Which single model of car had the most bodystyles?

[Formula Autos]

Looking back at the '80s, when you could get very odd specifications of popular cars, such as 3 door Astra and Escort estates, I wondered if this was the time when the most variation of a single model was available to UK buyers.

 

I think the Astra Mk 2 might be the car that had the most bodystyle variations (8 in total):

 

3 door hatch

 

5 door hatch

 

3 door estate

 

5 door estate (from SpottedLaurel's Flickr account actually)

 

4 door Belmont (arguably the same model of car, IIRC launched as the Astra Belmont)

 

Cabrio

 

Bedford/Vauxhall Astravan

 

Bedford/Vauxhall Astramax

 

Is there any single model of car that can beat this number of variations? I think the Mk3 & 4 Escort may equal this total, but I can't think of any car that beats it.

[eddyramrod]

You might be right. I make the Escort an equal, 8 variants; but beyond that, the next I can think of is the Morris Minor, with 6.

[Split_Pin]

The Moskivich Aleko springs to mind. Started off as an almost direct copy of the Chrtsler Apline with a Renault 18 style front end:

 

 

A pick-up was available, but the more the Company struggled, the more strange the variants got.

 

It started off ok with this saloon:

 

 

Then things went a bit mad with the Duet:

 

Its meant to be coupe

 

Then they thought they might as well just have a laugh and build the Ivan Kalita:

 

 

[Negative Creep]

I know it wasn't available in the UK, but you could add the Pontiac Le Mans to the Astra range

 

 

Which came as a 5dr hatch and 4dr sedan

[eddyramrod]

Also the Daewoo Nexia, which was clearly an Astra with a new nose. Came as a 3/5 door hatch and a 4 door saloon, IIRC.

[trigger]

Didn't we have a thread about the different shape Astras only last week?.

 

Don't forget all the Opel variants and I'm sure there was a Ozzy version as well.

[Formula Autos]

I suppose if we're going down that route, these could be thrown in:

 

Daewoo Nexia 3 door

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Daewoo_Nexia_rear1.jpg/800px-

Nexia 5 door

 

And 4 door

 

Or are these (and the Pontiac) just rebadges of the original Astras/Kadettes?

[Negative Creep]

Or are these (and the Pontiac) just rebadges of the original Astras/Kadettes?

 

 

The Pontiac is the same car with a different grille

[fordnut]

MK3 / MK4 Ford Escort would probably come out on top if you only look at body styles rather than different badged variants. 10 in total.

 

3dr Hatchback

5dr Hatchback

4dr Orion

3dr Estate

5dr Estate

Cabriolet

Combi Van

Van

Bantam (Pick-Up mainly South African Market)

Verona / VW Apollo (2dr Orion Brazilian Market)

 

Although MK2 Astra would clear up if you take into accont the Opel and various GM branding and later Daewoo incarnations

[Tayne]

,

[Pete-M]

If I remember correctly, there are something like 17 million different varieties, if you take every colour, body style, trim option etc as a single variety.

 

For once, this is nothing to do with whether it's a MkXXVII or whatever.

[Albert Ross]

Sod the Defender. Look at the Series 2a for body styles. 88" with all it's variants of no roof, canvas roof, cab roof, cab roof with canvas back, cab roof with canvas back (windows in sides) full roof, full roof with double skin (export), full roof with windows, full roof with sliding windows, full roof with sliding windows and double skin, take your pick of all those with a roof and fit a cat-flap door or side hinged "safari" door, then think of the 109" models. Same again, but theres also the 4 door.... then also the 2a FC 109" with all it's differences (it's still a 2a!) Then there's the specific instructions at build to make them welders, post hole borers, Simon Snorkels, crop sprayers, gang mowers etc., "Forest Rovers" were made, with Studebaker portal axles too, there's the Cuthbertson tracked variant, Fire Engines, Ambulances, Cinemas, Generator sets, Then there's the myriad military versions with different sub-models within the range, "Wombat Portee" anyone? (Google that!) I reckon Land Rover has it. It won't be there to pick up an award.....It'll be too busy mixing concrete/saving people from a flood/towing in a busted Allegro/Mountain Rescue etc etc etc.

[Milford Cubicle]

I always thought the amount of bodystyles Rover knocked out of the R8 200/400 with minimal funds was impressive.

 

4-door saloon

3-door hatchback

5-door hatchback

Coupe

Cabriolet

Estate

[kinkersaab]

Subaru L series

5 dr est

4dr saloon

3 dr hatch

3 dr coupe

2 door sports

2 dr pick up

 

2wd or 4wd, 1.6 or 1.8, turbo or non turbo

not bad for a little known brand in the early 80's

[simmo]

how about the BMC badge engineering on cars like the Farinas and Austin 1100/1300

[Baz]

I'm assuming that you mean bodystyles, but on a similar note, I was amused to discover while reading "Autocar" during a quiet moment at work last night, that Audi offer 97 different versions of the A5....NINETY-SEVEN!

[kinkersaab]

I'm assuming that you mean bodystyles, but on a similar note, I was amused to discover while reading "Autocar" during a quiet moment at work last night, that Audi offer 97 different versions of the A5....NINETY-SEVEN!

 

and, 70% of them will be a silver 2.0tdi, driven by a smug twat with expesive sunglasses and designer golf clubs, the rest will be black or white 2.0 tdi s driven by smug twats with expensive sunglasses and designer golf clubs.......................

[Jozza]

I'm assuming that you mean bodystyles, but on a similar note, I was amused to discover while reading "Autocar" during a quiet moment at work last night, that Audi offer 97 different versions of the A5....NINETY-SEVEN!

Presumably about 60 of those are 2.0TDIs with very slightly different power outputs, as is the way with VAG.

 

I was going to nominate the Land Rover Series as well, but Albert Ross beat me to it. None the less if you count just wheelbase, the standard factory body styles and all engine fitments (and anything since 1983 as a 'Defender') there have been 98 variants of the same basic vehicle, and that's if you don't factor in the trim levels (County, XS etc.) or any of the specialist or military versions (stretched 150-inch Station Wagons, ambulances etc.)

[Baz]

driven by a smug twat

Oh, it's SMUGNESS is it?....I always assumed that Audi drivers were as they are because they've realised that they should have bought a BMW or Mercedes!

[Tayne]

,

[Formula Autos]

I'm assuming that you mean bodystyles, but on a similar note, I was amused to discover while reading "Autocar" during a quiet moment at work last night, that Audi offer 97 different versions of the A5....NINETY-SEVEN!

I did mean bodystyles, rather than variants - otherwise trim levels will no doubt come into play, with head hurting consequences.

 

I'll see if I can change the thread title.

 

Also, while I'm on, was the early '80s American Escort not a different (albeit very similarly styled) car anyway, more closely related to the Mazda 323 we got here in Blighty at that time?

 

As for Audi, I can't see why 97 versions of a coupe (not their biggest selling range I'd imagine) is needed. Or is this a way to convince the customer that they're getting something exclusive?

 

But they're actually getting something churned out in the tens of thousands. Shhh!

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

It's still the Mark 2 Astra. Don't forget the Daewoo versions! Weren't they sold in the US as a Chevrolet as well?

GM are such badge whores - the Omega was available in the US as a Cadillac Cetera.

[eddyramrod]

I visited some American police officers on one vacation, and took them each a model Omega copcar. They were amazed that a car they knew only as a luxury model was so commonplace for us that we could use it so. I gave them Range Rovers too, same applied! Apparently the Catera wasn't a success, people weren't ready for a "small" Cadillac.

[Formula Autos]

Badge engineering is rife throughout GM's outposts, compare:

 

Isuzu:

 

http://www.isuzu.co.uk/

 

Holden (Australia):

 

http://www.holden.com.au/vehicles

 

Chevrolet (UK website):

 

http://www.chevrolet.co.uk/cars/

 

Buick:

 

http://www.buick.com/regal/2011/pictures/

 

Opel:

 

http://www.opel.com/

 

and the now defunct US brand Saturn:

 

http://www.saturn.com/

[Formula Autos]

how about the BMC badge engineering on cars like the Farinas and Austin 1100/1300

I'm now ignoring badging and going by bodystyles - the ADO16 series only had 3 bodystyles - 2 door and 4 door saloons, and 3 door estate.

 

I believe there were briefly some estate based vans too.

 

I suppose you could count the Crayford cabrios too (though they weren't a 'factory' model), and possibly the Austin Apache (a South African variant with new front and rear styling that made it look Triumph-esque). Even then, 6 bodystyles, so the Astra is still winning.

[oldford]

If you mean by the car its structure/platform, where the key dimensions don't change, then in the Astra example above, the MK1 and MK2 versions should be lumped in together. Taking this a bit further, the use of modular platforms by different manufacturers within the same group. VW are a favourite for this, by using the same platform and altering the wheelbase and overhangs to produce different models. The MK 4 Golf, skoda Octavia MK 1, Seat Leon MK 1 and the Audi A3.

[chaseracer]

VW are a favourite for this, by using the same platform and altering the wheelbase and overhangs to produce different models. The MK 4 Golf, skoda Octavia MK 1, Seat Leon MK 1 and the Audi A3.

VW Bora, mk1 Audi TT...

 

They did well out of that platform!

[Formula Autos]

The new Beetle was based on this platform too, and it's still going. The Seat Toledo Mk2 was based on this platform as well. VAG certainly got their money's worth.

 

In a similar vein, the Fiat Tipo platform spawned a few cars as well, didn't it? We didn't get all of them in the UK though (e.g. the Lancia Delta Mk2).

[Skizzer]

Not the most bodystyles by any means, but I reckon the Renault 21 should get an honourable mention for coming in four different wheelbases, depending on the engine size (some were transverse, others north-south ) and shape (saloon vs estate). Kinda the opposite of platform-sharing.

[Tayne]

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