Ordinary Cars That Have Disappeared Off The Radar
Discussion
The early CVT auto 343s didn't have an inhibitor on reverse and were therefore as fast backwards as they were forwards (I know, I tested it on My Grandmother's snot-green 1978 model....)
With a gearbox transaxle set up, they're very popular with the drift boys - especially the 2 litre ones
With a gearbox transaxle set up, they're very popular with the drift boys - especially the 2 litre ones
Keep it stiff said:
How about the Volvo 343? My mother had one in a rather dull mustard/yellow.I think I'm correct in saying that the 343 was Volvo's first attempt to get into the small car market and was the output from their acquisition of Daf.
That was the no. 1 dotty-old-pensioner car when I was growing up. I had a 345GL, one of the few that had the later wrap round bumpers but the lower section in the bonnet which I always thought looked better. I think they must have only made them like that for one year, mine was W reg and metallic blue. I have some non digital pictures of it somewhere, but have never seen a picture exactly like it on the web, they all have either the short bumper return or the high central bonnet section.
Mine was a manual, not the CVT auto, and was actually quite economical and could do 50 mpg, not bad for a heavy car back in the mid 80's. Used the Renault 1.4 engine which developed about 70 bhp. It was quite well built and comfy, but god was it slow though, 0-60 was something like 13 seconds.
Mine was a manual, not the CVT auto, and was actually quite economical and could do 50 mpg, not bad for a heavy car back in the mid 80's. Used the Renault 1.4 engine which developed about 70 bhp. It was quite well built and comfy, but god was it slow though, 0-60 was something like 13 seconds.
andyps said:
Keep it stiff said:
I think it was preceded by the Volvo 66 as that was already a Daf production vehicle before the takeover, although I may be wrong on the dates:
Oh yes and what a stunning piece of Dutch engineering. My granddad had one. We tried 80 mph once and it succeeded. Took us quite a stretch of motorway. maybe even the whole journey. My grandma was not amused. Those were the days.
RichardM5 said:
I had a 345GL, one of the few that had the later wrap round bumpers but the lower section in the bonnet which I always thought looked better. I think they must have only made them like that for one year, mine was W reg and metallic blue. I have some non digital pictures of it somewhere, but have never seen a picture exactly like it on the web, they all have either the short bumper return or the high central bonnet section.
Mine was a manual, not the CVT auto, and was actually quite economical and could do 50 mpg, not bad for a heavy car back in the mid 80's. Used the Renault 1.4 engine which developed about 70 bhp. It was quite well built and comfy, but god was it slow though, 0-60 was something like 13 seconds.
I had one of them in turd brown. My god it was a sMine was a manual, not the CVT auto, and was actually quite economical and could do 50 mpg, not bad for a heavy car back in the mid 80's. Used the Renault 1.4 engine which developed about 70 bhp. It was quite well built and comfy, but god was it slow though, 0-60 was something like 13 seconds.
t car, didn't go, didn't stop, didn't corner & drank like a fish.
jamesatcandsc said:
TC. One owner from new. Totally solid, totally original.
Like it or not, this is a very rare survivor (especially in that condition) and I am very grateful that it does.
I am very grateful that it does too, and I like it so much I have an eBay saved search for one but none have come up for a while - probably good really as I have nowhere to keep one!Like it or not, this is a very rare survivor (especially in that condition) and I am very grateful that it does.
jamesatcandsc said:
Spotted this one on a trip to Oxford the other day. First thought was: "Wow, when did I last see one of those?" Second thought was: "You know what, that isn't so bad, would make a great little city car today."
Were they not forced to stop making them because their crash test results were so abysmal?TooMany2cvs said:
Doofus said:
markymarkthree said:
My contribution.
Those have disappeared because they've been illegal for years.
They disappeared because none of the users actually owned them - they were all provided by the gov't. When they were withdrawn, they were just rounded up and squished. The odd survivor was, basically, stolen... Apart from that, they're perfectly legal to use.
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff