15 posts tagged “automobiles”

For some reason, I found the Buick Park Avenues of interest on Autocade today.

Buick Park Avenue (C-body). 1991–6 (prod. unknown). F/F, 3791 cm³ (V6 OHV). Attractive, roomy Park Avenue (the Electra tag disappeared), allegedly inspired by Park Avenue Essence show car of 1989. Characterized by darkened A-pillar. Supercharged Ultra model from 1992, but even base models had good performance. Thirsty, with sub-par steering and handling on base model. Not quite the top model, as Buick Roadmaster held that title for the early 1990s.

Buick Park Avenue (C-body). 1997–2005 (prod. unknown). 4-door sedan. F/F, 3791 cm³ (V6 OHV). Revised Park Avenue, roughly the same size as Buick LeSabre; now Buick’s range-topper in US. Sold on quality image and above-average ride; not a particularly inspired handler. Ultra models had thirsty supercharged V6. Portholes (Ventiports) returned for Ultra for 2003 model year. Final 3,000 called Special Edition.

Buick Park Avenue (WM). 2007 to date (prod. unknown). 4-door sedan. F/R, 2792, 3564 cm³ (V6 DOHC). Chinese-assembled version of Holden Statesman (WM), but with visual differences such as visually large grille, different bumpers, and no indicators and vents in wings aft of the front wheels. Smaller Australian-built 2·8-litre unit related to one from Cadillac CTS available on Chinese edition, along with 3·6 from Holden Commodore (VE). Otherwise mechanically similar to Statesman.

A few new entries on Autocade reminded me of just how fashionable this Paolo Martin–Pininfarina style was 30-plus years ago.

Fiat 130. 1969–77 (prod. 15,093 saloon, 4,294 coupé). 2-door coupé, 4-door saloon. F/R, 2866, 3235 cm³ (V6 OHV). Biggest modern Fiat, in a market sector the marque has not contested since. Saloon launched 1969 with four-wheel independent suspension and all-round disc brakes, modern for its time. V6 designed by ex-Ferrari Aurelio Lampredi. Engine enlarged 1971, the same year Pininfarina-designed and built Coupé announced. Rust problems, thanks to Russian steel used on doors. Three Maremma estate prototypes built, one used by Fiat boss Gianni Agnelli; one Opera saloon and one Familiare estate also built. Never directly replaced: the smaller 132 became Fiat’s flagship after demise of the 130 berline; Coupé built till 1977. Effectively replaced by Lancia Gamma in Fiat’s premium-brand range.
   Manufacturing locations: Grugliasco, Italy; Rivalta, Italy.

Rolls-Royce Camargue. 1975–86 (prod. 534). 2-door coupé. F/R, 6750 cm³ (V8 OHV). Called Project Delta internally. Top-of-the-line Rolls-Royce, with Pininfarina styling by Paolo Martin and Silver Shadow platform. Launch delayed due to financial difficulties at Rolls-Royce, sharing a look with Fiat 130 Coupé from the same styling house that had launched some years before. Ostentatious and most expensive production car at the time, considered stylish during its run. First post-war Rolls-Royce to be designed out-of-house. Designed to metric dimensions with a slight seven-degree slant to the grille. First car to offer split-level climate control.
   Manufacturing location: Crewe, Cheshire, England.

Peugeot 604. 1975–85 (prod. 153,252 sold). 4-door saloon. F/R, 2304, 2498 cm³ diesel (4 cyl. OHV), 2664, 2849 cm³ petrol (V6 OHC). Squared-off flagship for Peugeot, with 1970s Pininfarina styling similar to that of Fiat 130 Coupé and Rolls-Royce Camargue (the 604 is usually credited to Paolo Martin, but is more likely the work of Aldo Brovarone). Launched in the wake of 1973 fuel crisis, so not very successful. Favoured for official usage in France, but not popular in export markets with quality concerns. First mass-produced turbodiesel car with 2304 cm³ engine. Forgettable Talbot Tagora spun off from 604 parts in 1980. Stretched landaulet model by Henri Chapron among the carrossier’s last cars.

My friend Chuck got me hooked on Car IQ on Facebook—and I have been playing the darned quiz and even wrote one with the pics I had from Autocade. It also helped that I am ’fluey, not really having the brain power to do proper work.
   Writing my quiz was hard because it was missing so many models from which one could choose. I have notified the folks running the service but it’s amazing that the Audi Quattro and the entire Wolseley marque were missing when there were obscure (by international standards) cars such as the Chevrolet Meriva, Holden Gemini and Leyland P76 on there. (I assume these were added by users.) The Audi Quattro, ladies and gentlemen! Missing! How could this be missing?!
   Here are some I added today, without resorting to web checks apart from the Daimlers to get the names right.

Daewoo Winstorm
Daewoo Tosca
Chevrolet Kommando
Chevrolet Chevy II
Chevrolet Vectra
Seat 133
Seat Sport
Renault 6
Renault 7
Renault 10
Renault 15
Renault 17
Renault 18
Renault 20
Renault 30
Suzuki Fronte
Suzuki Cervo
Zastava 101
Tofas Sahin
Tofas Kartal
FSM Polonez
FSM Maluch
FSM Polski-Fiat 125
Iso Grifo
Wolseley Six
Honda Concerto
Honda Domani
Honda Ascot
Honda Ascot Innova
Morris Oxford
Morris Cowley
Morris 1800
Morris 2200
Morris 1100
Morris 1300
Morris Major
Morris Tasman
Austin Marina
Austin Mini Metro
Austin 1100
Austin 1300
Austin 1800
Austin 2200
Austin Kimberley
Simca 1300
Simca 1301
Simca 1500
Simca 1501
Simca Aronde
Holden Belmont
Holden Caprice
Holden Premier
Holden Monterey
Holden Epica
Chrysler Sigma
Chrysler Galant
Chrysler Regal
Chrysler Charger
Chrysler Valiant
Chrysler V8
Innocenti Mini
Innocenti Alba
Innocenti Regent
Chrysler Sunbeam
Chrysler Horizon
Daimler SP250
Daimler Sovereign
Daimler Double-Six
Daimler Century
Daimler V8 250
Talbot Solara
Talbot 1510
Talbot Tagora
Triumph 2500
Triumph 1300
Triumph 1500
Triumph Mayflower
Triumph TRX
Triumph 2.5PI
BMW 2000
BMW 1500
BMW 1602
BMW 1600
BMW 2500
BMW 3.0 CSL
BMW 3.0 CSI
BMW 2800
Mercury S-55
Ford Meteor
Ford Tierra
Ford Frontenac
Ford Model T
Ford Consul
Ford Zodiac
Bristol 409
Bristol 411
Bristol 412
Bristol Beaufighter
Bristol 603
Bristol Britannia
Bristol Brigand
Daewoo Gentra
Daewoo Kalos

   Play the game at www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=6333203805.

[Cross-posted] There’s a part of us that’s slightly cynical about the corporate involvement in this video, but it’s no different from sponsorships from fashion designers or fabric companies at polytechnic level. General Motors teamed up with the International Academy of Design & Technology and provided five cars from which students could be inspired. They had to design for categories such as avant-garde and eveningwear. Chosen entries were showcased at an event called Imagine 2008.
   General Motors gets an insight into young people’s thinking and how fashion influences its products, while the students learn about processes and how the Zeitgeist fuses product and clothing design together.

For some reason I enjoyed researching these US-built cars on Autocade. Some are forgotten for very good reasons, others out of unfairness. Not a complete list by any means, but hopefully I can challenge some memories out there.

Eagle Medallion. 1988–9 (prod. unknown). 4-door sedan, 5-door wagon. F/F, 2165 cm³ (4 cyl. SOHC). Renamed Renault Medallion, an Americanized Renault 21. New marque after Chrysler bought AMC in 1987, but cars quickly cancelled in favour of Mitsubishis. Actually a good car compared with its competition, but AMC’s small size and rumours of takeover damaged its chances; and the problems were not solved with the change of marque.

Cadillac Cimarron (J-car). 1982–8 (prod. 132,499). 4-door sedan, F/F, 1796, 1991 cm³ (4 cyl. OHV), 2837 cm³ (V6 OHV). A good idea: build a Cadillac that could take on the BMW 3-series, and do it cheaply, on J-car platform. Seville showed that Cadillac could go smaller and succeed, but at least that car did not look like the Chevrolet Nova. Here, Cimarron was essentially a Chevrolet Cavalier clone, yet the price was nearly double. Few were fooled into buying the smaller Cadillac—at least not at the prices the company wanted to charge. Four-cylinder engines did not help perceptions, though V6 arrived in 1985 and was standard from 1987. Final year production of 6,454; cancelled afterwards. Sector not filled till European-market BLS launched.

Ford Falcon (1970½). January–August 1970 (prod. 26,000 approx.). 2- and 4-door sedan, 5-door wagon. 250 in³ (6 cyl. OHV), 302, 351, 429 in³ (V8 OHV). For half a model year, Ford transferred its Falcon nameplate from the compact model to the intermediate Torino–Fairlane bodyshell (117 in wheelbase for sedans; curiously, the wagon was on 114 in), making the Torino’s engine options available. Still marketed as an economy car, the last American Falcon is characterized by its swooping design. After 1970, Falcons were made only in Australia and Argentina (with an assembly plant for Australian models in New Zealand).

Chrysler Imperial. 1990–3 (prod. 41,276 approx.). F/F, 3301, 3778 cm³ (V6 OHV). Last cars to wear Imperial badge. Upscale Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Avenue of these years, with 3·3- (1990) or 3·8-litre (1991–3) V6. Y-body developed as largest version of K-car platform. Different nose and tail which made it longer than New Yorker by 4 in, though wheelbase stayed the same. Not that refined, with poor performance, suspension and transmission.

These are way too cool. I saw some at a paper factory in Taiwan that were Chinese-made; these are from Japan. Above are an Alfa 156 Sportwagon and a 2000 Honda Civic Type R. There are also unlikely-to-appear-on-paper models there like the Chrysler PT Cruiser. 

http://f1.aaa.livedoor.jp/~sakyo/titlepage/papercar01.html

Wouldn’t it be fun to look for cars called 600? Maybe not. I know I have missed the Fiat 600 and the BMW 600 (remember when BMW made bubble cars that make the Smart ForTwo look huge?) but how about these with the same name? These are all from Autocade.

Mercedes-Benz 600

Mercedes-Benz 600. 1963–81 (prod. 2,677). 4-door saloon, 4- and 6-door stretch limousine, 4- and 6-door landaulet. F/R, 6330 cm³ (V8 SOHC). Largest Mercedes offered at the time, meant to be an example of the ultimate in German engineering. Hydraulic power for many features, including opening boot and automatic doors. Adjustable air suspension. Customers included the Pope as well as numerous dictators (Mao Tse-Tung, Idi Amin, Nicolae Ceauşescu, Kim Il-Sung). Not directly replaced, though 450 SEL 6·9 did its best; Maybach 57 and 63 probably the closest to a direct successor.

Saab 600

Saab–Lancia 600. 1981–6 (prod. unknown). 5-door hatchback. F/F, 1499 cm³ (4 cyl.). Scandinavian interpretation of Lancia Delta, the result of a distribution agreement with Fiat that also included the Autobianchi A112 (sold in Sweden, as most of Europe, as the Lancia A112). The 600 was sold in Sweden and Norway only with the 1·5-litre engine in three trims. Some trim differences to “Saabify” original car, including grille and Saab typeface on badging. 

Dodge 600

Dodge 600. 1983–8 (prod. 309,590). 4-door sedan, 2-door convertible. F/F, 2213, 2507, 2555 cm³ (4 cyl. OHC). Stretched K-car, twin of Chrysler E-class. ES model marketed as a sports sedan that could rival Mercedes W123 and BMW 5-series. Never managed to, but very good alternative to Pontiac 6000 and other GM A-cars. Considered roomy, well sized for mid-size car buyers, and helped Chrysler restore its fortunes in the early 1980s. Convertible actually a rebadged Dodge 400, i.e. K-car, sold from 1984 on shorter wheelbase. Mitsubishi 2555 cm³ engine deleted after 1985 model year; convertibles had 2507 cm³ option in final year, 1986. ES replaced in 1986; SE trim introduced.

Rover 600

Rover 618/Rover 620/Rover 623. 1993–9 (prod. 270,988). 4-door saloon. F/F, 1850, 1997 cm³ petrol, 1994 cm³ diesel (4 cyl. OHC), 1994 cm³ turbo, 2259 cm³ (4 cyl. DOHC). Rebodied Honda Accord, sharing front windscreen, doors and roof with Japanese car. Many interior elements identical. Usual Honda dynamics of sophisticated suspension in low, sporting design. Designed by Rover team at Honda; Richard Woolley styling has British overtones.  

For Timothy, Zak and the other Americans who remember these great cars … So very easy to write about—it just flows for these popular models. From Autocade at http://autocade.net/index.php/Ford_Mustang_%281964%E2%80%936%29.

Ford Mustang (1964–6)

Ford Mustang/Ford T-5. 1964–6 (prod. 1,288,527). 2-door coupé, 2-door fastback, 2-door convertible. F/R, 170, 200 in³ (6 cyl OHV), 260, 289 in³ (V8 OHV). Incredibly successful sports car from Ford, based around Falcon bits, but with its own long-hood, short-deck proportions borrowed from European sports models. Ford identified the baby boomer segment and division head Lee Iacocca pushed the concept from engineer and product planner Donald N. Frey. Created the “pony car” segment. Teaser campaign, massive marketing blitz, including three-network TV ad buy on April 16, 1964. Launched at World’s Fair on April 17, 1964 with base price of $2,368—a thousand dollars less than what original survey respondents thought. Original model retrospectively called the 1964½ model year, though should be ‘early 1965’ model. Sporting appointments, such as bucket seats; car could be extensively personalized. Brakes, steering not class-leading but performance acceptable, V8s the cars to go for. Shelby high-performance model from 1965. Sold 418,812 in first year, and a million by March 1966. Called T-5 (its development name) in Germany due to trade mark conflict. Set template for Mustangs to follow, including current model.

This Autocade article brought back memories of the World Trade Fair at the Wellington Show Buildings in 1979, which I attended with my mother. Škoda, Hyundai and Volvo showed off their cars at the Fair, which in my opinion was never equalled with subsequent school holidays. I picked up the Hyundai Pony brochure and believe it had this photograph in it.
   What happened to those great, open-to-the-public trade fairs in New Zealand?

Hyundai Pony. 1975–85 (prod. unknown). 3-, 4- and 5-door sedan, 5-door wagon, 2-door pick-up. F/R, 1238, 1439, 1597 cm³ (4 cyl. SOHC). ItalDesign body—Giugiaro also did the original Volkswagen Golf—was smart and crisp for Pony’s 1975 launch, but it hid a structure that essentially followed those of the Morris Marina, mated to Mitsubishi running gear. The brainchild of George Turnbull, formerly of British Leyland, who believed that a simple platform such as the Marina’s was far more adaptable than BL believed. Engines aside, pretty dated technology even when new, but sold on simplicity and cheapness, and took Hyundai into many export markets in the 1970s and early 1980s. Usually takes the credit as the first all-Korean car, despite the foreign input. Pick-up added 1976 after original hatchback, wagon in 1977, three-door in 1980. Replacement Pony II began coming on stream in 1982, after which original range rationalized and replaced by 1985.

 
I am going to be doing some banners to promote Autocade soon. It’s still very much in beta with only a few dozen cars on it, but I have been thinking about the reasons I started it.

• There are a few, but not many, car sites out there with geographically unbiased information. I believe that German cars, for example, should be written with the point of view that the German market is the domestic one and others are export ones. Wikipedia is not one of them. It tends to take the American view on a lot of topics, but 80 per cent of the internet audience is not Stateside. Some of the better car wikis out there also have this bias, though they do not claim to be international—Wikipedia does.
• The Wikipedia layout is boring.
• I want basic information, not long stories, and I should be able to trace the global lineages of car models relatively simply. I’m fine with the long stuff appearing at specialist sites, but there should be one place where I can get the basics, including info on model changes and even a little opinion on the vehicle.
• I am more passionate about cars than many other things in life.

   When I began researching some of the Autocade entries, I was surprised to note how much incorrect information exists on Wikipedia about various models—and that I was absolutely right to have doubts about it. (I realized that I could go and edit Wikipedia myself, but why bother, if the actual editorial approach differs?) I also noticed how many references I have that take the brief format—Michael Sedgwick’s work, the first issues of Your Classic with buyers’ guides, and The Complete Car Guide five-week supplement in Autocar & Motor in 1988. This worked with readers like me then, and I can’t see why it wouldn’t work now in 2008.
   The way Wikipedia and some other sites is organized isn’t to my liking. For example, one of the Autocade entries is on the Holden Belmont. There is no such entry at Wikipedia: searching for the car name takes you to a forwarded page on the Holden Kingswood.
   But if I wanted information on the Holden Kingswood, I would type in Holden Kingswood. Specifically, I wanted information on the Belmont, to cross-check the information I had. There is a lineage there, and the way the engine options differed between series is interesting to car nuts.
   I took Sedgwick’s approach and recorded the Belmont separately of the Kingswood, just as he did in the same circumstances.
   And I have been using non-digital sources to confirm a lot of the info.
   Most of the work is still mine, but I’d welcome extra pairs of hands once the marketing gets under way, provided that senior editors take the approach that I have above.
   My work isn’t perfect and I am sure I have made my share of mistakes, but I hope I have made fewer, relative to the number of pages on Autocade, than many generous writers of Wikipedia have. Then again, there is less to go wrong at Autocade. It looks like too many cooks spoiling the broth at Wikipedia (i.e. you can’t bank on the Wales)—something we need to be careful with as Autocade goes out of beta later this year.