The Car Factoids
@thecarfactoids.bsky.social
Important/unimportant facts about older cars plus plenty of old ads thrown in…
He/Him.
He/Him.
Pinned
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…
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…
Factoid: One way to recognise the Toyota Yaris-engined R50 MINI One D was to look to the rear & note the lack of an obvious exhaust pipe….
December 7, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Factoid: One way to recognise the Toyota Yaris-engined R50 MINI One D was to look to the rear & note the lack of an obvious exhaust pipe….
Christmas Motoring Gifts of Times Past
No:6 No-Risk Gear Lever Lock
Not perhaps the 1st thing you’d think of as a potential gift but in 1966 this firm certainly thought so.
Possibly not a gift for a Saab owner, of course…
No:6 No-Risk Gear Lever Lock
Not perhaps the 1st thing you’d think of as a potential gift but in 1966 this firm certainly thought so.
Possibly not a gift for a Saab owner, of course…
December 7, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Christmas Motoring Gifts of Times Past
No:6 No-Risk Gear Lever Lock
Not perhaps the 1st thing you’d think of as a potential gift but in 1966 this firm certainly thought so.
Possibly not a gift for a Saab owner, of course…
No:6 No-Risk Gear Lever Lock
Not perhaps the 1st thing you’d think of as a potential gift but in 1966 this firm certainly thought so.
Possibly not a gift for a Saab owner, of course…
It’s amazing how colour can alter the look of a car - take this image from a 1967 Volvo P1800 S brochure as an example where black gives the car a more muscular look at the rear (well, I think so anyway)…
(📸: IG a/c finecarbrochures)
(📸: IG a/c finecarbrochures)
December 7, 2025 at 5:06 PM
It’s amazing how colour can alter the look of a car - take this image from a 1967 Volvo P1800 S brochure as an example where black gives the car a more muscular look at the rear (well, I think so anyway)…
(📸: IG a/c finecarbrochures)
(📸: IG a/c finecarbrochures)
Factoid: Yes they did with Škoda rally legend John Haugland behind the wheel & as everyone knows it wouldn’t be their last RAC Rally class win, as they ultimately turned that ‘6’ into 17 consecutive wins.
December 7, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Factoid: Yes they did with Škoda rally legend John Haugland behind the wheel & as everyone knows it wouldn’t be their last RAC Rally class win, as they ultimately turned that ‘6’ into 17 consecutive wins.
Factoid: The SEAT Ronda needs no intro but did you know there was a Spanish ad made with one of them hooning around Brands Hatch?
Never let it be said you don’t learn useless stuff from me…(1)
(📸: Autocar)
Never let it be said you don’t learn useless stuff from me…(1)
(📸: Autocar)
December 7, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Factoid: The SEAT Ronda needs no intro but did you know there was a Spanish ad made with one of them hooning around Brands Hatch?
Never let it be said you don’t learn useless stuff from me…(1)
(📸: Autocar)
Never let it be said you don’t learn useless stuff from me…(1)
(📸: Autocar)
Factoid: Magazines noted the Alfasud’s chassis could easily handle more power & Alfa would introduce larger engines in time but before that in 1976 came Westune Ltd with tuned versions of the luxury L & sporty ti…
(📸: Motor)
(📸: Motor)
December 6, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Factoid: Magazines noted the Alfasud’s chassis could easily handle more power & Alfa would introduce larger engines in time but before that in 1976 came Westune Ltd with tuned versions of the luxury L & sporty ti…
(📸: Motor)
(📸: Motor)
Factoid: The Austin Morris ‘ribbon’ badge on the grille was one of the few clues this was a 998cc, A+Plus engined Mini City & part of the rationalised Mini range from Oct 1980.
The brash ‘City’ decals remained which in European markets (except Ireland) did without the ‘City’ moniker…
(📸: Autocar)
The brash ‘City’ decals remained which in European markets (except Ireland) did without the ‘City’ moniker…
(📸: Autocar)
December 6, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Factoid: The Austin Morris ‘ribbon’ badge on the grille was one of the few clues this was a 998cc, A+Plus engined Mini City & part of the rationalised Mini range from Oct 1980.
The brash ‘City’ decals remained which in European markets (except Ireland) did without the ‘City’ moniker…
(📸: Autocar)
The brash ‘City’ decals remained which in European markets (except Ireland) did without the ‘City’ moniker…
(📸: Autocar)
Factoid: Great, great cars need great, great ads - here’s one & reading it makes you want to go & try one, doesn’t it?
December 6, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Factoid: Great, great cars need great, great ads - here’s one & reading it makes you want to go & try one, doesn’t it?
Factoid: Arguably one of the best ever ‘Sud ads (with a superb headline), this 1980 ad was for a unique UK market limited edition which acted as a handy way of clearing stocks before 3dr Ti arrived during 1981.
December 6, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Factoid: Arguably one of the best ever ‘Sud ads (with a superb headline), this 1980 ad was for a unique UK market limited edition which acted as a handy way of clearing stocks before 3dr Ti arrived during 1981.
Factoid: Yes, the long, low, sleek look is exactly what a pick up needs to be, though it’s good to know Rootes’ artistic license extended to light commercials in their ads…
December 6, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Factoid: Yes, the long, low, sleek look is exactly what a pick up needs to be, though it’s good to know Rootes’ artistic license extended to light commercials in their ads…
Christmas Motoring Gifts of Times Past
No:5 Rootes Special Accessories
Well, what better time to get that roof rack for your Minx than Christmas?
(Just the thing to carry all your gifts the following Christmas)…
No:5 Rootes Special Accessories
Well, what better time to get that roof rack for your Minx than Christmas?
(Just the thing to carry all your gifts the following Christmas)…
December 6, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Christmas Motoring Gifts of Times Past
No:5 Rootes Special Accessories
Well, what better time to get that roof rack for your Minx than Christmas?
(Just the thing to carry all your gifts the following Christmas)…
No:5 Rootes Special Accessories
Well, what better time to get that roof rack for your Minx than Christmas?
(Just the thing to carry all your gifts the following Christmas)…
Factoid: Rootes did a good job creating an Imp coupé & the Stiletto was the fanciest model, but only 8,900 were made btwn 1967-72 & aside from being overshadowed by the Mini Cooper, ads like this didn’t help either…
December 6, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Factoid: Rootes did a good job creating an Imp coupé & the Stiletto was the fanciest model, but only 8,900 were made btwn 1967-72 & aside from being overshadowed by the Mini Cooper, ads like this didn’t help either…
Christmas Motoring Gifts of Times Past
No:4 Krooklok
Yes, nothing says Christmas quite like a Krooklok for your R-reg Chevette (just be careful not to drop the present on your foot)…
Btw, it seems to make ad festive you just added some holly (& hopefully remove it before using it)…
No:4 Krooklok
Yes, nothing says Christmas quite like a Krooklok for your R-reg Chevette (just be careful not to drop the present on your foot)…
Btw, it seems to make ad festive you just added some holly (& hopefully remove it before using it)…
December 5, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Christmas Motoring Gifts of Times Past
No:4 Krooklok
Yes, nothing says Christmas quite like a Krooklok for your R-reg Chevette (just be careful not to drop the present on your foot)…
Btw, it seems to make ad festive you just added some holly (& hopefully remove it before using it)…
No:4 Krooklok
Yes, nothing says Christmas quite like a Krooklok for your R-reg Chevette (just be careful not to drop the present on your foot)…
Btw, it seems to make ad festive you just added some holly (& hopefully remove it before using it)…
Factoid: Trouble was, for slightly less money you could get a BMW E21 323i which obviously wasn’t as well equipped, but so much better as a driver’s car (no matter how intriguing ‘glow paint’ was)…
December 5, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Factoid: Trouble was, for slightly less money you could get a BMW E21 323i which obviously wasn’t as well equipped, but so much better as a driver’s car (no matter how intriguing ‘glow paint’ was)…
Friday Commitment: Skinny tyres + limpet-like grip + generous body roll = cornering in a French car from the late ‘60’s…
(📸: Autocar)
(📸: Autocar)
December 5, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Friday Commitment: Skinny tyres + limpet-like grip + generous body roll = cornering in a French car from the late ‘60’s…
(📸: Autocar)
(📸: Autocar)
Christmas Motoring Gifts of Times Past
No:3 Windscreen Squeegee
Never let it be said Trico didn’t go to a lot of effort in promoting of effort in promoting their squeegee as a potential Christmas gift.
(That said, you’d hope ‘the motorist’ received some better gifts in 1980)…
No:3 Windscreen Squeegee
Never let it be said Trico didn’t go to a lot of effort in promoting of effort in promoting their squeegee as a potential Christmas gift.
(That said, you’d hope ‘the motorist’ received some better gifts in 1980)…
December 4, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Christmas Motoring Gifts of Times Past
No:3 Windscreen Squeegee
Never let it be said Trico didn’t go to a lot of effort in promoting of effort in promoting their squeegee as a potential Christmas gift.
(That said, you’d hope ‘the motorist’ received some better gifts in 1980)…
No:3 Windscreen Squeegee
Never let it be said Trico didn’t go to a lot of effort in promoting of effort in promoting their squeegee as a potential Christmas gift.
(That said, you’d hope ‘the motorist’ received some better gifts in 1980)…
Christmas Motoring Gifts of Times Past
No:2 The Lister Car Washing Kit
Save your just-launched Anglia from the perils of ‘mud-caked steering’ which clearly was a problem back in 1959 in those nascent days of the motorway age…
No:2 The Lister Car Washing Kit
Save your just-launched Anglia from the perils of ‘mud-caked steering’ which clearly was a problem back in 1959 in those nascent days of the motorway age…
December 4, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Christmas Motoring Gifts of Times Past
No:2 The Lister Car Washing Kit
Save your just-launched Anglia from the perils of ‘mud-caked steering’ which clearly was a problem back in 1959 in those nascent days of the motorway age…
No:2 The Lister Car Washing Kit
Save your just-launched Anglia from the perils of ‘mud-caked steering’ which clearly was a problem back in 1959 in those nascent days of the motorway age…
Factoid: In many ways Riley’s demise in July 1969 was inevitable not just due to cars like the 4/Sixty Eight & 4/Seventy Two but in BMC’s failure to create an identity for the brand buyers appreciated…
December 4, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Factoid: In many ways Riley’s demise in July 1969 was inevitable not just due to cars like the 4/Sixty Eight & 4/Seventy Two but in BMC’s failure to create an identity for the brand buyers appreciated…
Factoid: The dashboard of the MG Magnette Mark III though it could also be a Mark IV as it remained the same with the only obvious change btwn the two cars from the driver’s seat being repositioned windscreen wipers…
(Btw, no rev counter, only the Riley 4/68 & 4/72 got that ‘luxury’…
(📸: Autocar)
(Btw, no rev counter, only the Riley 4/68 & 4/72 got that ‘luxury’…
(📸: Autocar)
December 4, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Factoid: The dashboard of the MG Magnette Mark III though it could also be a Mark IV as it remained the same with the only obvious change btwn the two cars from the driver’s seat being repositioned windscreen wipers…
(Btw, no rev counter, only the Riley 4/68 & 4/72 got that ‘luxury’…
(📸: Autocar)
(Btw, no rev counter, only the Riley 4/68 & 4/72 got that ‘luxury’…
(📸: Autocar)
Factoid: Yes, a 1978 Supercover ad, but BL geeks will also note this might be the 1st example of the firm’s rebrand from the ill-advised Leyland Cars era…
Austin Morris & Jaguar Rover Triumph (JRT) divisions soon followed…
Austin Morris & Jaguar Rover Triumph (JRT) divisions soon followed…
December 4, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Factoid: Yes, a 1978 Supercover ad, but BL geeks will also note this might be the 1st example of the firm’s rebrand from the ill-advised Leyland Cars era…
Austin Morris & Jaguar Rover Triumph (JRT) divisions soon followed…
Austin Morris & Jaguar Rover Triumph (JRT) divisions soon followed…
Christmas Motoring Gifts of Times Past
No:1 Binoculars
Never mind this potential gift idea have a look at the reasons they offer for why…
No:1 Binoculars
Never mind this potential gift idea have a look at the reasons they offer for why…
December 4, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Christmas Motoring Gifts of Times Past
No:1 Binoculars
Never mind this potential gift idea have a look at the reasons they offer for why…
No:1 Binoculars
Never mind this potential gift idea have a look at the reasons they offer for why…
Factoid: It was quite a stretch to suggest the badge-engineered Magnette MkIV owed anything to a TT-winning, Nuvolari-driven ‘30s race car but then the same could be said of it having an ‘advanced design’…
December 3, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Factoid: It was quite a stretch to suggest the badge-engineered Magnette MkIV owed anything to a TT-winning, Nuvolari-driven ‘30s race car but then the same could be said of it having an ‘advanced design’…
Factoid: The announcement of the 1.3-litre Fiesta, a road test of Chrysler Sunbeam plus a report from the Frankfurt Show - that’s what I call an issue.
Oh & a Maserati, but I think I know what’ll interest you guys…
Oh & a Maserati, but I think I know what’ll interest you guys…
December 3, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Factoid: The announcement of the 1.3-litre Fiesta, a road test of Chrysler Sunbeam plus a report from the Frankfurt Show - that’s what I call an issue.
Oh & a Maserati, but I think I know what’ll interest you guys…
Oh & a Maserati, but I think I know what’ll interest you guys…
Factoid: The Mk1 Scirocco proved remarkably popular in the UK & an example was a couple of yrs after this 1977 ad when not only was it one of the UK’s best selling coupés, it also outsold all of BL’s sports cars…
(Click ‘ALT’ for Grade A geekery)
(Click ‘ALT’ for Grade A geekery)
December 3, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Factoid: The Mk1 Scirocco proved remarkably popular in the UK & an example was a couple of yrs after this 1977 ad when not only was it one of the UK’s best selling coupés, it also outsold all of BL’s sports cars…
(Click ‘ALT’ for Grade A geekery)
(Click ‘ALT’ for Grade A geekery)
Factoid: This ‘reflective glory’ 1969 supplier ad when the Maxi arrived reminds us how commonplace front disc brakes had become for family cars by the late ‘60’s though given the lacklustre performance from its disappointing 1485cc, E-Series engine, ‘taming it’ was a relatively straightforward task…
December 3, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Factoid: This ‘reflective glory’ 1969 supplier ad when the Maxi arrived reminds us how commonplace front disc brakes had become for family cars by the late ‘60’s though given the lacklustre performance from its disappointing 1485cc, E-Series engine, ‘taming it’ was a relatively straightforward task…