The Cuckoos of Automotive History - Developed by one brand, built by another
- Junkman
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The Cuckoos of Automotive History - Developed by one brand, built by another
No, I'm not talking about badge engineering. Neither do I mean cars designed by specialty firms which then were built by some car maker.
What I mean are the cars that were developed and supposed to be made by one company, then suddenly changed identity and were lauched with the badge of another brand with most people, in particular the customers, being completely unaware of the fact. Automotive history is littered with them.
Here are a few examples.
Lancia Beta Montecarlo
Fiat needed a replacement for the ageing 124 Spider. As usual they entrusted the development to Pininfarina, but ultimately settled on a Bertone design, the X1/9. Pininfarina's Project was called X1/20 and they continued to develop it, but used the carryover Twin Cam Four instead of the planned Fiat 130 V6. The oil crisis, you know. When Fiat finally pulled the plug, Lancia snapped it up.
Ford Corcel
It's actually the bastard child of Willys Do Brasil and Renault. Willys went to bed with la Regie during Project M, the upcoming R12. However, Willys ran away with the readily developed platform and drivetrain, clad it with their own bodywork and wanted to launch it in 1967, two years before Renault deemed the R12 suitable for consumption. However, Ford bought out the company just before the launch and thus inherited a ready to roll car in the pipeline. So they renamed it and launched it in 1968. It is thus the first FWD Ford built on the American continent.
Peugeot 309
Well, it's a Simca.
Volkswagen K70
The NSU logo is actually cast into most parts.
Volvo 300 Series
They are DAFs.
Eagle Premier/Dodge Monaco
This one is interesting. It involves a hostile takeover and an assassination.
The car was jointly designed by AMC and Renault as Project X58. A new factory was set up in Canada to build it. However, shortly before its launch, Chrysler's Lee Iacocca sanctioned talks with Renault to buy AMC off them. A few weeks into these talks Renault's George Besse was killed by 'an extreme anti-capitalist group' and in the ensuing chaos, Iacocca bought Renault’s majority shareholding in AMC for $1.1bn, a bargain considering he got their North American dealership network and the highly profitable Jeep brand in the bargain. AMC became Chrysler’s Jeep/Eagle division in 1987 and only 172 actual Renault Premiers were built before the car was rebadged, initially even only externally.
What I mean are the cars that were developed and supposed to be made by one company, then suddenly changed identity and were lauched with the badge of another brand with most people, in particular the customers, being completely unaware of the fact. Automotive history is littered with them.
Here are a few examples.
Lancia Beta Montecarlo
Fiat needed a replacement for the ageing 124 Spider. As usual they entrusted the development to Pininfarina, but ultimately settled on a Bertone design, the X1/9. Pininfarina's Project was called X1/20 and they continued to develop it, but used the carryover Twin Cam Four instead of the planned Fiat 130 V6. The oil crisis, you know. When Fiat finally pulled the plug, Lancia snapped it up.
Ford Corcel
It's actually the bastard child of Willys Do Brasil and Renault. Willys went to bed with la Regie during Project M, the upcoming R12. However, Willys ran away with the readily developed platform and drivetrain, clad it with their own bodywork and wanted to launch it in 1967, two years before Renault deemed the R12 suitable for consumption. However, Ford bought out the company just before the launch and thus inherited a ready to roll car in the pipeline. So they renamed it and launched it in 1968. It is thus the first FWD Ford built on the American continent.
Peugeot 309
Well, it's a Simca.
Volkswagen K70
The NSU logo is actually cast into most parts.
Volvo 300 Series
They are DAFs.
Eagle Premier/Dodge Monaco
This one is interesting. It involves a hostile takeover and an assassination.
The car was jointly designed by AMC and Renault as Project X58. A new factory was set up in Canada to build it. However, shortly before its launch, Chrysler's Lee Iacocca sanctioned talks with Renault to buy AMC off them. A few weeks into these talks Renault's George Besse was killed by 'an extreme anti-capitalist group' and in the ensuing chaos, Iacocca bought Renault’s majority shareholding in AMC for $1.1bn, a bargain considering he got their North American dealership network and the highly profitable Jeep brand in the bargain. AMC became Chrysler’s Jeep/Eagle division in 1987 and only 172 actual Renault Premiers were built before the car was rebadged, initially even only externally.
Supply Chain Disruption
1957 DKW 3=6 Sonderklasse
1967 Renault 16 GL
1983 Renault 4 TL
2001 Mercedes E240
2002 Datsun Dice
1957 DKW 3=6 Sonderklasse
1967 Renault 16 GL
1983 Renault 4 TL
2001 Mercedes E240
2002 Datsun Dice
- fried onions
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Re: The Cuckoos of Automotive History - Developed by one brand, built by another
An ersatz cuckoo? Brilliant.
Squire Dawson
HUMBER - built stronger to last longer.
HUMBER - built stronger to last longer.
- NergleFuttocks
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Re: The Cuckoos of Automotive History - Developed by one brand, built by another
Isn’t there truth in the fact that the first Scimitar should have been a Daimler?
- Eddie Honda
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Re: The Cuckoos of Automotive History - Developed by one brand, built by another
One more recent one, please excuse the fact it's a van. Wasn't the LDV Maxus a GM/Daewoo cast off?
- Junkman
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Re: The Cuckoos of Automotive History - Developed by one brand, built by another
Can you answer these questions?
Supply Chain Disruption
1957 DKW 3=6 Sonderklasse
1967 Renault 16 GL
1983 Renault 4 TL
2001 Mercedes E240
2002 Datsun Dice
1957 DKW 3=6 Sonderklasse
1967 Renault 16 GL
1983 Renault 4 TL
2001 Mercedes E240
2002 Datsun Dice
Re: The Cuckoos of Automotive History - Developed by one brand, built by another
it was designed by karen ogle of ogle design im sure it as meant to have the v8 daimler engine as an option.NergleFuttocks wrote: ↑Tue Jun 11, 2019 11:46 pm Isn’t there truth in the fact that the first Scimitar should have been a Daimler?
Re: The Cuckoos of Automotive History - Developed by one brand, built by another
can we count the mk2 astra/ daewoo nexia/cielo?
and as per hubnut, the OG audi 80 was a DKW/Merc enfant de bastard
and as per hubnut, the OG audi 80 was a DKW/Merc enfant de bastard
- Eddie Honda
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Re: The Cuckoos of Automotive History - Developed by one brand, built by another
Probably. I was going on the old-fashioned memory there. Sorry.Junkman wrote: ↑Wed Jun 12, 2019 1:32 amCan you answer these questions?Eddie Honda wrote: ↑Tue Jun 11, 2019 11:46 pm One more recent one, please excuse the fact it's a van. Wasn't the LDV Maxus a GM/Daewoo cast off?
LDV needed to replace its shit old Sherpas. They got chatting to Daewoo and started a joint venture. Daewoo went tits up, GM got the motors stuff and GM flogged the half-baked van project to LDV on the cheap.
As a bully bonus, later down the line the Chinese got hold of it and to show their amazing sense of humour, recycled it and churned out many variants including the MG V80.
- Eddie Honda
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Re: The Cuckoos of Automotive History - Developed by one brand, built by another
Hey Trump. Is that like Tim Apple of Apple? I think you mean Tom Karen...
- AutoshiteBoy
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Re: The Cuckoos of Automotive History - Developed by one brand, built by another
Original VW Polo was supposed to be an Audi
Honda Accord Aerodeck was supposed to be a replacement Scimitar
Wasn't the BX supposed to be a Reliant until they went tits-up?
Honda Accord Aerodeck was supposed to be a replacement Scimitar
Wasn't the BX supposed to be a Reliant until they went tits-up?