Classic Cars Feature
A new addition to the website for 2009, find out about some of the most well-know classic cars of all-time, from the Ford Model-T to the Morris Minor, Mini and Peugeot’s original hot-hatch, the 205GTI. There’s a brief history of some well-know and less well-known car makers including defunct British marques like Jowett, Morris and Triumph. As well as Skoda’s turn from a joke to a VW’s budget car maker, plus the often underrated Japanese brand, Daihatsu! A must-see for all car euthasists!
The Ford Model-T was the original 'people's car', quite affordable and simple. Henry Ford mass-produced the cars on a assembly line and this helped to increase production speed. Not all Model-T's were black, other colours were available during periods of it's production. Many were black as it black paint dried quickly. Van and convertible versions were also made. Despite it's heavy steering and confusing controls the Ford Model-T was a huge sucess soon they were more of them in the world than any other type of car!
Body Type: Saloon/Van/Convertible
Production Dates: 1908- 1927
Power: 2884cc- 20bhp
Top Speed: Up To 40mph
No Produced: 15,007,033
Production Date: 1961-1973
Power: 3,781/4235/5343cc: 265bhp
Top Speed: Up To 150mph (0-60 in 10.1 secs)
No Produced: 72,507
The Jaguar E-Type is not just one of the great British cars of all time but, one of the great cars of all time and arguably one of the most beautiful.
At it’s launch it sent shockwaves around the world with it’s brilliant engineering, great looks and it’s sheer power and performance! The Jaguar E-Type followed in the footsteps of the D-Type, but it had a more stylish body as well as a brand new chassis.
It had Dunlop disc brakes all round, it was built on a monoque construction this allowed the car to be low which helped give it a sleek, which was aerodynamic, it initially had a XK 3.8 litre engine.
At launch many couldn’t believe how fast the E-Type was, Jaguar demonstrated this power, up to 150 mph was claimed possible and 0-60 in 10.1 seconds! Although it couldn’t quite manage 150mph, it was still the fastest production car on sale. Then was the matter of price, it undercut it’s nearest rival, the Aston Martin DB4.
It was available in both open-top Roadster and Coupe variants in 1964 a new 4.2 litre V12 engine plus a better gearbox improved it’s top speed.
The 3 series of 1968 was less sleek thanks to American safety regulations, it was still fast and soulful, the once beautiful car was a spent force, production ended after 12 years, in 1973 and the E-Type has a place in the Museum of Modern Art.
It’s replacement the XJS failed to match the, mark left by the now legendary E-Type!
Morris Minor (1948-1971)
A Brief Look At….
MORRIS…..
Was founded in 1912 by William Morris, maker of conventional family cars it soon became Britain’s biggest motor companies, in 1952 the group united with Austin in the BMC, Europe’s biggest car concern.
The Minor and Mini were successful post-war cars but, by the 70’s Morris’ were mainly re-designed and badged Austin’s. As Austin began to swallow up the company the last Morris was the lacklustre Ital, it died in 1984. From this point, the Morris marque was kept alive solely by the Metro van, and by the end of the decade the Morris marque had been completely discontinued along with the Austin marque, as the Rover brand monopolised. range of hatchback and saloons.
A classic British car, arguably the best car to carry the Morris badge. Designed by Alec Issigonis, as a post-war family car for the Morris motor company. The Minor had independent torsion bar suspension, this provided good handling whilst it’s styling was clean and very modern, the let-down was the old Series E engine, which lacked power.
This soon changed though when in 1952 a new Austin over-head valve engine was fitted, it was the first fruit from Morris’ BMC merger. The now classic Traveller model was announced in 1953, it soon joined the 2 and 4 door saloon and open toured versions.
In 1956 the Minor received another engine upgrade with the introduction of a 948cc engine, these cars were badged Morris 1000 and with the combination of this new engine and higher gear ratios 70mph was now possible and so the Minor became a capable motorway cruiser.
When production reached 1 million in 1959 several special editions were launched, they had a lilac coloured paint finish. In 1962, a new 1098cc engine replaced the 948cc one, with up to 48bhp 78mph was now possible, a year earlier the Minor also received flashing indicators. Whilst the open-tourer and saloons died in the late 60’s, production of the Traveller continued until 1971.
Minors are simple, enjoyable and easy to maintain and remain one of the most affordable classics you can buy.
Mini (1959-2000)
Austin, Morris, Traveller, Countryman, 1275GT, Cooper, Rover.
Did You Know?
On 3rd April, 2007, the one millionth MINI rolled out of the Oxford Plant after six years of production, just one month longer than it took the classic Mini to reach the same total in March 1965!
Production Date: 1959-2000
Power: 848-1275cc: 33-76bhp Top Speed: 74-96mph (0-60mph: 29.7-10.5 secs)
Quantity Produced 5,387,862
THAT'S OVER 5.3 MILLION!!
MINI…..
Created by Alec Issigonis BMC’s Morris & Austin badged car launched ’59.
Became a marque in its own right in ’69. Cooper launched in '61 production ended 1971. Gained larger wheels in ‘84, Cooper relaunched in 1990. 1275cc engine in 92 & in 1996 fuel injection. Relauched in Mini brand in 1996 as a prelude to all-new 21st Century Mini….
.. new Mini launched under BMW ownership in 2001, was now built in Oxford.
JOWETT…..
Based In Bradford In Yorkshire, Jowett had it’s most exciting period after 1945. Both its Javlin and Jupiter models were technically advanced machines with flat-four engines and torsion bar springing over 80mph was possible. The R4 sports model was shown at Earls Court in 1953, but by then their were in financial trouble. They demised a year later!
The car was initially launched as four different models, the Austin Mini Seven and Morris Mini Minor in basic or de lux trim. It had sliding windows and externally welded body panels, which helped, keep production costs low, the price at launch was just £496!
On the road the Mini handled better than it’s rivals and many sports cars for that matter. It was also nippy, cheap to run and easy to park it soon became a fashion icon; many celebrities of the day where seen behind the wheel of a Mini. Soon after launch an estate version (Countryman), pick-up and van variants were available too, as well as the luxury Mini-based Riley Elf and Wolsley.
The legendary Cooper was launched in 1961, it had a 997cc and later 998cc engine with 55bhp, an ‘S’ version soon followed with 70bhp.
By 1997 the Mini Copper was being sold under the Rover name, with a 1275cc 76bhp fuel-injected engine, larger wheels, a better interior, front-mounted radiator and an airbag.
BMW retained the Mini name and the planned new model, granting Rover temporary rights to the brand and allowing it to manufacture and sell the run-out model of the old Mini.
By April 2000, the range consisted of four versions: the Mini Classic Seven, the Mini Classic Cooper, the Mini Classic Cooper Sport and for overseas European markets the Mini Knightsbridge.
The last Mini (a red Cooper Sport) was built on October 4, 2000 and presented to the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust in December of that year.
If the Mini brand had stayed with MG Rover, they may have never gone into liquidation.
An SUV Mini is due on sale in 2009!
Ford Fiesta MK1 (1976-1983)
It may surprise you but, the Fiesta has been around for over 30 years, the classic and ever popular supermini has become part of British Culture. The Fiesta was launched in 1976, it was a car that was the newly established class known as the supermini, along with the Renault 5, it was reaction from 1973's fuel crisis! The Fiesta was small and cheap, in the 70’s it was praised for it’s refinement which compared to modern standards is poor. In Europe it was available with either a 1.1 and 1.3 L OHV petrol engines and in Base, Popular, L, GL (1978 onward), Ghia and S trim, as well as a van. The 957cc engine was a little slow, a 1.6 litre was offered in the US and in Europe used in the XR2 a boy racers favourite hot hatch in the 80's! The Ford Fiesta was a car near the beginning of the small hatch revolution, other superminis followed, many in the 80’s and 90’s but, the Fiesta was first designed to seat four and with a small engine it was very efficient and cheap to run. The latest Fiesta’s refinement is a different league but, the original is the only classic.
Production Date: 1976–1983
Power: 957/1117cc/1298/1597cc: 40-84bhp
Top Speed: Up to 105 mph 0-60mph: 9.3 secs (XR2)
Number produced: Unknown
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