Cars ahead of their time?

[ChevronB19]

The NSU RO80 is often quoted as being well ahead of its time - any nominations for any others?

I'll suggest the E-Type, Mini and Lancia Lamda (1st monocoque) for starters, possibly also the Reliant Scimitar....

And to further the question, what cars around today (say a maximum of 10 years old) would be considered as ahead of their time in the future?

[jas xjr]

citroen ds

[nogsk]

Marty's Delorean?

[Papa Hotel]

DMC12.

I'll get me coat.

ETA: Damn, beaten to it.

Edited by Papa Hotel on Friday 17th September 18:48

[rudecherub]

There is only one, head and shoulders above the rest.

Jensen FF

permanent four wheel drive, 40/60 split, and traction control / ABS - all in 1966.



Motoring journalist Michael Scarlett at the steering wheel. In a fit of bravado, Scarlett decided to drive this FF up a ski-slope. Unaided and with basic crossply tyres, 119/025 drove up the ski-slope without fuss; much to the surprise of skiers.

Edited by rudecherub on Friday 17th September 19:03

[mat13]

The original rangerover

[CinqAbarth]

ChevronB19 said:

And to further the question, what cars around today (say a maximum of 10 years old) would be considered as ahead of their time in the future?

Toyota Prius / Honda Insight.

People laugh at hybrid technology, but are slowly coming around to it as more of the major / 'glamour' manufacturers use it to boost power whilst reducing emissions.

Alfa Romeo Giulia (105 series) - one of the first mainstream family cars to come with a twin-OHC engine, something which became very much the accepted 'norm' 40 years later.

Edited by CinqAbarth on Friday 17th September 18:59

[Wing Commander]

Audi A2.

[ZOLLAR]

When i see the audi A2 i think if they had released it as a model these days it would still be fresh (with a few modern curves) .

[ZOLLAR]

Wing Commander said:

Audi A2.

Snap

[nogsk]

Daimler Dart 250? First production fibreglass bodied car - I think.

[hesnotthemessiah]

rudecherub said:

There is only one, head and shoulders above the rest.

Jensen FF

permanent four wheel drive, 40/60 split, and ABS - all in 1966.

Edited by rudecherub on Friday 17th September 18:55

Absolutely!

[papabear]

AM Lagonda
Citroen DS

[cmackay81]

Tatra T77

brought aerodynamics to cars in 1933

Edited by cmackay81 on Friday 17th September 19:15

[AndyFoo]

Sticking my neck out...

Ford Mustang, offering budget speed and options before most other manufactures.

[Niiick]

Porsche 928

Audi 100 (1982 m/y)

[cmackay81]

Niiick said:

Porsche 928

Audi 100 (1982 m/y)

why :P

[4sure]

max 10 years you say.........McLaren F1.

[CinqAbarth]

cmackay81 said:

Niiick said:

Porsche 928

Audi 100 (1982 m/y)

why :P

If you need to ask...... you shouldn't be on PH

[rudecherub]

hesnotthemessiah said:

rudecherub said:

There is only one, head and shoulders above the rest.

Jensen FF

permanent four wheel drive, 40/60 split, and ABS - all in 1966.

Edited by rudecherub on Friday 17th September 18:55

Absolutely!

IIRC when Sir Harry Ferguson died he was working on four wheel steer to compliment his four wheel drive system. This was 1960.

Despite the death of Ferguson later that year, the Ferguson P99 was raced during 1961 season in UK F1 races by Rob Walker's team. The car raced only once in the World Championship at the British Grand Prix. However the car won a non-championship race, the 1961 International Gold Cup at Oulton Park with Stirling Moss as the driver. As of today, this is the one and only victory of 4WD car in F1 (and incidentally the last race won by Moss in Europe), and it might stay so for long as 4WD is now banned in F1. Despite its promising beginnings this front-engined car was soon made obsolete by mid-engined cars.

The company became Ferguson Developments - According to Ward's Auto World[2] the influence that FFD had on all wheel drive (AWD) development transcended its size.

Became part of Ricardo plc