An influential contribution to modern motoring

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Which 'S' is potentially a "most inspired and influential contribution to modern motoring"?

A few clues on the way...

[steve_earwig]

Ssssssidewinder missiles? Sharp sticks? Semtex?

[Dick Cheeseburger]

It was a low budget, low rent motor vee-hicle...

[scaryoldcortina]

Fiesta Zetec S

[Craig the Princess]

Ssangyong?

[Lacquer Peel]

Sao Penza.

[steve_earwig]

Sinclair?

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Around the base of the gear lever, it had a chrome effect plastic loop. It was riveted as well, which was nice.

[Cheggers]

Smart?

[Dick Cheeseburger]

The dash dials were blue and 'restyled'.

[Lacquer Peel]

IKCO Samand.

[Craig the Princess]

Rover Streetwise?

[garethj]

Horsey Horseless, the 'S' version?

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Bollox, one of you has nailed it.

The engines were available as 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 Automatic and a 2.0 TD. The 1.6 & 1.8 were less common.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Might as well keep going, for what it's worth..

 

"It was influential because it spawned a myriad of faux 4×4 SUV copies: regular two-wheel-drive hatchbacks with a purposeful off-road look and raised stance. It inspired the two-wheel-drive Citroen C3 XTR, Volkswagen Polo Dune, Skoda Fabia Scout and very popular Dacia Sandero Stepwise, for example, plus overseas-market-only non off-roaders like the Fiat Palio Adventure and the amusingly named Hyundai Getz Cross and VW CrossFox."

[fatharris]

Definitely streetwise.

 

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[scaryoldcortina]

yup.

[steve_earwig]

I actually had to google that. So this is to blame for all these stupid jacked up cars with silly plastic bodykits?

[Guest Lord Sward]

Bit of CLASS

[MarvinsMom]

...and everyone laughed at MGR when they brought the Streetwise out, now, every man jack one of them has their own copy of that very idea.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Article here:

https://grrc.goodwood.com/road/news/axons-automotive-anorak-when-rover-got-streetwise#zd95fIgFSQPQhWfB.97

 

After I'd scraped up the porridge I'd spat out from an initial scan of the article, I read it properly, and it makes interesting reading. Considering it was only around for 18 months, was developed on a 50p budget, and was based on an existing car with an OAP image, it's a miracle that any sold at all.

The more I think about it, the more I think it was the modern forerunner to the likes of the Datsun Sasquatch and the Citroen Cactiiii. Yeah, the Talbot Rancho was a very early 'crossover' design, but the Streetwise definitely paved the way for the big boys to adapt the idea and create a new niche.

 

Well done Craig, it's the Rover Streetwise.

[steve_earwig]

Oddly enough, the Rancho sprang to mind, but it was a bit more than just jacked up with a silly body kit.

 

 

Btw our neighbour had a Rancho (as well as a Daimler Double-Six and a brace of Moggies, rich bugger) apparently the insurance was horrendous as insurance co's assumed it actually was an off-road vehicle. Oh, and the doors fell off.

[MarvinsMom]

i like them, there i said it, but i really rather like the Streetwise.

 

if i could find a diesel which hasn't been run into the ground, i'd love one.

 

kettles though, i don't really trust them.

 

i don't have the skilllz of Mr B to put one right on my own, and round here the independant garages won't touch a k-series with OMGHGF.

[steve_earwig]

Remove fragile water heater, stuff in XUD, sorted.

[fordperv]

I wanted to get a 3 door streetwise, colour code the plastics and smooth out the rover badge on the back bumper and lower it to the floor

[MarvinsMom]

i understand some one has actually done this, take a streetwie and put proper springs on it.

 

it was at POL one year?

 

peeps were saying it looked fab....

[Dick Cheeseburger]

I reckon if my daily shat itself tomorrow, I'd be well up for a derv one of these. £1k buys you a late one on 54 plate, with half leather and the 2.0 TD lump. I quite like 'em. I just don't tell the public.

[MarvinsMom]

one here in wolverhampton, 84k, dizzler engine and £700.....

 

[MarvinsMom]

or this one in newcastle, £1k, 89k miles and is a bonny shade of maroon

 

[Felly Magic]

Ford had a concept based on the Fiesta too many years ago, and rebooted the idea using an mk5 Scrote Estate, all long before the Street Daft