Re: A-Z of cars

Batty, you were the last person I’d expect to become the Robert Mugabe of Car. But L must be Lancia Stratos and F must be Ford! Well, as the originator, I suppose we have to allow you the Stratos prescription even though, whatever else it is, it does not represent the typical Lancia.

However, although Ford deserve enormous respect, I’d say that the T, although it was massively influential both socially and in defining the way to mass production, the vehicle itself wasn’t that influential. The subsequent Model A is far more recognisable as the predecessor of the modern family car but, by then, Citroen and Austin had already set that template. What about prescribing Ford, but letting us put forward Ford USA, Ford Europe, Ford Australia, etc? In which case, I would choose the more recent Focus for Europe and the Model A for USA.

Re: A-Z of cars

 Though I'm no judge I'd like to voice a different opinion regarding two entries.

I believe the Audi S8 (first generation, or D2, according to wikipedia) should be the ultimate Audi. The Quattro Coupé and TT might be more famous and the R8 more glamorous; the A2 is probably the best car Ingolstadt's ever produced, but it's lack of success proves that successful Audi's mustn't be too radial; seant's S6 also does tick a lot of same boxes as the S8, but I believe, all things considered, that it just simply incorporates more proper Audi trademarks than the others. It's a sporty Quattro car with an aluminium body and the engine in front of the front axle - all classical components of Audi's genealogy, even if they've moved the engine a few centimetres since.

The other car's don't epitomise Audi quite as well for different reasons: the Quattro Coupé is too rare (we're after all talking about a big volume producer here), the TT's engineering is too unimpressive and the R8 is, if we're being honest, basically a Lamborghini with a smaller profit margin and a slightly wider range of abilities.

I actually prefer the next-generation A8 - which I consider maybe the best piece of styling Audi's ever come up with - but it was this car that played the bigger role historically, for it showed the world that the four rings could at least challenge the automotive upper class, even if they still fell short in some regards. And then, of course, there's Ronin...

My second argument concerns the Lancia Stratos, which is undoubtedly an iconic car, but hardly stands for the core of Lancia. I'm aware the company/brand has gone through marked changes time and again over the years, but the Stratos seems a bit too much of a solitaire to stand for the whole of Lancia. Dyed-in-the-wool Lancianisti might come up with something more poignant, but I would - once again - advocate a saloon car, the Flaminia. Not only was it a very elegant car that made Mercedes' output at the time look provincial, but it was technologically extremely advanced, as well. I believe the Flaminia stands for Lancia at their very best, before too many conflicting factors, some of them outside, some of them caused within the company, caused Lancia to compromise.

Re: A-Z of cars

And is 'W' to be contested by the Wartburg Knight, the Willys Aero and the Wolseley 15/60?

Re: A-Z of cars

Guys,

My suggestions.

A - Audi A2 - the most original car fro decades

B - Buggatti Royale - if only it met the critea of 500 units (just 494 too few)

H - Hillman Imp - small rear engined cars can be fun

M - Mini (Issigonis version, not BMW's)

N - NSU Ro80 - The saloon car of the late 60's

O - olsmobile tornado - the most pointless application of FWD ever

V - the VW Golf GTi Mk1, it may not have been the first hot hatch (Simca can claim that trophy) but it did expolit it.

Re: A-Z of cars

Update:

A – Audi (1996) S6, A8/D2 Alfa Romeo (Giulia, Sud)
B – Buick (Riviera) or (1997) Park Avenue) Bristol 412 or BMW 3.CSI or E36, 3-series
C – Citroen (DS, CX, XM, 2CV)
D – Daf 44
E
F Fiat 128 or Ford model T
G
H – Honda Civic, Hillman Imp
I
J – Jaguar (XJ first series) or Jensen Interceptor FF
K
L - Lancia Stratos (letter officially closed as per rule 1)
M Mercedes: 300 SEL 6.3 or W124 or W126
N – Nissan Sunny, NSU Ro80
O – Opel Commodore (which version?), Olds Toronado Mk1
P – Peugoet 205 or 504, Porsche 911
Q
R – Renault4 or Renult 5
S – Saab 99 turbo
T Toyota Corolla
U
V – Vauxhall Viva, VW Golf GTi (Mk1)
W Wartburg Knight, the Willys Aero, Wolseley 15/60, Wolseley Hornet (!)
X
Y
Z – Zaphorozhets , Zil