Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

In theory, Mk2 and Mk3 versions of a car are designed to improve on the original version, correcting problems encountered with the first, and generally updating and improving the breed to maintain buyers' interest.

Which cars though, in hindsight, are looked upon as inferior in their later as opposed to initial incarnations? Was the Mk2 Cortina a "better" car than the Mk1? Or the Mk2 A40 Farina better than the Mk1? Certainly I think people consider the Series 1 XJ to be a more desirable car than the Series 2 - but is this down to styling alone, or are there other reasons why, in this instance, "first is (probably) best?".

RJ
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop

[Salopian]

I'll throw in an example from my own experience (and in my humble opinion of course) the SD1 Rover. The only version worth owning is the V8 manual I think and I've run 3 in the past 2 pre facelift and one after. The originals were strong simple reliable reasonable on fuel (manual choke SU's) and a clean sheet design in most details. When the facelift came the appearance was spoilt with horrid chrome bits round the lamps Stromberg carbs etc. Fuel economy was not as good and built quality poor on the original was worse.
As for marketing reasons it is essential it seems to change something or anything to refresh a model whether the change is good or bad there must be other examples of this - actually in some ways even the original Rover 2000 was much nicer than the facelifted version!
Anyway I loved the original SD1 V8 and I know it wasn't a proper Rover etc etc!!!!
Do at odd times wonder about buying a Vitesse V8 manual but doubt ever will.
_________________
Jonathan Butler
Alvis SD 12/50 1928 MG TD 1950

[Ashley]

E Types got worse, MGBs got worse, everything seemed to in the seventies.

[gresham flyer]

The Jaguar XJ6.


The Series 1 was the better car,I have owned the later models but was glad I kept my 1972 series 1.


Easier to fix,does not leak water,no fuel injection,no ECU`s, simple screen replacement,better looking dashboard etc etc

Ideal for the classic enthusiast.

G F

[gresham flyer]

The Jaguar XJ6.


The Series 1 was the better car,I have owned the later models but was glad I kept my 1972 series 1.


Easier to fix,does not leak water,no fuel injection,no ECU`s, simple screen replacement,better looking dashboard etc etc

Ideal for the classic enthusiast.

G F

[Ellis]

The car on which I wrote this week is one which deteriorated with every year - the Triumph Stag. The last ones, January to June 1977 were appallingly badly built and did you know that British Leyland fitted AN EVEN SMALLER RADIATOR to the last model year.

I agree, very few car models improve with age which really makes a nonsense of the adage that the first and last of each car model are the ones to buy.
New models, even today have teething troubles.

I can think of two exceptions however when the last of line were best.
The first is the Austin Maxi, the last cars 1981/82 built were the most reliable of the Maxi line. Many agree that the last Ford Cortinas, model year 1982/83 were the best built in Mark 5 guise. There are two or three Cortina Crusaders in this area still in daily or regular use.
_________________
Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[colwyn500]

A bit tongue in cheek...Minis and Fiat 500s.

[ukdave2002]

I remember having to order a new company car in the late 90's and the Honda Prelude was on the list, a curvy coupe......as I thought, quick trip down to the local Honda dealer revealed that Honda reverted to cut down USA 70's styling... I opted out of our company car scheme, took the cash and bought a 80's 911 great car

Dave

[ukdave2002]

Aussi

Loads of cars styling got compromised as new saftey regulations had to be adhered too....

Dave

[Richard H]

A35 vans. The last of the line AV8 models ended up with a little 848cc engine (down from 1098) and for some reason rotted worse than any of the previous models.
_________________
Richard Hughes

[Rick]

[Riley Blue]

[V8 Nutter]

The later 4.2 XJ6 had head studs passing through the water jacket to the bottom of the block. It was supposed to make it all stronger, but the studs used to rust through and break. I spent hours drilling out the broken ones.
British Leyland also fitted cylinder liners but after the block had been machined. The block was machined slightly dished and the liners stood a little proud just enough to cut through the head gasket. We used to machine it flat and that solved the problem

[V8 Nutter]

The Ford V8 Pilot had a Solex carb and a Lucas distributor, which were no where near as good as the Stromberg carb and Ford distributor on the pre war models.

[Ellis]

I forgot to add in my earlier post that I owned one of the last fifty Sierra Sapphire Cosworths built.

I bought it in June 1993, the car itself was registered on 31/03/1993 and used for 1700 miles by a senior dealer manager. It had been built in late 1992 and remained unsold due the £2000+ insurance premiums of early 1993 and finally registered by the Ford dealer I bought it from.

I had driven an acquaintance's 1988 Sierra Sapphire Cosworth, a rear wheel drive, "red topped" engine before buying this one. Not a good photo but one of only three I have of it :

[/]

The difference between the two and four years difference in build was surprising. Mine had poor door shutlines, orange peeled paintwork and generally felt "cheap" with rusty underbonnet fittings and a bootlid which stood proud of the rear wings by 3mm. And mine was an original, as new car.

The 1988 model was a low, 12000 mile car in March 1993 in the same colour felt more solid with nearly flawless paint. It was better built and felt "quality" in a Ford way.

It was also significantly more powerful than mine with it's green top, lead free engine.

_________________
Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet