3 posts tagged “automotive history”

I have no recollection of these since I wasn’t even in the antipodes (or even alive) at this point, but these TVCs from the now-defunct Chrysler Australia are quite enjoyable.
   They date from 1971, launching the new—to give it its full title—Chrysler Valiant Charger.
   The Charger badges were identical to the US Dodge’s, but the car is not related except through parentage.
   I am sure Australians will correct me if my memory is wrong: Chrysler entered Australia in the 1950s and brought over Plymouth Valiants to evaluate for the market as the decade changed. The imported Valiants could not deal with the rougher Australian roads, and adapted, locally produced models began coming off the South Australian lines soon after.
   The Plymouth marque was not used and Chrysler was instead. However, as with the Rambler in the US, Valiant became a marque Down Under, and by the 1970s there were Valiant Rangers, Valiant Chargers and Valiant Regals.
   The 1960s’ models were related to the Plymouth Valiant and Dodge Dart, but by the 1970s, Australia had a unique design. The Aussie Charger would have been a compact by US standards then, on a shorter wheelbase, but it looked more capable than the full-size American Dodge Charger (which was beautiful in its own way). The sixes gained a following in New Zealand.
   Down Under, this size of car was long regarded as the ideal, and excepting years of fuel crises, Australasians tend to like these full-size (by modern standards) cars. And the early 1970s were the years when both Ford and Chrysler responded to GM with a proper fastback coupé to counter the success of the Holden Monaro, sold from 1968.
   I always associate Chargers with cads, but notice how some of the drivers are balding, middle-aged men. I expect Chrysler (rightly) saw the Charger as a Mustang of sorts, appealing to everyone—but since this was Australia in 1971, only men seem to be driving these cars in commercials.

It’s good to have the server running more speedily, thanks to the Rackspace guys. From Autocade, some of the cars you might have forgotten, sometimes for good reason. Pity, I always liked the look of that SEAT Sport; and the CityRover is an interesting could-have-been if MG Rover had only priced the base model under £5,000.

CityRover (RD110). 2003–5 (prod. approx. 6,000 sold to 2004). 5-door saloon. F/F, 1405 cm³ (4 cyl. OHC). Badge-engineered Tata Indica (1998–) with 14 in wheels (up from Indian model’s 13 in) and revised grille, though no sheetmetal changes. Ride height lowered 20 mm. Not formally a Rover—an Indian-made base model seemed a stretch too far for the brand that had already been downgraded to adorn Metros. Even Rover badge on CityRover appeared different—as with no-marque Metros in the late 1980s. Base model without electric windows; generally dated against European competition. Rover botched the launch, pricing the vehicles far too high, making them uncompetitive—it was generally regarded that the price was £2,000 more than what it should have been. Price drop eventually, with £900 cut and standard equipment upgrade in 2005. Mk II models built but never officially launched, arriving one month after May 2005 collapse of MG Rover.

Beijing BJ750. 1973–5; 1988 (prod. 93). 4-door sedan. F/R, 2445, 2465 cm³ (4 cyl. OHV). Unclear information on mid-sized sedan dating from mid-1970s from behind the Bamboo Curtain; some sources indicate production continued to end of 1970s and beginning of 1980s, updated with features such as extra turn signals in 1980. Years given (1973–5 and 1988) from Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile, which indicates short production was due to Red Chinese government preferring the manufacture of the Shanghai automobile over the BJ750. BJ751 was a Wankel-engined model, two examples made for evaluation and existing around 1980. The 1988 revival (BJ752) featured larger Beijing Jeep Cherokee engine, prod. 3.

Daihatsu Charmant (E20). 1974–81 (prod. unknown). 4-door sedan, 5-door wagon. F/R, 1166, 1290, 1407, 1588 cm³ (4 cyl. OHV). Toyota Corolla (E20)-based car from Daihatsu, with particularly long life by Japanese standards. Upgraded to 1·3- and 1·6-litre engines, later shared with E70 Corolla, in 1978. Short-lived wagon model. More upscale than Corolla, though dynamically nothing remarkable.

SEAT 1200 Sport/SEAT 1430 Sport. 1975–80 (prod. unknown). 2-door coupé. F/F, 1197, 1438 cm³ (4 cyl. OHV). SEAT coupé based on 127 platform but 124 engines, characterized by blackened front end, earning it the nickname bocanegra in Spain. Larger-engined model from 1977. Attractive, contemporary 1970s’ design, though not very successful and not directly replaced.

I reached the 500th model milestone today on Autocade. The 500th entry was a very unlikely one, but it goes to show how varied the models are, and how they are not necessarily cars I even like!

Ford Fairlane (NL). 1996–9 (prod. unknown). 4-door sedan. F/R, 3984 cm³ (6 cyl. OHC), 4942 cm³ (V8 OHV). Final Fairlane on this platform, and last one to have a code unique to itself and LTD—its EA169 successor would be grouped under the AU colloquialism. Ghia trim reintroduced for 1998. Usual luxuries on a fairly rugged platform, beloved of hire car companies Down Under. Roomy and comfortable, though detail finish behind that of European and Japanese luxury cars.