A look back at the 1967 car year shows that the automobile industry brought a number of glorious models or provided refined models with characteristic changes. 1967 was also the year the launch of some particularly progressive automobiles. We have made a selection from the impressive range that Abraham sees this year. We present part 1 today.
Mercedes Benz Strich 8 (W114 / W115)
At the end of the turn of the year 1967/68 in December, the new Mercedes Benz Strich 8 was taken into production. The new Mercedes mid-sized car designed by Paul Bracq replaced the W110 (small Heckflosse) and was available in four and six cylinder versions. The design was strongly inspired by the W108 models. The demand for the Strich 8 was so great that Mercedes-Benz had to deal with waiting lists for the model. A major makeover followed in 1973. As the first production car in the world, the Benz was also available with a five-cylinder diesel engine, the first production car in the world. The W114 / W115 was also available as a coupé from 1969.
SAAB 99
In November 1967 a breakthrough model from SAAB was born. The technical, aerodynamic and safety-advanced 99 debuted as a two-door sedan with an 1.7 engine that, in collaboration with Triumph was developed. SAAB later built the 2 liter engine in-house, a power source from which all SAAB 1975 models (albeit with different specs) were equipped from 99. SAAB developed the 99 in the seventies by the way. SAAB expanded both technical bodywork (four-door and combi in three and five-door) and technical equipment. The EMS and the Turbo version were the most desirable versions of the beautiful model, which formed the basis for the related 900. And the latter was built up to 1993.
NSU Ro80
State-of-the-art and aerodynamically designed and equipped with non-conventional technology: Neckarsulm preached the revolution with the NSU Ro80, which was way ahead of its time. The design was modern and the power source - a shaky motor with two disc brakes in this class. The futuristic stylized Ro80 suffered technical initial problems. He soon became a financial concern and put the financial position of NSU under increasing pressure. In the end, the 1968 Car of the Year - which was drastically improved during its lifetime - was taken out of production in March 1977.
Ford Escort Mk 1
As a successor to the Anglia, Ford brought the Escort developed in England. In the fall of 1967 the production of the car started, which would be built to 1975. In Genk, the slightly different European version was started in 1968. This was then built from 1970 in Saarlouis, Germany. Ford released the Escort in a wide range. The Twin Cam, the Mexico, the RS 1600 and the RS 2000 were special - and nowadays very popular as a classic. They contributed to the sporting image of the first generation Escort, which was replaced by the second generation in November 1974.
Simca 1100
Simca launched the 1967 in 1100, a spacious and comfortable hatchback. During its production period, it was available in a variety of body variants and trim levels. The most popular 1100 was the TI, a peppery version with an 82 PK-generating 1294 cc engine and numerous sporting options. The 1100, which from 1979 was called Talbot Simca 1100, also formed an important basis for the development of the Matra Simca Rancho. In 1981 the production of the personal versions of the 1100 was stopped. In 1985 the career of the VF2, the order 1100, ended.
Some changes and extensions to existing models
In 1967, Volkswagen radically modified the Beetle for the model year '68. De Kever received, among other things, the new bumpers and the upright headlights. Opel introduced the Kadett Fliessheck Limousine, the Fliessheck Coupé and the five-door Caravan. Opel also introduced the Kadett-B-based Olympia A. NSU replaced the 110 with the 1200, with the most important adjustment being increasing the engine capacity. Furthermore, some models within the ADO16 series (the Glider models) were available with an 1300 engine.
1967 brought many more news and changes. And you can read that next week in the second part of the review of that special car year.
Was there a replacement for those universal joints that was better (more durable)?
Last September 2017 we celebrated a real anniversary with regard to the 50 anniversary of the Simca 1100.
An 25 eleven hundred met in Dronten.
For an impression, take a look at the site of the Simca Automobiel Club Nederland and on the facebook page of the same club.
I worked as a mechanic at a Simca dealer when the 1100 came out. In 1968 it became the car of the year. The drive shafts of the first models were equipped with open universal joints that didn't last long. At that time I replaced a lot of those cross pieces.