Car manufacturers that did something wild
Discussion
Randy Winkman said:
I was going to post a Rancho or Bagheera as everyday wild cars but since they've gone I'm suggesting something less everyday.
I've always loved the idea of a modern, high quality Panther 6 replica.
I always loved these as a kid. I'd love to have a go at making a modern interpretation of one of these. Original had an 8.2 litre Cadillac engine IIRC. I've always loved the idea of a modern, high quality Panther 6 replica.
f1nn said:
My first though was the Sierra Cosworth...it looked very different to its contemories when it was released and the performance it offered for the money was incredible.
I was working for Perry's when the new ford range came out- the Orion, sierra, p110, and new shape Granada and Escort's.I could be wrong but i'd say the Rover SD1 looked very different to its contemporaries. I'd actually say that if the SD1 and Vauxhall chevette had mated, their offspring would be the sierra.
unpc said:
Randy Winkman said:
I always loved these as a kid. I'd love to have a go at making a modern interpretation of one of these. Original had an 8.2 litre Cadillac engine IIRC. I suspect Mr Winkman's replica will be an EV version in consideration of his stance on global warming
samoht said:
Fiat Multipla - three-abreast seating an original answer to the MPV question, emphasised by even more original styling. Good enough an idea for Honda to copy (although they cloned their styling from BMW)
It was also built on a bespoke, box section, space frame chassis rather than being based on an existing floor pan, this allowed it to be wide enough for the two rows of three seats to work properly and gave it such a large glass area that visibility was brilliant. The Honda copy was inferior largely because it was based on a civic it was not wide enough for the three seats and felt claustrophobic inside.
The Multipla is definitely the best designed car I have ever driven.
Pooh said:
samoht said:
Fiat Multipla - three-abreast seating an original answer to the MPV question, emphasised by even more original styling. Good enough an idea for Honda to copy (although they cloned their styling from BMW)
It was also built on a bespoke, box section, space frame chassis rather than being based on an existing floor pan, this allowed it to be wide enough for the two rows of three seats to work properly and gave it such a large glass area that visibility was brilliant. The Honda copy was inferior largely because it was based on a civic it was not wide enough for the three seats and felt claustrophobic inside.
The Multipla is definitely the best designed car I have ever driven.
Back in the day it was between a Multipla and a Zafira, the wife was a childminder, the only reason we bought the Zafira was for the extra seat.
Zetec-S said:
williamp said:
Then they launched the V8 engine, when others were just about managing with 4 cylinders. Where would the British motor industry be without the Rover V8????
Playing devils advocate here, but if they'd binned the V8 and focused on 4 cylinder engines and better build quality would we have more British (mass) manufacturers around today?(but agree with what you said in your post)
Like everything infected with the BMC cancer even when it started off well it was ruined through indifferent quality, a much too long lifespan, and totally inadequate development. It was a good engine in the 60s and 70s, an increasingly uncompetitive engine throughout the 80s and a total joke in the 90s.
I'd argue that Jaguar going full "here, hold my pint" and deciding a V12 was the best choice for a new engine was pretty wild. If they'd developed a decent 24 valve I6 in 2.8 to 4 litre sizes for introduction in 1971 instead of that wonderful V12 albatross it would have served them much better!
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