The Autoshizzle bASe roll call

[r.welfare]

That 1100's instrument binnacle is a marvel of minimalism.

[puddlethumper]

You can't get lower than a GR 305.

100% vinyl door cards, rubber floor covering, keep fit everything, no rear wipe or intermittent stuff.

It does have a clock though, and one headrest.

[AlabamaShrimp]

There was still the Pop on launch iirc. No headersts, no clock, no rear wiper and only driver side mirror or rear parcel shelf.

Really basic mk1 had vinyl seats but for the last few years there was a facelift*. Mine has a only two upgrades, radio and back wiper.

[Captain Furious]

I have a Mondeo Edge, which is about as low as you can get now I think, certainly I consider it to be fairly Alcatraz spec.

 

Despite this it has

 

Heated windscreen

Electric windows and mirrors (DIY in the back)

Air conditioning

CD Player

Bluetooth

Cruise control

Fuel computer

Remote central locking

 

Kind of makes me wonder what you actually get extra in a titanium. And whether there is any such thing as base spec any more, I mean can you actually get a car that doesn’t have electric windows and central locking?

[egg]

I think I've seen 1.4 Octavia's for sale.

[3VOM]

Just realised I may be able to claim base-ness for the Mk3 Golf, which is a 1.4 L. Also very few left as everyone is trying to save the VR6s, GTis and maybe the convertibles.

[bub2006]

I've seen a mid 2000s Octavia for sale on autotrader with a 1.4 75bhp engine. I'd bet that's a right ball of fire*. My Octavia is an SE trim so is only one above base. The base S trim nowadays in the Octavia gets front electric windows,mirrors,power steering,manual air con,steel wheels but it still gets dab radio,android auto,Bluetooth,trip computer and multifunction display. My SE gets a few more luxuries but not much worth noting.

[Felly Magic]

Really basic mk1 had vinyl seats but for the last few years there was a facelift*. Mine has a only two upgrades, radio and back wiper.

 

 

I know someone who had a Y reg 957 Pop in doom blue, it was grim, and still had vinyl seats, and no hrw either, and remember seeing Popular Fiesta mk2s with the grey steel bumpers with end caps, seats had become cloth, but spec still was as minimal. If Ford had been able to get away with deleting a heater, they would have

[Datsuncog]

As mentioned on a few previous threads... KAZ, my silver Laguna Phase 1, appears to be the lowest RN spec available from Renault UK in 1996.

 

It posesses none of the following exciting toys that my other middling-spec Phase 1 Lagunas have come with:

• Airbags
• Sunroof
• Electric mirrors
• Thermometer
• Digital odo/trip
• Adjustable steering column
• Lumbar adjust on driver's seat
• Velour upholstery
• Split folding rear seat
• Pull-down rear seat armrest
• Rear spoiler
• Colour coded bumpers and mirrors
• Tinted glass
• Front air splitter
• Front fogs
• Dual rear fogs
• High level brake light
• Alloy wheels
• Aircon
• Central console box
• Map pockets
• Delayed-off courtesy lights
• Rear-door courtesy light switches
• Sunglasses holder
• Driver's sunvisor pocket.

Contrasting against my RT Sport's arse-hugging black velour seats, the RN comes with a grey cloth interior with flat seats, and weird inaccessible door pockets.

 

The handbook suggests that some examples didn't come with a rev counter and instead received a big analogue clock plonked in the dash binnacle - and while I've seen a French example thus equipped, I don't believe that UK-spec cars stooped quite that low. I s'pose there was a fear that putting brutally low-spec cars in the same showroom as aspirational executive expresses like the Safrane might tarnish the marque in those tantalising overseas markets - whereas domestic examples could be as nasty as they pleased.

 

As far as I can tell from my 1996 Laguna brochure, the only possible deviation from total mingebag spec was specifying metallic silver paint instead of solid white or red -  plus mine has a green sunstrip tint to the windscreen (may or may not be aftermarket). Otherwise, it's pure bASe misery, all the way.

I still like it.

[captain_70s]

ALL OF YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO ME.

 

The Doloshite:

 

 

While a bit more upmarket than your poverty spec Austin/Morris/Ford this is still the most plebeian Triumph you could buy in the mid-1970s, it has a 58hp 1300 OHV and a single carb, 4-speed gearbox, O/D wasn't an option

 

Features it lacks compared to a proper HL Dolomite:

 

An OHC engine

Tachometer

Radio
Volt Gauge

Adjustable Steering column

Cloth seats
Centre Heater Vent
Chin spoiler

Bumper under-riders

Vinyl C pillars

Satin black rear panel/chrome trim

Stainless sill trims

 

The Acclaim L(ook at all the options I don't have):

 

 

The lowest spec of Acclaim you could get, actually lacks some features that the Dolly has, namely front seat headrests and 155 tyres, Ls got 145s... Mine has gained side rubbing strips from a posher model at some point as well as front fog lights, but did lose it's (optional) coachline when it was resprayed...

 

It doesn't have some of these popular Acclaim things:

 

A sunroof

A cassette player

Tweed/velour seats

Electric windows
Remote mirrors

Remote boot/fuel cap release

A clock

Headlamp leveling

Side rubbing strips (mine does, don't know why...)

Headlamp washers

Carpeted boot

Passenger grab handle

Gearlever console

Tinted glass.

A coachline.

[MorrisItalSLX]

My Hyundai Sonata garden ornament is the most basic model. Only option box ticked was metallic paint.

 

 

No:

- Alloy Wheels

- CD Player

- Rear Spoiler

- Traction Control

- V6 (Baby 2.0 4 cyl)

- Leather

- Satnav

- Airbags

- Front Fog Lamps

- Automatic Gearbox

- Extra-adjustable Seats

- Tinted Windows

- Seat Pockets

- Tool Kit (Yes, that was an option!)

 

But, You did get:

- Air conditioning

- Electric Windows

- Electric Mirrors

- Cassette Stereo

- Electric Aeriel

- ABS & PAS

- Central Locking

[timolloyd]

What is it with bASe models having metallic paint? Deal done on purchase to help move it along?

[chaseracer]

That 1100's instrument binnacle is a marvel of minimalism.

 

Given that it acksherley HAS a binnacle (with switches!) it's still an example of hedonistic luxury compared to the 1973 Mini 850 my sister had as a first car...

[DVee8]

I had a K reg Vauxhall Cavalier expression 1.6 pez that had nothing but alloy wheels and red met paint(blue was also available i think).I think it was more a limited edition than a base model.

One ftp by stupid not the car,I was playing petrol can roulette

Looked like this.

 

 

I would love another..

[ProgRocker]

My current car is top of the range but I have owned a couple of base specs in the past:

 

1990 Fiat Tempra 1.4 - similar to bramz7's 1.9 diesel model but mine lacked power steering and the plunger thingy. See his first post on this thread.

 

1994 Ford Escort 1.8 L Diesel saloon (ex police). Perhaps not that basic really as Essex Constabulary added ABS and power steering from the options list.

[Sir Snipes]

I had a K reg Vauxhall Cavalier expression 1.6 pez that had nothing but alloy wheels and red met paint(blue was also available i think).I think it was more a limited edition than a base model.

One ftp by stupid not the car,I was playing petrol can roulette

Looked like this.

 

 

I would love another..

With those side stripes I could almost mistake that for an SRi.

[timolloyd]

Does my Caterham count? No doors or carpet

[MarvinsMom]

our mini 1000 is pretty basic, though it has the bougouis excesses of a tempreture gauge and oil pressure gauge.

it does however come with the then standard 10 inch wheels (with fancy wheel finishers), drum brakes all round, a heated rear window, wind up windows, carpets, and vinyl seats

 

only the heady heights of the 1275GT got the 12 inch wheels disc brakes at the front and i think cloth (nylon?) seats.

 

the options for the 850, and the 1000 that you couold have in 1974 are face level ventilation, or an automatic transmission.

 

 

[DodgyBastard]

Not sure if it's the lowest spec but my proton didn't come with a passenger wing mirror and has no rev counter, central locking or electric windows.

 

Sent from my F5321 using Tapatalk

[Spottedlaurel]

Whilst I don't own one, to me.... This is the ultimate in bASe.

 

A BX with 'small' wheel trims, no front headrests, ideally in BX11 spec. The rear badge must just say 'BX'. There was a rumour that a BX10 was available in the Italian market but i've never had this confirmed.

 

I saw what I believe to be one of them in France back in 2016:

 

Citroen BX by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Citroen BX by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Does have headrests though.

 

This 18 from 2014's holiday was a bit austere too:

 

Renault 18 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Renault 18 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

My little Datsun 1200 is the lowest-spec model they sold here:

 

Datsun 1200 - ready to go by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

1973 Datsun 1200 (B110) dashboard by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Dog-dish hubcaps and no carpets, radio, cigarette lighter or clock. The 4dr saloon, estate and coupe were all Deluxe spec I believe, but for some reason Datsun UK bought in this sparsely-equipped 2dr for the last year of sales before the 120Y came here.

[stephen01]

 

 

the above pics are a few years old now, pretty basic but does have a sun shine roof, white bumpers, trims and front discs, all though I think they were standard on a 1275. 

 

 

Currently taking a back seat while the bungalow is being renovated. 

[Noel Tidybeard]

the options for the 850, and the 1000 that you couold have in 1974 are face level ventilation, or an automatic transmission.

 

are you sure about the vents?- i thought they were a clubfoot feature until about '76 when the 850/1000 got a minor update with twin stalks and 2 speed wiperses

[danthecapriman]

What is it with bASe models having metallic paint? Deal done on purchase to help move it along?

I’ve always wondered why the first owner of my Capri did that.

They’ve gone for the most poverty stricken version, with sweet fa options in it yet thought it necessary to pay the extra for metallic paint!?

Surely if your that much of a skinflint you wouldn’t bother, or at least get something instead to make your driving experience inside the car that little bit better? Like a centre console maybe? But no...

 

Question is, do I put the short console in it after my resto (I do have one) or stick to being poverty stricken steerage and slum it without, as per original, with just the little gearstick poking through the carpet? Decisions decisions.

[fordperv]

I put it down to people your driving past can't see what extras your missing inside, basically all fur coat and no knickers

[Felly Magic]

Mum had the very bare bones Skoda Favorit LXiE, all it had was an analogue clock, HRW, rear wiper & engine immobilister. No speakers or stereo, but had a loom in the dash for a stereo, and a roof aerial. There is a local to me mini mile Skoda Felicia LX around, that hasn't even got an aerial, just a rubber grommet in the roof, and the lowly 54bhp engine

[quicksilver]

Not quite the bottom of the range as it has the bigger engine but I suppose the Maxi qualifies as bASe as it's a plain old 1750 with none of the luxuries of the HL or HLS. It doesn't really have anything non-essential except a heated rear window (which doesn't work) and even the radio was an optional extra. That's the Issigonis philosophy for you.

 

The Renault 6 is definitely bASe. The 850 even lacks the electric windscreen washers of the 1100 and bizarrely has the pipe for a rear screen washer but no actual washer. There is no evidence it ever had a radio (or anywhere to mount one) despite a standard-fit aerial.

 

I've also had a Dolomite 1300 like Captain 70s and a Corsa Expression, which was bASe but quite well equipped by comparison with the older stuff - it even had power steering. My Fiesta was a decadent 1.1 L though.

[adw1977]

the options for the 850, and the 1000 that you couold have in 1974 are face level ventilation, or an automatic transmission.

 

are you sure about the vents?- i thought they were a clubfoot feature until about '76 when the 850/1000 got a minor update with twin stalks and 2 speed wiperses

 

I have a 1972 brochure, when face level vents were an option on the 1000 and not available at all on the 850:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/61090099@N04/26285485900/in/album-72157667250816372/

 

By 1976 the vents were standard on the 1000, but still not an option on the 850:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/61090099@N04/6940824848/in/album-72157629472820660/

[riek]

I had a K reg Vauxhall Cavalier expression 1.6 pez that had nothing but alloy wheels and red met paint(blue was also available i think).I think it was more a limited edition than a base model.

One ftp by stupid not the car,I was playing petrol can roulette

Looked like this.

 

 

I would love another..

 

i had one of these, I think from the factory they had grey bumpers and mirrors. I planned to do the above to mine but it got nicked

 

it was worlds away from my cousin's GL that felt like a rolls in comparison

[adw1977]

While my mk1 Fiesta is a popular plus as it's an 83 that might have been the bottom. If there a scan of the brochure/price list? Might be the same for the 89 mk2 too.

 

I'm afraid you miss out on base-ness because there was a Popular trim level (with vinyl seats) right up to the end of the Mark 1:

This is the September 1983 brochure:

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/61090099@N04/albums/72157627540792013/with/6144965283/

[jakebullet]

I have the remains of a fiesta mk1 base. Makes a good shed with a cat piss tarp over it.

 

My disco 2 is an 'S' which I think is the lowest possible spec. Coil springs and only 5 seats. No aircon or nice radio.