For those interested in old cars.

[Horsetan]

Seem common in Austrailia the Commodores were wider than the European ones

 

....and longer. When I hired one for a month in Melbourne, there seemed to be more legroom in the back than in the-then current Vauxhall-Opel Omega.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting, though, that Holden didn't really go in for designing their own small cars for the domestic market, and simply rebadged the Corsa as the "Barina" and stuck the Holden badge on the Astra.

 

EDITED to add gratuitous Holden VX Commodore photos. Wonder if it's possible to find out who owns my old hire car now?

Edited February 13, 2017 by Horsetan

[russ p]

Slightly different crank end I think, I think my purchaser made a good one from two.

 

1.0 gear box is different from the 1.3/1.6 lumps as well.

 

Ask me how I know!

Go on then?

[Wolseley]

Was there any advantage in widening a car? Sounds like extra tooling costs for a fairly limited market.

 

 

The Australian market has always favoured large cars over small and six cylinders over four, although that tendency is not as pronounced as it used to be.  That’s why BMC Australia put six cylinder engines in the Austin A60 and Wolseley 15/60 and came up with the Austin Freeway and Wolseley 24/80.  Some of the engineers at BMC Australia wanted to do the same thing in the 1961 that Mitsubishi did in the early 1980s by adding approximately 5" to the width of an Austin A60 body - there’s an account of it here, with photos of the car, although you’ll have to scroll half way down the page to get to it: http://www.bluestreaksix.com/history.htm

 

Anyway, back to the Mitsubishi.  The Magna was a replacement for the Sigma, but it was also a replacement for the Chrysler Valiant, Mitsubishi having taken over the Australian operations of Chrysler Australia a couple of years or so earlier.  Without a slightly larger car than the Sigma, Mitsubishi would not have had a hope of retaining Chrysler owners as future customers, nor would it have sold more Magnas than they had Sigmas.  The difference, small though it was, made the car competitive with mid sized cars such as, for example the Toyota Camry, and even with larger cars such as the Holden Commodore due to the Magnas much more efficient use of interior space (pretty much like the BMC front wheel drive cars of the 1960s).  Yes, it is obvious that the Magna is not as big as a Ford Falcon, for example, but the extra width, as little as it is, does make a difference.  I have driven a Sigma a few times (my father’s last car was a Sigma with the 2.6 litre engine) - it felt cramped to the point of being almost claustrophobic (although maybe the ghastly beige and brown interior helped with this impression) and I recall having to ask my mother to tuck her elbows in so I could change gear.  The Magna, by contrast, feels a much larger car inside - as if there have been more than six inches added.  The difference is definitely noticeable and would have helped get the car favourable reviews (it was “Wheels Car of the Year” for 1985) and undoubtedly helped sales.  Would it have mattered in the 21st century though?  Probably not.

[MJI]

Go on then?

 

Needed a really cheap car in a hurry so bought a wreck cheap, slow doesn't begin to say how it was. Anyway to keep it on the road I had to start replacing things, so I decided to keep it longer.

 

My dad knew someone breaking an old Avenger with a recent 1600 in it.

 

I found the engines were different when the 1.6 was sitting on an engine crane being dropped into the Sunbeam.

 

So refit toy engine, £15 later a gearbox in the back, swapped them in as a pair the following weekend.

[PatB]

One of the reasons for extra width in Australian models is that, for many years, it was understood that a full size saloon would fit 3 people reasonably comfortably across a front bench seat. Even when front benches became rarer during the 1980s the width remained in most designs. Three across seating in saloons (as opposed to commercial vehicles where it's still common) persisted until quite recently. Taxi spec Falcons and Commodore, well into the 21st Century, had ostensibly separate front seats but sported a sorta overgrown fold down central armrest and lap seat belt to accommodate a middle passenger. Presumably one with no legs .

[BernardTPM]

 

The Australian market has always favoured large cars over small and six cylinders over four, although that tendency is not as pronounced as it used to be.  That’s why BMC Australia put six cylinder engines in the Austin A60 and Wolseley 15/60 and came up with the Austin Freeway and Wolseley 24/80.  Some of the engineers at BMC Australia wanted to do the same thing in the 1961 that Mitsubishi did in the early 1980s by adding approximately 5" to the width of an Austin A60 body - there’s an account of it here, with photos of the car, although you’ll have to scroll half way down the page to get to it: http://www.bluestreaksix.com/history.htm

That always struck me as odd given there was a wider, six-cylinder Farina in the form of the Austin A110/Wolseley 6/100. Almost like trying to design the same car twice. Perhaps they should have sent over tooling for that rather than the smaller 1500/1600 model in the first place.

[Wolseley]

 

 

Interesting, though, that Holden didn't really go in for designing their own small cars for the domestic market, and simply rebadged the Corsa as the "Barina" and stuck the Holden badge on the Astra.

 

 

 

[Silver Sidelines]

Nice picture of a new car.   I would say is that there must have been someting seriously wrong with the contract / steel for the front wings as they rusted away very very quickly.  Perhaps not even painted on the underside?

 

Ray

[edcayton]

Was there any advantage in widening a car? Sounds like extra tooling costs for a fairly limited market.

 

Issigonis famously widened the Minor at a very late stage. You could see the join up to the end in 1970/1.

 

I understand that one of the many reasons for the Marina's failure was lack of width in the rear seat. Couldn't get licensed as a 4 passenger taxi, whilst the Cortina could.

 

Ed

[Horsetan]

Anyone remember Borgward? Seems they are now intent on making SUVs....just like everyone else

[BG John]

Anyone remember Borgward? Seems they are now intent on making SUVs....just like everyone else

It looks like they used to make them some time ago. The one with the registration HB1411 in this picture looks pretty sporty and utilitarian .

[brianusa]

Who thinks up weird names for cars?  Probably the same guy who thinks up weird names for big pharma!

 

Brian.

[skipepsi]

I thought they went bust and the bits were picked up by Audi?

[phil_sutters]

That chap Austin Healey and a few of his friends - once again identification of the English ones via AutoCar's reg. checker - so blame them if the captions are wrong! The european ones are my best guesses, based on image comparisons on line. The four in convoy at Friston didn't appear to have been part of a larger event.

Edited February 17, 2017 by phil_sutters

[PhilJ W]

I thought they went bust and the bits were picked up by Audi?

The company name is still owned by the grandson of the founder. The new models are financed and built by a Chinese company and are at present only available in China.

[Horsetan]

The company name is still owned by the grandson of the founder. The new models are financed and built by a Chinese company and are at present only available in China.

 

....probably just as well.

[Joseph_Pestell]

Anyone remember Borgward? Seems they are now intent on making SUVs....just like everyone else

Quite nice as SUVs go.

[Rugd1022]

Who thinks up weird names for cars?  Probably the same guy who thinks up weird names for big pharma!

 

Brian.

 

Sounds like the same chap who came up with Fidia, Lele, Faena and Rivolta!

[Fat Controller]

Who thinks up weird names for cars?  Probably the same guy who thinks up weird names for big pharma!

 

Brian.

The problem is always to find a name which doesn't have conations in the language of any country where the vehicle might be sold; there are companies who specialise in finding these names.

[Jules]

Did anyone here ever get to drive the Mk5 Cortina GLS? It had better dampers/anti roll bars, even new it was a rare model not be confused with the runout Crusader and Capri LS. The 2.3 V6 was certainly nose heavy, interestingly Germans got a V6 2lt for their Taunus/ Cortina line up

 

23test1.jpg

Yes!

 

I learnt to drive on a Mk 3 2.0 XL (HHT 273N), which was 11 years old at the time.  Dad then had a couple of spare quid and bought a 2.0 GLS (RLA 309W) which was about six years old.

 

The difference was quite marked, the GLS was much better, less body roll, more refined ride and a lot more fun to drive!  However, it didn't seem to quite have the urge of the Mk3.

 

Slightly spookily, driving home from work today I saw an immaculate white Mk4 Ghia.

[RANGERS]

Did anyone here ever get to drive the Mk5 Cortina GLS? It had better dampers/anti roll bars, even new it was a rare model not be confused with the runout Crusader and Capri LS. The 2.3 V6 was certainly nose heavy, interestingly Germans got a V6 2lt for their Taunus/ Cortina line up

 

23test1.jpg

 

I had a 2.0 Ghia S, same suspension and close ratio box as the GLS. Handled much better than the std Ghia set up but at the expense of a much firmer ride, particularly harsh on the concrete section roads of the 80s.

[Wolseley]

The problem is always to find a name which doesn't have conations in the language of any country where the vehicle might be sold; there are companies who specialise in finding these names.

 

 

That didn't stop the Mitsubishi Pajero from selling pretty well though, did it?

[alastairq]

FIAT changed the name of the 'Strada'  {? ?] from the name used on their home market, which, was, I believe, the 'Ritmo'.....which, again, I believe, translated to the word 'rhythm?' in English?

 

Which, given the Catholic tendencies of Italians, had connotations to a once-common method of birth control..........hence the change of name?

[Kickstart]

FIAT changed the name of the 'Strada'  {? ?] from the name used on their home market, which, was, I believe, the 'Ritmo'.....which, again, I believe, translated to the word 'rhythm?' in English?

Main market they renamed it for was the USA. Ritmo being a brand of sanitary product.... They were called Ritmo in Southern Ireland.

 

Few other ones that didn't translate well. Nova, so Non Va, or No Go. Toyota MR2 didn't sell so well in France as it came out as MR Duex, but close to merde

 

All the best

 

Katy

[The Blue Streak]

Did anyone here ever get to drive the Mk5 Cortina GLS? It had better dampers/anti roll bars, even new it was a rare model not be confused with the runout Crusader and Capri LS. The 2.3 V6 was certainly nose heavy, interestingly Germans got a V6 2lt for their Taunus/ Cortina line up

 

23test1.jpg

 

It may have already been mentioned, but these were sold in Oz as TE and TF Cortinas, and were available as 2 litre 4 cylinder or 4.1 litre straight 6 cylinder.

 

Edited February 21, 2017 by The Blue Streak