Extremely nerdy car facts
Extremely nerdy car facts
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Discussion

Shermanator

Original Poster:

579 posts

91 months

Saturday 26th January 2019
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I'm in need a constant supply of immensely nerdy car facts! (Long story, need to annoy a painter at work)

I need facts like: The front horn grilles on very early Porsche 911s are held on by 4 screws, on later models they are held on by 2.
I learnt that from an episode of Chasing Classic Cars (Wayne Carini).

0-60 times, power outputs, torque figures etc while interesting aren't nerdy enough for the purpose.

So, fire away with your nerdy facts!

anonymous-user

70 months

Saturday 26th January 2019
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The gear lever on the DC2 Integra Type-R was made of titanium and didn't scratch easily, whereas the one on the EP3 Civic Type-R was aluminium to save money but scratches up badly.

Julian Thompson

2,623 posts

254 months

Saturday 26th January 2019
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Ok I’ll show myself up and try and think of a few super nerdy ones...

Ferrari 360cs uses exactly the same front dampers as the Modena, but the rear ones are different as are the springs, which are titanium....

The earlier Ferrari 360 used squarer section wishbones than the later one....

The Porsche 991 GT3 comes with holes pre cut in the carpet at the front footwell area for a roll cage but Porsche parts department don’t supply a front extension to the half cage that is factory installed....

The Talbot Sunbeam Lotus should not be started with the clutch pedal depressed, as doing so removes load off the bearing which can lead to failure...

Err..

The 986 Boxster is largely the same car as the 996 911 from the cockpit forwards, and is not built appreciably differently anywhere. In fact to work on a 986 feels exactly the same as a 996 that has had its slightly smaller engine swapped around!

Or..

On the Porsche 924, 944 and 968 you have to remove the rear side windows in order to take out the back interior panels.

Or

The early model BMW M4’s feel faster and more exciting than the later model ones because they are mapped differently...

God there are millions aren’t there. I think I need a lie down....


Haltamer

2,584 posts

96 months

Saturday 26th January 2019
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FK2 Civic Type R's are missing lower weather strips on the back doors for weight reduction; They're present on the regular Civic.

On the post facelift 9th Gen Civic, front seat bolt covers were removed for cost saving.

Haltamer

2,584 posts

96 months

Saturday 26th January 2019
quotequote all
Shermanator said:
I'm in need a constant supply of immensely nerdy car facts! (Long story, need to annoy a painter at work)
Hang on, what does he drive? There might be some opportunity for targeted facts, like the sharks hidden on Vauxhalls

P5BNij

15,875 posts

122 months

Saturday 26th January 2019
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When John Cooper's chief mechanic Ginger Devlin was tasked with producing the first remote gear change apparatus on the very first development Mini Cooper ('YOK 250' which started out as a press fleet Mini 850) he used some old suspension parts and rose joints he found lying about in the workshop.





downthepub

1,397 posts

222 months

Saturday 26th January 2019
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Between 1940 and 1983 there were two types of circular headlamp units that were certified for use in the USA. In 1974 they went a bit nuts and allowed the use of a rectangular headlamp housing. Hence for many years American cars had the same headlamps - for years I wondered why Volvos/Rolls-Royces/Mercs/etc had different lights stateside.

All the geeky detail is at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headlamp#Headlamp_st...


037

1,338 posts

163 months

Saturday 26th January 2019
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Harrys Garage always comes up with some great nerdy info

anonymous-user

70 months

Saturday 26th January 2019
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Fiat cinquecento is the only car to ever be sold with longitudinal and transverse engine configurations

Turbotechnic

675 posts

92 months

Saturday 26th January 2019
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The mk3 Ford Escort RS1600i had additional headroom because the front seats had a lower seat base, this was to allow room for the driver to wear a helmet.

CS Garth

2,872 posts

121 months

Saturday 26th January 2019
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All letters of the car maker Toyota are contained within the badge.

The Hyundai badge represents two people shaking hands - the company and the customer

The Subaru 22B was so named as 22B is hexidecimal for 555, their tobacco brand sponsor

Car head rests have spiked ends and are designed to smash windows in the event you become trapped in the car

Which tyre manufacture producers the most tyres in the world? Lego


Peanut130

203 posts

97 months

Saturday 26th January 2019
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the Hillman Avenger was the first British car sold with a plastic front grille

AMG V12

39 posts

110 months

Saturday 26th January 2019
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pablo said:
Fiat cinquecento is the only car to ever be sold with longitudinal and transverse engine configurations
That can't be true, what about the Rover 75?

cmvtec

2,188 posts

97 months

Saturday 26th January 2019
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AMG V12 said:
pablo said:
Fiat cinquecento is the only car to ever be sold with longitudinal and transverse engine configurations
That can't be true, what about the Rover 75?
Renault 21?

Master Bean

4,517 posts

136 months

Saturday 26th January 2019
quotequote all
Haltamer said:
FK2 Civic Type R's are missing lower weather strips on the back doors for weight reduction; They're present on the regular Civic.

On the post facelift 9th Gen Civic, front seat bolt covers were removed for cost saving.
You mean somebody got lazy on the production line in Swindon and nobody checked before signing it off.

DoubleD

22,154 posts

124 months

Saturday 26th January 2019
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cmvtec said:
AMG V12 said:
pablo said:
Fiat cinquecento is the only car to ever be sold with longitudinal and transverse engine configurations
That can't be true, what about the Rover 75?
Renault 21?
So only 1 of at least 3 then ha ha

Turbotechnic

675 posts

92 months

Saturday 26th January 2019
quotequote all
cmvtec said:
AMG V12 said:
pablo said:
Fiat cinquecento is the only car to ever be sold with longitudinal and transverse engine configurations
That can't be true, what about the Rover 75?
Renault 21?
Mk5 Escort?

Fastdruid

9,079 posts

168 months

Saturday 26th January 2019
quotequote all
pablo said:
Fiat cinquecento is the only car to ever be sold with longitudinal and transverse engine configurations
Apart from the other examples mentioned...also the Citroen BX (the 4TC)


anonymous-user

70 months

Saturday 26th January 2019
quotequote all
pablo said:
Fiat cinquecento is the only car to ever be sold with longitudinal and transverse engine configurations
Well, Ferrari did the same thing with Mondial and 348,

"Orientation of the V8 engine block is quite different in the Ferrari Mondial t compared to the earlier Mondials. All 3.0 and 3.2 litre engines sit across the car with their crankshaft and cylinder planes transverse to the main vehicle axis. The 3.4 litre engine in the Mondial t (and Ferrari 348 GTB cousin) is rotated ninety degrees to a longitudinal orientation with respect to the car." - Wikipedia

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 26th January 22:46

SimonTheSailor

12,781 posts

244 months

Saturday 26th January 2019
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The Lotus Elan M100 and Noble M12 share the same windscreen (maybe the McLaren F1 too, but if it's a bet on some high money or something dangerous don't quote this part).