Factoid: A reminder of the Tickford Talbot Trekker, a high tech mobile office that included an Apple Macintosh, TV & Betamax video while outside was a body kit to match the vehicle’s Pearlescent White shade. (1) (📸: Autocar)

Factoid: While early Mk1 Golf had several unique features (such as the ‘swallowtail’ panel at the rear), this German launch brochure shows something that production cars didn’t have - smaller taillights)…(1) (📸: IG a/c finecarbrochures)

Friday Commitment: Everyone thinks of the ‘droopsnoot’ Vauxhall Firenza’s aerodynamic nose & Cibié headlamps (from an Alpine A310), but it also had Avon Safety Rim wheels, three of which are on the track here… (📸: Motor)

Factoid: No, they don’t produce brochures like this anymore but the Bedford HA stayed in production for some 20yrs (until 1983) & when sold in Australia was called the Bedford Handi-Van…(1) (📸:IG a/c flemingmotorsales)

Factoid: The ruched leather & wonderfully named Oak Bronze metallic paint, you got both in the Renault 21 & 25 Monaco which were limited editions that were a cut above the ordinary & promoted in a nicely creative way too. (Renault geeks will know this was a return ‘trip’ for the R21 Monaco)…

Factoid: The future is exciting - in Aug 1982, alongside an enlarged 1781cc engine, the Mk1 Golf GTI got a trip computer called MFA (Multi Function Actuator) & it was this, not the engine, that got the attention here…

Factoid: Props to Vauxhall for maximising this particular ad for the ‘droopsnoot’ Firenza by simply changing the headline & running it again…

Factoid: The graphic department of this ad agency had plenty of work to do in this 1967 ad - add flames & smoke to the engine bay & try to disguise the Ford Corsair (with mixed results) as the unfortunate car that had become a mobile barbecue…

Factoid: The BMC 1100/1300 was a car of many names, but did you know the Austin 1100 was marketed in Mark 1 form as the Austin Maileri in Finland?

Factoid: The MG 1100 was just the 1st FWD MG, but the 1st with all-round independent suspension so this launch ad’s claim was accurate less so was the availability of a 2dr that didn’t arrive in the UK until the Mk. II era 5yrs later. Btw, the next FWD MG would be the MG Metro 20yrs later in 1982…

Factoid: We’re all familiar with the 3dr R11 Turbo, but what about a 3dr TXE? Few TXEs survive today (a 5dr TXE has featured in Hagerty’s Festival of the Unexceptional in the past), but when do you last see one of these? (Btw, in Spain this was named the GTX which I prefer)…

Factoid: For 1970, the MG Midget & Austin-Healey Sprite got a recessed grille like the MGB/GT though aside from badging differences they were now identical & cost the same. Note the matt-black windscreen surround which was quickly dropped after only a few cars were made… (📸: Autocar)

Factoid: Sold as the ‘first wide small car’, the AMC Pacer might’ve made sense on US highways but European streets were another story. That said, of the 280k cars made btwn 1975-1980, 52% were in its 1st year… (📸:IG a/c plankhond)

I don’t know if these AMC Ambassadors were ‘internationally renowned’, but they were nearly as big as this aircraft…

Factoid: In case you think the Rambler 770 had long servicing intervals, that 32,000 mile figure only referred to greasing. You needed to change the oil every 4,000 miles & in v dusty conditions, it was every 1,000 miles.

Factoid: As external updates go, the Mk. II Mini was a skilled piece of work though inside the sliding windows & cable door pulls remained. Autocar noted finish was disappointing too like carpets that did not lie snuggly on the floor, a criticism made when the Mini was new in 1959… (📸:Autocar)

Factoid: Nobody needs reminding of AP’s revolutionary automatic transmission developed for the Mini & BMC 1100 but this 1967 ad coinciding with the Mk2 Mini/1100 & BMC 1300 launch reminds us of the clumsy launch of the latter as the MG 1300 here would be dropped the following March…

Factoid: Always liked ‘the fitted luggage test’ but how often can you see predecessor vs replacement tests? Not much of difference btwn a Landcrab (sorry, a Wolseley Six) & an Austin 1800 HL though the latter got longer struts to improve the boot opening when it became the Princess. (📸: Motor)

Factoid: The distinctive rear end of the ‘square back’ Mk2 VW Polo - the ‘bread van’, & a car that’s aged remarkably well. The great flush wheel trims shows this is a post-Aug 1984 car… (📸:IG a/c plankhond)

Factoid: A Mini Clubman in Oct 1969 amply demonstrating why this particular colour was called Flame Red, one of the ‘showroom friendly’ shades introduced by Austin Morris at the same time as the car. You could argue the colour has aged better than the car… (📸: Autocar)

Factoid: The Austin-Healey 3000, some atmospheric photography with copy describing it as ‘superbly, joyously fast’. You couldn’t get away with that copy today nor its lack of creature comforts in case you’re feeling too nostalgic…

Factoid: Nobody needs reminding that the E21 3-Series had a simple way of identifying the 4-cylinder 316/318 models from the 6-cylinder 320/320i - double headlights on the latter but did you know the car had a quick upgrade not long after its August 1975 debut? (1) (📸: IG a/c finecarbrochures)

Factoid: The Riley Kestrel & Wolseley 1100 were the last of the original Morris 1100 badged variants & it only took a leisurely 37mths from the launch of the Morris 1100…

Factoid: The Innocenti IM-3 was the firm’s third BMC car modified & built in Italy (hence the name - it stood for Innocenti-Morris 3) plus their 1st FWD car. Less well-known is the fact it was the the 3rd BMC 1100/1300 variant of any type. (📸: Autocar)

Factoid: A launch spec Morris 1100 & in its best colour too - Tartan Red. Colour-wise, you didn’t get much choice with just six alternatives & two of those were grey…

Factoid: One last citrusy-hued Citroën for you & a great way to end the day (well, I think so)… Btw, I think this great ‘70’s is called Orange Ténéré but I’m sure Citroën geeks will clarify. Until then, bye for now 👋 (📸:IG a/c classicsbychance)

Factoid: BL made great play of the ‘power’ of the Austin/Morris 1300 version & in sales terms it worked as production peaked at nearly 250k cars/year (figures that were only surpassed by the Mini)… (Given the car’s reputation for corrosion this behaviour in this 1969 ad was brave to say the least)…

Factoid: Innocenti had this display outside the exhibition hall for the 1965 Turin Motor Show showing all the BMC-based cars they assembled. The 2nd car was the Innocenti Austin i4 & as you’ll note it used the grille from the Morris 1100. A small point but it never stopped me before… (📸: Autocar)

Factoid: On the right, the R4L, the luxury model with chrome plated grille/bumpers with over-riders, opening rear quarter lights & rear side window. On the left, the base model with a 602cc engine (the R3) or the 747cc unit (the R4), no opening quarter lights or rear side window. (📸: Autocar)

The Car Factoids@thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 4d ago

Factoid: The Renault 4’s generous long-travel suspension wasn’t phased by this rocky terrain in the Camargue which was part of the itinerary that the firm had laid on for the journalists to assess the then-new car in early July 1961… (📸: Autocar)

Factoid: The Renault 4’s generous long-travel suspension wasn’t phased by this rocky terrain in the Camargue which was part of the itinerary that the firm had laid on for the journalists to assess the then-new car in early July 1961… (📸: Autocar)