British and European Car Spotters Guide - 1960 |
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Austin Seven Mini |
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Also see: Austin Car Reviews | The History of Austin (AUS Edition) |
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The name Austin Seven (sometimes written as SE7EN in early publicity material) recalled the popular small Austin 7 of the 1920s and 1930s. The other name used until 1967 in the United Kingdom (and in Commonwealth countries such as Australia), Morris Mini-Minor, seems to have been a play on words. The Morris Minor was a well known and successful car, with the word minor being Latin for "lesser"; so an abbreviation of the Latin word for "least" was used for the new even smaller car. It was originally going to be called the Austin Newmarket. |
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Autobianchi Primula |
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Also see: The History of Autobianchi (AUS Edition) |
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The Primula was Fiat's first front-wheel drive, transverse engine setup, as well as the first Fiat group car with rack and pinion steering. Primulas were built in the Autobianchi factory in Desio and were priced comparably to the Austin/Morris 1100 models built in Italy by Innocenti. Initially, the Primula was fitted with the 1221cc engine from the Fiat 1100 D (for the coupé it was uprated to 65 hp), but in 1968 it was replaced with Fiat 124 engines - the berlinas received the 1197cc 60 hp (45 kW) engine from the standard versions, while the coupé was fitted with the more powerful 1438cc 70 hp (52 kW) unit. All engines used in the Primula had overhead valves (OHV)—the later twin cam derivative of the 1438cc unit was not used in any Autobianchi (Fiat did use it later in the Lancia Beta- the issue at the time in a transverse installation of a twin-cam head being the arrangement of the exhaust manifold of the necessarily cross-flow head). Unlike contemporaneous BMC and Peugeot models, which had the transmission in the oil sump, the Primula had its manual transmission placed end-on, above the differential. The Primula also featured disc brakes on all four wheels, uncommon in small cars of the time. The Primula's particular configuration of front wheel drive and transverse engine, but with a gearbox on the end of the engine and unequal length drive shafts, rather than a gearbox in the sump like the Mini, has become universal among front-drivers, as did its use of conventional steel suspension in almost all other cars except Citroens: usually McPherson struts at the front and a "dead" rear axle. The Primula is thus a car design of far greater significance than is often realised, as its design influence spread, far beyond even the mainstream high volume Fiats such as the 127 and the 128 of the late 1960s which used its driveline layout; to every front wheel drive transverse engined car in production today. |
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Bristol Zagato GT |
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Also see: Bristol Car Reviews |
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The Bristol Zagato Grand Tourer was designed to cater for those who desired an even faster car than the standard type 406 saloon. Lighter, smaller and equipped with a tuned version of the 406 Bristol engine, the Zagato was very much a car for the enthusiast. The lightweight two-door coachwork was built to the requirements of Anthony Crook Motors Limited by Zagato of Milan, Italy, a company noted for their high performance cars. The emphasis was placed on providing extra speed without impairing reliability or flexibility and whilst still retaining reasonable rear seat accommodation a feature normally lacking in Grand Touring saloons. |
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Moretti 127 |
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Also see: Triumph Car Reviews | The History of Triumph |
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The first Herald went on sale to
the general public in April 1959 as a Coupé - although
these have long since become very rare and are most
sought after! The Coupé was never really intended to be a proper
4 seater, the rear seat being available only as an
option.
But the similarities with other British sports
cars was soon evident, such as the four speed gearbox,
948 cc engine fitted with twin SU H1 carbys and an
output of 42 bhp. Some features of the new car were considered quite novel
at the time, such as independent rear suspension, an incredibly
tight turning circle (25 ft.), a collapsible and adjustable
steering column, and a greatly reduced maintenance schedule
through use of nylon and rubber bushes that virtually
eliminated grease fittings on the chassis. |
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Also see: Triumph Car Reviews | The History of Triumph |
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The Triumph Herald Coupé was soon joined by a Saloon version, which
allowed far more room for a full rear seat.
The Saloon
was originally powered by a single Solex-carbureted,
38.5 bhp gross/34.5 bhp net version of the same 948
cc engine, though later the twin-carb engine would
be offered as well. By March 1960, these two models were joined by a Convertible,
which also offered a top that folded almost completely
out of sight, a full (though a bit cramped) rear seat
and the twin-carb engine. 1960 also saw the introduction of the Herald S, a stripped-down
saloon that never caught on. Bigger news the following
year was the introduction of the 1200 series, incorporating
the same Coupé, Saloon and Convertible body styles
with a larger engine and somewhat more relaxed final
drive. Soon added to the range was an Estate Wagon and the
short- lived Courier van, a "commercial" version of the Estate
wagon much like the once-common sedan delivery versions
of American station wagons. |
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