When we're complaining about the idiots who designed/built our car it may help to cast our minds back to our first new car.
In my case I had just gone to New England in 1963 and was chuffed to be able to buy a new car. I had left a Standard 10 and Morris Minor at home. At home you're talking about Vauxhall's new antirust Victor Mk2 and the Mini was getting established and there were various 1.5 litre British Leyland Wolseley and Riley shells on the Minor floorpan.
I tried to buy a Beetle but the demand caused a 3 month wait so I went for a Rambler American 220.
A bit bigger than the Victor, the styling seemed just right to me - decent big chrome bumpers (strong enough to be used for the jack) and, according to the brochure, the only ball-bearing ashtray in the industry.
The Rambler looked very modern but it had some primitive features. It had some large engine known there as an L-head (side-valve) and a 3 speed column shift but it still needed the suspension greasing. At least I knew enough to specify electric wipers - it came with vacuum wipers as standard. I had specified a limited slip differential but later I was able to get out of my car on the driveway and see one wheel spin in the snow.
Safety was basic. It came too soon for the (Nader inspired) collapsible steering column but it did have dual circuit brakes. The seat belts were just lapstraps and since their use was voluntary the front bench seat was handy at times and it was effectively a 6-seater. Unbelievably it came without a windscreen washer and I can remember driving behind lorries to pick up some spray. Not knowing any better, I can remember driving to Montreal with our baby in a playpen which just fitted on the rear seat. We were lucky I suppose.
Unfortunately I ordered it in black with black seats ( a colour popular with gentlemen of the cloth which I'm not) and the New England summer was hard to bear without airconditioning - try sitting on the seat buckle wearing shorts.
The engine block eventually cracked and AMC replaced it but apart from that it served us pretty well for 5 years and by British standards was rustless.
When I returned to the UK in 1968 the Cortina seemed like an eggshell by comparison (and probably was).
Sorry this is so long.
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Nothing wrong with that old US bomb-proof engineering. I had a Nash Rambler Ambassador V8 in Oz and it used to eat the miles with nary a worry. Never went wrong, did have a/c tho', and this was back in 1966, so they weren't as primitive as all that!
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Ok, for a car ahead of its time in 1963, the Rover P6 had it all. Monocoque construction with unstressed body panels bolted on. Very tough.
All round disk brakes. The first car to use radial tyres. Live rear axle and rear wheel drive. Dinitrol was a factory option so rust wasn't a problem as long as it was done properly.
Later in the late 60's. The Rover P6 NADA equivalent known as the 'Federal' had an anti lock brake system, a frost alert system, air-con and power steering. Powered by the legendary Rover/Buick V8.
In 1963, the P6 was the first car to be awarded European Car of the Year. I guess that's when it meant something not like today. Peugeot 307? Yeah right.
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I think the Citroen DS c1956 using Michelin X radials beat the Rover by quite a few years!
Regards
JS
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The Rambler almost ended up being built in the UK by Standard-Triumph as a replacement for the Standard Vanguard. S-T were desperately short of money at the time. Fortunately they had a look down the back of the sofa and found enough money to design the Triumph 2000 instead.
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Michael,
I think the P6 was the first car with the suspension designed for use with radial tyres, not the first to use them. I'm not too sure about the live axle, it was a De Dion tube back end (can remember topping them up), and I think the diff was bolted to the chassis / body. (I've seen the rear inboard discs glowing red hot under moderate braking).
Must say that the P6 is one of the most comfortable cars I've ever driven. The seating is perfect, and all the controls just seem to be in the right place. Much better than all the ergonomic rubbish about today.
Had a price though, It was big for a four seater, heavy on petrol, and the old Rover 4cyl OHC engine was a disaster.
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Steve
First UK car built for radials maybe, but I'm sure the DS was designed for the then new X - unless the deux Chevaux was, although that was a prewar design.
Where are the Citroen experts?
Regards
JS
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The two litre SC would clock around 30mpg. The 2Litre was a gruff unit , it didn't help when they rebored it to 2.2 and then added another carb !
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