The Prototype (and test mule) Thread

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One of the great things about buying CAR magazine in the 80's was the SCOOP! pics of upcoming cars in disguise in the street.

Covers like this were classic 1980's CAR:



This:



IIRC, was part of a bigger set of features as to why CAR thought Mercedes were planning a FWD car. Prophetic, to say the least.

Volvo 480:

Audi Rally:

FIAT Tipo

BMW 7-series

Opel manta A test mule for the Porsche 924, Designated W1, the Manta had the full 924-specification underfloor including the MacPherson-strut front suspension and VW Super Beetle derived, torsion bar suspended semi-trailing arms at the rear.

think bortaf has one small pic of a mk5 cortina/taunus est one of a doz saloon/estates fitted with sierra running gear that where test mules.
the sierra rear floor pans are similar to the mk5.

Heuliez Peugeot 309 Break:

Does look like an A series in the back. Thought it could have been the Midget replacements









a couple of replacement minis that never made it




the TR7 Lynx that never made it into production because they went out on strike again (and the factory was closed and production moved to Solihull)

Finally I have somewhere to post these.

When we were driving through Death valley in 2010 we passed this convoy of Audis along with a heavily disguised test mule that looked like a 4x4. I wasnt quick enough to grab the camera in Death valley but 3 days later we spotted the convoy again at the top of Lombard street in San Francisco.


Audi test convoy. by route9autos.co.uk, on Flickr


Audi test convoy. by route9autos.co.uk, on Flickr


Audi test convoy. by route9autos.co.uk, on Flickr


Audi test convoy. by route9autos.co.uk, on Flickr

All the cars had extra ariels, manufacturer plates and a host of computers in place of the passenger seat.

Dave

and when that was shelved, what the replacement for the land rover ninety/one-ten couldve looked like from the outset of the 1990s.