Jaguar XJS
The famous miniature car empire Corgi once brought a miniature of the Jaguar XJS as a (British) 'police car' on the market. Strangely enough, the specimen showed a 'bump-on-the-hood' as it was a 'must' with the V12 version. Bad luck, because the police only used the version with the six-seater in Great Britain and it had no 'bump' ...
Vauxhall Viva
Have you ever looked closely at what's on the badge of a steering wheel Vauxhall Viva state? "Energy absorbing '. There is no French word for that. The steering wheel would absorb the blow in the event of a collision. We would not (dare) try it ...
Range Rover
De Range Rover was introduced almost 50 years ago. From the minute go it was a great success. The management had decided that the selling price in Great Britain should be less than £ 2.000. That failed, because the safety belts, planned as 'accessories', brought £ 2.002 on the price tag. Something to wake up at the time?
Triumph Stag
De Triumph Stag did not really become a sales success. Did you know, however, that Ferguson Formula converted three of these cars to four-wheel drive at the time? They were recognizable by an impressive bump on the hood. There is even more special to report. Body builder Tickford, owned by Aston Martin, presented a highly modified Stag in 1982. The lines of the Aston Martin Vantage V8 were clearly visible. The standard engine - good for 145 hp - was pumped up so that 200 hp went to the rear wheels ...
Austin and Morris Mini
De Austin and Morris Mini has been built under license throughout the world during its production years. The first factory where these carts were built outside Great Britain was in ... Amersfoort! Molenaar NV The production started in 1959. Thirty cars were born in that first year. The quality of the material supplied - the Mini's were only assembled there for tax reasons - was of a dubious level. Every Mini produced there had to get a better fit. To that end, the panels were supplemented with 'lead' so that the sheet metal still looked a bit 'fitting'. Would there still be one of those very early - Dutch - Minis?
Austin Mini Seven
And when it comes to Mini's, it has been thought for decades that the Austin Mini Seven with the British registration 621 AOK - exhibited in the Heritage Motor Center in Gaydon - was the very first Mini. With chassis number 101. He saw the light of day with chassis number 102 on 3 April 1959 in the factory in Longbridge. Both trolleys were delivered to Alec Issigonis, the spiritual father of this icon. A lot of detective work has shown that chassis number 101 has long since left the submarine and no longer exists. However, the 621 AOK license plate is still available, because in Great Britain a license plate can be purchased through official channels. 102 chassis number - bearing the 627 HUE license plate - still exists. It was sold in 1965 to Donald M. Healey in whose workshop it was made into a two-seater convertible. That car - not the best in terms of design - is displayed in the Mini Maruyama Motor Museum in Tokyo, Japan. The first Morris Mini Minor saw the light of day on 8 in May 1959 in the factory in Cowley. That too is a story where the eyebrows can be frowned ...
Lotus Elise
In the early 1990s, Lotus commissioned a number of designers to draw 'something new' that would later become known as the Lotus Elise. Among those designers a number of toppers: Tom Tjaarda, Trevor Fiore, Girogetto Giugiaro. In the end the British designer Julian Thomson was given the assignment ..., the model saved the then distressed British sports car manufacturer in the nick of time.
Saab V8
As a Saab enthusiast you should of course know that the world was almost rejoiced in the eighties with a model fitted with a V8 engine. The basis of the engine was the four-pitter that was actually a saw-through V8 of Triumph. Unfortunately, after a number of prototypes, the plan was canceled.
Average age
Of course you are very proud of your classic car, or you have a - fully paid - vehicle for the daily transport of around ten years old. Bystanders have already seen the latter by the license plate on that car. You almost don't count with such an old thing anymore. Is not good for the environment, you have to drive (...) 'new', they let you know ... Surprise, in barely 13 years time is the average age of an automobile from 7,3 year to 8,9 year. That of course also has to do with the so-called 'crisis' in the financial world ...
Hinged windows
'Hinged windows', now also almost 'antique', were only introduced in 1919 in an automobile. They called that then "Perfect." The American brands Packard en Pierce Arrow were the first. Before that a window was raised or lowered by means of a leather strip. Just like that happened in trains then. By the way, Packard was also the first car manufacturer to electrically control the pre-ignition. That could already be found on the Model B in 1900. With other cars, the driver had to operate it manually. For this there was usually a handle on the handlebars.
Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
Almost unnoticed is the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow also more than half a century old. The introduction in 1965 of the Edelkoets meant a radical modernization for the brand. In addition to a much more modern-looking design, the new Roller also had a number of features. A self-supporting body, disc brakes all around, independent rear suspension and one of Citroën hydropneumatic wheel suspension purchased under license. The Edelko Keys Builder called that 'automatic ride control'. It was soon discovered that this system was not necessary on the front axle. Only in 1969 did it disappear. As a human being, you have to think a little longer about some things before you make a decision. Perhaps unnecessarily, a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow can also rust horribly and suffer horrific technical problems. In particular in the suspension, steering and brakes ...
