Run-out specials

[CortinaDave]

RE: the rear pillar stickers on the Escorts - my old work had a Finesse bought new in October 98 on an S plate WITH the sticker, but the W reg finesse TD I had a couple of years ago didn't have them. Odd.

 

I had always thought Ford kept the escort going that extra couple of years following the Focus launch fearing a cortina to sierra style backlash since the Focus was SO different.

 

The Sierra Azura was strangely specced - alloys, colour coded bumpers and spoiler - but keep fit windows and no rev counter.

[Wilko220]

Saw one of these today - Rover 100 Knightsbridge.

 

 

And, of course, there was this too

 

 

Could it be that the Austin Metro / Rover 100 combined had more run-out specials over the years than any other car? 

[RedSparrow]

You could be right. Metros and Minis seemed to have millions of run out specials.
Red Hot and Jet Black spring to mind.

[chaseracer]

The Sierra Azura was strangely specced - alloys, colour coded bumpers and spoiler - but keep fit windows and no rev counter.

And a shit engine which would have been more use as a boat-anchor.

[stilo_active]

Fiat Uno Start. Marketed in '94 after the launch of the Punto. Boggo spec jobbies with the 1.0 Fire motor, 1.4 petrol or 1.7 normally aspirated bundle of diseasel misery.

[stormee]

Golf II 'Function' 1992, released when the Golf III was already in production.

[ProgRocker]

 or 1.7 normally aspirated bundle of diseasel misery.

 

That last bit tickled me.

[ProgRocker]

Nissan Sunny 'Sequel'

 

Nissan Sunny N14 by ProgRocker77, on Flickr

[Shep Shepherd]

^

 

I passed my driving test in 1995 in a three-door version. It had a good stereo

[Ghosty]

Polo 9N Twist: for the last year or so before facelifting (2004 on, a few 53 platers about, mostly 04/54), the 9N Polo was offered in 'Twist' spec: it was just an S with alloys and metallic paint - came in blue, black and silver. My mum has a 1.4 auto one, though I'm trying to get her into a Fiesta 1.1L.

[sheffcortinacentre]

all the sierra azura's i've come across have had 1.6 ohc's, while the other 1.6i l/gl's have been cvh eng & had a cat.

[r.welfare]

Yes.  Weren't all the Azuras actually built before 31 December 1992 so they could shift the backlog of 1600 Pintos without having to catalyse them?

[Timewaster]

Sierra Azura was my shortest lived car. Collected 10 am, terminally dead at the roadside by 12:30. Well, I did only pay a ton. Tops!

[Shep Shepherd]

Towards the end of the Volvo 440's production run in 1995, there was an 'ES' edition, which was an option pack available on all models which, according to Wikipedia, "featured sports suspension, 15" alloy wheels (from the 850 CD - Shep), metallic paint, door sill decals, electric front windows, electric heated mirrors, front and rear armrests, ABS and immobiliser in addition to the small spoiler and an uprated stereo unit."

 

Can't recall ever seeing one, although I do remember the radio ad, which featured a Christian evangelist espousing the virtues of the car to his congregation. I do recall that most run-out 440s were very highly-specced, though, so many of the final cars probably featured most of the above kit anyway.

[fordperv]

Don't forget the sierra azura did come with an 1800 cvh also

[cobblers]

The MK3 golf SE always amused me (especially so now I own one)

 

Basically they take a dangerously slow base model 1.9 NA diesel mk3 Golf, and add the GTi bodykit and some hilariously tiny alloy wheels which are from the "optional extra" catalog of a mk3 polo or something:

 

 

 

So on the outside it looks like a GTi that's had it's wheels nicked but the inside is completely boggo spec with manual windows, no C/L or anything, but inexplicably a set of silver faced dials and a rev counter, just like the limited edition "colour concept" GTIs, only the redline is at 4500rpm on this and it takes about 20 seconds to get to 60 mph. Good on fuel though.

[fordperv]

The MK3 golf SE always amused me (especially so now I own one)

 

Basically they take a dangerously slow base model 1.9 NA diesel mk3 Golf, and add the GTi bodykit and some hilariously tiny alloy wheels which are from the "optional extra" catalog of a mk3 polo or something:

 

 

 

So on the outside it looks like a GTi that's had it's wheels nicked but the inside is completely boggo spec with manual windows, no C/L or anything, but inexplicably a set of silver faced dials and a rev counter, just like the limited edition "colour concept" GTIs, only the redline is at 4500rpm on this and it takes about 20 seconds to get to 60 mph. Good on fuel though.

 

se also came in a 1.4 and 1.8 pez flavour