Category: Classic Cars

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SAAB 96

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The Saab 96 was introduced in 1960 but initially used the three-cylinder two-stroke engine from the model 93 which sold well in the late 1950s. The engine was inclined at an angle of 30 degrees to the left and positioned ahead of the front axle. The block and upper half of the crankcase were cast as an integral unit with the bottom half similarly of cast iron. The cylinder head, pistons and induction manifold were of light alloy. Right from its introduction Saab hoped to develop the two-stroke design even… Read more

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OPEL KADETT

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Opel cars were first made in Germany by Adam Opel GmbH, a German automobile company founded by Adam Opel in 1863. It became a subsidiary of General Motors (USA) in 1929 with GM holding an 80 per cent interest. General Motors was very impressed by Opel’s modern production facilities and in 1931 GM increased its ownership to 100 per cent. In 1935, Opel became the first German manufacturer to produce over 100,000 vehicles in a year. This was based on the popular Opel P4 model. Opel also produced he first… Read more

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SAAB 99

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The Saab 99 became available to the public at the beginning of the European autumn in 1968, being introduced as the 1969 model. By then front-wheel drive was no longer as unique as it had been on the 92 in the late 1940s. Whereas only about 5 per cent of all cars in the world boasted the feature at that time, the figure had reached 20 per cent in 1969 and was rising steadily. Although compelled to abandon the two-stroke engine, Saab had never entertained any thought of forsaking the… Read more

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VALIANT AP5

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The introduction of the AP5 Valiant in May 1963 was timed perfectly with Chrysler’s strengthening presence in the Australian market. A few months before, the car maker had decided to take the plunge and started stamping panels and dies at a brand new plant in South Australia. By the time the AP5 arrived, it was no longer a case of local assembly. Chrysler was now building the cars and the level of American content had dropped dramatically. Chrysler’s investment in the Australian market was growing almost by the month. With… Read more

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THE STRAIGHT-EIGHT LA SALLE

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In the late 1920s wood was still a major component of car bodies, but in the 1930s pressed metal bodies became increasingly evident. In the United States body builders such as Briggs, Budd, Fisher and Murray were all busy turning out pressed car bodies and this construction method gave rise to the introduction of more stylish body styles. This general improvement in the appearance of automobiles had much to do with the integration of the stylist in the design departments. Stylists used a variety of features to set models apart…. Read more

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PORSCHE 924

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In the early 1970s Volkswagen planned to introduce a sports coupe to lift its image in some markets, particularly the USA. The car was to use as many VW parts as possible including a current engine to minimise retooling costs. The VW management approached Porsche to design the vehicle for them and the project soon got under way but as it approached finality the VW people suddenly dropped the whole project and it went into limbo. Fast forward a couple of years and there was suddenly a fuel crisis on… Read more

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CADILLAC SEVILLE

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By the early seventies large American cars with their powerful V8 engines were dominant. Every manufacturer had models similar to the Cadillac Eldorado which gobbled up 25 litres of fuel for every 100km travelled. War in the Middle East in 1973 saw Arab nations raise oil prices by 387 per cent, which, for a country like America that consumed so much, it was a nightmare. Petrol station queues became the norm and two car owners ensured they had both an odd and even ending number licence plate so they could… Read more

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SUNBEAM 12/30

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Sunbeam amalgamated with both the Talbot and Darracq marques in 1920 to form the Anglo-French STD combine. Prior to this time Sunbeam was making cars which were rather unconventional but when Louis Coatalen joined the company in 1909 as their designer they introduced a new range of four-cylinder and six-cylinder cars. Of these the 12/16 was quite outstanding, so much so, that Rover assisted in the manufacture of these cars during World War I, so that the allied forces needs could be met. Most Sunbeam cars made during the Coatalen… Read more

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BUICK RIVIERA

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The Buick Riviera could be considered as America’s answer to the Bentley Continental. At the time of its introduction Ford’s Thunderbird was one of the best-selling cars and General Motors needed a response. General Motors design chief at the time told his staff that GM needed a car which was a cross between a Ferrari and a Rolls Royce. When it went into production the Riviera had all the chrome and accessories of its contemporaries but was blessed with some of the finest Detroit styling of the 1960s. In a… Read more

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MG TA

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Launched in 1936 the MG TA replaced the PB model and was the first of a successful range of T-series sports cars from the MG marque. It was powered by a four-cylinder overhead-valve, three-main-bearing crankshaft motor of 1292 cc capacity that developed 37.5 kW at 4500rpm. It was fuelled by two horizontal SU carburettors. The MG TA also had a three-speed synchromesh gearbox which made it unique among small sports cars of that period. It was this engine and transmission combination which customers thought the most innovative. The engineers at… Read more