Throwback Tuesday: Land Rover Defender

The old English Tank that we all know and love. It has been around for donkey's years yet we all still smile when we see one pottering along beside us on the road. Yes, we know that there are gaps between the body panels that you could fit a small dog in but it still is immensely cool.

The first model to grace us with its presence was the Land Rover One Ten way back in 1983. One Ten represented the length of the wheelbase which totaled 110 inches. It was shortly followed by the Ninety and the 127.

It wasn't until 1990 that we saw the name Defender being badged on the jeep, a strategic choice by Land Rover following the release of the Discovery. The introduction of the new turbo diesel engine gave more reason for people to purchase the Defender as an all round car, it was now equally both on the motorway as it was climbing a hill in a wet field.

We have seen Defenders being used by police, armies, fire brigades, farmers and professional footballers in the last 30 years and for that reason we feel it is at home here in our series of iconic motors as part of Throwback Tuesday.

Throwback Tuesday: Ford F-Series

We are going west this week with this big brute of a pick up truck that has been incredibly popular with our friends in the states since 1948!

The first model was introduced in a wide range of forms and it was title the Ford Bonus Built as a direct replacement for the car based pick up truck.

The second generation was where we first saw the naming convention that still exists to this day, the F-100 and so forth.

The third generation identified the two types of pick-up boxes as both the FlareSide and the StyleSide. Ford also began to produce their four-wheel drive trucks in house in 1957.

Fast forward to the seventh generation in 1980 and this is where we first saw the famous blue oval of Ford being introduced to the front grille of the F-Series trucks.

We are now on the twelfth generation of the truck and we are likely to see many more in the future. The essence of the car has remained the same, no frills workhorse that gets the job done and for that we have to applaud them. They have sold 35 million models over 64 years, the longest running and best selling nameplate for Ford!

Throwback Tuesday: Toyota Corolla

Another car in our Throwback Tuesday series that has spanned several generations. The flagship model for Toyota is the most sold car in the world. Since its release in 1966 the Japanese motor company have flogged over 39 million units spanning 11 generations of the model.

The Corolla first hit the road with a 1100cc engine and it proved to be incredibly popular. The sharp lines of the car have aged very well in my opinion and would still look very cool on the road today.  This model was title the E10 and this has remained the naming format to the current day. Each model is an increment of 10 from the previous and is very easy to classify.

In 1979 the design ethos drastically shifted in favour of a square edge look that was a step backwards in my opinion. This model (E70) was the last the use the K and T model engines.

We saw a move to front wheel drive in the mid 80s with the E80 that was a another very uninspiring boxy car that shifted the Corolla to a no frills no fuss option for motorists who saw reliability as the most important element.

The most recent model is the E160 and it continues to be as popular as before. We are likely to see several more models of the Corolla in our lifetime, at least until they run out of numbers...

Throwback Tuesday: Volkswagen Beetle

The Beetle is the longest running and most manufactured single car design ever.  There were 21 million of them produced between the years of 1938 and 2003 which means that most people have a first hand experience of "The Bug".

The Beetle is air cooled and rear wheel drive, something that Volkswagen no longer adhere to. The four cylinder Boxer engine was located in the rear. We all know the requirements for the Beetle for it to be deemed the "People's Car" of the German Public. Hitler deemed that it must be able to transport 2 adults, 3 children at a speed of 100Kmh. It was introduced on a savings scheme which made it available at the price of a small motorbike of the time.

The Beetle was designed to be mechanically simple to make working on it as easy as possible for the owner. However the original 25hp engine is unlikely to set hearts racing around Mondello!

The first Beetle assembled outside Germany was done so in Dublin. In 1950, Ballsbridge Motors began assembling and selling the car to the eager Irish market.This car is on show in the Volkswagen Museum in Wolfsburg.

We have seen two new versions of the Beetle in the last 15 years but neither have truly captured the essence of the original model in my opinion but at least we have some gorgeous examples doing the rounds in the Aircooled scene.

Throwback Tuesday: Ford Escort

This week we have a legendary car which spanned over 4 decades and 6 different guises. I would imagine that the majority of our fans will have had some sort of experience with the Ford Escort during their life and that led us to do this short recap on the car's wonderful history.

The Escort was introduced in 1967 by Ford as a replacement for the Anglia. The car was rear wheel drive and was powered by one of three engines most commonly; 1.1 litre, 1.3 litre or 1.6 litre. The distinctive design became immensely popular and was equally successful off-road. The Mk1 Escort saw great success under the control of Hannu Mikkola, the famous Finn, winning the 1970 London-Mexico rally.

The second version of the Escort saw Ford of Britain and Germany collaborating on design. The popular 2.0 litre RS2000 was powerful for the time and became popular with enthusiasts who installed the block into the Mk1 and took it racing off road.

1980 saw the third version of the Escort and it brought some monumental changes most notably the movement to front-wheel drive. Ford wanted to tackle the Volkswagen Golf head on with this model and offered a sporty engine, the XR3, from the outset. The first few years were troublesome for Ford and the car's suspension attracted criticism for how rough it was on country roads due to the opposing camber in place.

The next Escort was a facelift but is commonly called the MkIV by modifiers and enthusiasts. It hit the road in 1986 and featured an updated interior and the possibility of having a heated windscreen. Something that was not expected of a car at that price!

The MkV was brought into showrooms in 1990 but did not please the public initially. The engines lacked refinement and the interior was dated due to being borrowed from older models. The famous Sierra Cosworth set tongues wagging with 220bhp and four wheel drive. It soon became the car of choice for professional footballers (imagine Messi or Ronaldo lusting after a Ford these days!) and stood out from the crowd with the huge whale tail spoiler. The Cosworth was effectively a Sierra with Escort body panels however.

As the middle of the 90's came around we saw the MkVI but it was soon replaced by the equally popular Ford Focus. Another home run for Ford. Here at MicksGarage we salute the Ford Escort!

Throwback Tuesday: Lada Riva Classic

As the AvtoVaz Manafucturer announced that the very last car from the Classic Series rolled off the production line today we decided to focus on the car that inspired decades of jokes.

While the car itself has been around for 40 years in its current guise it still remains a popular topic of conversation amongst car enthusiasts due to its perceived poor reliability along with the boxy dated appearance. However, there is a bit of a cult following for the car due to how simple they are to work on for amateur mechanics.

The Lada was conceived following a collaboration between Fiat and the Soviet Government of the time. It hit the market with a low price but an equally low reputation.

The Classic series was incredibly popular however, the Semerka model sold over 18 million examples over its extended lifetime.

The Russian brand does itself no favours; When President Putin arrived at their factory to promote their latest model, the Granta, it took six attempts before the car started, what a joke! Speaking of jokes, what is the difference between a Lada and a Golf ball?...You can drive a golf ball 200 yards!

All joking aside though the Lada is still a classic, and has brought a lot of happiness to an awful lot of people, both those who drive it and those who slag it off, and rightly makes it's way into our Throwback Tuesday series!

Throwback Tuesday: Peugeot 205 GTI

The 205 model was the car that revitalised Peugeot's fortunes and the reason people ceased to view the French manufacturer as a conservative designer of large saloons. The introduction of the 205 GTI was to piggyback on the popular emerging market of hot hatches. Volkswagen were leading the way with their two Golf GTIs but were met with stiff competition in 1984 with the release of the simple, light 104Bhp 1.6 engine.

 

This was later replaced with the better regarded 1.9 litre engine that produced 126Bhp. The go-kart like handling paired with the incredibly light body (870Kg) made it an absolute hoot to drive and was at home on twisty country roads.

The car was spartan like regarding equipment, there was no airbag or power steering present but this just led to a pure driving experience that all enthusiasts appreciated. All while holding an incredibly cool steering wheel.

 

The rear end of the 205 is iconic in my opinion, it is simple yet beautiful. Bear in mind, this is the view that most people would have of these cars as they roared off into the distance leaving you envious in it's wake.

Throwback Tuesday: Audi Quattro

This week we are bringing you back to the mental machine that defined a rally mad generation. The four ringed beast was memorable for its performance and distinctive looks. The sharp lines and square front paired with the flared box arches made the Audi Quattro the dream car for many a teenager during the 80s.

 The term Quattro was introduced due to the 4 wheel drive in place. It is still commonplace in the company's naming process. This helped the car to dominate all types of rallying and became the ultimate driving machine of its time.

The model is based on the Audi Coupé and you can see the similarities very clearly when side by side. The early engine was the in-line 5 cylinder turbo charged version which produced 350bhp and saw victories in numerous rallies in the early to mid 80s. It was replaced by the mental 500bhp version which is widely agreed to be the best engine seen in a rally car. It was capable of 0-60 in just 3.1 seconds which is remarkable considering the times.

Throwback Tuesday: The Mini

Some of you may have presumed that this would have been the first car to feature in our Throwback Tuesday feature. The Mini is truly outstanding and has been the inspiration behind many films, most notably the original "Italian Job".

The first Mini hit British roads in 1959 and proceeded to become an instant-hit for the British Motoring Corporation. It revolutionised the way in which floor pans were designed and while it was considered a small car it made the most of its limited space. It went through three facelifts during its time which included an estate, a truck, a pick-up and a van.

The Mini was modified by enthusiasts for decades and everyone knows the famous Union Jack roof that graced so many. There is still a considerable aftermarket to this day for the original/"real" Mini and they command a relatively high price. Their low squatted stature makes them nimble on the road and many people have likened to the experience to that of driving a go-kart.

We saw the ability of the Mini in the Monte Carlo Rally throughout the 60s and while it was disqualified in 1966 for a minor issue it still emerged as the true champion. The car is certainly fitting of being included in our Throwback Tuesday series and many would argue it is the definition of an iconic everyday car.

Throwback Tuesday: Morris Minor

The Morris Minor epitomises British design and the range sold 1.3 million cars in a 23 year time span, going to show how popular it was for decades.

There were several variants over the years and Jeremy Clarkson coined it as the British Beetle which goes to show how much it defined a generation.

The three versions of the minor were as follows:

• MM (1948)
• The Series II (1952)
• The 1000 series (1956)

If you feel like you would like an older slice of English motoring then these guides below should help you make a more informed decision:

Buying Guide for the Morris Minor 

Buying Guide for the Morris Minor from British Motoring Club (PDF)

Throwback Tuesday: The Citroen DS

In this week's Throwback Tuesday we have the fantastic French machine that was ahead of its time in terms of design and is still desirable over 50 years later. An Italian sculptor and a French aeronautical engineer combined to come up with the futuristic body shape along with the revolutionary self-levelling suspension. Bertoni and Lefébvre were widely credited by car fanatics all over the world for creating a car that would go on to sell 1.5 million units in its various guises.

In 1967, Citroen introduced directional headlights that moved the beam of light according to the direction in which the steering was pointed. A simple but brilliantly effective idea. The DS was also the first car to feature front power brake discs that was in mass production.

The cult classic is in high demand and mint examples have gone for in excess of €300,000 in recent times which goes to show the value in which it is held. 

Buying Guide for the Citroen DS - http://www.citroen-ca.com/

DSguide.html

You can read why it was voted the most beautiful car ever here - http://www.autoblog.com/2009/

02/12/car-designers-name-citroen-ds-most-beautiful-car-ever/

Throwback Tuesday: Volkswagen Golf GTI

The original hot hatch has gone through six variations in the last 37 years with varying success. The original MkI set the standard for what was expected in hot hatches and was hugely popular due to its superb driving experience.

The successor to this was the aptly named MkII and came in two forms, the 8V and the 16V and was just as well received. Both of these cars become the canvas from which modifiers would apply their touches in an attempt to increase performance and stand out from the crowd.  

The next iteration is the laughing stock of the VW community due to its questionable looks combined with a relatively underpowered engine and is not looked upon fondly. The MkIII was only desirable by true petrolheads in one form, the VR6, which has an immense sounding 2.8 litre engine.

From here, Volkswagen introduced the MkIV Golf and the engine was not up to scratch from the outset, feeling sluggish due to the weight of the car. The Anniversary model finally got the model back on track in 2002 with 180Bhp and sportier appearance. 

The Mk5 Golf GTi was immediately embraced by all enthusiasts, offering good performance and handling in a comfortable daily car. The TFSi engine performed well and put out 200Bhp, utilising the turbo to making the drive effective at low revs.

Most recently we have seen the release of MkVI which has slightly modified version of the 2.0 litre engine found in the Scirocco. It boasts 10Bhp more than its predecessor and most feel it is also an upgrade in the looks department.  One that is certain is that the Golf GTi is one of the most iconic cars spanning several generations.

If you are looking for parts for your Golf then browse our wide range here on MicksGarage - http://www.micksgarage.com/car-parts/volkswagen/golf/