Things/ideas that never really caught on?

[iva cosworth]

HustleRussell said:

Dr Interceptor said:

How about the V4 engine... widely used in bikes, but aside from Ford (Corsair?) and Lancia, never really caught on in car use.

Saab used them too.

They couldn't be bothered to design their own though and used the Ford boat anchor.

[for couldn't be bothered substitute couldn't afford].........maybe

[JimmyTheHand]

monthefish said:

JimmyTheHand said:

Directional Headlights - for a long time only found on old Citroens.

Is that not quite common these days?

it is now - but I believe it disappeared from new cars in the mid 70s (with end of DS & SM) until fairly recently. i.e. things thought gone sometimes coming back when technology improves

[mozza42]

Peugeot automatic seatbelts - would be interested to find out how many people died through malfunction/manic strangling...

[CapriV6S]

The V4 2-litre boat-anchor was used in the Mk1 Capri (a rumbly-rough asthmatic engine totally lost in that long engine-bay).

Even more bizarre, the 2-litre V4 was used in the huge Mk4 Zephyr with the aircraft-carrier sized bonnet. Hmm, bet that was a treat to drive.

Also used in some Mk1 "Sweeney-shape" Granada / Consuls in mid 70s. Not for long though.

[CapriV6S]

Vinyl roofs didn't last long. Why do them in the first place??

[CapriV6S]

The gas-turbine car never really caught on despite Rovers efforts in the 50s. Would have been interesting.

[Allyc85]

Having to use the key to open the bonnet on a Ford Focus...

[rumple]

CapriV6S said:

The V4 2-litre boat-anchor was used in the Mk1 Capri (a rumbly-rough asthmatic engine totally lost in that long engine-bay).

Even more bizarre, the 2-litre V4 was used in the huge Mk4 Zephyr with the aircraft-carrier sized bonnet. Hmm, bet that was a treat to drive.

Also used in some Mk1 "Sweeney-shape" Granada / Consuls in mid 70s. Not for long though.

Dont forget Corsairs and Transit vans, they werent in Cortinas though, as far as i know.

[Landyphil]

DAF variomatic transmission.

Diff free motoring that makes it very good in slippy conditions...and er....

[CapriV6S]

Car-coats, driving-gloves, and, ermmmmm, driving-shoes. From the 60s.

Just imagine difting round a country-lane corner in your modded 1500 GT twin-fortied hi-cammed pre-crossflow Anglia dressed in that lot. Must have been great at the time.

[CapriV6S]

I know, people still retro-fit vinyl roofs to classic Escort Mk2 RS2000s. Dohh!

Oh, the Moskvich, it didn't really catch on.

[Tootles the Taxi]

Had the "pleasure" of driving a V4 powered ford transit automatic minibus once ......... only once.

[AJB]

Landyphil said:

DAF variomatic transmission.

Diff free motoring that makes it very good in slippy conditions...and er....

Hadn't realised they don't have a diff. How does that work? What lets the 2 wheels go at a different speed. Come to think of it, what makes the 2 halves of the gearbox select the same ratio as each other?

Surely they'll be calibrated differently, select slightly different ratios, and lock the whole thing up... What am I missing?

[AJB]

Back on topic, how about 4wd by having 2 engines and 2 gearboxes in the Citroen 2CV Sahara?

[EDLT]

Dave Hedgehog said:

poxy hateful system, i almost stuffed a brand new 4ws prelude at paddock, turned in hard, the 4WS adjusted the back felt like the rear end was going i corrected and then ended up with the ass out 45 degrees and the honda rep going white ..

blated a new carlos sainz GT4 around as well, great car

That was definitely the car's fault.

[Baryonyx]

swerni said:

They were cool at the time, god knows why.

At the time, it was extremely difficult to make a metal roof for a limo that wasn't creased, so they were fitted with vinyl roofs instead. Much cheaper and didn't warp. Then Joe Public decides he wants a vinyl roof too, and suddenly they are in fashion.

[furrywoolyhatuk]

Baryonyx said:

But the Laguna had passive rear steering, not four wheel steering?

I always thought 4 wheel steering was a nice idea, but I hear it can feel quite funny when pressing on...

Yep your right, I stand corrected. Either way i ended locking my hicas out as it had such an unnatural feel!

[Eighteeteewhy]

Allyc85 said:

Having to use the key to open the bonnet on a Ford Focus...

New Transits still have this.

[S0 What]

rumple said:

Dont forget Corsairs and Transit vans, they werent in Cortinas though, as far as i know.

They had the V4 cologne in the taunus in europe (the equiv of the Mk4/5 cortina) the V4 essex was also used in the transit.

[martin84]

Sliding doors, like on the 1007. Excellent on a van, but never caught on with cars.