In 1970, the Hillman Imp (featured yesterday) gained a Rootes/Chrysler stablemate in the form of the well regarded Hillman Avenger, a competitor for British Leyland’s Marina. The Avenger was a bigger car than the rear-engined Imp, with a conventional front-engine/RWD layout, but the Imp and Avenger branches of the Rootes family tree would later unite in a single model. More on that tomorrow. Pic: #GreatBritishCarJourney, Derbyshire.
Yesterday, I featured MG Rover’s Streetwise in juxtaposition with the Rover 25 on which it was based. Another variation on the 25 was this slightly sportier MG version, the ZR. Like the Streetwise, the ZR was far less ‘pipe and slippers’ than the standard 25. This sort of rejuvenation measure was essential given that much of the 25’s design and tech, while sound, dated back to the Rover R8 of 1989. Pic: the #GreatBritishCarJourney#MG#Rover#BritishRacingGreen#WeirdCarMastodon#davidsdailycar
This car is the predecessor to the 1967 Hillman Hunter (Arrow) based Sunbeam Rapier featured yesterday. It’s a derivative of the previous generation of Minx (Audax). The original 1955 version of this Rapier, the Series I, was styled by Raymond Loewy Associates but the design had received a number of detail tweaks by the time this Series III version appeared in 1959. Pic: #GreatBritishCarJourney#SunbeamRapier#WeirdCarMastodon#davidsdailycar
While the rebranding of #Chrysler Europe as Talbot did not succeed, the choice of name itself was quite clever as it had previously been used by both the British (formerly #Rootes) and French (formerly #Simca) sides of the operation. Automotive genealogy can be complicated. One snag - did this old, if illustrious, brand really resonate with buyers? Here’s a British Sunbeam Talbot Alpine convertible from 1955. Pic: the #GreatBritishCarJourney#Sunbeam#Talbot#WeirdCarMastodon#davidsdailycar
This is what #FOTU is all about. Normal people look at this and just see an old beige car. But sad car geeks like me will marvel at the soon-discarded radical detailing on this very early #FordSierra - the aero grille, the unpainted bumpers, the disc-style aero wheel trims and the ‘hanging’ door mirrors. I think this car also lacks the rear pillar ‘ears’ that were later added for aerodynamic stability. Bonus: period number plate font. #FestivelOfTheUnexceptional#WeirdCarMastodon#davidsdailycar
@snaptophobic Yes - I ‘m quite old so I can remember seeing the unpainted grille ones too! The other fascinating period detail I forgot to point out was the distinctive Sierra font/script used on the badging/advertising for early cars, visible on the tailgate on the beige car. Is this the Ghia-style front you’re thinking of (pic taken at the #GreatBritishCarJourney)?
Yesterday @vwdasher pointed to the DeLorean’s wedge-like design. Today, that prime example of 1970s wedgery, Leyland’s Princess - you couldn’t mistake it for anything else. It’s a good thing this car had such a strong visual identity because its brand identity was hopelessly confused. Was it a #Leyland Princess or was ‘Princess’ a brand in its own right? I could never really work it out. But that was the least of it - more tomorrow. Pic: #GreatBritishCarJourney#WeirdCarMastodon#davidsdailycar
A few days ago when I featured the tiny Frisky Sprint, @RobertJackson58585858 mentioned the Nash Metropolitan from the same era. This 1958 car is on show at the #GreatBritishCarJourney in Derbyshire. Designed in the US, the Metropolitan was built for American Motors by #Austin at its Longbridge factory in Birmingham. It was also sold for a time as a #Hudson. Tomorrow, another slightly obscure Austin-built car tailored to US market conditions. #NashMetropolitan#WeirdCarMastodon#davidsdailycar
In 1975, #Vauxhall launched its own car based on the Kadett C/#GM T Platform, the Chevette, which oddly borrowed its name from its #Chevrolet sister car. It was launched initially as a two-door hatch, and used a Vauxhall rather than an #Opel engine. Eventually saloons and estates arrived too. The characteristic Vauxhall ‘droop snoot’ was a further distinguishing feature. Opel’s equivalent to the Chevette hatch was the Kadett City. Pic: #GreatBritishCarJourney#WeirdCarMastodon#davidsdailycar