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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 49m

With no hint of irony, the brochure on the Toyota-built Apollo was used by GM-owned Holden to stress its status as 'Australia's own', using a historic picture of the firm's first car, the 1948 Holden 48-215, and listing other milestone models and its role as a major employer and exporter.

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 49m

The Apollo, also available in wagon form, resulted from the government-mandated Button Car Plan, a model-sharing initiative intended to strengthen Australian car manufacture. Holden had already previously sold badge-engineered versions of three other Japanese makes: Isuzu, Suzuki and Nissan.

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 49m

'Holden's all-new medium-sized car', the Apollo, was described in its 1990 brochure as 'truly the right car, in the right place and right on the money'. The 2.0-litre model, built at Port Melbourne by Toyota's Australian arm, was simply a rebadged V20 Camry. #weirdcarbs

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 16h

Borgward - a substantial enterprise which also owned the Lloyd and Goliath marques - had intended its large car to take on arch-rival Mercedes-Benz. The original German model was known as the 'Big Six' in English - this brochure's cover on the early car has the stamp of a dealer in Wolverhampton.

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 16h

The Mexican factory also offered a more basic 230 model, which dispensed with the GL's small rear fins. Production of the two versions lasted until 1970, although only around 2,000 were built before Mexico's brief Borgward era ended.

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 16h

The somewhat controversial demise of West Germany's Borgward group in 1961 put paid to the chances of its recently-launched new P100 flagship, but the six-cylinder model had an unexpected second life when the tooling was reused in Mexico, starting in 1967. The luxury 230GL is shown here. #weirdcarbs

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 18h

I've just looked through some other Imp brochure images and none seem to show it in use. This spec sheet (on the Husky estate version) reveals it had a tiny 3¼ cubic feet.

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 19h

Good call.

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 19h

For 1989 the Renault Espace received its first facelift, notably losing its bluff nose in favour of a more sloping version. Also introduced at this time was the four-wheel-drive Espace Quadra, shown in this UK brochure, which helped cement Renault's position as the early leader in this field.

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 19h

The slightly cheaper Espace 2000GTS version is shown here. Turbodiesels were more common is some markets. The model, seating up to seven, was a pioneer in Europe of so-called people-carriers, with Nissan and Mitsubishi initially providing competition in a class that would quickly expand.

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 19h

The Renault Espace, originally conceived by Matra in its Chrysler Europe days, was a radical design in the mid-1980s and it took a little while to catch on. The 2000 TSE model is featured in this UK brochure, showcasing its one-box side profile, allowing a drag coefficient of 0.32. #weirdcarbs

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 23h

It's just some ridiculous AI nonsense.

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 1d

The coupé bodystyle sadly petered out by 1972, marking the end of the Stiletto, but a saloon model continued, now simply known as the Sunbeam Sport and gaining the quad headlights. Selling alongside the cheaper and more basic Hillman Imps in Chrysler UK showrooms, it lasted until 1976.

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 1d

The most stylish member of the Rootes Group's rear-engined' Imp family was the pretty 875cc Sunbeam Stiletto coupé, shown in this very 'Swinging Sixties' brochure. Launched in late 1967, the coupé bodystyle was also available in Hillman and Singer versions, but proved quite short-lived. #weirdcarbs

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 1d

No, the Avenger had hockey sticks.

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 1d

Probably, it's never easy to know. In a moment of wild optimism the company might have authorised a 100,000-unit print run, but it seems unlikely.

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 1d

Indeed, no Fiat of that era was immune from the dreaded rust bug

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 1d

Interesting, clearly some early prototypes too.

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 1d

There was also an impressive new dashboard in true Italian GT tradition. The Sport Coupé proved to be the end of the line, as there was no replacement when the 131 range was introduced. The Spider version of the 124, meanwhile, - with an entirely different body - lived on for another decade.

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 1d

Launched in 1438cc form in 1967, the 124 Sport Coupé shared the saloon's platform. It went through three series before production ended in 1975. This final model has a different front grille as well as all-new vertical tail-lights, shown here showcasing the lower loading sill.

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 1d

Alongside its big-selling family cars, Fiat was once renowned for its wide choice of sporting models, with the elegant 124 Sport Coupé a classic example of this. Launched in 1967, it is shown in its third series in this 1972 brochure, with changes including a new, rather fussy grille. #weirdcarbs

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 1d

I wouldn't have predicted that.

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 1d

Serious cash.

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 1d

That is indeed a lovely Cherry, the first generation was the purest in style and size. Tens of thousands were sold new in Britain but sadly they rusted ferociously. The real rarity is the unusual coupé version.

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Andy @carbrochureaddict.bsky.social · 1d

The specifications of the Monica are shown here, featuring the 590 model, though a slightly smaller-engined 560 was the car which went into production The project had suffered from a very long gestation and was launched at a time of economic crisis and spiralling fuel prices. It was dead by 1975.

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