Rare editions of normal hatchbacks
Discussion
Earthdweller said:
And the Renault Safrane Bi-Turbo, which dare I say it is a bit of a sleeper too. https://www.adrianflux.co.uk/influx/cars/renault-s...
OneTwo said:
Before the pedants revolt, this IS a hatch (and sporty/rare)
“ Reportedly the sole survivor of just three Cooper S cars converted to hatchback specification and the only one to feature a steel rather than GRP tailgate, the re-badged Mini's first private keeper was the Rt Hon Ernest Marples MP who took delivery on August 22nd 1968. Notable for opening the M1 motorway and introducing more rigorous MOT tests plus the use of breathalysers, the former Minister for Transport is understood to have specifically wanted a hatchback to accommodate his golf clubs and / or the produce of his own vineyard! Having tried to place an order with John Cooper at the Racing Car Show, Lord Marples (as he became) was referred to the Chairman of BMC, George Harriman. As well as a bespoke folding rear bench seat, reversed door handles and special window frames, the unique Mini featured a padded headlining and dash rails not to mention non-standard front indicators and side repeater lights. However, it is not known whether these additions were made at the behest of its safety conscious first owner or while the car was resident in the Experimental Department. Part-exchanged by Lord Marples during 1974 for a Renault 5 “
Probably worth a few quid then.“ Reportedly the sole survivor of just three Cooper S cars converted to hatchback specification and the only one to feature a steel rather than GRP tailgate, the re-badged Mini's first private keeper was the Rt Hon Ernest Marples MP who took delivery on August 22nd 1968. Notable for opening the M1 motorway and introducing more rigorous MOT tests plus the use of breathalysers, the former Minister for Transport is understood to have specifically wanted a hatchback to accommodate his golf clubs and / or the produce of his own vineyard! Having tried to place an order with John Cooper at the Racing Car Show, Lord Marples (as he became) was referred to the Chairman of BMC, George Harriman. As well as a bespoke folding rear bench seat, reversed door handles and special window frames, the unique Mini featured a padded headlining and dash rails not to mention non-standard front indicators and side repeater lights. However, it is not known whether these additions were made at the behest of its safety conscious first owner or while the car was resident in the Experimental Department. Part-exchanged by Lord Marples during 1974 for a Renault 5 “
pocketspring said:
Om said:
pocketspring said:
Off you pop then, no one forcing you to be here. Just because no one replied to your other trolling post.
Trolling? Really?My second comment about the 'sorry thread' was in reference to the state the thread had become not the original purpose of the the thread itself - I could probably have worded that better...
It certainly wasn't my intention to offend.
Anyway, that is enough off-topic conversation - back to the hatches!
pocketspring said:
David87 said:
Could be a right little hoot on some twisty back roads! Om said:
pocketspring said:
Om said:
pocketspring said:
Off you pop then, no one forcing you to be here. Just because no one replied to your other trolling post.
Trolling? Really?My second comment about the 'sorry thread' was in reference to the state the thread had become not the original purpose of the the thread itself - I could probably have worded that better...
It certainly wasn't my intention to offend.
Anyway, that is enough off-topic conversation - back to the hatches!
pocketspring said:
David87 said:
Could be a right little hoot on some twisty back roads! I think the CVT-based auto damps the fun a bit, but yeah there is some enjoyment to be had on those really narrow twisty Japanese mountain roads, where power isn't relevant and you can lean on the chassis a bit.
But yeah, while I can see Toyota's desire to defray the costs of the unique bodyshell, even if FF I think a bit more power would've been in order.
DrBrule said:
Honda Civic GTI - Mk3 I think - mid 80s.
My mum had one, in fact the photo here that Google threw up is her exact one as I recognise the reg, or what you can see of it. The owner has put new alloys on and removed the GTI sticker than ran across the bottom of the doors.
She sold it 15+ years ago now to a guy in Kent. Mechanically it was okay but the rust lurking underneath was terrible. He knew they were rare and put the hours in sorting it out.
Good shout! My mum had one, in fact the photo here that Google threw up is her exact one as I recognise the reg, or what you can see of it. The owner has put new alloys on and removed the GTI sticker than ran across the bottom of the doors.
She sold it 15+ years ago now to a guy in Kent. Mechanically it was okay but the rust lurking underneath was terrible. He knew they were rare and put the hours in sorting it out.
Honda Civic GT. 1.5 litre 12 valve with fuel injection, which was quite rare for 1985.
EW model code if anyone is interested.
I had one of these too, also around 15 years ago. Sadly the rust got the better of it.
Great little car. Mine was a 1985(B reg) in red on mini lite style wheels. Handled brilliantly with it torsion bar front suspension.
Mine was the same as the pic below bar the wheels.
Edited by TurboFan on Sunday 7th August 16:23
TurboFan said:
DrBrule said:
Honda Civic GTI - Mk3 I think - mid 80s.
My mum had one, in fact the photo here that Google threw up is her exact one as I recognise the reg, or what you can see of it. The owner has put new alloys on and removed the GTI sticker than ran across the bottom of the doors.
She sold it 15+ years ago now to a guy in Kent. Mechanically it was okay but the rust lurking underneath was terrible. He knew they were rare and put the hours in sorting it out.
Good shout! My mum had one, in fact the photo here that Google threw up is her exact one as I recognise the reg, or what you can see of it. The owner has put new alloys on and removed the GTI sticker than ran across the bottom of the doors.
She sold it 15+ years ago now to a guy in Kent. Mechanically it was okay but the rust lurking underneath was terrible. He knew they were rare and put the hours in sorting it out.
Honda Civic GT. 1.5 litre 12 valve with fuel injection, which was quite rare for 1985.
EW model code if anyone is interested.
I had one of these too, also around 15 years ago. Sadly the rust got the better of it.
Great little car. Mine was a 1985(B reg) in red on mini lite style wheels. Handled brilliantly with it torsion bar front suspension.
Mine was the same as the pic below bar the wheels.
Edited by TurboFan on Sunday 7th August 16:23
Silvanus said:
C70R said:
Silvanus said:
MDMA . said:
My mistake with the photo, the production version didn't have the arch extensions. I wouldn't have called it watered down as such though, as a 217bhp T5 engine in a fairly small light car should be plenty(I always get called up on platform use, "one car used an M10 screw for the washer bottle attachment point, the other used an M6 nut therefore these are totally different platforms even though the manufacturer says it's the same platform" so I googled it - Ford/Volvo C1 platform)
The OP kicked this off with a Mitsubishi Colt... Just remembered I saw a video where Hubnut reviewed a Mitsubishi Colt (aka Mirage) with the Mitsubishi Super Shift transmission.
So, a late 70s small hatchback with an 8-speed (4-speed with a range splitter) manual; rare edition?
https://youtu.be/wgQtX98LrYA
So, a late 70s small hatchback with an 8-speed (4-speed with a range splitter) manual; rare edition?
https://youtu.be/wgQtX98LrYA
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