Idiosyncratic features to be savoured
Discussion
Muddle238 said:
The Citroen DS could drive on three wheels... a trick of the suspension combined with the centre of gravity. That car also did not require a jack for changing a wheel, the rear indicators were mounted on the corners of the roof for visibility, the entire rear wing was held on with a single bolt. What else, the mushroom-button brake pedal, the manual transmission gear stick protruding from the steering column, talking of steering the famous Citroen one-prong steering wheel...
Even better the, bolt that holds it on is the same size as the wheel nuts so the wheel brace will undo it. I think 2cv/dyane front wings are similarly attached by bolts that can be undone with the wheelbrace.hidetheelephants said:
ven better the, bolt that holds it on is the same size as the wheel nuts so the wheel brace will undo it. I think 2cv/dyane front wings are similarly attached by bolts that can be undone with the wheelbrace.
2cv, yes, but you do need a smaller one for the triangular panels - 50s ripple bonnet cars didn't have those.Dyanes, no - much more to do.
Simes205 said:
blongs said:
Spare wheel in the engine bay....and forward tilt bonnet...the Volvo 340
I think the Fiat Panda Mk1 had the spare in the engine bay too.
So did the Citroen DS in 1955, then the GS and CX.I think the Fiat Panda Mk1 had the spare in the engine bay too.
Trabi601 said:
Surely the driver's door lock still has mechanical linkages in it?
Later 986 Boxsters have a similar issue in that the battery is in the front boot, operated by an electric release. If you run the car flat enough, the immobiliser can't be disabled, meaning you can't pop the front boot open using the pull-out 12v input post in the fuse box.
The only way to get access is to put 12v into the cigarette lighter in addition to the 12v post in the fuse box.
From memory you can remove the front wheel arch liner to access the front boot, I think it's the left hand sideLater 986 Boxsters have a similar issue in that the battery is in the front boot, operated by an electric release. If you run the car flat enough, the immobiliser can't be disabled, meaning you can't pop the front boot open using the pull-out 12v input post in the fuse box.
The only way to get access is to put 12v into the cigarette lighter in addition to the 12v post in the fuse box.
Trabi601 said:
Greza said:
Speedometer on the Fabia Vrs
10mph increments up to 90mph and 20mph increments after.
Surprisingly common. Not sure which of my recent cars has this - maybe the Boxster? (it's not here to check, though).10mph increments up to 90mph and 20mph increments after.
Makes sense I suppose with todays silly speedos that realistically you're rarely even going to use half the dial.
The V4 engine in the old Zephyrs which had a huge engine bay, but a tiny engine. Bloody awful car.
Vacuum operated windscreen wipers on a 1959 Ford Consul, went like the clappers when coasting but hope you never have to go up a hill in the rain. Dad used to have to let off the power for a fraction of a second to give a quick wipe to see where he was going.
We towed a caravan with it, meaning they hardly ever worked but wasn't too much of an issue as we were hardly moving anyway. Also the fuel filler was in the middle of the car behind the rear plate, elegant and practical.
Steerable fog lights on a Mk2 MR2, pointless but nice to have.
Vacuum operated windscreen wipers on a 1959 Ford Consul, went like the clappers when coasting but hope you never have to go up a hill in the rain. Dad used to have to let off the power for a fraction of a second to give a quick wipe to see where he was going.
We towed a caravan with it, meaning they hardly ever worked but wasn't too much of an issue as we were hardly moving anyway. Also the fuel filler was in the middle of the car behind the rear plate, elegant and practical.
Steerable fog lights on a Mk2 MR2, pointless but nice to have.
kapiteinlangzaam said:
My parents had an original Multipla from 2003-2016. Bought new of a Fiat dealers forecourt for 9995, which made it quite insane value.
Looks are obviously love/hate, but the rest of the car was undeniably fantastic. IIRC it was built on a sort of space-frame, with the all the suspension etc hanging off it and the engine etc bolted on. This resulted in a very low centre of gravity (= entertaining handling) and also realised the quite ridiculous amounts of interior space.
Great cars, really very great cars.
It's nice to find someone that "understands". Thank you.Looks are obviously love/hate, but the rest of the car was undeniably fantastic. IIRC it was built on a sort of space-frame, with the all the suspension etc hanging off it and the engine etc bolted on. This resulted in a very low centre of gravity (= entertaining handling) and also realised the quite ridiculous amounts of interior space.
Great cars, really very great cars.
From what I've seen of the underside, it is some sort of space-frame. Certainly not a monocoque. There's enough room under the (flat) floor for another 2 66l fuel tanks! Presumably that's where the gubbins for the bi-fuel versions goes..
(Edited for...) Two people understand! I forgot about the US gallon thing with the OBC!
Edited by Evilex on Tuesday 28th March 21:15
Great thread. With lots of cars I love here for some of the reasons I love them.
On the suffix A Range Rovers you had door handles that could be opened by front and rear passengers:
Back to the Saab 900 and it's vacuum ventilation system is also a wonderful thing with satisfying swooshes when you changes positions.
On the suffix A Range Rovers you had door handles that could be opened by front and rear passengers:
Back to the Saab 900 and it's vacuum ventilation system is also a wonderful thing with satisfying swooshes when you changes positions.
I love quirky and unusual features, especially those that work well.
The early Lanchester cars are about as idiosyncratic as they come; tiller steering, foot operated warning bell and folding front mudguards that move away to reveal a step to climb into the driver's and passenger's seats. That's before you consider the engine, transmission, suspension and other features that were more advanced than anything else in 1901.
The Bristol 401 had a side-hinged bonnet that could be opened from either side or removed completely (like the International Harvester truck seen earlier). It also had internally operated release catches for the boot and fuel filler. On the dashboard the switches were circular for anything that was pushed or pulled and knurled for anything that turned. It also came with large air vents in the front footwells that looked like steampunk hi-fi speakers.
Later Bristols (from the 404) had the spare wheel behind the nearside front wing and the battery and fuses on the opposite side.
Plenty of vintage cars (and some early post-war ones) had various switches on the steering wheel boss. The most I think I've seen was four on a SS1 (a pre-Jaguar, Jaguar if you like); which I think had mixture, spark advance, hand throttle and head lamps controlled from the steering wheel. Other cars might just have the trafficator switch on the steering wheel hub.
The early Lanchester cars are about as idiosyncratic as they come; tiller steering, foot operated warning bell and folding front mudguards that move away to reveal a step to climb into the driver's and passenger's seats. That's before you consider the engine, transmission, suspension and other features that were more advanced than anything else in 1901.
The Bristol 401 had a side-hinged bonnet that could be opened from either side or removed completely (like the International Harvester truck seen earlier). It also had internally operated release catches for the boot and fuel filler. On the dashboard the switches were circular for anything that was pushed or pulled and knurled for anything that turned. It also came with large air vents in the front footwells that looked like steampunk hi-fi speakers.
Later Bristols (from the 404) had the spare wheel behind the nearside front wing and the battery and fuses on the opposite side.
Plenty of vintage cars (and some early post-war ones) had various switches on the steering wheel boss. The most I think I've seen was four on a SS1 (a pre-Jaguar, Jaguar if you like); which I think had mixture, spark advance, hand throttle and head lamps controlled from the steering wheel. Other cars might just have the trafficator switch on the steering wheel hub.
On my 1992 Merc W140 600 SEL:
- Central pneumatic - ergo silent - operation for lumbar support, central locking, soft-close doors, soft-close trunk, trunk handle (stored behind a flap to keep it clean), headlamp levelling and the eternally-odd reversing masts
- A W124-style, articulating windscreen wiper on the driver's side (the passenger side is just a regular wiper)
- A self-levelling rear suspension system that's so similar in principle to Citroen's that I wonder if Mercedes licensed it from them (like Rolls Royce did)
- a powered and memory-linked central rear-view mirror
- The ability for the V12 to run as a 6, if there's a fault in one bank (don't ask how I know this...)
- Porsche 928-style door bin lids/articulating armrests
On my 1993 Merc W201 190 e:
- Pneumatic central locking and head lamp level adjustment (Mercedes clearly had a thing for pneumatics)
On my 1991 Porsche 928 S4:
- The aforementioned, separate high-pressure wash system for screen and lights
- Little bits of 959 in the form of RDK tyre pressure monitoring and the PSD active locking differential
- Sun visors for rear passengers
On all three, as they all use Mercedes automatics: second-gear starting for stately (600/928) or terrifyingly slow (190) starts. A flick of the lever in to the lowest gear and back in to Drive will have all three starting in first.
- Central pneumatic - ergo silent - operation for lumbar support, central locking, soft-close doors, soft-close trunk, trunk handle (stored behind a flap to keep it clean), headlamp levelling and the eternally-odd reversing masts
- A W124-style, articulating windscreen wiper on the driver's side (the passenger side is just a regular wiper)
- A self-levelling rear suspension system that's so similar in principle to Citroen's that I wonder if Mercedes licensed it from them (like Rolls Royce did)
- a powered and memory-linked central rear-view mirror
- The ability for the V12 to run as a 6, if there's a fault in one bank (don't ask how I know this...)
- Porsche 928-style door bin lids/articulating armrests
On my 1993 Merc W201 190 e:
- Pneumatic central locking and head lamp level adjustment (Mercedes clearly had a thing for pneumatics)
On my 1991 Porsche 928 S4:
- The aforementioned, separate high-pressure wash system for screen and lights
- Little bits of 959 in the form of RDK tyre pressure monitoring and the PSD active locking differential
- Sun visors for rear passengers
On all three, as they all use Mercedes automatics: second-gear starting for stately (600/928) or terrifyingly slow (190) starts. A flick of the lever in to the lowest gear and back in to Drive will have all three starting in first.
JimbobVFR said:
AW111 said:
Snap.
I have a 4wd Mitsubishi van. Mid engined awd 2-seater. For quick access the passenger seat hinges up with the engine cover, but anything more than checking the oil requires removing the drivers seat and another access panel.
would that be a Delica? Love those, if I needed off road ability then I could definitely be tempted.I have a 4wd Mitsubishi van. Mid engined awd 2-seater. For quick access the passenger seat hinges up with the engine cover, but anything more than checking the oil requires removing the drivers seat and another access panel.
Another "interesting" feature : the tailgate, when open, provides a nice rain-proof annex. However, it holds at least a litre in the rear window recess, which pours down onto you when you close it.
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