think the Maxi ever got the nickname 'Landcrab' despite using the '1800/2200's doors.


How do the doors make it any different? :confused: :rolleyes:

:laugh:

[D813YBB]

Click on the Unofficial Austin Rover Resource web link on the links page and all will be revealed under the development story for those models.

Regards
Martin

[Alan the Vanner]

Who remembers the Aston Martin Lagonda?
I dunno, I must have something about angular lines!:laugh:

[D87 SMW]

Originally posted by Alan the Vanner
Who remembers the Aston Martin Lagonda?


I remember it. No I don't... I've seen one though.... on the box...

Originally posted by Alan the Vanner
I dunno, I must have something about angular lines!:laugh:

Angular lines?! :confused: WTF? :laugh: :laugh: ;)