Jon's occasional magazine scans - Update 18/04 Foreign Car Test Jolly

[Jon]

Nah, it's all WHEELS mags. Therefore, I may well skim through the years up the to late 1990's, as that's about the same time that CAR magazine went crap, so these probably do the same, what with sharing journos, etc.

[sheffcortinacentre]

Thanks no rush, just that I have one here in the UK lpg 6 & would be interested, I know the body style wasn't liked.

[Jon]

In light of a recent thread featuring a load of old indecipherable codswallop being spouted about a not uncommon old car being modified, I thought that rather than add fuel to the fire by replying to it in a general WTF manner and thus bumping it to the top of the page again, I'd post some content instead, as a pincer attack.

 

So, with no further ado, let's all read some stuff about the Australian-only Rover Quintet!

 

 

 

 

 

OMG LOOK AT THAT ROVER HAVE RUINED A GREAT HONDA BY PUTTING THEIR GRILLE ON IT AND I BET THE OWNERS DIDN'T EVEN WANT A ROVER, OLD SOI-SAUCE CHIROPRACTOR HONDA FORCED IT ON HIS CUSTOMERS. HE'S A NASTY PIECE OF WORK ALRIGHT.

 

 

 

 

THEY'VE TOTALLY RUINED THE NAME OF ROVER, AS EVERYONE KNOWS THEY'RE CARS FOR GENTLEMEN AND HONDARSEHOLES DEFINITELY ARE NOT. AUSSIES AND THE JAPS ALWAYS THINK THEY KNOW BEST.

 

 

 

Interesting namedrop of Rover Prelude suggestion not working, though I'm sure that the Integra was later re-badged as a Rover; the only Rover sold with flippy headlights, therefore? And a pre-cursor to the R8??

[Jon]

Spurred on by this in the Youtube moments thread:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImLeCMiX9G4

 

I thought it interesting enough to scan in this article of this very event, that was part of last night's bedtime reading:

 

 

 

Apologies for change in tone, I couldn't be arsed to alter them all the same.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love how 44 years after the event, there are still written and filmed reports about what went on that day. Interesting to see some of the cars in this article pop up in the background of the Thames programme, including the Birotor! 

 

Did Michelin swap all the tyres on the cars over to their own brand stuff?! Either way, what a time to be a motoring journo; I bet events like this don't happen nowadays. Imagine the logistical nightmare of getting all these cars brought into one place, hiring Silverstone, sorting out insurance cover and having Fangio come along for a blast!

[Spottedlaurel]

How dare they be so rude about the Datsun......

[Jon]

Wheels weren't always disparaging about Japanese cars, from what I've been reading. Though they seem to find the 120Y styling a challenge, particularly in coupe form. But Coronas and the early 1970's Galant and Lancer (rebadged as Chryslers) curried much favour. As did the C260, despite it being an ageing model with few visual updates, as of 1974.

 

Plus, by the 1970's, they weren't holding back about giving bad press where it was due, particularly in regards to domestic product. Gone are the days of giant tests with no conclusive winner, etc. as seen during the 1950's and 60's issues I've read.