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The Car Factoids

@thecarfactoids.bsky.social

1K followers 340 following 3.1K posts

Important/unimportant facts about older cars plus plenty of old ads thrown in… He/Him.

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · Feb 28

Just a short note to say I’m concluding activity on ‘that other place’ from tonight.

I just wanted to thank everyone who made me feel welcome on there & enjoyed my occasionally interesting, usually useless facts about the cars.

Rest assured that you’re stuck with me on here…

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 7h

When the Range Rover had its 50th anniversary, Land Rover introduced a limited edition model (with a run of 1,970 examples) & offered three ‘Heritage’ colours of Bahama Gold, Davos White & Tuscan Blue in ‘extremely limited’ numbers along with the car’s regular colour range…(2)
(📸: Autocar)

The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 7h

Know Your BL Colours:
No:38 Tuscan Blue

When it was launched in June 1970 the Range Rover was offered in 6 colours & aside from a change in the white option (from Davos White to Arctic White in 1975) these wouldn’t change or be added to until the 1979 model year…(1)

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 14h

Know Your BL Colours:
No:37 Sombrero Metallic

Another of the colours launched with the Metro, this was also available on Itals…
(📸: IG a/c finecarbrochures)

The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 15h

Know Your BL Colours:
No: 36 Magenta

Arguably one of Triumph’s great ‘70s colours, this was also used on NZ-assembled BL cars as well…

youtu.be/C275VY9AQsM?...

Battle Royale between the Dolomite and the BMW | Vintage Cars | Drive in | 1973

YouTube video by ThamesTv

youtu.be

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 16h

Factoid: The Allegro 2’s launch ads focused on the changes but also achieved in making owners of the ‘Mk1’ model seem either stupid or gullible to buy it in the 1st place.

In reality, the car was all-too-frequent BL occurrence of the ‘rethink’ model removing flaws the original shouldn’t have had…

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 17h

Apologies

The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 17h

I do, a typo

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 18h

Perhaps the change that got the most attention was the increase in rear legroom effected by moving the rear seat back 3ft but not at the expense of boot space.

A good improvement but like many Allegro 2 changes it could be argued it should’ve been like that from day one…(2)
(📸: Autocar)

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 18h

Factoid: Along with the Marina 2 came the Allegro 2, a car that was far more than just a revised front end, but had numerous changes to improve the car & answer criticisms the original car had had…(1)
(📸: Autocar)

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 1d

Know Your BL Colours:
No: 35 Brooklands Green

A colour with a sporty name meant that it was a popular choice for MGs & Triumphs in the mid-‘70s.

Available on Cowley-built cars (like the Marina) but not Longbridge ones though 1976’s limited edition Mini 1000 Special LE was an exception…

The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 1d

Factoid Extra: The Marina GT, the coupé-only TC replacement, was launched with the Marina 2 in 1975.

With its decals, trim & dubious steering wheel, it lasted just 3yrs & was last the plush Coupés.

Btw, it wasn’t the 1st Marina GT, as that’s what the Morris 1300 was named in Denmark…
(📸:Motor)

The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 1d

Factoid: October sees the half century of two revised BL cars & here’s one of them though if things had been different buyers would’ve got a new car as opposed to the start of a series of marketing-inspired refreshes…

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 2d

Factoid: While the exterior colour is Applejack, the trim colour is called Savannah & as it’s a Metro Standard you get vinyl trim.
Btw, did you know the seat pattern for these vinyl seats was called ‘biscuit weld’?
Well, you do now…
(📸: IG a/c jagalfa)

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 2d

Factoid: Never let it to be said BL neglected the Maxi as this Apr 1979 announcement included the news you could now fold the rear seats without needing to open the rear doors.

A change that came after 10yrs of production.

Oh…
(📸: Motor)

The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 2d

Factoid: I think this ad will answer your Q as this feature was one of several themes used in the UK launch campaign.

As we know the asymmetric split action rear seat was novel in a supermini (& cleverly promoted here), but not every model got it if you read the small print…

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 2d

Know Your BL Colours:
No: 34 Cashmere Gold Metallic

When the Rover SD1 moved to Cowley the car adopted the colour options used by the Austin Morris range such Cashmere Gold Metallic which seemed particularly suited to the classier models in BL’s range…
(📸: IG a/c classicsbychance/jagalfa)

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 2d

Every model had a split seat except the base Metro Standard.

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Reposted by The Car Factoids

Matt Owen @mjowen174.bsky.social · 2d

If you could please do us a favour and RT (or whatever it is on here) my writing CV I would be extremely grateful. I am a very capable writer of words, mainly “humorous”’ and if you have some PROPER paid work for me, please DM me. Thank you for your time www.mathew-owen.co.uk

Home | Matt Owen | Freelance Writer

I offer a broad and diverse range of writing services. Get in touch!

www.mathew-owen.co.uk

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 2d

Factoid: An Allegro 2 Special in swish Reynard Metallic & showing a hallmark of the fancy versions of the Mk1 & Allegro 2s - the rear black panel which in the latter was half-width…
(📸:IG a/c classicsbychance)

For the record, the Mk1 Allegro models to get the rear black panel were the Sport, the Sports Special & when that was replaced in Oct 1974 - the HL.

In the Allegro 2 time, the Special & HL got a half-width black panel though the Vanden Plas 1500 never got something like this (maybe they thought it was unbecoming?)

The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 2d

Factoid: While the Metro’s asymmetrical split rear seat was novel in 1980, by 1986 it was common to most superminis though that didn’t stop Austin Rover promoting it.

It does beg the Q what was the 1st car that had this feature?

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 2d

Of course, they did a better job when it came to advertising it on TV, at least with this classic ad with the great Russ Swift - it makes you wonder why a press version wasn’t produced? (2)

youtu.be/S9NgJqwhsqQ

Austin Rover - Montego - Advert - "Car Park" (1988) - HD

YouTube video by ROVR

youtu.be

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 2d

Factoid: What you needed to create a sophisticated ad in 1987: an expensive curtain & a sharp-suited yuppie with a ‘shoebox’ mobile phone, well that’s what Austin Rover thought anyway…(1)

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 2d

Know Your BL Colours:
No: 33 Peridot Metallic

The Metro’s launch saw new colours offered for it & the rest of the Austin Morris range.

Peridot is a gemstone that occurs in one colour but you’d be more interested the in the rear wash nozzle location (later moved to above the window)…
(📸: Autocar)

The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 3d

Any excuse to link to those titles & that great theme tune…(2)

youtu.be/ix6wTN_CH4g?...

The Sweeney 1975 - 1978 Opening and Closing Theme

YouTube video by TeeVees Greatest

youtu.be

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The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 3d

Factoid: Nobody needs reminding this was the car that was associated with The Sweeney but less well-known is the fact Ford originally supplied a blue car.
The producers asked for one in a brighter colour & a Copper Bronze one (like this car) was the result…(1)
(📸: IG a/c finecarbrochures)

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