Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

What things, in hindsight, weren't perhaps a terribly good idea, or would definitely not be considered today bearing in mind modern tastes and sensibilities?

I'm thinking features that appeared in cars, vehicle names, or just with motoring in general.

To begin with, I doubt anyone would name their new car this:



RJ
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[roverdriver]

An Asian confection was, maybe still is, marketed under the name KIA. Many English speaking people, and certainly those in the armed forces see that as Killed In Action.
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Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking.

[Dipster]

Quartic steering wheel, reverse sloping back lights on Lincolns, Anglias and Classics. BMC 250JU van in its entirety!

I`ll think of more......

[Keith D]

Car boots that were only accessible by tilting the rear seat forward.
(Nash Metropolitan, Standard basic eight etc!)

Spare wheels located under the boot floor that necessitated emptying the boot before getting to the wheel. (Austin A40 among many others!)

Windscreen wipers operated from inlet manifold vacuum (Many Fords!)

Bench seats (Just about everything in the fifties) and column gear change.

Esso (?) Tiger tails that every car had around the petrol filler neck in the early sixties.

Back in the sixties, Ford Australia named two of their six cylinder engines the "Pursuit" and the "Super Pursuit" as catchy names. It backfired as it suggested they were behind, trying to catch up to their bitter enemy, the G.M. Holden!

Keith

[lowdrag]

I have to say my favourite is always the Mitsubishi Starion. And all because the Japanese can't pronounce the letter "l". You just gotta love it. And what about the Daihatsu Naked?

[Ellis]

Having to remove the power steering pump to change the battery on a Triumph Stag.
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Starting Handle Expert

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

[Riley Blue]

The turbo-diesel, a Fiat I think, that had a TurD badge on the back...
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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

[Ronniej]

The Ford Edsel is often described as a total failure. It certainly lost the company a lot of money. Opinion is divided on why it bombed. Personally, I rather like them and I believe they are now becoming sought after.

About the same time as the tiger tails you could get "stick on bullet holes" which you stuck to the glass to give the appearance of the car having been shot at.

I can't understand how the Sinclair C5 ever made it to market. Surely a five year old could tell it would bomb.

On the subject of car names: what about the Toyota Cedric?

[lowdrag]

Well, irrational technical problems are often inbuilt. The early Renault Migraines, in RHD form, had the battery under the seat, dry cell, or else if under the bonnet it took hours to change. But then today, there are cars where the front bumper and grille have to be removed to change a light bulb I am told. Didn't the Rover 75 have a hatch under the wing to access the lights?

[Dipster]

If you want to include access I do understand that the LR approved way of accessing the turbo on diesel LR Disco 4s to replace it is to take the entire body off first.

I am told that the body off & on adds about 8 hours to the job Just as well turbos tend to be pretty sturdy. Just keep the oil changes regular!

[Ray White]

Citroen DS rear wing has to be removed to change the wheel.

Location of brake master cylinder under the floor esp. Morris Minor.

petrol filler under the driver's seat on Austin 12/4.

Austin Seven cable brakes (coupled or uncoupled)

Triumph rear swing axle /transverse spring suspension.

Morris 8 metric threads.

Austin Seven Admiralty threads.

Rolls Royce Phantom 111 complexity.

[ka]

I know this is a modern, but have you tried to change the dip beam bulb on an Astra H? There is a flap under the wheel arch that cannot be accessed without jacking the car up. Then when you get to the back of the bulb, the terminal connecter is clipped onto the retaining clip, so rotate the whole thing, and then with one hand, seperate the bulb from the clip/terminal. But be careful not to lose the bulb clip, it is not available as a separate item, but complete with the entire headlight assembly.
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KA

Better three than four.

[baconsdozen]

Smart Cars. An abomination now and for years to come.
The Isetta,no reverse and a door hinged from the front. Park up against a car or wall and you're well and truly stuck.
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Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).

[Ray White]

[Ray White]