Ahead of their time

Don't think this is true, but they did win a Queen's Award For Industry for having a 16V engine working off a single camshaft which was much cheaper

Peugeot intruduced a twin over head cam engine with 4 valves per cylinder in 1912, a 4 cylinder. Though that was an engine for Grand Prix racing, so one might argue if it counts...

Nissan Micra Super Turbo - first Compound charged (Supercharged and turbocharged) production car (Homologation specials discounted Delta S4)

This thread is interesting but maybe some of the posts have evolved into being about firsts specifically.
For me, ahead of their time, doesn't have to be an automotive first. I was thinking more about cars and features on cars that are surprising for the time.
Knowing that a '68 car had a hideaway wipers is kinda cool. Arguing about the 1st wankel engine isn't quite so Retro Rides, being flippant.
So, let's get this back on track, and alive past the Wiki wack.

My 1st car, a Dolomite, had a seatbelt warning sign when you sat on the front seat without your belt on. Simple but effective.
My mums 78 Allegro estate had built in Sat Nav. Oops, tiny lie spilled out there.
I think these were ahead of their time -



In concept at least.....

don't think I need to say why this was way ahead of its time

Split tailgate. So it's an Estate / Station Wagon really.



Otherwise, the Hillman Imp (and others) with a 'hatch' window frame would be a hatchback too.


Yes Maxi was first British one-piece hatch.

1954 Citroen Traction Avant Commerciale was first European





p.s. got some Princess wheels for my Maxi? Steel ones, wider than the factory Maxi items, 13" to fit a set of 185/70 on, type of thing.

Nov 11, 2010, 3:58pm, bent8rover wrote:
Nov 11, 2010, 1:07pm, Blown_Imp wrote: Hillman imp - first production car to use a die cast ally engine block



Not AMC's 1961 Rambler Classic?



Nov 11, 2010, 3:33pm, Blown_Imp wrote: Oh an the imp was also the first car to have an all scyncro gearbox (mainly relevent on 1st)


Porsche 356 for the mid-fifties wasn't it?

Either way, neither had synchro on reverse gear. The first for that was a dull nineties US Ford


Was the Rover/Buick V8 die cast?
If it was, then it probably pre dates both in it's original Buick form

Read more: retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=91924&page=3#ixzz162DxgP00

All wrong, Skoda beat everybody. Josef Polak patented pressure aluminium die casting in 1922.

Skoda then later sold the technology to Renault for their 16.

BMW Z1.



The car still looks fresher than the Z3 & Z4! Genuinely a car ahead of its time.

The doors. Described as the "greatest solution to a problem that never existed" are still one of the coolest gadgets I've ever seen on a car. Peoples reactions always confirm this view

The construction - zinc plated chassis/frame with continuous zinc welding for added strength, removeable thermoplastic panels clipped over the chassis (think Smart car but 16 years before....complete with the ability to change/swap colours if wanted)





Bonded in composite floorpans giving a completely flat & light 'undertray'

Aerodynamics - the bonnet was shaped to act as a spoiler creating a high pressure point (therefore downforce) with a concave then convex hump in the centre. Simple, effective and no need for extra spoiler/splitter. So effective but you'd hardly know it was there unless told about it/knowing where to look

Aerodynamics - the flat undertray led the air to the rear exhaust silencer which is shaped as an inverted airplane wing. This created downforce as the air passed over it and through an aperture in the rear bumper. Using the idea of the exhuast silencer as a hidden spoiler kept the looks of the car clean while supposedly making it the first production car to properly create both front and rear negative lift (often quoted as being the Escort Cosworth)

One of the very first cars to have all round disc brakes fitted, back in the early 60's!