Just been reading HJ's clearly smitten test of the new Fiat 500. Will they will reproduce the 600 Multipla - surely the first (and smallest) people carrier.
After the Mini, the Beetle and now the 500 - what should the next retro revival be? Hillman Imp?
Edited by Honestjohn on 16/01/2008 at 10:35
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Frog eyed sprites and Morris Minors.
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id like a modernised rover sd1. it would look great with the latest wrap around lights and a modern interior
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Wasn't the Fiat 600 called the Multipla?
What goes around, comes around.
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The Fiat 600 was a saloon-the Multipla was a slightly stretched version with a raised roofline capable of carrying six passengers instead of four.
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First envisage the lurid presentation of the woodburning American steam locomotive in one of the `Back to the future` films.
Do you remember? `Doc` got left behind in the 1800`s wild west and then turns up in a flying steam loco that superficially `looks` the real thing, but... it could be from a psychotic experience as the hissing and steaming is just superficial, lights flash, the wheels fold under and............
Because I was going to write `Morris traveller`. Then I remembered the butchering of memory and experience caused by form over function on current re-hashes of motoring classics, that in their time, had been the reverse.
Perhaps time for an enterprising manufacturer to re-present a four-in-hand with the horses fabricated from the quality, Maestro upholstery spare parts bin.
Of course each `horse` would actually be a mock covering for a jet engine that protruded discretely out of the posterior, while the (previously spacious) coach would be packed with 30 airbags, crumple (instead of crumpet) zones and just allowing enough room for one person to squeeze in past the thickened pillars and acres of `good taste`plastic wood.
If memory of experiences long gone, is one of the pleasures of advancing years,
then tabula rasa, is surely a prerequisite for appreciation of `modern classics`.
Regards
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Morris Minor (& Traveller) for me. The 3 'bubble' design gives lots of space & if they could mimic the simple robust mechanicals & body panels I'm sure many would be attracted.
I still fondly remember a jouney from Glasgow to London in the very early '60s on the M1 (for part of the journey at least) doing an indicated 90 in my Dad's Minor - speedo needle banging against the (IIRC) needle-stop on the central speedo, next to the oil pressure warning light.
A modern, small efficient petrol or diesel engine, giving moderate performance & good economy, would suit the car perfectly.
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Isn't that the Skoda Fabia Estate?
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I claim the Roomster as the new Traveller without the woodworm.
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A new Rover SD1 would be great - they looked so far ahead of their time, it's a shame they were built so badly. A next door neighbour of mine was still carefully looking after his in the late 90's.
Also, what about a new Opel Manta, and a new DeLorean? A new Jensen Interceptor or a new Scimitar would be good - the Audi TT sportback looked a bit close, but didn't have the same proportions.
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I would also be interested in the SD1 - loved the exterior styling and the dash. I did 20,000 miles in one year in a 10-year old one and sold it for a £60 loss.
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AutoExpress claimed last year that a "new 2CV" is on the cards for next year...
Given the new craze for rear-engined small cars (Mitsubishi i, VW Up! concept, Tata Nano etc), a "New Imp" isn't as daft as it sounds :-).
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At least they look different I suppose and I bet the typical customers don`t care that some of them are based on the floor plan of the group `breadbin` as bought by the masses.
i`m feeling warmer to the `outside looks` (of retro moderns in general) because I have a fuzzy memory of cars all seeming to look the same in the 70`s (was that just Japanese models) or was it because I rode fast bikes at that time?
Regarding the proposed 2CV, I bet it will be based on the floor pan of the regular family saloon too, but having said that, I saw an original 2CV this week and it looked as strong as a fag packet.
(Amazing to think I did 87,000 miles in one 20 years ago.)
It will be interesting to see how the retro 500 compares with the forthcoming Ka, based as they are on the same underpinnings.
(and how that retro, vertical painted panel at the front of the 500 stands up to modern speed stone chips)
Will Ford grasp the chance of galvanising by being built in the Fiat plant? Or will a few bob be saved in the knowledge that the general public are allegedly more interested in the antics of `Dog Bot`?
Edited by oilrag on 16/01/2008 at 21:07
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I saw an original 2CV this week and it looked as strong as a fag packet. (Amazing to think I did 87 000 miles in one 20 years ago.)
I wish mine was that strong!
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That Citroen DS would be brilliant (assuming decent built qualiity etc) - I was only saying to my wife a few months ago that a new take on the DS would go down well at the moment.
I have fond memories as a child of the old Fiat 500/600, including an 'estate' version of the 500 owned by some friends of the family. The engine was under the boot floor. We had a Fiat 850 and used to drool over the coupe version which had (IIRC) a 903 cc engine! Happy days!
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"I wish mine was that strong!"
My 2CV was powder blue and I saw it once going in the opposite direction 12 years after I sold it.
Looked great, but then after all that chassis greasing, waxoiling and flooding the chassis interior with a gallon of used engine oil, it should have....
Regards
Edited by oilrag on 17/01/2008 at 12:41
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I wonder if in 30yrs time, we will have retro versions of these retro versions..:+)
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There were Abarth 850s that drove about with their engine lids propped open (apparently for aerodynamic reasons) and that could actually go quite fast.
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Wasn't that for extra cooling?
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That's what everyone thought, but apparently the reason was the car went a couple of mph faster at the top end with the lid at the right angle. Never had direct dealings with one myself so can't say for certain.
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Test drove a 500 today! Cute, with sugar on top. Really stylish car, kind of a classless like the original Mini. Could imagine men and women, young and old driving it and bringing a smile to your face.
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Tell us more. How did it go? How did it cope with speed bumps? Did it have that old-time Fiat sporting feel, chunky gearchange and so on?
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Well, didn't get much of a spin. Tried the 1.4 sport and it has a very sporty rasp to the exhaust note. No speed humps so couldn't test out the reports of jittery ride, but it rode OK over the roads I tried it on. Looks better, inside and out, in the flesh than in the photographs. In terms of the noise and feel it reminded me of a friends original Mini that we used to shoot round in twenty years ago!
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Nah it was for cooling Lud. It may have gone 1 or 2 mph faster, but if you didnt prop it open on the souped up versions it got terminally hot.
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HJ seems to like the 500 judging from his road test but I couldn't live with that Fisher-Price-inspired dash. Like the MINI, it seems designed with goo-goo colours to keep two-year-olds interested.
Edited by nick on 22/01/2008 at 19:15
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After the Mini the Beetle and now the 500 - what should the next retro revival be? Hillman Imp?
Just imagine the success it would be if Ford could 'revive' the mk 1 Escort.
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Just imagine the success it would be if Ford could 'revive' the mk 1 Escort.
I might just go for that so long as they promise NEVER to revive the Mark 3!
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Just imagine the success it would be if Ford could 'revive' the mk 1 Escort.
I saw a styling exercise for a "new" Mk1 Escort in a magazine last year. Took its inspiration from the rally cars so had slightly flared arches etc. I wish I had bought the mag, as I've searched the interweb a few times and not found any pics of it.
It looked the absolute business and would be 10 times more interesting than a Focus. Imagine one with RWD and the Focus ST engine in it. ;o)
Ford in the US have done retro with the Thunderbird and Mustang, so why not?
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will it be galvanised same as the 500 HJ?
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Is there much of a waiting list for these? I think it looks great and I wouldn't be surprised if we start to see a lot of these on the roads. Makes the MINI look extremely overpriced.
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Lancia Stratos.
I don't mind some of the retro cars - beats a lot of 'modern' cars now, a lot of them you could easily believe were inspired by the design of your soap container in your bathroom.
--------------------------------------------------------
04 Alfa Romeo 156 SW JTD 20v - Loving it.
Edited by Shaz {p} on 25/01/2008 at 12:52
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I just wonder why one would buy a FIAT 500, when it's based on Panda mechanical bits?
Why not but a Panda - a jolly good small car?
Roger
Costa del Sol, España.
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If you have a look at the forum on the Fiat site there are a few people asking why Fiat are not offering the same 5 year warranty in the UK that is offered in Europe. A Fiat rep replied that they are having system issues in the UK but hope to offer the 5 year warranty in the future. Wonder what that is all about - system problems?
Anyway, how do people think the 500 launch is going? Is it me or is it a bit of a damp squid? I've seen one TV advert whereas the Mini advert was relentless at launch. Are us punters not that interested in the 500 or just a bad economic time to launch a new motor?
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"Are us punters not that interested in the 500 or just a bad economic time to launch a new motor"
Amount of advertising hype depends upon the numbers that Fiat are planning to ship here in the first year. Suspect they won't have too much problem in shifting their initial quota.
Personally, I'd have one over a Mini or a Beetle.
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?I just wonder why one would buy a FIAT 500, when it's based on Panda mechanical bits?
Why not but a Panda - a jolly good small car??
Come on have you seen them side-by-side!
The 500 is in a different league to the Panda, the 500 is cool, the Panda just isn?t!
If you haven?t already, go down to your FIAT dealer and have a look at the 500, it really does have something.
Anyway the differential is not that great in absolute terms - assuming a panda from a broker for about £5.5k v a 500 for £8k, it?s only £2.5k which is not much to many people, especially those that can afford new cars. I dare say the 500 will hold on to that differential in any event come resale time
And to be fair you can see where the extra cash goes, the interior on the 500 is much nicer than the Panda
Interestingly the 1.2 500 has 69hp compared to the pandas 60. The 500 is also cleaner and saves £80 a year in RFL
The Panda is great if you only want transport or have to have 5 doors, but if you want a little bit more style then a 500 is great option
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Ah - so the 500 is ONLY 2.5K more - Duh.
It must be for those folk who value bling more than solid worth, then!
Roger
Costa del Sol, España.
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That could be said about any car though, eg Skoda v VW v Audi, all the same the car but one a premium over the other.
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I suspect a lot of people are just waiting for the next Ford KA, its surely going to cost less and also not have the `plates spinning on sticks` model of dealerships.
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I've found some pics of the "new Mk1 Escort" styling study I mentioned before:
snipurl.com/1z8w3
Bits of it don't look quite right; needs work but shows promise IMO.
;o)
Edited by Rich 9-3 on 08/02/2008 at 09:57
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It captures the spirit of the MK1 though.....almost see that going sideways through the Kielder Forest with a six lamp retro Cibie set up.
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Gee PU you just re-awakened a memory there ! A 19 year old me and passengers ( 30 years ago ) :-( .........in an Escort Mk1 tearing about late at night on the old unmetalled drove roads across the Pentland hills, mud flying everywhere. No one seemed to mind, or if they did, they never caught up with us in time to say! 1100cc's of pure nothing, 4 gears and Colway remoulds, (at least they were radials) fully blinged with two cibies on top of the bumper and two below. I think it's mainly all MOD property now but in those days you could just drive across if you wanted. Quite a hoot in winter and great fun on a summers night. Never broke anything vital but in retrospect I don't suppose the car was fast enough to do itself much damage! Still capable of getting sideways on the loose stuff though. If they ever did make that new one "Mk1" I think I would have to be tied down to avoid buying one, it looks fab. Might treat it with a bit more respect this time mind!
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