Historical or useless car facts.

[Alfa_75_Steve]

BB-Q said:

The Maxi was the world's first hatchback.

Well, it was the first aside from the following:

Citroen Traction Avant
Austin A40 Countryman
Renault 4
Renault 16
Simca 1100.

[BigLepton]

sniff petrol said:

BB-Q said:

According to one of the production managers at the Mini plant I used to know, the pre-production Cooper S acheived 180mph at MIRA! In a repeat of the Dolly Sprint story the engine was seriously tamed for production.

bks.

It's completely true actually, but realising this was too powerful for mere mortals, they replaced the engine with a 1.6 SC engine and fitted the mega-power engine to another car in their range, which they entitled 335d. The rest, as they say, is history. . . . . . . .

[H2DaE]

BigLepton said:

sniff petrol said:

BB-Q said:

According to one of the production managers at the Mini plant I used to know, the pre-production Cooper S acheived 180mph at MIRA! In a repeat of the Dolly Sprint story the engine was seriously tamed for production.

bks.

It's completely true actually, but realising this was too powerful for mere mortals, they replaced the engine with a 1.6 SC engine and fitted the mega-power engine to another car in their range, which they entitled 335d. The rest, as they say, is history. . . . . . . .

There's a mistake there then, the speed would be 1800mph if that was the case

[BB-Q]

sniff petrol said:

BB-Q said:

According to one of the production managers at the Mini plant I used to know, the pre-production Cooper S acheived 180mph at MIRA! In a repeat of the Dolly Sprint story the engine was seriously tamed for production.

bks.

Only repeating what the guy in the job told me..... He also had no reason to lie.

[Alfa_75_Steve]

BB-Q said:

sniff petrol said:

BB-Q said:

According to one of the production managers at the Mini plant I used to know, the pre-production Cooper S acheived 180mph at MIRA! In a repeat of the Dolly Sprint story the engine was seriously tamed for production.

bks.

Only repeating what the guy in the job told me..... He also had no reason to lie.

Think about it.

Think about how much power a Mini would need to get to 180mph, given that it is as aerodynamic as a brick wall.

Think about how an A-Series could produce that kind of power.

Do you *really* think it's true?

[BigLepton]

BB-Q said:

sniff petrol said:

BB-Q said:

According to one of the production managers at the Mini plant I used to know, the pre-production Cooper S acheived 180mph at MIRA! In a repeat of the Dolly Sprint story the engine was seriously tamed for production.

bks.

Only repeating what the guy in the job told me..... He also had no reason to lie.

He wasn't lying, he was bullsh!tting. They are different things - you need a reason to lie, bullsh!tting is a way of life for some people.

[sniff petrol]

BB-Q said:

sniff petrol said:

BB-Q said:

According to one of the production managers at the Mini plant I used to know, the pre-production Cooper S acheived 180mph at MIRA! In a repeat of the Dolly Sprint story the engine was seriously tamed for production.

bks.

Only repeating what the guy in the job told me..... He also had no reason to lie.

With the tyre scrub round the bowl at MIRA that's about 195mph in a straight line.

[niva441]

Ravell said:

BB-Q said:

Volvo were responsible for the invention of the three point seatbelt, the laminated windscreen, crumple zones, collapsible steering columns, airbags and most of the safety items on a car today

Didn't Mercedes claim to have brought a lot of those to market before Volvo did in the S-class?

I think the S Class initial claim to fame was introducing the world to ABS.

[Athlon]

Maybe he means the NEW mini? just trying to be nice

[RobJShe]

I`d love to see an original Cooper S at 180mph.

[IforB]

I think an original would have been airborne long before 180 mph and as for a current model.....

"Chinny, Chinny. Itchy Belm"

[Alfa_75_Steve]

IforB said:

I think an original would have been airborne long before 180 mph and as for a current model.....

"Chinny, Chinny. Itchy Belm"

Jimmy Hill.

[IforB]

To be totally accurate that should be inserted into that sentence, but I think it gets the point across!

[BB-Q]

Athlon said:

Maybe he means the NEW mini? just trying to be nice

Yes, I thought that was obvious. My fault for not explaining myself properly.

The supercharged one they released a few years ago- does that make it any clearer?

[anonymous-user]

niva441 said:

Ravell said:

BB-Q said:

Volvo were responsible for the invention of the three point seatbelt, the laminated windscreen, crumple zones, collapsible steering columns, airbags and most of the safety items on a car today

Didn't Mercedes claim to have brought a lot of those to market before Volvo did in the S-class?

I think the S Class initial claim to fame was introducing the world to ABS.

Didn't the Mk1 Ford Scorpio claim that as well? (Albeit somewhat later; mid 80's, I think)

[Shuvi]

niva441 said:

I think the S Class initial claim to fame was introducing the world to ABS.

Jensen FF, Dunlop Maxaret Anti-Lock Braking System.

Edited by Shuvi on Sunday 17th August 00:14

[tali1]

Symbolica said:

niva441 said:

Ravell said:

BB-Q said:

Volvo were responsible for the invention of the three point seatbelt, the laminated windscreen, crumple zones, collapsible steering columns, airbags and most of the safety items on a car today

Didn't Mercedes claim to have brought a lot of those to market before Volvo did in the S-class?

I think the S Class initial claim to fame was introducing the world to ABS.

Didn't the Mk1 Ford Scorpio claim that as well? (Albeit somewhat later; mid 80's, I think)

Subtle differences - i shall explain
Jensen FF was first with ABS.
Mercedes was "first mass produced and first saloon" to have it standard(on 500SEL only originally )
Granada MK3 from 1985 was first car to have "ABS standard across the whole range" from low spec L to top of range Scorpio
Honda Prelude first jap car in UK with ABS.
Nissan Primera 2 was "first car in its class to have ABS standard across the whole range"

Edited by tali1 on Sunday 17th August 15:30

[ZeeTacoe]

BB-Q said:

Athlon said:

Maybe he means the NEW mini? just trying to be nice

Yes, I thought that was obvious. My fault for not explaining myself properly.

The supercharged one they released a few years ago- does that make it any clearer?

well considering that the JCW has 210hp and can only hit a top speed of 143mph(I think) you'd need at least another 150 hp to push the car to 180 not to mention a highter reving engine or a longer gearbox.

it's bks.

[Pigeon]

m3ser said:

ClaphamGT3 said:

Pigeon said:

djmojo said:

The PRV V6 engine (Peugeot Renault Volvo)...!

...cack engine which was as rough as a bear's arse. Volvo eventually brought out a version with offset crankpins to try and smooth it up a bit. It also had camshaft lubrication problems.

An absolute pig of an engine. Harsh, low on power and, hard driven, able to do a pair of camshafts in about 60k miles. Also, very thirsty

Wow
I think a few people may disagree with you there

Volvo 264 vs. Volvo 164. The 264 feels like it has a tractor engine. The 164 feels like it has a Jaguar engine. Volvo should have stuck with the B30.

[Pigeon]

BB-Q said:

(My 1968 Volvo 142 had dual circuit brakes with 4 pots up front and 2 pot rears, servo assistance, discs all round, collapsible steering column, three point belts and a laminated windscreen as standard. I also once owned a 1968 Austin Cambridge....oh dear. no comparison).

Ain't that the truth.