This Car Is Related To The One Above because...

Here's one I only recently learned about, the Rhodesian Leopard Security Vehicle.



It's a funny looking thing for a reason, it's form follows function. Land mines are a particularly horrific weapon of war and that's what the Leopard is designed to counter. Rather than the Beetle's flat floor and comparatively low ground clearance, the Leopard makes use of a V-hull and raised cabin so should it encounter a land mine the blast is less likely to damage the vehicle or the occupants. It seats five, including the driver, and has lots of design choices dictated purely by its role. The rollover hoops are an obvious item, allowing the vehicle to be righted and offering further protection should it be knocked over. The soft top roof less so, not something you'd expect to see on an armoured vehicle, it's purpose is to reduce pressure build up inside the cabin in the event of an explosion.

The Leopard is also unusual in that it wasn't aimed at the military and was instead aimed at the civilian population. I suppose that gives us another link back to the Beetle in that it was a people's car in its own way. Unlike the Beetle, the Leopard didn't meet with success in its intended market due to its cost and the economic difficulties in Rhodesia at the time.

and of course a civilian car based on a military vehicle

well my first inclination was to continue the diesel theme with pretty much the opposite end of the spectrum. Something like the 70mpg

the Smart fortwo



By an astonishing coincidence as I was googling around for this, I discovered this odd article on Cars.com

www.cars.com/articles/best-and-worst-gas-mileage-2016-1420683223195/

Why is it odd? Well, in addition to listing the best and worst gas mileage of each segment (Which makes total sense) they also included the average gas mileage for the entire segment. I can't imagine myself thinking, "gee I wonder what the average gas mileage of the two seater segment of cars in 2016 would be?" Would that influence my buying decision?

Because if you did wonder such a thing you would discover to your delight that the average mileage for the entire segment (of which the Smart Car is a part) is 22 MPG - the same amount as the aforementioned diesel Impala. Coincidence? I think not.

Cars are often described as having a "Face" and that Peugeot (and others of that era) looked like it had a furrowed brow.

Another car reminiscent of having some sort of visage is the Mk1 Escort which looked very much like it had been to Specsavers, sporting either round or rectangular glasses.

For the second time within a fortnight I'll invoke the name Crosby - this time their Super Sport. Like our 'frogeye' Sprite it looks like it's waiting for a passing fly;

A Chevrolet Malibu (admittedly a 1964 but I believe the same generation?) is central to cult classic movie Repo Man.
One of the lead characters in Repo Man is played by the late, great Harry Dean Stanton.
And the year before Repo Man, Stanton appeared in Christine.
So let us have a 1958 Plymouth Fury.

well my own connection just because it is Friday night and it popped into my head.

Storm trooper

Star Wars

Spaceballs

Winnebago

From Christine to The Car -

This Thunderbird seemed silly to my eyes when it first came out. I have a love/ hate relationship with new retro cars - On the one hand they seem a shameless money grab, but, on the other hand when literally every other car on the planet looks exactly the same they are a refreshing alternative. Besides SWMBO loves them. We gave her new beetle to my daughter and she replaced it with a Mini (and in other news my Kia Soul died one week into lockdown - change your timing belt! - and I have literally no incentive to even look for another car though of course I am

But, back to the T'Bird - it has really grown on my and I wouldn't kick it out of my garage for dripping oil.

Sooo the TBird is built on the Ford DEW platform, which among other cars is shared with the Jaguar XF. Similarly it (the T'Bird) had a Jag designed AJ-30 V8