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Sept 9, 2015 18:51:47 GMT
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Everyone loves those stories about how a record label passed on The Beatles or Siskel and Ebert saying Alien was a "real disappointment" compared to Star Wars (only to later put it in their top great movies list!). Our world of cars isn't immune. In my "Classic and Sports Cars A-Z of Cars of the 70's" there are two gems in the Datsun section that today look very out of place : Datsun Sunny 120Y : "Third generation Sunny, and just look at the sales figures! (2,360,670) Entirely new bodyshell, longer wheelsbase and more space than old B110 type, but same basic running gear. A big seller in Britain in mid-seventies, but who remembers them today?" but better than the apparently terribly forgettable Sunny is this wonderful bit Datsun Bluebird 510 : "Like B10 Sunny, a thoroughly conventional car, but properly built. Huge quantities made, but fewer than 4000 sold in Britain, Estate car only with large engine (and disc front brakes), but independent suspension all round. Nothing to interest enthusiasts or collectors, then or now." ... AMAZING! Later it describes the Mazda RX4 as having zero collectors appeal. The Skoda 1000MB concludes with "Not recommended then, certainly not recommended today".. the Skoda Estelle will "never be a collectors car" ... Beetle "Collectors Car? Not really"... VW Type 3 "The first anonymous VW, now almost entirely forgotten" ... Brilliant. Anyone got any old reviews or commentary that in hind sight looks a little short sighted?
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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Sept 9, 2015 20:56:40 GMT
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I remember CAR magazine describing the Mk2 Astra as looking 'like it was squeezed out of a toothpaste tube'.
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Sept 9, 2015 21:54:56 GMT
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I'm sure most of us can list a few cars we thought were as ugly as a sack full of bum holes when they were new but which we now rather like. Ford's EA Falcon tops my list. A work colleague bought one new in the late '80s and I thought it was atrocious but I ended up buying one myself about ten years ago and now I'm on my third one.
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79cord
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,615
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Sept 10, 2015 11:53:58 GMT
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There have been many cars that excited testers when launched that revealed signifigant failings soon after or as they got older. (Though once sorted fans often love them even more) Leylands P76. NSU ro80. Mazda Rotaries. Worn turbo'd cars. ?.
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Sept 10, 2015 13:51:56 GMT
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Quoting from my October 1977 copy of Hot Car "Unfortunately for £4186 you don't get a lot of motor car and it is hard to forsee this model selling in any great numbers over here" The car? MK1 Golf GTI. They then conclude- "Probably it would be better to buy a cheaper Golf and modify it yourself.......For my money I'd rather an old Corvette and some change"
In case you're wondering which motoring Nostrodamus wrote this, it was none other than Keith Seume of Volksworld fame.
To be fair to Keith the majority of the review is quite positive and you have to remember the GTI was quite different to the sort of performance cars people could easily relate to in the 70s. The main gripe seems to be the price. I'm not sure what else four thousand would buy in those days.
(p.s. if you're interested I'll scan the whole interview and post it up.)
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Sept 13, 2015 9:10:56 GMT
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as promised, here's a scan of the article.
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retrolegends
Club Retro Rides Member
Winging it.....Since 1971.
Posts: 3,726
Club RR Member Number: 94
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Sept 13, 2015 13:57:50 GMT
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I've got that book HW it's by Graham Robson. Read the description of the Toyota Cressida! So obviously a Ford man as you get to the blue oval section and the descriptions are totally different!
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1974 Hillman Avenger 1500DL1992 Volvo 240SE1975 Datsun Cherry 100a flying custard1965 Hillman SuperMinx Rock N Roller1974 Austin Allegrat Mk1 1.3SDL1980 Austin Allegro Mk3 1.3L1982 Austin Allegro Mk3 on banded steels2003 Saab 9-3 Convertible 220bhp TurboNutter1966 Morris Minor 1000 (Doris) 2019 Abarth 595C Turismo (not retro but awesome fun) www.facebook.com/DatsunCherry100a
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Sept 13, 2015 14:03:57 GMT
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"The GTi is let down by plastic additions such as the spoiler and wheel spats"
Probably the most 'wrong in hindsight' in the whole post so far! ;-)
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Sept 13, 2015 14:06:12 GMT
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I've got that book HW it's by Graham Robson. Read the description of the Toyota Cressida! So obviously a Ford man as you get to the blue oval section and the descriptions are totally different! I've dealt with Graham Robson extensively - and yes, very much a Ford man! He ran a red RS200 (yes 200) as his daily for a long period of time and is an absolute Ford oracle. Pretty clued up in many areas when it comes to other makes too, but I think he'd be hard pressed to deny his love of the Blue Oval!
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retrolegends
Club Retro Rides Member
Winging it.....Since 1971.
Posts: 3,726
Club RR Member Number: 94
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Sept 13, 2015 14:18:12 GMT
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I've got that book HW it's by Graham Robson. Read the description of the Toyota Cressida! So obviously a Ford man as you get to the blue oval section and the descriptions are totally different! I've dealt with Graham Robson extensively - and yes, very much a Ford man! He ran a red RS200 (yes 200) as his daily for a long period of time and is an absolute Ford oracle. Pretty clued up in many areas when it comes to other makes too, but I think he'd be hard pressed to deny his love of the Blue Oval! It's still one of my favourite books tbh, I love his description of the Daf 33 being "Europe's easiest to drive cars and nearly Europe's slowest too" and the reference to the Maxi being "almost a good car".
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1974 Hillman Avenger 1500DL1992 Volvo 240SE1975 Datsun Cherry 100a flying custard1965 Hillman SuperMinx Rock N Roller1974 Austin Allegrat Mk1 1.3SDL1980 Austin Allegro Mk3 1.3L1982 Austin Allegro Mk3 on banded steels2003 Saab 9-3 Convertible 220bhp TurboNutter1966 Morris Minor 1000 (Doris) 2019 Abarth 595C Turismo (not retro but awesome fun) www.facebook.com/DatsunCherry100a
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Sept 13, 2015 21:35:00 GMT
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I'm guessing the Cressida referred to above is the RX30?. If so I would be very interested to read Graham Robson's review. I had one for a while and while I liked the styling immensely, indeed I think they are the coolest looking thing Toyota ever made, I found it to be dreadfully under powered with the 18R 2 litre 4 cylinder. I believe the Euro spec ones were also 18R powered. In some markets they came with the 4M 2.6 litre six like the CROWN they replaced here in New Zealand had. This would have made them a far better car in my opinion.
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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Sept 13, 2015 21:51:16 GMT
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I've dealt with Graham Robson extensively - and yes, very much a Ford man! He ran a red RS200 (yes 200) as his daily for a long period of time and is an absolute Ford oracle. Pretty clued up in many areas when it comes to other makes too, but I think he'd be hard pressed to deny his love of the Blue Oval! I know you say 'Pretty clued up...' but I would have sworn he was BL to the core, because of an excellent 'History of Rover' book that he wrote!
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Last Edit: Sept 14, 2015 8:16:57 GMT by Del
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retrolegends
Club Retro Rides Member
Winging it.....Since 1971.
Posts: 3,726
Club RR Member Number: 94
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Sept 13, 2015 22:45:11 GMT
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I'm guessing the Cressida referred to above is the RX30?. If so I would be very interested to read Graham Robson's review. I had one for a while and while I liked the styling immensely, indeed I think they are the coolest looking thing Toyota ever made, I found it to be dreadfully under powered with the 18R 2 litre 4 cylinder. I believe the Euro spec ones were also 18R powered. In some markets they came with the 4M 2.6 litre six like the CROWN they replaced here in New Zealand had. This would have made them a far better car in my opinion. Here you go pal- I suppose things could have been different if we had the bigger engine cars, still always been one of my favourites though.
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1974 Hillman Avenger 1500DL1992 Volvo 240SE1975 Datsun Cherry 100a flying custard1965 Hillman SuperMinx Rock N Roller1974 Austin Allegrat Mk1 1.3SDL1980 Austin Allegro Mk3 1.3L1982 Austin Allegro Mk3 on banded steels2003 Saab 9-3 Convertible 220bhp TurboNutter1966 Morris Minor 1000 (Doris) 2019 Abarth 595C Turismo (not retro but awesome fun) www.facebook.com/DatsunCherry100a
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Sept 14, 2015 0:39:01 GMT
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Cheers for that.
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Sept 14, 2015 8:24:54 GMT
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Quoting from my October 1977 copy of Hot Car "Unfortunately for £4186 you don't get a lot of motor car and it is hard to forsee this model selling in any great numbers over here" The car? MK1 Golf GTI. They then conclude- "Probably it would be better to buy a cheaper Golf and modify it yourself.......For my money I'd rather an old Corvette and some change" Wow .. amazing ... this is exactly the sort of thing I was looking for .. just wonderful
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Sept 14, 2015 22:15:33 GMT
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"We hope no one wants to remember these"
G.Robson on the Marina.
Citroen Dyane. "Really a 2CV without draughts and gimmicks.."
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Sept 14, 2015 22:21:20 GMT
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I remember CAR magazine describing the Mk2 Astra as looking 'like it was squeezed out of a toothpaste tube'. I've been laughing at this for bloody ages. Such a good put down of a car.
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luckyseven
Posted a lot
Owning sneering dismissive pedantry since 1970
Posts: 3,839
Club RR Member Number: 45
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Sept 16, 2015 17:31:54 GMT
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One of my favourite journalistic quotes... though I forget the American scribe who penned it... was from a review of the Ford Thunderbird; "Driving one of these limply-sprung behemoths fast on anything other than a dead straight road was a stylish way of killing yourself, but we worried less about such things in those days"
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