Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[RotaryBri]

I was talking to a classic car owning friend and he told me that he had approached some traffic lights, on red, and came up behind a very nice Austin 1800. He then noticed a brand new Ford Focus beside the 1800 in the next lane. He could not believe that the Focus was bigger than the 1800.

I could not believe it either as I had previously owned a Wolseley 1885S and a Six and remembered how roomy they were.

I looked up the sizes and he was right:

Austin 1800 Length 4200mm Width 1700mm Height 1410mm

Ford Focus Length 4358mm Width 2010mm Height 1484mm

So, in old money, a Focus is over 6'' longer, over 12'' wider and 2.5'' higher and modern houses have even smaller garages today.

It makes you think doesn't it.
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Keep Torqueing,

RotaryBri

1976 NSU Ro80

[Riley Blue]

It makes me think that I'm grateful for the crumple zones and other safety features today's cars have.

[Rick]

I remember thinking much the same when I had my (Farina) Cambridge, a middling Renault was parked next to it one day and dwarfed my A55.

RJ
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[clan chieftain]

I never really noticed it before. The marina looks very narrow.Its much the same width as my wee Suzuki Alto.
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The Clan Chieftain

[peter scott]

Yes, I was quite surprised to find that my Mondeo is very similar in size and weight to my SS. Even the gear ratios are similar!

Peter

[Penman]

Hi
I first noticed it back in the 70s

Contrast and compare:
Viva HA - HB - HC

or
Cortina
Mk 1 - Mk 2 - Mk 3 - Mk 4 etc

Manufacturers seem to be doing it all the time.
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

[emmerson]

have you noticed the size of a Vauxhall Astra? It's now bigger than the original Vectra!

[ukdave2002]

[62rebel]

anything to do with the size of the drivers and passengers, i wonder....

of course, we have the same issue over here..... no wonder we seem to need 500bhp to get to the grocer's......

hee hee hee....
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nothing is ever so far gone as to be unsalvageable. see this bolt?.....

[mikeC]

[Scotty]

I was reading in Auto Express a few issues ago that there's an increasing call to make parking bays longer than the government's recommended size as modern cars are beginning to project over the bay dividing lines even when well parked.

Of course, then you have the Green Meanies (Glasgow traffic wardens) booking you for being outside the allotted space - give me strength!

[P3steve]

Just look at the latest Mini's!
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If the world didn't suck we'd all fall off

[Kelsham]

Compare the room inside though, I run a Morris 1800 and am always surprised at how much space there is for passengers.

It looks like a small car against the moderns from outside.

Probably my favourite car to drive, that in spite of owning a Jaguar XJS Cabriolet.

The Jaguar is the opposite, big outside but packed to the gills with machinery.

The 1800 can be driven to the limit in imperturbable safety.

The Jaguar can bite back. Going off topic sorry.

Kels.

[peppiB]

[Phil - Nottingham]

I agree even small modern cars take up far more raod space with far less interior space (and comfort)
Progress
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Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2