Following on from the bodykit thread and the discussion of badly customised Novas and Escorts, here's a related spin-off.
It's not just trainee panel beaters and tyre fitters that build these Kev-cars. Over the years motor manufacturers have been guilty of producing their own dubious styling mods on high-performance versions of their ordinary models - in effect the factory-built Kev-car. Think of those high double aerofoils on the back of some 80's fast Fords - was it the Sierra XR4i or the Mk1 Cosworth Sierra? What about the Rover Streetwise? Even Porsche have made some outlandish additions to some of their 911-based models. OK, these were genuine fast cars, but a 160mph dog's dinner is just as ugly when it's parked as a 95mph dog's dinner.
What other manufacturers made their own Kev-cars? Examples please!
Cheers, Sofa Spud
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Civic Type R - it's just not right.
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In the late 80s/early 90s, Ford in Ireland used to sell a lot Fiesta vans (3dr hatch without rear windows sorta van) with factory-fitted spoilers. Not very big ones, only a few inches deep, but it seemed to be a very effective marketing wheeze ... and looked utterly daft unless you were a young van driver and liked bodykit on cars
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I wouldn't call the Sierra XR4i rear wing dubious, i would say for 1983 it was an inovation and outrageous at the same time and certainly the Sierra Cosworth 'tea tray' provided valuable downforce to a tail happy car.
I'm sure they got their inspiration to the grandaddy of the spoiler the Lamborghini Countach.
www.drewlarson.com/cars/Lamborghini_Countach.jpg
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I've just thought of the ultimate Kev-car double bluff - The MG SV supercar. A real high-performance car clothed in body that looks like it's a heavily modded verion of some imaginary ordinary coupe. Impressive, though!
Cheers, Sofa Spud
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In the late 80s/early 90s, Ford in Ireland used to sell a lot Fiesta vans (3dr hatch without rear windows sorta van) with factory-fitted spoilers. Not very big ones, only a few inches deep, but it seemed to be a very effective marketing wheeze ... and looked utterly daft unless you were a young van driver and liked bodykit on cars
Yup, the Ford XRV. Not just sold in Ireland, sold here the UK as well.
Rover recently did something similar with an MG-ZR Van. Ok, we'll call it what it is; a Rover 25 van with spoilers on it.
On the subject of rover, what about the Streetwise? Grim or what?
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Not as grim as the Cityrover, but that's a whole other thread. Am I correct in thinking that VW have now "done a Streetwise" on the Polo, or was that just a concept photo I saw? Whatever, it was just as ludicrous as it sounds.
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andymc
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On the subject of rover, what about the Streetwise? Grim or what?
hmm, it looks pretty naff. But for urban use, I rather like the idea of increased ground clearance and bumpers designed to take knocks. Maybe someday someone will pick up the idea and produce something practical without the pretentiousness of the Streetwise ... but I suspect that a useful result would be much more radical
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