The Oldest Shite Still in Production? (Uninterruptedly)

[HillmanImp]

Oldest shite still in production? I have been rebuilding my Imp for nearly 10 years now. Does that count?

[gricer]

Kia Pride still exists as Saipa 141 in Iran. In producion since 1986 (as Mazda 121)

[Wilko220]

I know it's an old thread to resurrect but I stumbled across this article on the same subject which might be of interest: http://jalopnik.com/old/

 

Is the Bristol Blenheim still in production though? I can't seem to fathom from Bristol's website whether they actually make anything any more or just exist to punt on old models from their Kensington showroom.

[RedSparrow]

I recon they would probably lash one together for you if you asked for it. And had the readies of course. Definitely one for my lottery win purchase list.

[Lacquer Peel]

They went bust last year and the factory has been dismantled.

[RedSparrow]

Just had a bit of a browse on the net about Bristol. They appear now to be just trading second hand models, and plan an electric car. So that'll go well I'm sure.

A shame none the less.

[PaykanHunter]

The Hindustan Ambassador is gone! But The Paykan Pick-Up still lives on! Still in Production!....

 

http://www.paykanhunter.com/2012/11/10-days-old.html

 

[mercrocker]

Hindustan Ambassador can be traced back to the Morris Oxford Series II of 1954 even though the current model is based upon the Series III there was less difference between the S2 and S3 Oxford than between the later Ambassador marks themselves so if you count the current model you might as well count the 1954 Oxford/Cowley as well.  That makes 60, not out!  

[PaykanHunter]

I know!... Paykan Pick-Up still got a long way to go still, but I'm hopeful! 

[junkyarddog]

The Hindustan Ambassador is gone! But The Paykan Pick-Up still lives on! Still in Production!....

 

http://www.paykanhunter.com/2012/11/10-days-old.html

 

Wow,the fit and finish around the front end is something else,

looks like it was driven into a brickwall,then repaired with parts from a breakers yard fitted by stevie wonder!!!

 

Still want one though

[dangerousdave]

the landrover does count still very much the same body same big mechano kit build style and still built the same way in the same factory building since 1948 yes engines and interiors have changed but so has the ambassador

[Junkman]

It's not currently in production, so it doesn't count, but another long runner is the Tempo Hanseat.
 

 
It's the antidote to any 4x4 by having one-wheel-drive.
It started life as the Tempo A 400 in 1938, was reissued after the war, and built in Germany until 1956.
The tooling was then sent to India, where it lived on as the Bajaj Hanseat until at least 2005, if not later.
 

 

Around the turn of the millennium, a batch of Bajaj Hanseats was sent to Germany, where they serve as tea buses for the company "Tempo Fritz":

 

[Junkman]

Another evergreen is arguably the Piaggio Ape.

 

 

Built since 1947, admittedly with a few facelifts, it is still in production in India.

Ape is Italian for bee. Vespa - wasp, ape - bee. Get it?

[pshome]

Only the basic "classic" version comes from india, the newer models are made in italy any you can still buy them.

http://www.ape-deutschland.de/

 

[pshome]

[dollywobbler]

Land Rover has a similar body back to Series 2 in 1958. Series 1 was very different in many ways, including size! Mind you, I bet next to no parts are interchangeable between a 1948 Beetle and a 1998 one.

[brickwall]

I'd go with the Oxford or Oxford III or Ambassador or whatever they call it now.

[Junkman]

Tempo Matador 1949 - 1955:

 

Initially they used surplus WWII VW engines, then new VW Beetle engines, until VW stopped selling engines to competitors in 1951.

They were then available either with a Heinkel two-stroke, or the Austin engine that was also used in the A35.

 

 

Tempo Matador 1955 - 1967 (from 1965 it was called Hanomag F Series):

 

Hanomag F Series and Mercedes - Benz L Series 1967 - 1978:

 

Bajaj Force Matador - still in production:

[PaykanHunter]

the landrover does count still very much the same body same big mechano kit build style and still built the same way in the same factory building since 1948 yes engines and interiors have changed but so has the ambassador

Don't buy it mate. The Land Rover had a major upgrade in the 80s, spring suspension and all. They become Defenders, with different door handles, and all. My Paykan Pick-Up still is the winner!  

[Louise2cv]

Apart from the morgan?

[rml2345]

What about the Fiat 124/Lada 2101/Riva?

Continuous production on that platform somewhere in the world since 1966.

[Negative Creep]

Another evergreen is arguably the Piaggio Ape.

 

 

Built since 1947, admittedly with a few facelifts, it is still in production in India.

Ape is Italian for bee. Vespa - wasp, ape - bee. Get it?

 

 

Well that explains that - always wondered why such a small vehicle was named after a big, powerful, unruly primate

[AlabamaShrimp]

Well that explains that - always wondered why such a small vehicle was named after a big, powerful, unruly primate

 

It's said ap-a not ape. Think it comes from the Latin apis which also means bee. Wow its like being on countdown

[Felly Magic]

The VAZ 2107 has died I believe (Riva), but the Niva has just been given a styling tweak, and is alive and well, still with the old OHC engine too

[AnthonyG]

Yep, the Lada Riva ended production in Russia recently. It also had completely different external panels to the original 1200, so only really counts from 1982 or so onwards. But the Niva is getting on for 40 years, I think launched in 1976 in USSR.

 

Land Rover doesn't really count. The Defender has different chassis, suspension, engines and bulkhead to the series 2/3, as well as body panels. Defender will be 30 years + on the go when it dies next year, and may live on in India.

 

The longest running Brit design? I would nominate the Austin/Carbodies/LTI FX4 cab, 1958-1997. Shame it didn't make 40 years!!

[AnthonyG]

When did they start making the Paykan pick-up anyway? They were never made in the UK.

[Junkman]

The longest running Brit design? I would nominate the Austin/Carbodies/LTI FX4 cab, 1958-1997. Shame it didn't make 40 years!!

 

The Mini beats that comfortably.

[Louise2cv]

And the Morgan? Have I missed why we are ruling it out?

 

ETA: Genuine interest as I only really know (a bit) about 3 wheelers, I'm not about to change my user name and make the answer to all my quizzes "Morgan".

[forddeliveryboy]

Since the air-cooled Beetle is counted as one car as regards production run, why not the Land-Rover?

[rml2345]

^I don't understand why we're leaving that one* out either actually. Apart from different engines, has it really changed much in the last 60+ years?

There's the Lotus/Caterham 7 too.

Slightly disappointed the Riva has finally gone though.

 

*The Morgan