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Nov 14, 2009 14:02:06 GMT
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The Japanese weren't the only ones to 'steal' US car designs so I thought I'd put a few up on here that might surprise some of the 'britmetal' fans amongst us. If you have any feel free to post 'em. Obvious one to start........ Sunbeam Rapier  '65 Plymouth Barracuda  Roy Axe.... the designer of the Rapier says he wasn't influenced by the Barracuda design he just adopted the reverse C pillar of the old model Rapier design and modernised it BUT...... Series 1 Sunbeam Rapier  Looks an awful lot like....... Studebaker Golden Hawk  Studebakers are very rare cars over here in Britland but in the US I believe they are very popular cars even if the company no longer exists. Always in the shadow of the bigger outfits.... I think it got swallowed up but Norm will put me right if I'm talking BS.... which is ok by me cos if no one puts you right you don't learn nothing. The next one is a surprising one..... surprised me anyway but whilst we are talking Studebakers..... take a look at this..... '63 Studebaker Avanti  Are you thinking what I'm thinking??  Even had a Chrysler V8 up the front too so spending big money don't necessarily mean you are buying into something original. |
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Last Edit: Nov 14, 2009 19:58:13 GMT by arrocuda
'71 Arrocuda.... '71 Sunbeam Rapier Turbo (The Grim Rapier).... '63 Hymek D7076..... Audi GT5S
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Nov 14, 2009 14:20:02 GMT
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Nov 14, 2009 14:50:41 GMT
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Arro, you got it right, man. Studlybaker went 'krupt and liquidated in the '60s. It just couldn't compete any more with the Big 3. One aspect was the future of the Avanti sports touring car. The rights to the design and name have been purchased and sold through 5 come backs and facelifts right up to the current time. There are still people who are promising another comeback for Avanti!
Our wedding car was a rare 4-door Avanti, made for a sheikh in Qatar, and used for our wedding, pre-delivery out the backdoor, by a factory engineering friend of ours. From the UK, of course! Naughty laddie, I loved Nigel Gledhill, my chum back then. Does anyone know Nige? Originally from the West, 'round Liverpool way somewheres. Nigel worked in Ohio for the New Avanti Company, when they were making them off the Caprice chassis in the 1980s.
Norm
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Last Edit: Nov 14, 2009 16:06:16 GMT by Team Blitz
 Team Blitz Ford Capri parts worldwide: Restoration, Road, or Race. Used, Repro, and NOS, ranging from scabby to perfect. Itching your Capri jones since 1979! Buy, sell, trade. www.teamblitz.com blitz@teamblitz.com |
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bazzateer
Posted a lot
Imping along sans Vogue
Posts: 3,653
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Nov 14, 2009 14:55:02 GMT
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The Imp was influenced by the styling of the Corvair.
(At work so no pics I'm afraid)
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1968 Singer Chamois Sport
1972 Sunbeam Imp Sport
1976 Datsun 260Z 2+2
1998 Peugeot Boxer Pilote motorhome
2003 Rover 75 1.8 Club SE (daily)
2006 MG ZT 190+ (another daily)
2007 BMW 530d Touring M Sport (tow car)
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Nov 14, 2009 15:44:39 GMT
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The Imp was influenced by the styling of the Corvair. (At work so no pics I'm afraid)   |
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1989 Peugeot 205. You know, the one that was parked in a ditch on the campsite at RRG'17... the glass is always full. but the ratio of air to water may vary. |
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Nov 14, 2009 16:55:29 GMT
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Arro, you got it right, man. Studlybaker went 'krupt and liquidated in the '60s. It just couldn't compete any more with the Big 3. One aspect was the future of the Avanti sports touring car. The rights to the design and name have been purchased and sold through 5 come backs and facelifts right up to the current time. There are still people who are promising another comeback for Avanti! Our wedding car was a rare 4-door Avanti, made for a sheikh in Qatar, and used for our wedding, pre-delivery out the backdoor, by a factory engineering friend of ours. From the UK, of course! Naughty laddie, I loved Nigel Gledhill, my chum back then. Does anyone know Nige? Originally from the West, 'round Liverpool way somewheres. Nigel worked in Ohio for the New Avanti Company, when they were making them off the Caprice chassis in the 1980s. Norm Is strange cos people keep promising a revival of the old Jensen car company over here. A syndicate attempted a relaunch but was unsuccessful. Last I heard the name and the rights to build cars with the Jensen badge was being punted out in the far east but is unlikely to find any interest in the current economic climate. As far as your old pal Nige' goes I can't say I heard of him although I also live in the North West of England maybe 40 miles from Liverpool but is an awful crowded place over here. ;D What makes you think he came back cos I'm damned sure I wouldn't if I had a green card. This place is the pitts as you can see from my location details.  ..... people ask me why I don't buy a 70's american car rather than mess with US styled '70's english/german cars... especially now I'm doing the 'Arrocuda' project but the fact is it just isn't practical with the left hand drive. Also these days parking spaces are too small for a decent sized english car to get into.... never mind a muscle car. I know this from driving the Jag'. The damned car has dings all over from careless people bashing it with their doors when they park alongside. Also... apart from fuel at almost £5 a gallon (about $7.50 your money) the government are outlawing big engine cars with talk of a £400 ($650) yearly road tax so the Jag may well have to go cos I'm finding I don't use it much as it is. All my cars are daily drivers.... never saw the point of having trailer queens. Anyways.... better get back to the thread else I'll be accused of going off topic. So.... here's my next...... Staying with Rootes cars before the Chrysler buy out...... Sunbeam Alpine/ Tiger  '57 Ford Thunderbird (As made famous by PI Dan Tanna) ;D  |
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Last Edit: Nov 14, 2009 17:08:40 GMT by arrocuda
'71 Arrocuda.... '71 Sunbeam Rapier Turbo (The Grim Rapier).... '63 Hymek D7076..... Audi GT5S
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Nov 14, 2009 17:25:17 GMT
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We were observing yesterday at the NEC that certain Vauxhalls owe a bunch to American cars of the era as well.
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Nov 14, 2009 17:27:19 GMT
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Well....... hmmmmmmm.... I take your point Johnny... I'm not meaning to be disrespectful BUT.... I am also referring to the British folks as 'Brits' of which I have to admit to being one too so.... for example...... the Aussies call us Brits and we call the Aussies'''' Ozzies.... and nobody seems to object so I'm not sure it's relevant. Maybe the people out in Japan call us Brits and if so I for one and I don't think anyone else on here would be offended..... but from now on I will use the term Japanese if the term 'Japs'causes offence but TBH I think political correctness was invented by lawyers for the benefit of lawyers and so regard the whole subject with much suspicion. Personally.... I think this thread is more a dig at the 'Brits' as I am demonstrating that we too (the British) have been influenced by American car design for even longer than the Japanese.
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Last Edit: Nov 14, 2009 23:10:58 GMT by arrocuda
'71 Arrocuda.... '71 Sunbeam Rapier Turbo (The Grim Rapier).... '63 Hymek D7076..... Audi GT5S
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Nov 14, 2009 17:51:07 GMT
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arro,.. for some nationalities shortening the name of the country is fine,. I'm guessing you won't do the same for Pakistan, or Aboriginies, or something like Itie for Italian. On the other hands Scots and Brits are fine. Just to take things into consideration, is all.
Back On Topic!
Are there any more Uk cars there have an American influence... What about influence the other way??
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,538
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Nov 14, 2009 18:26:20 GMT
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Well, some were scertainly styled to try and attract the Americans. eg.  The Austin Atlantic that certainly borrowed Pontiac's chrome stripe.  Nash Metropolitan was of course a collaboration  |
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable. |
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,538
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Nov 14, 2009 18:31:13 GMT
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Early PA Cresta back window owes a bit to the 57 Buick   though since the PA came out in '57 too perhaps this was also sharing of ideas across GM? |
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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Nov 14, 2009 19:28:11 GMT
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arro,.. for some nationalities shortening the name of the country is fine,. I'm guessing you won't do the same for Pakistan, or Aboriginies, or something like Itie for Italian. On the other hands Scots and Brits are fine. Just to take things into consideration, is all. I take your point Hotwire, along with Johnnie's too  Is an interesting phenomenon that hasn't come to my attention before..... how sometimes is ok and sometimes not ok... need to give that a little thought as to maybe why is so. Either way is not for this forum  Back on the thread...... the Nash Metropolitan. A joint project with BL as Seth said but they hardly sold any. I'd forgotten all about these for over 40 years cos a neighbour had one when I was a kid. Was in two tone blue though I think.... but that really brings back some distant memories to me. Nice one!! The Nash reminds me of another BL non starter. Here's one for Norm...... It never made production cos of internal politics at British Leyland or BLMC as they called it in those days but it was their answer to the sudden interest in 2 door coupes particularly the Ford Capri but also the 'A' series Opel Manta and of course the Sunbeam Rapier that exploded in the early 70's. Pony car looks but knowing British Leyland would almost certainly have been fitted with a rusty old nail 4 pot banger ;D Gentleman I bring you........  The Condor!! (You know for BL I kind of like it.... too bad they never made any) ;D |
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'71 Arrocuda.... '71 Sunbeam Rapier Turbo (The Grim Rapier).... '63 Hymek D7076..... Audi GT5S
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chevazon
Posted a lot
1939 Chevrolet 2 door coupe, `67 `Zon estate, `87 Ragtop Cavalier, 4 x 800 Drifters,(!) 1500 Drifter
Posts: 2,259
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Nov 14, 2009 20:46:29 GMT
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Well, some were scertainly styled to try and attract the Americans. eg. The Austin Atlantic that certainly borrowed Pontiac's chrome stripe. Nash Metropolitan was of course a collaboration Nash Metropolitan also known as the Austin Metropolitan and also made by famous fridge maker Kelvinator ! |
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Nov 14, 2009 21:16:31 GMT
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Nov 14, 2009 22:10:46 GMT
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The Nash reminds me of another BL non starter. Here's one for Norm...... It never made production cos of internal politics at British Leyland or BLMC as they called it in those days but it was their answer to the sudden interest in 2 door coupes particularly the Ford Capri but also the 'A' series Opel Manta and of course the Sunbeam Rapier that exploded in the early 70's. Pony car looks but knowing British Leyland would almost certainly have been fitted with a rusty old nail 4 pot banger ;D Gentleman I bring you........ The Condor!! (You know for BL I kind of like it.... too bad they never made any) ;D Marina Sports Coupe! Used much of the floorpan and bulkhead, as well as the doors - part of Roy Haynes Big Plan for BL before Stokes cocked it all up. The Jag version used a straight six.... |
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Rover Metro - The TARDIS - brake problems.....Stored
Rover 75 - Barge
MGZTT Cdti 160+ - Winter Hack and Audi botherer...
MGF - The Golden Shot...Stored
Project Minion........
Can you see the theme?
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Rich G
Posted a lot
Keyboard Worrier
Posts: 1,059
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Nov 14, 2009 23:21:54 GMT
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Always thought that this...  ... had more than a touch of this...  in it's design. |
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Nov 14, 2009 23:23:08 GMT
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That'll be because the guy who helped design a lot of the american cars(camaro,firebird,toronado) also designed the british ones you mentioned. The guy's name was Wayne Cherry and he was responsible for a lot of the middle to late 60's GM designs,and beyond. You can't steal from yourself! Remember that Vauxhall were (since 1908) owned by the GM.. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Cherry |
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Last Edit: Nov 14, 2009 23:28:10 GMT by redvictor
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Nov 14, 2009 23:29:15 GMT
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Marina Sports Coupe! Used much of the floorpan and bulkhead, as well as the doors - part of Roy Haynes Big Plan for BL before Stokes cocked it all up. The Jag version used a straight six.... I didn't realise that they were planning a Jag' version of the Condor.... but if it was Marina based I guess it would have been given the 1700cc 4 pot to compete with the Ford 1600/2000cc Capris. Not giving the buyer an option to compete with the 3 litre Ford V6 I think was a big mistake for GM with the Manta and Chrysler's Rapier too. GM offered the straight 6 2800cc but only in the LHD model whilst Chrysler's H120 version of the rapier was only a marginal improvement in performance on the standard 1725cc 4 pot lump. |
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Last Edit: Nov 15, 2009 7:25:30 GMT by arrocuda
'71 Arrocuda.... '71 Sunbeam Rapier Turbo (The Grim Rapier).... '63 Hymek D7076..... Audi GT5S
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Rich G
Posted a lot
Keyboard Worrier
Posts: 1,059
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Nov 14, 2009 23:29:31 GMT
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"The Brits were at it too" - but not all the time. The design of this (UK Model Y Ford)...  Was copied and scaled up for this (1933/34 Model 40 Ford)...  |
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Nov 14, 2009 23:34:45 GMT
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Makes a refreshing change to see a little influence going in the opposite direction.... do you have any more Jalopnik?
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'71 Arrocuda.... '71 Sunbeam Rapier Turbo (The Grim Rapier).... '63 Hymek D7076..... Audi GT5S
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..... people ask me why I don't buy a 70's american car rather than mess with US styled '70's english/german cars... especially now I'm doing the 'Arrocuda' project but the fact is it just isn't practical with the left hand drive. Also these days parking spaces are too small for a decent sized english car to get into.... never mind a muscle car. I know this from driving the Jag'. The damned car has dings all over from careless people bashing it with their doors when they park alongside. 
Back on the thread...... the Nash Metropolitan. A joint project with BL as Seth said but they hardly sold any. I'd forgotten all about these for over 40 years cos a neighbour had one when I was a kid. Was in two tone blue though I think.... but that really brings back some distant memories to me. Nice one!!
