Common road vehicles in 1984 - cars and commercial

[Fat Controller]

"Speed kills, be safe, drive a Vauxhall"

 

 

 

Runs for cover 

Our Viva HB would do 90, but only down-hill; the Cresta PB that my father passed on to me could still do the ton, with only four pots working, and a gearbox that only had first and third.

[Invicta]

Like the Viva, enough room for a V8. Just GM politics in the way. The Opel engines would have been better as they were a simple compact and upright engine. The Kadette proved to be a competitive rally car. The chevettes were quite light but like most cars of the time became rust buckets.

 

Utterly off-topic, but GM South Africa did put a V8 in a (Chevrolet-badged) Firenza, known as a Firenza Can-Am- Only built in tiny numbers (100 iirc) to qualify it under the local saloon car racing rulebook. Ford did the same thing in the 80's with the XR8 which was a 5-door Sierra with a 5-litre V8

 

basicly a left hand drive version of the nova for the rest of the world the nova was uk & eire only .the differance iirc was corsa sport ran efi and injection as against the novas twin sidedraft carb set up plus a few detail differances in the rear suspension but basicly looked the same .in this country we only ever had the corsa "B" the nova was in effect the "A" .

 

Nova Sport was a 500-off (or thereabouts) limited edition with twin Webers, for 1300cc class rallying- As I recall, Vauxhall got caught playing silly devils with the homologation paperwork at some point, and quite a few of the rally boys had to re-badge their Nova Sports as Opel Corsas and swap the Webers for injection until it was sorted out

 

Going back on topic, I'd echo what a few people have said about there still being a fair bit of 60's stuff around- I was learning to drive in '84 (Dad's Talbot Alpine & Solara, and the driving school had Toyota Corollas), and thinking of mates' first cars, I can remember a mid-60's Imp, early Mk1 Escort (estate, rather than saloon though) and a Morris Minor amongst others. 

[PhilJ W]

Some Vauxhalls could be pretty fast. I had a Vauxhall Victor FD 1600 that was capable of 100mph according to the speedo.

[Tim V]

In 1984, my L plate Mini (Clubman) estate had just been written off, with the proceeds I bought a D plate Mk1 Cortina and a welder. Back on the road!

[peanuts]

Nova Sport was a 500-off (or thereabouts) limited edition with twin Webers, for 1300cc class rallying- As I recall, Vauxhall got caught playing silly devils with the homologation paperwork at some point, and quite a few of the rally boys had to re-badge their Nova Sports as Opel Corsas and swap the Webers for injection until it was sorted out

 

was a thousand off 1300 on twin 40s  for group A then they produced a 200 off group B version that was even quicker big valve head  beam rear suspension biggers and brakes also homologated as a corsa sport with irmscher fuel injection set up supposedly had more torque than the carb version 

[Mike Storey]

Oxford die cast have just announced an Austin Maxi for imminent release. A major gap for the 70s and 80s layouts closed.

 

Some of these replies are a bit off topic. The OP wanted to know what was around that is available in model form rather than what was popular.

 

Regarding Japanese check out the Tomytec H0 range. They are actually 1:80 so very near to 00 and they do the ubiquitous Toyota etc cars of the era. Near impossible to pick up in the uk though.

 

The Tomytec range is of particular interest to me - many thanks - as I need to find a range of Toyota vans that were imported through Sheerness in the early 1980's (as well as have a few Datsuns dotted about on the layout). But I have spent some time since your post trying to find a website that lists their products (in English!) in HO. I have found many, as well as e-bay, that mention them, but once you get in, they are nowhere to be found! Just other scales. Can you recommend a website at all please?

 

Thanks

 

Incidentally, has anyone come across a car transporter model abroad, in any scale near enough to 00, that isn't the ancient Lesney one or the far too modern Oxford versions?

[acg5324]

This is a Herpa one 1/87

http://www.modelcar-43.ch/plugins/papoo_shop/images/474_600x600_Mercedes1928Autotransporter18710_Mercedes_Porsche_TransporterHerpa.JPG

[Mike Storey]

This is a Herpa one 1/87

http://www.modelcar-43.ch/plugins/papoo_shop/images/474_600x600_Mercedes1928Autotransporter18710_Mercedes_Porsche_TransporterHerpa.JPG

 

Serious respect - many thanks. Thought I had seen all their stuff!

 

Edit - just ordered the one they had. Appears to be an old out-of-production model now, which explains why I did not see it! Swiss francs - ouch.

Edited June 10, 2018 by Mike Storey

[acg5324]

Hope it comes with all the cars too.

 

Serious respect - many thanks. Thought I had seen all their stuff!

 

Edit - just ordered the one they had. Appears to be an old out-of-production model now, which explains why I did not see it! Swiss francs - ouch.

[PhilJ W]

 

Incidentally, has anyone come across a car transporter model abroad, in any scale near enough to 00, that isn't the ancient Lesney one or the far too modern Oxford versions?

Cararama produced one based on their Scania truck model. Despite being described as either 1/72 or 1/80 depending on the packaging it was in fact very close to if not 1/76 scale.

[mikeharvey22]

This is the Cararama one next to a modern Oxford Scania fire pump.

 

 

https://i95.servimg.com/u/f95/12/12/53/02/carara10.jpg

[doilum]

Nova Sport was a 500-off (or thereabouts) limited edition with twin Webers, for 1300cc class rallying- As I recall, Vauxhall got caught playing silly devils with the homologation paperwork at some point, and quite a few of the rally boys had to re-badge their Nova Sports as Opel Corsas and swap the Webers for injection until it was sorted out

 

was a thousand off 1300 on twin 40s  for group A then they produced a 200 off group B version that was even quicker big valve head  beam rear suspension biggers and brakes also homologated as a corsa sport with irmscher fuel injection set up supposedly had more torque than the carb version

 

A friend with factory connections built a customer car several weeks before the works launch. After an all nighter,it debuted on the Dukeries rally. It was driven to the event to get some miles on the engine. Finished third in class if I remember right. I drove the chase car. Happy days.

[Mike Storey]

This is the Cararama one next to a modern Oxford Scania fire pump.

 

 

https://i95.servimg.com/u/f95/12/12/53/02/carara10.jpg

 

Thanks Mike - lovely model but looks just too modern for my period? The Herpa Merc version looks just right. (I am aware of the EFE version, but only the Bedford one would be any good and that never appears on international e-bay!!).

[Fat Controller]

There are some useful tractor units of about the right period available from Knightwing:-

http://www.knightwing.co.uk/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?product=OO-HO_Road_Transport_Kits&cart_id=1528708144.147

As twin back-axles were rare at the time, I modified a few to single axles. I also used surplus wheels from the trailer kits to make other trailers, such as Tautliners and 40' flat-beds. They might be 1/72 scale, rather than 1/76, but that's a lot closer than HO models would be.

[Tim V]

These were taken in a scrapyard showing some cars not on the road in September 1985! But they have not been there long ...

[Fat Controller]

These were taken in a scrapyard showing some cars not on the road in September 1985! But they have not been there long ...

Bristol Stapleton Rd September 1985 OM1 251-012.jpg

Bristol Stapleton Rd September 1985 OM1 251-010.jpg

Bristol Stapleton Rd September 1985 OM1 251-011.jpg

Wasn't there a stock-car, or perhaps 'banger-racing' circuit somewhere near the old Rover's ground.? Some of the cars seem to have ended their days in that sort of role.

[PhilJ W]

Thanks Mike - lovely model but looks just too modern for my period? The Herpa Merc version looks just right. (I am aware of the EFE version, but only the Bedford one would be any good and that never appears on international e-bay!!).

The cabs on the Cararama and Oxford models are usually screwed on and in some cases are interchangable. Both Langley and RTI produce cabs that are of the period.

[doilum]

Our Viva HB would do 90, but only down-hill; the Cresta PB that my father passed on to me could still do the ton, with only four pots working, and a gearbox that only had first and third.

Roads were quieter. On the newly opened M62 we only allowed an hour for Sunday rugby trips from Castleford to Warrington or St Helens. Four up, dad's Viva struggled to top 40mph if baulked on the long climb out of Milne Row. Brother's Marina 1800 could almost maintain National Speed Limit, then came my RS2000 and mile and half per minute over the top from a near standing start by Rochdale.

[Mike Storey]

The cabs on the Cararama and Oxford models are usually screwed on and in some cases are interchangable. Both Langley and RTI produce cabs that are of the period.

 

Thanks Phil - there are indeed several suitable cabs listed. That is probably what I will have to do.

[37114]

This might be of interest:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/73536293@N02/42701187292/in/photostream/

[BernardTPM]

Interestingly there are (possibly) only three cars in the whole of that picture that was out of production before 1970 (Ford Anglia 105E, Jaguar Mk.II and Singer Vogue Estate). Most are 1970s/early 80s designs and some 60s (or in a couple fo case earlier and long-lived) stuff that was built into the '70s. Not even that many Mk.II Cortinas. Pretty much what I would have expected - rust used to be a real problem.

Edited August 2, 2018 by BernardTPM

[Mike Storey]

This might be of interest:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/73536293@N02/42701187292/in/photostream/

 

The Maxi is spotted. But there is a Renault 5, only available in 1/87 as yet? I recall they were incredibly popular at the time?

[37114]

s. Pretty much what I would have expected - rust used to be a real problem.

I think you are spot on Bernard, my first Land lady recalled she bought a Mini clubman brand new in 1975 and it only lasted 6 years before the bottom had rusted out. My Mum's MGB is on it's original engine albeit after 1 rebuild but on it's 3rd set of sills and second floor. I have lost count on the number of front wings it has had.

[E3109]

Mention of rust, and cars of the 1980s makes me think of the absolutely superb Alfasud.

They went like the proverbial excrement off a shovel, trouble is they had to, before they fell apart from the dreaded tin worm that they were particularly afflicted with.

 

My uncle had one and it was a fantastic motor. He also had a couple of Triumph Dolomites, which the Sud kind of resembled minus the boot.

 

I'm sure I've seen models of the Sud in the past, can't recall what scale though. Thinking big Solido stuff.

[Mike Storey]

Mention of rust, and cars of the 1980s makes me think of the absolutely superb Alfasud.

They went like the proverbial excrement off a shovel, trouble is they had to, before they fell apart from the dreaded tin worm that they were particularly afflicted with.

 

My uncle had one and it was a fantastic motor. He also had a couple of Triumph Dolomites, which the Sud kind of resembled minus the boot.

 

I'm sure I've seen models of the Sud in the past, can't recall what scale though. Thinking big Solido stuff.

 

Yeah. AlfaSuds were the dog's wotsits. Tin worm, and a need for a tow truck to follow you down the road everywhere, were just minor irritants. I only got to drive one because my best friend, a college lecturer with a like for all things Italian, including wimmin, had several new ones, over successive years, which he drove like a vicar.....