Car facts.

[DaveL485]

Post your random car facts or trivia. Just whatever leaks out of your brain. The more uninteresting the better.

Volvo launched the modern three point seat belt in 1959, then released the patent so that other manufacturers could use the design. Volvo means “I roll” in Latin.

The Renault 21 Turbo broke the world land speed record on ice in 1988.

The mighty Noble M12 GTO uses poverty spec Mondeo rear clusters.

When Mitsubishi launched the Pajero they didn't sense check the name, so in Spain the name translated as the 'Mitsubishi masturbation'.

 

[andybond]

The Lotus exige s2 has the same ignition barrel as the humble Vauxhall Corsa B, and the same indicators. And seat belt. And mirrors from a Autin metro. The engine is from a Celica.

Marcello Gandini who designed the Lamborghini Countach also designed the 5 GT Turbo.

Mitsi were not the only ones who made a name faux pas. The Mazda Lapunta ( whore in Spanish ) was a bit of a disaster.

 

[DaveL485]

The Daewoo Nubira, which was followed by the Chevy Cruze, had it's taillights stolen by Maserati, who used them for the Quattroporte.

 

[Mark]

The Fuego was the first car to have a remote keyless system with central locking that was available from 1983. The system was invented by Frenchman Paul Lipschutz hence the name "PLIP"

 

[DaveL485]

There are so many configuration options on a Porsche 911 that its estimated there are around 40,000 different configurations available and only 2 or 3 per year are sold with the exact same spec.

I read this on the internet so it must be true.

 

[DaveL485]

The Fuego was the first car to have a remote keyless system with central locking that was available from 1983. The system was invented by Frenchman Paul Lipschutz hence the name "PLIP"

So when we say plip we actually mean "Hun have you seen the Paul Lipschutz for the car"

That brilliant.

 

[andybond]

Every M156 engine built by MB is done by hand and the person that built it puts their name plate on.

You can actually check out the persons creds if you ask at MB. They tell you how long they worked there etc.

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

The Lotus Esprit shares it's door handles with the humble morris marina:

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

The facelift Lamborghini Diablos got their headlights from a Nissan 300ZX/Nissan Fairlady:

 

[Turbell]

Renault had a factory in Acton after WW2, and Renaults were built from knocked down kits, although a certain percentage ( 20 ) I think had to be British parts, so cars had Lucas electrics and QH made things like bumpers.
Dauphines had lucas rear lights, different from French cars, 750's ( 4CVs in France) had wind down windows the French never got. But if you ordered a 750 in a English colony such as Singapore, you'd get an Acton built car.
My '55 was built in Acton and is on the original build log that still survives, then reg'd new in Glasgow.



You might get bored by the time I've done with 750/4cv/rear engined facts.............the car at the rear of the pic is a direct descendent....

 

[DaveL485]

Renault had a factory in Acton after WW2, and Renaults were built from knocked down kits, although a certain percentage ( 20 ) I think had to be British parts, so cars had Lucas electrics and QH made things like bumpers.
Dauphines had lucas rear lights, different from French cars, 750's ( 4CVs in France) had wind down windows the French never got. But if you ordered a 750 in a English colony such as Singapore, you'd get an Acton built car.
My '55 was built in Acton and is on the original build log that still survives, then reg'd new in Glasgow.

View attachment 144110

You might get bored by the time I've done with 750/4cv/rear engined facts.............the car at the rear of the pic is a direct descendent....

That thing is so hideous its actually quite cool, even more so for the grandad beige colour!


75% of all the cars Rolls Royce have ever produced are still on the road today.

 

[Turbell]

The only paint available after WW2 when the car was launched was surplus desert military paint, so lots were beige.
My painter rang me when he opened the paint to ask if I was sure.......cos it looked like poorly man poo in the tin, I love it.

 

[andybond]

The c1j first letter is from the city Cleon, in Normandy, France.

 

[DaveL485]

Ralph Teetor invented Cruise Control.

He was blind.

 

[DaveL485]

The average age of a car on UK roads is 7.7 years.

The most popular car colour around the world since 2011 is white.

Whale oil was actually used in some car transmissions until 1973.

The average family car has contact patches (areas on the tyres that are always touching the road) only covering around 650 sq cm of road. This means all four tyres only touch around as much road as your two feet placed next to each other.