Automotive History Trivia Part II

Very much in the Vanguard of design, and reasonably roomy, but not quite the Spacemaster of previous models :p
But are you sure (I dunno) whether or not say Germans like the '60-61? Fintail Merc or the advanced Borgward Isabella didn't preclude it as the 1st dics-equipped car as defined, or even the then high-quality Lancias?

One of my requirements was Mass produced! So it rules out a lot of the more exotic europeans, like the ones you listed.

The DS was first released in 1955 so I think that is the winner, which means my source was wrong, (as i thought it might have been).
Any way the car I was thinking of was the '63 Triumph 2000 :D
But if the DS was only a limited production car untill it was updated in '64 then the Triumph still holds.

Of the ones im mentioned, only Tatra might not have qualified by any definition as being built by mass-production methods, on a moving assembly line, and in some volume.
The ID Citroen was released in '55 and sold well. I'm unsure if it had discs, although it DID have every other gadget, including a hydraulically assisted clutch, gearshift, steering and brakes - including that famous 'rubber mushroom' brake pedal.
I'd be surprised if Mercedes-Benz didn't feature discs on their '60-61 Fintail, similarly perhaps Lancia, Borward, Alfa 1900 etc
Sorry to pop your ballon here, Moppie, but I'm pretty sure the Triumph 2000 was released in the UK in 1962, within weeks of the competing Rover P6
If you haven't read it, there's a great book about Triumph's doomed factory assault of the World Cup rally with the PI model, and worth seeking out if you're a Trumpy enthusiast

Originally posted by Thunda Downunda

If you haven't read it, there's a great book about Triumph's doomed factory assault of the World Cup rally with the PI model, and worth seeking out if you're a Trumpy enthusiast

Never sold untill 63! released at a 1962 car show though.
The Germans didnt have a standard frount disc braked (but was surly and option) car untill the Triumph was released, at which point they fitted frount discs brakes as standard. Of this I am sure.
And although the PI failed at rallying, it did win the 69,70 and 71 BTCC :D

In many far flung export markets like Australia, Mercedes didn't offer mechanical options, but rather included features in particular models as standard equipment. Only high grade models were sold here.
My beloved P-76 failed at rallying too, along with just about everything else. I mentioned that terrific book merely for interest. I think it's called "An unforgiving moment" authored by either Evan Green or John Bryson.
Good going indeed for the 2.5 litre to win 3 BTCCs - but perhaps that says as much about the competition as the car itself?

Standard factory discs for the 1961 Humber Super Snipe Mk III to arrest all that raging power

Standard factory discs for the 1961 Humber Super Snipe Mk III to arrest all that raging power

lol:hehe:

Originally posted by Thunda Downunda

Good going indeed for the 2.5 litre to win 3 BTCCs - but perhaps that says as much about the competition as the car itself?

They were 2000, you can rev them harder and get more power for track use. :D
But their still competitive cars on the local classic racing scene, when the suspension is well tied down they make great track cars, as thier actualy very light for thier size. (curb weight for a road car was around 1250kg, not bad for a car as long as a VP comodore wagon)

I amazed they ever tried to race the P76 at all, its like the Americans rallying Camaros!!


Now what was this transverse mounted 6?

Sorry...it's been a few days since I checked out this thread. Time for my three cents (inflation, you know).

The Citroen DS has standard front disc brakes in 1955. Also, the Citroen DS didn't have a transverse engine or a six-cylinder. The Citroen 15 (prior to the DS) had a six, but it wasn't transverse either. Both the 15 and the DS were front-wheel drive, just not with transversely mounted engines. Even the later Citroen SM with it's Maserati V6 wasn't transversely mounted. I believe the first Citroen with a transversely mounted V6 was the 1990 XM.

Excuse if you will this rather verbose and rambling post:
The earliest FWD traverse-6 I know of was the local Austin Tasman/Kimberley twins made between late 1969?-73. Reasonably popular in their day, albeit a 'dowagers special', they've now disappeared from the road and slipped into obscurity. Basically an Austin 1800 evolution using a 2.2 litre 115hp E-series inline 6cyl they featured a nicely restyled and lenghtened body and even a proper dashboard! Very much a forgotten car and it's a pity I can't even find a webpage photo of them, as the Kimberley version was really quite attractive for its era and almost unidentifiable from the host 'Landcrab' 1800.
Does anyone know of an earlier traverse-6?
What reminded me of them was Volvo's recent S80 launch which touted itself in both the local and internation press as the worlds 1st inline traverse-6 ... in much the same fashion as did Subaru's Outback ("worlds 1st 4WD station wagon") ignoring the originator of that concept, the AMC Eagle 4WD, or even the 'all-steel' Jeep wagon from the early '50s. Typically, no local journalists raised even a peep of protest.
"Three cents" - lol! .. I've driven a Citroen Light 15. Very enjoyable once you master the Cord-style underdash gearshift and it's hard to believe they arrived in 1935. The original 1934 FWD Traction Avant (forward thrust) used a 3.8 litre V8 I believe and became known as 'the getaway car' for both cops and robbers, very much a new dimension in automobiles as was the later 1955 ID/DS, which appeared to come from outer space and were not unrealistically dubbed 'Car of the Century'.
Moppie: 1250kgs is quite light for a car of the Triumph's specs/size. I recall seeing at the Sydney Motor Show an Audi A8 V8. The display was intended to highlight its exhorbitantly expensive, lightweight and exotic all-alloy construction (body, motor etc etc) and so featured an A8 on a giant set of scales, which registered 1760ks. I thought to myself "That's the heaviest lightweight car I've ever seen" because the vehicle I'd arrived in was a considerably bigger '82 Fairlane (larger all-iron 351c V8-FMX-9" & all steel body etc) which actually weighed LESS than the Audi :eek:
The only place Leyland P-76s raced at all, and with good results I'm told is (you guessed it) New Zealand! Apparently in the Production-Endurance events they did well, and I'd love to find out more. A largish bodyshell on a 111"wb, the 4.4 alloy V8s had roughly equal front/rear weight balance and ranged from 1210-1295kg. ps: checked your mail? :)

The current range of comodores run in the 15-1600kg range I believe, but luxury cars like the 4WD A8 can easily be more than 1900kgs, so from a certain veiw point the A8 is a light weight car. But it still to heavy! I think they sound proof them with lead.

The P76s have all but rusted into obsurity over here, and are a very rare sight. A mate had one school about 6yrs ago though, and even showed up one day with a 44 gallon drum in the boot to prove it could be done. I believe they also used a light weight body design as well? would have been a much greater car if they didn't carry the "Leyland" badge and wern't so ugly. :D

Far too heavy indeed .. insulated with lead and ego .. my Merc is a porker too
Yes, very lightweight design thru-out which is why they fall to bits with such clinical efficiency. Talk about a dud! Hit a railroad crossing at speed and watch all the side windows detatch from the runners and disappear into the doors. Everytime a passenger slams a door I reflexively reach for the glue ...
Forever doomed to be one of the ugliest cars on the road. I find after a few beers and if I squint to near blindness it looks sort of alrite, but even so not a sympathetic line to be seen. However that's all part of the perverse appeal and with its appalling reputation this is one machine that offers absolutely no pretence - everyone knows you're a loser ..
Speaking of losers, these guys hit a tree (luckily everyone walked away) in the Central Australian desert.
My question is; how do you find a tree in the desert there, let alone smash into it?
Anyway it's the best looking P-76 around I guess
http://qldleylandp76.itgo.com/safety/alancarcrashsite.jpg

Subaru advertised the Outback as the "world's first Sport-Utility Wagon"...which, in my opinion, it was not...the aforementioned AMC Eagle beat the Outback by a decade and a half. The Jeep Station Wagon was another can of veal altogether.

I don't classify the Jeep Station Wagon as a car, rather a truck. At the time, it was classified as a car just as some early Toyota 4Runners, Mitsubishi Monteros, Nissan Pathfinders, and Isuzu Troopers were. Hindsight being 20/20, these are viewed as trucks and, I feel, the Jeep Station Wagon should be as well.

With that caveat, I believe Subaru did actually have the world's first 4wd station wagon. Subaru of America put the Subaru GL 4wd wagon on sale as a 1975 model (I don't know if Fuji Heavy in Japan did it any earlier). This would beat the AMC Eagle by five years.

I do think that Subaru's ad slogan ("World's first sport utility wagon") is incorrect.

i got a good one for everyone, it is basically a turbo, but it doesnt mount to the exhaust or engine in any way, can anyone tell me where it is mounted and how it works?

2001. You revived a thread from f'ing 2001.


Read this now (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/guidelines.html)

wow thats a really old thread :grinyes: