Historical or useless car facts.
Discussion
jtwaring said:
the triumph dolomite sprint was the first car to have alloy wheels as standard.
Not convinced.Exotica had been using Magnesium Alloy wheels for years before the Sprint was launched.
I think it may be 'first mass-produced British car with standard alloy wheels'.
<googles>
Yes, that was it.
fluffnik said:
Jon C said:
tali1 said:
The Cadillac Eldorado, holds the record for the largest engine in a front-wheel drive production vehicle, at 8.2 L (500 in³)
My word, can you imagine the torque steer 
Speed_Demon said:
Just read the entire thread, lol.
Not sure how true this is, but Honda are yet to recieve a failed non-modified last gen Civic Type R engine.
I think the fact that's usually bandied around is that Honda has never received a single warranty claim against a VTEC-equipped engine. Not sure how true this is, but Honda are yet to recieve a failed non-modified last gen Civic Type R engine.
When showing the Mercedes S-Class' new Brake Assist Plus safety feature for German TV, the engineers presumed the driver knew it was switched off, and the driver presumed the engineers had turned it on...subsequently, he crashed it.
Also, when the 1st series if Miami Vice was filmed, a Ferrari Daytona replica was made from a Corvette C3. Ferrari tried to sue the company making the replica, and donated 2 real Ferrari's before filming for the 3rd season took place.
(The last fact is probably common knowledge here)
Oh, and another one.
The blinking neon lights on the spark plugs in the cafe featured in the film Cars light up in the same firing order as a Ford Flathead V8
Also, when the 1st series if Miami Vice was filmed, a Ferrari Daytona replica was made from a Corvette C3. Ferrari tried to sue the company making the replica, and donated 2 real Ferrari's before filming for the 3rd season took place.
(The last fact is probably common knowledge here)
Oh, and another one.
The blinking neon lights on the spark plugs in the cafe featured in the film Cars light up in the same firing order as a Ford Flathead V8
Edited by Drebin on Monday 5th January 17:41
LuS1fer said:
fluffnik said:
Jon C said:
tali1 said:
The Cadillac Eldorado, holds the record for the largest engine in a front-wheel drive production vehicle, at 8.2 L (500 in³)
My word, can you imagine the torque steer Aquadrome said:
Speed_Demon said:
Just read the entire thread, lol.
Not sure how true this is, but Honda are yet to recieve a failed non-modified last gen Civic Type R engine.
I think the fact that's usually bandied around is that Honda has never received a single warranty claim against a VTEC-equipped engine. Not sure how true this is, but Honda are yet to recieve a failed non-modified last gen Civic Type R engine.
Not to say they havent had a few "legs out of bed", just theres never been a warranty on VTEC.
I seem to remember the sods at Chiswick on training days would give you tests to see if youre paying attention/ any bloody good.... One of them was a lumpy running engine. Not one of us saw what it was. Buggers had swapped the VTEC pins around so engine was running on the cams centre lobes...
tali1 said:
Nissan Primera was first car in its class with ABS standard across range.
I disagree! Here's why. The Mk3 Granada, introduced somewhere between '86 and '87, I'm sure I've seen rough ones on the D and perhaps C, was the first family car to have ABS as standard across the range. Ford in the mid eighties had a fixation with the system, even going as far as to fit a mechnical setup to top spec Fiestas and Orions which were bereft of engine management computers. The mechanical ABS, if a fault developed, became a Satanic killing machine prone to releasing brake pressure during emergency stops. The Granada though, didn't have it.Edited by tali1 on Friday 26th September 20:52
Edited by tali1 on Monday 6th October 19:38
The Mk3 Granada had a full blown ECU that ran the ABS, as well as injecing fuel into the twin-cam engines and controlling the cat. With the added, tasty, ingredient of the MT75 gearbox the Mk3 was a thoroughly modern car indeed.
The Nissan Primera was designed in about 1988. Prototypes were running by '89 and serious hatchback and saloon production began by the Tyne in 1990-ish. The estates were imported fully made up from Japan. There was some advancement over the older, cheaper and quite possibly superior and better looking Bluebird. 16 valve engines were standardised and both outside and interior were restyled in the definitively bland fashion of the nineties.
Octav Botnar wasn't happy. The Bluebird had an unrivalled reputation for toughness and durability; it may not have handled or performed but it lasted. Good quality steel and ruged drivetrains elevated it into the Volvo class of longevity. These things, loved by customers, were cheap. The much more advanced Primera was far more expensive. Not wishing to lose the Bluebird's audience the Primera was made more cheaply, and not as well.
There was also an absolute poverty specification 1.6 in the initial lineup. This had a carb feeding the 16 valve unit, not catalyst and of course, no ABS.
Futuramic said:
tali1 said:
Nissan Primera was first car in its class with ABS standard across range.
I disagree! Here's why. The Mk3 Granada, introduced somewhere between '86 and '87, I'm sure I've seen rough ones on the D and perhaps C, was the first family car to have ABS as standard across the range. Ford in the mid eighties had a fixation with the system, even going as far as to fit a mechnical setup to top spec Fiestas and Orions which were bereft of engine management computers. The mechanical ABS, if a fault developed, became a Satanic killing machine prone to releasing brake pressure during emergency stops. The Granada though, didn't have it.Edited by tali1 on Friday 26th September 20:52
Edited by tali1 on Monday 6th October 19:38
The Mk3 Granada had a full blown ECU that ran the ABS, as well as injecing fuel into the twin-cam engines and controlling the cat. With the added, tasty, ingredient of the MT75 gearbox the Mk3 was a thoroughly modern car indeed.
The Nissan Primera was designed in about 1988. Prototypes were running by '89 and serious hatchback and saloon production began by the Tyne in 1990-ish. The estates were imported fully made up from Japan. There was some advancement over the older, cheaper and quite possibly superior and better looking Bluebird. 16 valve engines were standardised and both outside and interior were restyled in the definitively bland fashion of the nineties.
Octav Botnar wasn't happy. The Bluebird had an unrivalled reputation for toughness and durability; it may not have handled or performed but it lasted. Good quality steel and ruged drivetrains elevated it into the Volvo class of longevity. These things, loved by customers, were cheap. The much more advanced Primera was far more expensive. Not wishing to lose the Bluebird's audience the Primera was made more cheaply, and not as well.
There was also an absolute poverty specification 1.6 in the initial lineup. This had a carb feeding the 16 valve unit, not catalyst and of course, no ABS.
Ben
ducatidesmo said:
This is probably one that everyone knows,
The porsche 911 Sc was supposed to be the last 911 so it was given the SC designation(Super Carrera)as it was going to be replaced once and for all by its intended replacement, the 928, but as we all know the 928 fell off the map a few years ago but the 911 outsold it by far and is still going strong.
the numbers for the porsche range included early projects for tanks tractors and a bathtub. on wheels (no.356)The porsche 911 Sc was supposed to be the last 911 so it was given the SC designation(Super Carrera)as it was going to be replaced once and for all by its intended replacement, the 928, but as we all know the 928 fell off the map a few years ago but the 911 outsold it by far and is still going strong.
ceriw said:
ducatidesmo said:
This is probably one that everyone knows,
The porsche 911 Sc was supposed to be the last 911 so it was given the SC designation(Super Carrera)as it was going to be replaced once and for all by its intended replacement, the 928, but as we all know the 928 fell off the map a few years ago but the 911 outsold it by far and is still going strong.
the numbers for the porsche range included early projects for tanks tractors and a bathtub. on wheels (no.356)The porsche 911 Sc was supposed to be the last 911 so it was given the SC designation(Super Carrera)as it was going to be replaced once and for all by its intended replacement, the 928, but as we all know the 928 fell off the map a few years ago but the 911 outsold it by far and is still going strong.
Futuramic said:
tali1 said:
Nissan Primera was first car in its class with ABS standard across range.
I disagree! Here's why. The Mk3 Granada, introduced somewhere between '86 and '87, I'm sure I've seen rough ones on the D and perhaps C, was the first family car to have ABS as standard across the range. Ford in the mid eighties had a fixation with the system, even going as far as to fit a mechnical setup to top spec Fiestas and Orions which were bereft of engine management computers. The mechanical ABS, if a fault developed, became a Satanic killing machine prone to releasing brake pressure during emergency stops. The Granada though, didn't have it.Edited by tali1 on Friday 26th September 20:52
Edited by tali1 on Monday 6th October 19:38
The Mk3 Granada had a full blown ECU that ran the ABS, as well as injecing fuel into the twin-cam engines and controlling the cat. With the added, tasty, ingredient of the MT75 gearbox the Mk3 was a thoroughly modern car indeed.
The Nissan Primera was designed in about 1988. Prototypes were running by '89 and serious hatchback and saloon production began by the Tyne in 1990-ish. The estates were imported fully made up from Japan. There was some advancement over the older, cheaper and quite possibly superior and better looking Bluebird. 16 valve engines were standardised and both outside and interior were restyled in the definitively bland fashion of the nineties.
Octav Botnar wasn't happy. The Bluebird had an unrivalled reputation for toughness and durability; it may not have handled or performed but it lasted. Good quality steel and ruged drivetrains elevated it into the Volvo class of longevity. These things, loved by customers, were cheap. The much more advanced Primera was far more expensive. Not wishing to lose the Bluebird's audience the Primera was made more cheaply, and not as well.
There was also an absolute poverty specification 1.6 in the initial lineup. This had a carb feeding the 16 valve unit, not catalyst and of course, no ABS.
Whilst i agree that the Primera had a "outside and interior were restyled in the definitively bland fashion of the nineties." there is nothing to my knowledge that it was of inferior build or reliability to a Bluebird.
As for Botnar he wanted to continue selling pile em high and cheap - but Nissan wanted to go upmarket and also it is claimed grab his lucrative AFN operation.It's reckoned he was stitched up by the HM customs and Nissan HQ soon after.
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