Shatfacts - Did you know...?

[RedSparrow]

I'm bored and have a hangover so here is a new thread - little known shite facts.
I'll kick off with this:

As well as the 125, the Fiat 131 was produced in Poland by FSO as the Polski-Fiat 131p. This model was mainly for use by government and party officials and wasn't available to the general public.

[dollywobbler]

A chap called Issigonis designed a clever independent front suspension for the pre-war Morris 10. It used a lever arm damper as an upper link. It was ruled out on cost grounds, but ended up being used on the MG TD and YA - evolving very slightly through to the MGB produced until 1980. Of course, this system was also fitted to the Morris Minor, which evolved every so slightly into the Marina/Ital, produced until 1984. Not bad going for a pre-war design.

[Albert Ross]

The Renault 4 wheelbase differs by about 2" between the left and right sides.

[Albert Ross]

There are 2 different length doors for the Estate versions of the Renault 21.

[Albert Ross]

The first Land Rover ever built was a development mule, and it had a central seating position and steering like a tractor.

[chaseracer]

Another R21 shatphact: it had two wheelbases, dependent on engine choice (transverse 1.7 or longitudinal 2.0)

[Spiny Norman]

Actually, the R21 has 4 wheelbases. 2 for the different engines and 2 for saloon/estate versions. One of my favourite bits of automotive trivia, that.

 

A lot or transverse-torsion bar rear suspension Renaults have unequal wheelbases, the 5.6,and 16 do too.

[dollywobbler]

The 2CV was meant to have torsion bar suspension, and had the Second World War not happened, may have gone into production so equipped. As it was, extra development time allowed for a LOT of changes, like smarter bodywork, air-cooled engine and a completely reworked suspension using horizontal springing with pushrods, like an F1 car.

 

EDIT - I'm adding another 2CV one. The wiper spindles are slightly off centre, to allow the wipers to park low down on the windscreen for LHD. The French typically couldn't give a stuff about the fact that this was crap for RHD, and also couldn't be bothered to move the handbrake over.

[Junkman]

The AMC Pacer's RH door is four inches longer than the LH one.

[DSdriver]

The Citroen DS uses Rolls Royce suspension*. This must be true as several people have used this as an opening topic of conversation when I am out in my car.

[autofive]

rolls royce silver shadow uses for cortina brake calipers

[warren t claim]

rolls royce silver shadow uses for cortina brake calipers

Honda VF400 inboard front brakes use Maestro discs.

[John F]

The Lancia Beta Montecarlo used Ferrari door handles.

[Junkman]

The Jensen Interceptor has the same door handles as the Maserati Mexico.

[pandamonium]

The Lada Riva is called the Lada Nova in some countries.

[fordperv]

apparently ford got through 96 designs before settling on the produced sierra rs cosworth whaletail 

 

sierra rs500 cosworth spoilers produced 100kg of down force at 100mph

[Junkman]

The Fiesta was not the first FWD Ford.

 

It was the Ford Taunus 12m P4 from 1962, which was based on the American Ford 'Cardinal' project.

 

[M'coli]

Early RS Escorts had smaller-than-normal rear drum brakes so that snow chains can be used.

[M'coli]

All Austin Metros have a 3-point engine mounting system.


The original Austin miniMetro had a 4-point system...

[warren t claim]

Early RS Escorts had smaller-than-normal rear drum brakes so that snow chains can be used.

Only the Mk2 Rs2000 models.

[M'coli]

Anecdotal from my old man: many of Linwood's strikes were caused by the management winding-up shop-floor staff and creating chaos - thus the reduced production caused by the ensuing strike allowed whoever was in charge to cover up the fact that the cars weren't selling...

[chaseracer]

The Bristol 412 uses front lights from the Opel Rekord D and rear lights from the Lancia Beta Spider.  It's hard to say which of these three is now the most rare...

[Rusty_Rocket]

When the Discovery was launched in 1989, the Land Rover spokesperson lied about how much they had spent on development as the company thought no-one would believe it had cost so little...

Hmmm... Lets look at the facts- almost totally a bog standard Range Rover under the skin, with the added decadence of Maestro/ LDV lamps and Marina door handles, they should have come clean straight away 

[Junkman]

The Bristol 412 uses front lights from the Opel Rekord D and rear lights from the Lancia Beta Spider.  It's hard to say which of these three is now the most rare...

 

I did not know that. Thanks for educating me.

[Lord Sterling]

The Rover 800 Fastback was the first car to..........

 

..........well, it appears not...........

[warren t claim]

I'm sure my early plate madness Mk3 Granada had that and it was a B plate.

[George-Roper]

The first direct injection turbo diesel engine appeared on the Fiat Croma TD in 1986.

[autofive]

In the UK in the 1950s Purchase Tax would not be applied to kit cars that were purchased from a different company than that which supplied the mechanical components, this being the main reason most small UK manufacturers had a parent company that supplied the mechanical bits.

[rml2345]

Speaking of purchase tax; It wasn't applied to van conversions (that is to say adding extra seats and windows) as long as the van was over six months old when converted. 

[dollywobbler]

I'm sure my early plate madness Mk3 Granada had that and it was a B plate.

 

I agree. Sorry Lord Sterling. I remember my dad's boss's Mk3 Scorpio having that as well.