History Economy car

1 history

1.1 1886-1920
1.2 1920s
1.3 1930s-1945
1.4 1945–1960
1.5 1960s
1.6 1970s
1.7 1980s
1.8 1990s

history
1886-1920

the history of automobile after many experimental models dating @ least hundred years, started first production car - 1886 benz tricycle. began period later known brass era considered 1890 1918 in u.s. in uk split pre 1905 veteran era , edwardian era 1918. u.s. veteran era pre-1890.

in 1890s , first decade of twentieth century; motorized vehicle considered replacement carriages of rich, or dangerous toy, annoyed , inconvenienced general public. period children s book wind in willows, pokes fun @ privileged motorists. automotive industry in france world leaders during period. red flag act had obstructed automotive development in uk until repealed in 1896. high wheeler car body style virtually unique united states. typified large-diameter slender wheels, solid tires, provide ample ground clearance on primitive roads in of country @ turn of 20th century. same reason, had wider track normal automobiles.

1902 oldsmobile curved dash runabout

the first car marketed (well off not rich) ordinary person , first economy car , 1901–1907 oldsmobile curved dash - produced thousands, on 19,000 built in all. inspired buckboard type horse , buggy, (used small two-seat pickup truck) popular in rural areas of u.s. had 2 seats, less versatile vehicle inspired it. produced after fire @ oldsmobile plant, when prototype saved nightwatchman named stebbins, (who later became mayor of detroit), , product available company produce, on feet.

although cars becoming more affordable before launched, 1908–1927 ford model t considered first true economy car, because few previous vehicles @ bottom of market horseless carriages rather practical cars. major manufacturers @ time had little interest in low-priced models. first real cars had featured fr layout first used french car maker panhard , did model t.

henry ford model t, 1921



ford assembly line, 1913. magneto assembly line first

henry ford declared @ launch of vehicle -

i build car great multitude. large enough family, small enough individual run , care for. constructed of best materials, best men hired, after simplest designs modern engineering can devise. low in price no man making salary unable own 1 - , enjoy family blessing of hours of pleasure in god s great open spaces.

model t on new road



exploded ford model t @ henry ford museum



agricultural extension agents in eastern oregon, 1915

the ford model t large scale mass-produced car; innovation, along attributes required simple inexpensive design, allowed first car exemplify ideals of economy car. although followed panhard mechanical layout, used epicyclic gearbox more later automatic gearboxes, rather panhard manual type gearbox, in developed form still in common use today. innovations involved in making successful design in production , materials technology; particularly use of new vanadium steel alloys. model t production leading example of taylorism school of scientific management, (also known fordism), , production techniques evolved @ highland park ford plant opened in 1910, after outgrew piquette avenue plant. river rouge plant opened in 1919, technologically advanced in world, raw materials entered @ 1 end , finished cars emerged other. innovation of moving assembly line, inspired dis-assembly plants of chicago meat packing industry, reduced production time twelve , half hours, hour , thirty-three minutes per car. black colour available because paint dry in required production time. continuous improvement of production methods, , economies of scale larger , larger scale production, allowed henry ford progressively lower price of model t throughout production run. far less expensive, smaller, , more austere hand-built pre-first world war contemporaries. size of model t arrived at, making track width of ruts in unsurfaced rural american roads of time, ruts made horse-drawn vehicles. designed large degree of axle articulation, , high ground clearance, deal these conditions effectively. had under stressed 177 cu in (2.9 l) engine. set template american vehicles being larger comparable vehicles in other countries, later on have economy cars scaled narrower roads smaller engines.

in 1912 edward g. budd founded budd company, specialized in manufacture of pressed-steel frames automobiles. built on railroad experience. in 1899 had taken knowledge of pressed steel railroad industry. worked pullman company on contract pennsylvania railroad, building first all-steel railcar.

in 1913 in uk, 1018 cc bullnose morris oxford first model launched morris motors. 1302 made. oxford available two-seater, or van chassis short allow four-seat bodies fitted. made extensive use of bought in components, including many u.s. reduce costs. 1915-1919 morris cowley (about 1400 produced) powered new continental engine bigger stronger better finished version of first oxford. post–first world war oxford deluxe version of that, made plainer, 1915-1919 cowley. larger cars 50% bigger engines 1913 oxford. 1925 cowleys , oxfords 41 per cent of british private car production , limousine , landaulet bodies 14/28 oxfords supplied ex-factory. morris added commercial vehicle operation , bought wolseley motors following year. cecil kimber, morris employee, founded mg (morris garages) aiming sell more morrises. after second world war morris motors, having swept in riley, merged austin motor company forming british motor corporation.

in 1913 british trojan company had prototype ready production. had two-stroke engine 4 cylinders arranged in pairs, , each pair shared common combustion chamber - doubled-up version of later called split-single engine. pistons in each pair drove crankshaft coupled v-shaped connecting rod. arrangement work, necessary connecting rod flex slightly, goes against normal practice. claim each engine had 7 moving parts, 4 pistons, 2 connecting rods , crankshaft. connected two-speed epicyclic gearbox, simplify gear changing, , chain rear wheels. solid tyres used, though these antiquated car use, prevent punctures , long springs used give comfort. before production start war broke out , 1914 1918, company made tools , gauges war effort.

in 1914 ford producing half million model ts year, sale price of less us$500. more rest of u.s. auto industry combined , ten times total national car production of 1908, year of cars launch. in year ford made headlines increasing minimum wage of workers $2.83 nine-hour day $5.00 eight-hour day, combat low workforce morale, , employee turnover problems because of repetitive , stressful nature of working on production line, , more radically, turn semi-skilled workers potential customers.

the ford model t first automobile produced in many countries @ same time. first world car , since being produced in canada , in manchester, england starting in 1911 , later assembled in germany, argentina, france, spain, denmark, norway, belgium, brazil, mexico, , japan.

at new york motor show in january 1915, william c. durant head of chevrolet (and founder of gm), launched chevrolet four-ninety, stripped down version of series-h, compete henry ford s model t, , went production in june. aim directly @ ford, durant said new car priced @ us$490 (the source of name), same model t touring. introductory price us$550, however, although reduced us$490 later when electric starter , lights made us$60 option. henry ford responded reducing model t us$440.

in 1916 edward g. budd s first big order budd company dodge brothers, purchased 70,000 bodies, mounting steel bodies onto conventional chassis frames.

1920s

during 1920s edward g. budd s pressed steel bodies fast replacing traditional coachbuilt bodies around world. these closed roofed bodies, until time open tourer bodies standard body on market. budd envisioned pushing technology further, , in 1924 found visionary in andré citroën. 1934, had developed citroën traction avant, first unibody, pressed-steel automobile. budd pioneered use of electric arc welding in automobile manufacturing. 1930s before technology applied economy cars.

the cyclecar attempt in period before 1922 in post-first world war austerity period, form of four-wheeled motorcycle , benefits of motorcycle , side-car, in more stable package.

trojan utility car

in 1920 trojan in britain made first series of 6 cars works in croydon , final revised production version shown @ 1922 london motor show. agreement reached leyland motors produce cars @ kingston upon thames factory work on reconditioning ex raf wartime trucks running down. arrangement continue until 1928 when leyland wanted factory space truck production. during 7 years of agreement 11,000 cars , 6700 vans made. car known trojan utility car went onto market @ £230, reducing £125 in 1925, same model t ford. nothing conventional. rather chassis car had punt shaped tray housed engine , transmission below seats. similar idea chassis-less design of contemporary 1922 italian lancia lambda luxury car. transmission used chain drive solid tyre shod wheels. 1527-cc engine ingenious hounsfield design started pulling lever on right of driver. prove how economical car run, company ran slogan can afford walk? , calculated on 200 miles (320 km) cost more in shoes , socks cover distance trojan car.

late model ford model t used giving tourist rides @ henry ford museum greenfield village

the astronomical success of model t accelerated after first world war, , time ford made 10 millionth car, half of cars in world fords. successful ford did not purchase advertising between 1917 , 1923; more 15 million model ts manufactured, reaching rate of 9,000 10,000 cars day in 1925, or 2 million annually, more other model of day, @ price of $240. need constant reductions in price through 1920s reflected increasing competition newer designs relatively unchanged , increasingly obsolescent model t.

in 1923 chevrolet developed new car compete model t, chevrolet series m copper-cooled , air-cooled car, designed general motors engineer @ ac delco charles kettering, (who invented points/condenser ignition system in use until 1980s). rare failure him, due uneven cooling of inline four-cylinder engine.

citroën type torpedo 1919

the development of small economy cars occurred in europe. there less emphasis on long-distance automobile travel, need vehicles navigate narrow streets , alleys in towns , cities (many unchanged since medieval times), , narrow , winding roads commonly found in european countryside. ettore bugatti designed small car peugeot. 1911 peugeot bébé type 19. had 850 cc 4-cylinder engine. citroën type first car produced citroën june 1919 december 1921 in paris. citroën had been established produce double bevel gears logo resembles, had ended first world war large production facilities, production of needed artillery shells french army. andre citroen keen adopter of u.s. car manufacturing ideas , technology in 1920s , 1930s. andre citroen re-equipped factory scaled down version of ford river rouge plant, had visited in detroit michigan. advertised europe s first mass production car. type reached production number of 24,093 vehicles. opel 4 ps, germany s first peoples car , popularly known opel laubfrosch (opel treefrog), small two-seater car introduced family owned auto maker opel, in 1924, bore uncanny resemblance little torpedo citroën 5 cv of 1922.

on smaller scale, european cars, such 747 cc austin seven, (which made cyclecars obsolete overnight.) austin 7 considerably smaller ford model t. wheelbase 1,905 millimetres (6 ft 3 in), , track 1,016 millimetres (40 in). equally lighter - less half ford s weight @ 360 kilograms (794 lb). engine required adequate performance therefore equally reduced , 747 cubic centimetres (45.6 cu in) sidevalve quite capable modest 7 kilowatts (10 bhp) output. start catch on in japan during same time period, datsun type 11 may have been pirated, @ start of own automobile industry. produced bmw dixi , bmw 3/15 in germany, rosengart in france french styled bodywork, , american austin car company american styling, (later american bantam) in u.s. displaced motorcycle , sidecar combination popular in europe in 1920s. spawned whole industry of specials builders. swallow sidecars switched making cars based on austin 7 chassis during 1920s, made own complete cars in 1930s ss. advent of nazi germany company changed name: jaguar. 7 continued produced until late 1930s along updated , restyled closed body, known big 7 until world war ii, still on 1920s running gear, enlarged chassis , widened track.

austin 7 chummy tourer 1929



ford tudor sedan, 1929

in late-1920s, general motors overtook ford, u.s. new car market doubled in size, , fragmented niches on wave of prosperity, gm producing range of cars match. included chevrolet economy car entry level model range of cars. small part of marketing strategy - car every purse , purpose of gm head alfred p. sloan. harley earl appointed head of newly formed gm art , color section in 1927. harley earl , alfred p. sloan implemented planned obsolescence , annual model change emphasise design engine success of company s products. moved cars being utilitarian items fashionable status symbols - needed regular replacement keep joneses. later in 1937, art , color section renamed styling section, , few years afterward became 1 of gm technical staff operations styling staff. funded high interest/low regular payments consumer credit, 1920s boom in other consumer durable products. marked beginning of mass market consumerism, had been enabled efficiency of mass production , moving production line. until time, manufacturers of consumer goods concerned, possibility market fulfilled , demand dry up. henry ford wrong-footed staying production oriented 1 size fits all, colour long s black , model t far long. seller s market in new cars in u.s. over. customers wanted choice. 1 model policy had bankrupted ford motor company. end of production in 1927 looked relic era. replaced model a. ford model t voted car of century on december 18, 1999 in las vegas, nevada.

in 1929 chevrolet replaced 171 cu in (2.8 l) straight-4 engine dated 1913, 194 cu in (3.2 l) straight-6 engine or stovebolt 6 last until 1970s chevrolet s base engine. few years later ford developed model 18 221 cu in (3.6 l) flathead v8. same car available reworked model engine, marketed until 1933 (in u.s.) model b. in europe, remained in ford lineup, ford v8 in britain in 1930s re-styled , relaunched post-war ford pilot. viewed large cars in europe. 1932 ford v8 (model 18) coupe became car of choice post-war hot rodders. first v8 engine in low priced car, , along chevrolet 6, showed how u.s. diverging rest of world in ideas constituted basic economy car.

in 1928 morris launched first morris minor (1928) in britain compete austin seven. year german motorcycle manufacturer dkw launched first car, p15, rear-wheel-drive, wood-and-fabric bodied monocoque car, powered 600 cc inline two-cylinder two-stroke engine.

also, in 1920s, ford (with model t in manchester, england), general motors (who took on opel in germany , vauxhall in britain), expanded europe. ford , gm european cars, economy cars, technologically conservative , rear-wheel-drive smaller european size, improvements focused on styling, (apart introduction of 1935 monocoque opel olympia, , macpherson strut ford in 1950s), until late 1970s , 1980s.

dkw f1 saloon



tatra v570 1933


1930s-1945

in 1931 dkw f1 launched. first successful mass-produced front-wheel drive car in world. priced @ 1,700 reichsmarks . (the british 1928-30 alvis cars fwd models had handling problems , 150 made. british 1929 bsa three-wheel competitor morgan , motorcycle combination market, 1931 four-wheeler short-lived. 1929 u.s. cord l-29 having been flawed, production ended @ 4,429. 1930 u.s. ruxton made 500, production lasted 4 months.) f1 featured front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout using water-cooled 494 cc or 584 cc transverse two-cylinder two-stroke engine chain drive. developed through 1930s 1938 f8 model , f9 not put production because world war ii started, 250,000 made. time dkw had become largest manufacturer of motorcycles in world. two-stroke engine technology appear in postwar products of harley-davidson, bsa, trabant, wartburg, saab, subaru, piaggio, puch, kawasaki, mitsubishi, mazda, daihatsu, honda, , suzuki. dkw type of 2 stroke engine replaced 4 strokes in western economy cars 1960s, lived on in stagnating , cash strapped communist east germany s trabant , wartburg , communist poland s fso syrena until 1980s.

in late 1920s in germany, josef ganz independent car engineer/inventor , editor of motor-kritik magazine had been fierce opponent of status quo of car design. became consultant engineer adler in december 1930. in first months of 1931, ganz constructed lightweight economy car or peoples car, prototype @ adler tubular chassis, mid-mounted engine, , swing axle independent rear suspension. after completion in may 1931, ganz nicknamed new prototype maikäfer (german cockchafer) species of beetle. in july 1931 consultant engineer bmw on 1932-34 bmw 3/20 successor bmw 3/15 model. featured transverse leaf independent front , rear suspension , updated overhead-valve cylinder head version of austin 7 based engine. after demonstration of adler maikäfer ganz, german standard fahrzeugfabrik company (unrelated british standard company), purchased license ganz develop , build small car according design. prototype of new model, called standard superior, finished in 1932. featured tubular chassis, mid-mounted engine, , independent wheel suspension swing-axles @ rear. @ same time 1931, 2 years prior hitler s accession power, ferdinand porsche founded dr. ing. h. c. f. porsche gmbh - porsche company offer motor vehicle development work , consulting. zündapp developed prototype porsche type 12 auto für jedermann ( car ), first time name volkswagen used. porsche preferred 4-cylinder flat engine, zündapp used water-cooled 5-cylinder radial engine. in 1932 3 prototypes running not put production. 3 cars lost during war, last in 1945 in stuttgart during bombing raid.

in berlin in february 1933, first production model of standard superior introduced @ iama (internationale automobil- und motorradausstellung). had 396 cc 2-cylinder 2-stroke engine. because of criticism of body design, not in least josef ganz in motor-kritik, followed in april 1933 altered model. in november 1933, standard fahrzeugfabrik introduced yet new , improved model 1934, longer 1 additional window on each side , had small seat children or luggage space in back. car advertised german volkswagen. during 1930s german car manufacturers 1 one adopted progressive ideas published in motor-kritik since 1920s. in meantime in may 1933, jewish josef ganz arrested gestapo on trumped charges of blackmail of automotive industry, @ instigation of had ferociously criticized. released, career systematically destroyed , life endangered. fled germany in june 1934 – same month adolf hitler gave ferdinand porsche brief designing mass-producible car consumer price of 1,000 reichsmark. production of standard superior ended in 1935. standard company forbidden nazis using term volkswagen .

brochure standard superior, 1934 – enough space 4 in quickest , cheapest



kdf propaganda – family playing river kdf-volkswagen , volks-radio receiver

the volkswagen beetle longest-lasting icon of 1930s era. adolf hitler admired ideals exemplified ford model t, (even though didn t drive himself), , sought of ferdinand porsche create peoples-car - literally volks-wagen, same ideals people of germany. car complement new autobahns built. had been planned under weimar republic, stole credit them. many of design ideas plagiarised work of hans ledwinka, tatra t97 , tatra v570 czechoslovakian tatra (car) company. suspiciously similar in many ways josef ganz–designed cars, looked similar mercedes-benz 120h prototype of 1931. nazi kraft durch freude (german strength through joy, abbreviated kdf) kdf-wagen or strength through joy - car project ground halt before serious production had started because of world war ii. kdf, nazi state organisation promote leisure activities of population, approved of, , monitored by, state. when german car industry unable meet hitler s demand volkswagen sold @ 1,000 reichsmarks or less, project taken on german labour front (deutsche arbeitsfront, daf). working daf, porsche built new volkswagen factory @ fallersleben, called stadt des kdf-wagens bei fallersleben (wolfsburg after 1945), @ huge cost partly met raiding daf s accumulated assets , misappropriating dues paid daf members. volkswagen sold german workers on installment plan buyers of car made payments , posted stamps in stamp-savings book, when full, redeemed car. due shift of wartime production, no consumer ever received kdf-wagen (although after war, volkswagen did give customers 200 dm discount stamp-books). entire project financially unsound, , corruption , lack of accountability of nazi regime made possible. beetle factory converted produce kübelwagen (the german equivalent of jeep). few beetles produced went diplomatic corps , military officials. after war, volkswagen company founded produce car in new democratic west germany, success.

1936 steyr 50 baby



fiat topolino

from 1936 1955, fiat in italy produced advanced , compact fr layout fiat 500 topolino or little mouse , precursor of 1950s fiat 500, designed dante giacosa. inline 4 cylinder 569 cc  13 ⁄2 hp engine placed right @ front of chassis radiator behind it. allowed sloping front , legroom when combined lowered seating. allowed fiat lower roofline. although nominally two-seater more squeezed in behind seats. had quarter elliptic leaf spring rear suspension, axle locating trailing arm, upgraded stronger semi-elliptic cope overloading customers. front suspension independent , used basis of suspension of first english cooper racing cars in 1940s became successful in 1950s. had 4 speed gearbox (when 3 common) , hydraulic brakes. similar size austin 7 more advanced. exported on world , produced @ nsu factory in germany, steyr-puch in austria , simca in france. facelifted american influenced full width styling of frontal panels after war, headlights integrated wings/fenders.

the fiat 1100 first introduced in 1937 updated version of 508 balilla (its real name 508c) similar 1936 fiat 500 topolino , larger 1500, typical late-thirties heart-shaped front grille, styling emerging designer, dante giacosa. powered 1,089 cc 4 cylinder overhead-valve engine. drive rear wheels through four-speed gearbox, , period, comfort, handling, , performance prodigious, making people s car driver s car .

the steyr 50 streamlined small car introduced in 1936 austrian manufacturer steyr-puch. car had water-cooled four-cylinder boxer engine driving rear wheels through four-speed transmission. had similar engine , radiator layout fiat topolino launched @ same time. save room , weight dynastarter used, doubled axle of radiator fan. regarded austrian peoples car , affectionately referred steyr baby . professor porsche had, despite rumors, not been involved in design or production of 50. moreover, little steyr offered better seating , luggage space porsche s volkswagen shorter overall length, large sheet metal sliding roof , available hydraulic brakes (instead of volkswagens cable-operated ones). in 1938, car revised. got more powerful engine , longer wheelbase. new model called steyr 55 , went on sale in 1940. total of 13,000 steyr babies sold. production of steyr cars discontinued during world war ii, after bombing of factory. after war, factory rebuilt , specialized in austrian versions of fiat 500 , fiat 1500. today steyr factory produces bmw x models europe.

morris 8 1936



ford 8 / ford model y 933cc 1937

the pre-war european car market not 1 market. trade barriers fragmented national markets, apart luxury cars cost of tariffs make cars more exclusive , desirable. way car maker enter national market of major european car making country, (and colonial markets of time), open factories there. example, citroen , renault opened factories in england in period. situation changed post-war growth of eec (european community) , efta. british rac (royal automobile club) horsepower taxation system had secondary function of excluding foreign vehicles. targeted @ ford model t, government feared wipe out fledgling indigenous motor industry. crippled car engine design in britain in inter-war period, causing british car makers produce under-square, low revving, long stroke engines. abolished after world war ii part of british export drive desperately needed, hard foreign currency, because made british cars uncompetitive internationally. technologically conservative 1930s morris eight, ford 8 (ford model y related german ford köln), , standard 8 (standard, later became triumph) named after rac horsepower car tax rating. ford model y had replaced model in europe in 1932 , ran until 1937. smaller , lighter car weighing third less, engine 2 thirds smaller in capacity model a. basic model y popular important milestone in british economy cars, being first steel-bodied four-seater saloon sell £100; four-wheeled car sell price had been two-seater tourer model of morris minor. model y reworked more streamlined ford 7y 1938-1939. restyled again 1939 launched ford anglia. initial sales in britain began in 1940. production suspended in 1942, , resumed in mid-1945. production ceased in 1948 after total of 55,807 had been built. anglia restyled again in 1948. including production, 108,878 built. when production anglia ceased in october 1953, continued extremely basic ford popular entry level car until 1959. ford prefect differently styled , more upmarket version of anglia launched in october 1938 , remained in production until 1941, returning market in 1945. car face lifted in 1953 original perpendicular or sit-up-and-beg style more modern three-box structure. sold until 1961. anglia, popular , prefect sold long time despite old fashioned technology using transverse leaf springs , beam axles front , rear suspension, side valve engines , partly synchromeshed 3 speed gearboxes. sold on price because of limited car supply on used car market due second world war, , new car market because of british government s post war policy of exporting cars. morris eight, introduced in 1935, deliberate close copy of ford , served lower cost, more profitable replacement 1928-vintage morris minor had not achieved hoped-for success. prices morris started @ £112 , offered more equipment ford , more modern design ageing austin seven, meant became uk s bestselling car 1939.

crosley, u.s. appliance manufacturer, 1939 (switching war production in 1942-45) 1952, produced small economy cars of european rather american scale. these featured variety of innovative in-house designed engines of less 1 litre capacity. popular in 1940s due high fuel economy during fuel rationing because of war. there wide variety of two-door body styles; sedan, convertible sedan, coupe, convertible coupe, covered wagon, , station wagon. also, there successful sports car, crosley hotshot. styling of 1951 crosley super sport similar 1958 frogeye/bugeye austin-healey sprite. production peaked @ 24,871 cars in 1948. sales began slip in 1949, post war american economy took off, , adding crosley hotshot , combination farm tractor-jeep-like vehicle called farm-o-road in 1950, not stop decline. in 1952, 1522 crosley vehicles sold. production shut down , plant sold general tire , rubber company.

1945–1960

1948 crosley station wagon

in anticipation of repeat of post first world war economic recession, gm started chevrolet cadet project (a compact car intended sell less us$1,000), ran 1945 1947, extend chevrolet range downwards in u.s. new car market. chevrolet head of engineering earle s. macpherson in charge of development. had unibody structure, over-square on head valve engine, strut-type front suspension, small-diameter road wheels, three-speed gearbox, brake , clutch pedals suspended bulkhead rather floor-mounted, , integrated fender/body styling. light , technically advanced, gm s management cancelled it, stating not economically viable. anticipated post second world war u.s. car market recession hadn t materialised. macpherson strut, world s common form of independent suspension, evolved in gm cadet project combining long tubular shock absorbers external coil springs, , locating them in tall towers directed vertical travel of wheels , formed king pin or swivel pin axis around front wheels turn. elegantly simple, 3 links holding wheel in place - strut itself, single-piece transverse lower arm, , anti-roll bar doubled drag link wheel hub. macpherson took ideas ford instead. first used in french 1948 ford vedette. next in 1950 british ford consul , zephyr (british mid-size cars, same size cadet), owed more cadet macpherson strut suspension, , caused sensation when launched. in 1953, miniaturised economy car version, anglia 100e launched in britain.

renault 4cv



ford anglia 101e



first generation ripple bonnet citroën 2cv built 1949–1960



saab 92 1949

as europe , japan rebuilt war, growing economies led steady increase in demand cheap cars motorise masses . emerging technology allowed economy cars become more sophisticated. post-war economy cars vw beetle, citroën 2cv, renault 4cv, , saab 92 looked extremely minimal; however, technologically more advanced conventional cars of time.

the 4cv designed covertly renault engineers during world war ii german occupation of france, when under strict orders design , produce commercial , military vehicles. between 1941 , 1944, renault under technical directorship of francophile german installed former daimler benz engineer called wilhelm von urach turned blind eye small, economy car project suitable period of post war austerity. design team went against wishes of louis renault in 1940 believed post-war renault should concentrate on mid-range cars. after row in may 1941 did louis renault approve project. in october 1944 after liberation, louis renault imprisoned on charges of collaboration, died in suspicious circumstances. in january 1945, newly nationalised renault had officially acquired new boss, former resistance hero pierre lefaucheux, (he had been acting administrator since september 1944). lefaucheux had been arrested gestapo in june 1944, , deported buchenwald concentration camp. gestapo transferred him metz interrogation, city deserted because of advancing allied front, germans abandoned prisoner. in november 1945 french government invited ferdinand porsche france looking relocate volkswagen project part of war reparations. on 15 december 1945, porsche invited consult renault renault 4cv. lefaucheux enraged should think production-ready renault 4cv in way inspired german volkswagen, , politicians should presume send porsche advise on it. government insisted on 9 meetings porsche took place in rapid succession. lefaucheux insisted meetings have absolutely no influence on design of renault 4cv, , porsche cautiously went on record saying car ready large scale production in year. lefaucheux man contacts, 4cv project meetings had taken place, porsche arrested in connection war crimes allegations involving use of forced labour including french in volkswagen plant in germany. ferdinand porsche, despite never facing sort of trial, spent next twenty months in dijon jail. 760 cc rear-mounted four-cylinder engine, three-speed manual transmission 4cv launched @ 1946 paris motor show , went on sale year later. volume production of marshall plan aid money, said have commenced @ company s parisian boulogne-billancourt plant few weeks before paris motor show of october 1947, although cars in short supply next year or so. on 4cv s launch, nicknamed la motte de beurre (the lump of butter); due combination of shape , use of surplus paint german army vehicles of rommel s afrika korps, sand-yellow color.

the vw featured 1.1-litre, air-cooled flat four, rear engine rear-wheel drive, round independent suspension, semi monocoque construction , ability cruise on autobahn long periods reliably. cruising ability , engine durability gained high top gearing, , restricting engine breathing , performance below maximum capability. production restarted after war british army royal electrical , mechanical engineers, under major ivan hirst after dismissed valueless war reparations western allies. in 1948 hirst recruited heinrich nordhoff run volkswagen gmbh , in 1949 ownership handed on west german government. volkswagen type 1 beetle become popular single design in history. production surpassed ford model t on february 17, 1972. withdrawn european market in 1978.

the 375 cc citroën 2cv had interconnected round independent suspension, rack , pinion steering, radial tyres , front-wheel drive air-cooled flat twin engine , four-speed gearbox. 10 15 mpg (imperial) more fuel efficient other economy car of time – restricted performance match. designed motorise rural communities speed not requirement. original design brief had been issued before second world war in mid-1930s. had been redesigned 3 times, market , materials costs had changed drastically during development period. engine size increased on time; 1970 still tiny 602 cc. in production until 1990.

the saab 92 had transversely mounted, water-cooled two-cylinder, two-stroke based on dkw design, driving front wheels. had aircraft derived monocoque construction, aerodynamic (drag coefficient) value of 0.30 – not bettered until 1980s. later developed saab 93, saab 95, , saab 96. produced until 1980, switching v4 4 stroke engine in 1960s. mechanicals used in saab sonett sports cars.

also in immediate postwar period, monocoque fr layout morris minor launched in 1948. reduce costs reused pre-war side-valve 918 cubic centimetres (56.0 cu in) morris 8 engine instead of intended flat-four. later, after 1952 formation of british motor corporation had austin designed 948cc , later 1098cc ohv bmc a-series engine. had strong emphasis on packaging , roadholding, independent front suspension , rack , pinion steering, , american influenced styling. produced in different body styles including 2-door , 4-door saloon, 2-door convertible, woody estate car / station wagon, van rear box , pick-up truck. 1.3 million had been built end of production in 1971. designed alec issigonis.

1953 morris minor



1947 toyota toyopet model sa

the 1947 fr layout toyota sa toyota s first true post war design. although permission begin full production of passenger cars in japan not granted until 1949, limited numbers of cars permitted built 1947, , toyota sa 1 such car. had 4-cylinder engine, 4-wheel independent suspension , smaller, aerodynamic body. project driven kiichiro toyoda, of design work done kazuo kumabe. two-door body aerodynamic in style similar volkswagen beetle. doors hinged @ rear (often called suicide doors). front window single pane of flat glass single wiper mounted above driver. right hand drive offered. toyota engineers (including dr kumabe) had visited germany before world war ii , had studied porsche , volkswagen designs (independent suspension, aerodynamic bodies, backbone chassis, rear-mounted air-cooled engines, economical production cost). many japanese companies had ties germany during war years. unlike other japanese car firms toyota did not partner western companies after war, free use german designs. many features of prototype beetle subsequently put sa, although beetle s rear-mounted air-cooled engine feature not used. later on, toyota revisited economic principles exemplified beetle when designing 1950s successors sa , later publica , corolla.

in post war austerity of late 1940s, when of japanese population not afford car, afford motorcycle, japanese codified legal standard extremely economical small cars, known keicar. aim promote growth of car industry, offer alternative delivery method small business , shop owners. limited mere 150 cc (100 cc two-strokes) in 1949, dimensions , engine size limitations gradually increased (in 1950, 1951, , 1955) tempt more manufacturers produce kei cars. wasn t until 1955 change 360 cc upper limit two-strokes four-strokes class began taking off, cars suzuki suzulight (front-wheel drive based on german lloyd dkw type engine) , subaru 360, able fill people s need basic transportation without being severely compromised. generation keicars on market rear-engined, rear drive rr layout cars. end of 1960s keicars switched front-engined, front-wheel-drive ff layout. market has thrived ever since, cars increasing in size , engine capacity, including sports cars such honda beat , suzuki cappuccino, , miniaturised mpvs.

in 1953, in japan hino entered private car market, manufacturing renault 4cv under licence. also, in 1953 fiat 1100 in italy redesigned compact four-door sedan, modern monocoque bodywork , integrated front lights.

1951 nash rambler 2-door hardtop



nash metropolitan



restored original fiat 500 in street race in sicily, italy



1967 subaru 360

while economy cars flourished in europe , later japan, booming postwar american economy combined emergence of suburban , interstate highways in country led slow acceptance of small cars. brief economic recessions saw interest in economical cars wax , wane. during 1950s, independent lower volume american auto manufacturers launched new small cars. designed smaller contemporary american cars, still have mainstream appeal, because still accommodate 5 passengers comfortably conventional engineering , fr layout, establishing american sized compact car . nash motors launched nash rambler , kaiser-frazer introduced henry j in 1950. willys-overland (the designers of second world war jeep mb) willys aero in 1952, , hudson 1953 hudson jet. niche market avoiding competition big 3 of gm, ford , chrysler not large enough sustain these competing models. priced near cost of base model full sized car big three, in 1950s had price war. fuel prices during period low , maintenance costs of compacts as full sized cars, total running cost not cheaper. nash rambler made second generation. losses caused other car makers initiated succession of mergers resulted in american motors corporation (amc). nash contracted british motor corporation build american designed metropolitan using existing bmc mechanical components, (the 1.5 liter engine bmc b-series engine used in larger sizes in mg mga , mg mgb). imported cars began appear on u.s. market during time satisfy demands true economy cars. initial late 1940s–early 1950s success in small way, monocoque morris minor launched in 1948, miniaturized chevrolet styling. underpowered long distance roads of u.s. , freeways starting spread across country in 1950s. first british motorway did not open until 1959. bmc preferred develop higher profit margin mgs american market , worked nash , passed on opportunity. mid-1950s volkswagen beetle using clever , innovative advertising , capitalising on high build quality, durability , reliability, spectacular success. having been designed cruising autobahns, freeways no problem it. disproved scepticism of american buyers usefulness of, standards, such small cars. in 1955 vw launched beetle-based italian styled karmann ghia coupé, developed 1953 concept car. production doubled after introduction, becoming car imported u.s. more 445,000 stylish renault dauphine derived renault 4cv, looked follow vws footsteps, failure due mechanical breakdowns , body corrosion. failure on u.s. market in late 1950s, may have harmed acceptance of small cars in america.

in 1955, japanese ministry of international trade , industry set goal japanese makers create called national car larger kei car. influenced japanese automobile manufacturers focus product development efforts smaller kei cars, or larger national cars . concept stipulated vehicle able maintain maximum speed on 100 km/h (62 mph), weigh below 400 kg (882 lbs), fuel consumption @ 30 km/l (85 mpg‑imp; 71 mpg‑us) or more, @ average speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) on level road, , not require maintenance or significant service @ least 100,000 km (62,000 mi). established compact car class, far popular in japan due tax benefits stipulated japanese government regulations. 1 of first compact cars met requirements fr layout toyota publica flat twin engine, , rr layout mitsubishi 500. publica , mitsubishi 500 kei cars engines larger regulations permitted @ time.

in late 1950s ddr german democratic republic produced peoples car . trabant sold 3 million vehicles in thirty years due communist captive market. had transverse two-cylinder air-cooled two-stroke engine , front-wheel drive, using dkw technology.

in 1957, fiat in italy launched 479 cc nuovo fiat 500 designed dante giacosa. first real city car. had rear-mounted air-cooled vertical twin engine, , round independent suspension. target market italian scooter riders had settled down , had young family, , needed first car. produced in austria puch 500. fiat had launched larger 1955 fiat 600 similar layout water-cooled in-line four-cylinder engine, had six-seater people carrier / mpv / mini-van version called multipla , though same size modern supermini.

car body corrosion particular problem 1950s 1980s when cars moved monocoque or uni-body construction (starting 1930s), separate body-on-frame chassis made thick steel. relied on shaped body panels , box sections, sills/rockers, providing integrity of body-shell rather separate frame (vehicle) strength. light car fast and/or economical car. introduction of newly available computers structural analysis 1960s, computers ibm 360, thickness of sheet metal in bodyshells reduced minimum needed structural integrity. however, corrosion prevention / rustproofing, had not been significant because of thickness of metal , separate chassis, had not kept pace new construction technology. lightest monocoque economy cars affected structural corrosion.

1960s

austin a40 farina mkii countryman 2 piece tailgate



bmc austin-morris mini cross section shows how packaging maximizes passenger space



1965 monte carlo rally winner: 1964 morris mini cooper s

the world s first hatchback, 1958 fr layout austin a40 farina countryman model co-development of bmc , italian design house pininfarina @ time when unusual. had lift rear window , drop down boot lid. sold two-door saloon. built in italy innocenti in uk. 1965 innocenti designed new single-piece rear door combinata version of countryman. top-hinged door used struts hold on wide cargo opening , true hatchback – model never developed in home (united kingdom) market. countryman name has estate type associations, , bmc successor company rover used name on estate cars / station wagons largely forgotten.

the next major advance in small car design 1959 848 cc ff layout austin mini british motor corporation, designed alec issigonis response first oil crisis, 1956 suez crisis, , boom in bubble cars , microcars followed. first front-wheel-drive car water-cooled in-line four-cylinder engine mounted transversely - bmc a-series engine. allowed eighty percent of floor plan use of passengers , luggage. majority of modern cars use configuration. progressive rate rubber sprung independent suspension (hydrolastic 1964–1971), low centre of gravity, , wheel @ each corner radial tyres, increased car s grip , handling on expensive automobiles on market. mini voted second important car of 20th century after ford model t. badge engineered luxury versions modified bodywork , wood , leather interiors made under names of riley elf , wolesely hornet. customised versions made coach-builders harold radford, , popular rich , famous of 1960s london. 1964 jeep version (that had been rejected british armed forces), of mini, mini moke popular king s road / carnaby street, swinging london set. estate car / station-wagon (with non-structural wood frame countryman version), van , pick-up versions successful. in 1962, larger 1098cc (and later 1256cc) version of mini engineering design launched, austin/morris 1100. had front disc brakes standard. had italian styling pininfarina , used front-to-rear interconnected independent hydrolastic suspension. available in sporting mg versions, , luxury wood , leather interior riley, wolesely , vanden plas versions. of 1960s, top selling car in britain, , sold until mid-1970s. sold austin america in u.s., canada, , switzerland between 1968 , 1972. sold in south africa - austin apache , spain - austin victoria, triumph type michelotti re-styling, built in local factories. bmc had hedged bets after launch of front wheel drive mini , 1100 , meet demands of more conservative customers, keeping rear wheel drive austin a40 farina in production until 1967 , morris minor until 1971, while front wheel drive being accepted uk , european markets. demand older customers in particular kept minor in production, despite being outdated.

ford in uk in 1959 launched anglia 105e. had new overhead valve engine , 4 speed gearbox, great improvement on previous model anglia 100e had side-valve engine , 3 speeds. rear wheel drive using rear beam axle , leaf springs, front macpherson struts used predecessor. used lots of miniaturised late 1950s american-influenced styling, including sweeping nose line, , on deluxe versions, full-width slanted chrome grille in between prominent eye headlamps, car sported backward-slanted rear window , tailfins. dated car on nine-year production life. anglia s ford kent engine in production in developed form 21st century.

the launch in 1960s of mini cooper exploit exceptional grip , handling of austin mini, along success in rallying, (monte carlo rally in particular) , circuit racing, first showed economy cars effective sports cars. made traditional sports cars mg midget old fashioned. rear-wheel-drive ford lotus cortina , ford escort 1300gt , rs1600, along vauxhall viva gt , brabham sl/90 hb in late 1960s opened market still further in britain. meanwhile, 1950s abarth tuned fiats , gordini tuned renaults did same in italy , france.

1959 daf 600



renault 4 open rear door



1966 subaru 1000



1966 toyota corolla



1966 datsun/nissan sunny

also in 1959 fr layout daf 600, rear-mounted automatic gearbox, launched in netherlands. 600 first car have continuously variable transmission (cvt) system – innovotive daf variomatic. first european economy car automatic gearbox. cvt continued through 1960s , 1970s daf daf daffodil, daf 33, daf 44, daf 46, daf 66, , later volvo after merged volvo 340. 1960s austin mini/austin 1100 compact , innovative automatic gearbox, developed automotive products (with conventional epicyclic / torque converter coupling) less efficient @ transmitting drive.

in 1960s semi-monocoque/platform chassis 750 cc renault 4 (arguably first small five-door hatchback, viewed small estate car or station wagon @ time) launched in france. had soft controlled ride citroën 2cv. in layout, economy car version of 1930s designed citroen traction avant, in particular commerciale derivative, independent rear suspension (the commerciale used flexible beam axle, similar 1970s vw twist-beam rear suspension). commerciale had been smaller estate car horizontally split two-piece rear door before second world war. when relaunched in 1954 featured one-piece top-hinged tailgate. citroen responded 2cv-based 1960 602 cc citroën ami , hatchback 1967 citroën dyane. in france, in 1966 renault launched midrange renault 16 - although not economy car, recognised first non-commercial mass-market hatchback car. hatchback leap forward in practicality. adopted standard feature on european cars, saloons declining in popularity apart @ top of market on next twenty years. small economy cars more limited in load carrying ability larger cars benefited - long light loads furniture hung out of of car.

in 1960s japanese miti national car class of vehicles, saw launch of isuzu bellett, daihatsu compagno , mazda familia in 1963, mitsubishi colt in 1965, , nissan sunny, subaru 1000, , toyota corolla in 1966. honda introduced first four-door sedan in 1969, called honda 1300. in north america, these cars classified subcompact cars. 1960s toyota corolla, datsun sunny refined conventional small rear-wheel-drive economy cars exported japan postwar international competition , trade increased. japan instituted shaken road-worthiness testing regime, required progressively more expensive maintenance, involving replacement of entire vehicle systems, unnecessary safety, year on year, devalue older cars , promote new cars on home market available low prices. there few cars in japan more 5 years old.

autobianchi primula



1970 fiat 128



simca 1100 hatchback



1971 autobianchi a112



fiat 127 mk1

in 1962 fiat introduced third generation fr layout fiat 1100, called 1100d. restyled 1100r 1966. fiat 1100d made in india 1964 onwards. in 1973 (for model year alone) named premier president. 1974 onwards until discontinued in 2000, known premier padmini.

in 1964 fiat under engineering leadership of dante giacosa designed first car transverse engine , end on gearbox (using different length drive shafts) , hatchback - autobianchi primula, had pininfarina styling bore resemblance austin 1100. put limited production fiat under autobianchi brand. fiat still produced fr layout 1100 of same size, potential technical teething problems not damage brand. primula production ceased in 1970, time 74,858 had been built. replaced autobianchi a112 , autobianchi a111 same mechanical layout. sold in mainland europe, popular 1980s (replaced lancia y10), unknown in uk. french 1967 simca 1100 (who had used fiat technology under licence), 1969 fiat 128, , 1971 fiat 127 regarded first super-mini brought development wider audience. 128 dante giacosa s final project. layout gradually superseded gearbox in engine s sump of bmc austin morris , later peugeot psa x engine, until car in production transmission layout 1990s, long obsolescent austin (rover) mini.

the simca 1100 first small car, designed outset, angled single piece hatchback tailgate enter large scale production. earlier renault 4 tailgate near vertical estate car, , austin a40 had split tailgate. simca successful in france, less elsewhere due tappety engines , body corrosion. total of 2.2 million cars produced 1985. in 1972 renault introduced monocoque renault 5 supermini hatchback, used proven , successful renault 4 mechanicals , suspension. made until 1985, when replaced super cinq . american motors (amc) marketed version sealed-beam headlamps , reinforced bumpers le car in u.s. 1976 1983.

gm s british , german subsidiaries re-entered small car market conventional fr layout cars first time since second world war in 1960s. vauxhall viva, launched in september 1963, , replaced in september 1966. first new small car produced vauxhall since 1936. ha viva powered 1,057 cc (64.5 cu in), overhead valve, 4 cylinder, front-mounted engine driving rear wheels. comparable in size , mechanical specifications new gm germany opel kadett released in 1962 in continental europe. opel featured brand new ohv 993cc engine, in developed form lasted until 1990s. viva , kadett sold alongside each other in many markets. ha viva inch longer ford anglia dated 1959. offered two-door saloon. hb viva, announced in september 1966 , sold vauxhall until 1970, larger car ha, featuring coke bottle styling, , modelled after american general motors (gm) models such chevrolet impala/caprice of period. featured same basic engine ha, enlarged 1,159 cc, added weight of larger body final drive gearing reduced maintain performance. opel kadett b launched in 1965.

in 1968 ford replaced outmoded anglia ford escort sold across western europe. longer , wider predecessor fill gap left increasing size of ford s next model in range ford cortina. had same mechanical layout , suspension cortina , anglia, contemporary coke bottle styling. struggled compete larger , more comfortable second generation 1965 opel kadett in west germany.

1959 studebaker lark



1959 rambler american



1960 chevrolet corvair



1960 ford falcon



1960 plymouth valiant sedan



chevy ii 4 door sedan



1966 zaz-966

in u.s. market, in 1959 studebaker launched studebaker lark, 1960 brought chevrolet corvair, ford falcon, , plymouth valiant market segment dominated rambler. these vehicles lower priced , offered better fuel economy standard domestic full-size models, had grown in size , price through 1950s. corvair, chevrolet s rear-engined compact car, brought market compete directly vw beetle. ford falcon , plymouth valiant conventional, compact six-cylinder sedans competed directly rambler american. in 1962 chevrolet introduced chevy ii / nova line of conventional compacts first offered 4- , six-cylinder engines. these american vehicles still larger fuel-efficient economy cars popular in europe , japan. corvair twenty inches longer, 7 inches wider, 8 hundred pounds heavier , includes engine twice size of beetle inspired it. corvair offered vw s rear engine advantages of traction, light steering, , flat floor chevrolet s six-passenger room , six-cylinder power american buyers accustomed to. later versions of corvair considered sports cars rather economy cars including monza spyder models, featured 1 of first production car turbocharged engines. corvair monza followed falcon-based ford mustang, introduced in 1964, establishing pony car class included corvair s replacement, chevrolet camaro in 1967, expanding domestic pony car market segment started in mid-1960s.

the 1960s saw swan song of rear-engined rear-wheel-drive car rr layout. first models designed layout in central europe before second world war, had better traction other 2 wheel drive car layout. capable in mountainous country there, had lots of unsurfaced roads, how capable shown performance of 2 wheel drive military kübelwagen version of vw beetle. layout had better interior space utilisation front engine rear-wheel-drive cars, , better ride live rear beam axle. affordable way produce car round independent suspension, without need expensive constant-velocity joints needed front-wheel-drive cars, or axle arrangements of fr layout cars. have road-holding issues due unfavorable weight distribution , wheel camber changes (rear wheel tuck under), of lower-cost swing axle rear suspension design. these highlighted , little exaggerated ralph nader. these problems ameliorated on later beetles , eliminated on second-generation chevrolet corvair switch four-link, independent rear suspension. hillman imp, nsu prinz , soviet zaporozhets had styling cues derived original corvair. connections corvair mentioned on respective wikipages. economy cars layout launched since 1960s have been turn of millennium ultra compact 2 seater city car smart fortwo , indian market tata nano.

1960s launched rr layout cars:

the 874 cc hillman imp - uk.
the relatively unsuccessful attempt @ diversification of volkswagen type 3, volkswagen type 4, , 583 cc nsu prinz - west germany.
the 956–1289 cc renault 8/10 , 777–1294 cc simca 1000 - france.
the 2296 cc chevrolet corvair - us.
the first 1960s air-cooled two-stroke in-line twin-engined generation of 360 cc keicar class - 1958 subaru 360, mitsubishi 360 1961, mazda carol 1962, daihatsu fellow 1966, honda n360 , suzuki fronte 1967 along non keicar, renault based hino motors 4cv replaced 1961 contessa - japan.
in communist eastern europe there Škoda 1000mb/1100mb developed 1970s Škoda s100/110 , 1970s–1980s Škoda 105/120/125 estelle - czechoslovakia.
centrally planned small soviet car, zaporozhets ukrainian zaz factory (1960-1969 styled fiat 600), (1966-1994 styled nsu prinz 4), sold in ussr , warsaw pact/comecon countries of eastern , central europe. had low price , fuel economy , designed diy maintained customer, because of lack of maintenance facilities in communist countries. issued soviet war amputees state through social welfare system. in total, 3,422,444 air-cooled zaporozhets made. - soviet union


1970s

1973 chevrolet vega gt hatchback



1972 ford pinto sedan



1971 amc gremlin x



1977 chevrolet chevette hatchback

the 1973 oil crisis (and again in 1979), emphasised importance of fuel economy worldwide, increasing proportion of cost of vehicle operation. had particular impact in united states greater distances, arguably nation hardest hit because of prevalence of large, fuel-thirsty cars. @ same time, new emissions , safety regulations being implemented requiring major , costly changes vehicle design , construction u.s. market. sales of imported economy cars had continued rise 1960s. first response domestic american car makers included u.s. produced, fr layout cars, amc gremlin, chevrolet vega, , ford pinto, along captive imports.

amc determined have first subcompact offering , 1970 amc gremlin sales began 6 months ahead of all-new 1971 models gm , ford. gremlin used amc hornet s existing design shortened wheelbase , chopped tail, , had important low-price advantage.

the chevrolet vega, featuring attractive miniaturised camaro styling, introduced in september 1970, gm s first subcompact, economy car. 2 million sold on seven-year production run, due in part low price , fuel economy. 1974, vega among top 10 best-selling american-made cars, aluminum-block engine developed questionable reputation. chevrolet increased engine warranty 50,000 miles (80,000 km) vega owners, proved costly chevrolet. 1976 vega had extensive engine , body durability improvements , five-year/60,000 mi (97,000 km) engine warranty. after three-year sales decline, vega , aluminium engine discontinued @ end of 1977 model year.

pontiac s lowest-priced car re-badged vega variant exclusively available in canada 1973-74 model years, , introduced in u.s. following year. final 1977 models featured first use of pontiac s iron duke inline-4 engine. lower priced versions of chevrolet monza introduced 1978 , rebadged variants of discontinued vega added monza line - monza wagon using vega kammback body sold 1978-79 model years, , monza s hatchback, price leader model using vega hatchback body, offered 1978 model year.

the ford pinto introduced 1 day after vega. small, economical, , top seller. however, had key safety design fault - position of fuel tank meant crushed in rear-end collision, creating major fire risk. ford company memos presented evidence during civil trials revealed these remedies discussed, conclusion shut down production , retool expensive. official memos published in mother jones detailed cost analysis of corporate liability in event of having compensate crash victims. ford pinto memo ruthlessly calculated cost of reinforcing rear end ($121 million) versus potential payout victims (us$50 million). ford pinto engine though successful in european fords twenty years, in successive mid , large european sized mainstay models of the; uk ford cortina, german ford taunus, ford sierra, , ford granada amongst others.

nissan cherry



1976-77 honda civic hatchback

by 1970, nissan released first front-wheel-drive car developed prince motor company had merged nissan in 1966. introduced in 1970 datsun/nissan cherry. in 1973, energy crisis started, made small fuel efficient cars more desirable, , north american driver began exchanging large cars smaller, imported compacts cost less fill , inexpensive maintain. toyota corona, datsun 510, mitsubishi galant (a captive import chrysler sold dodge colt), subaru dl, , later honda accord gave buyers increased passenger space , luxury amenities, such air conditioning, power steering, am-fm radios, , power windows , central locking without increasing price of vehicle. in 1972, honda civic launched, cvcc (compound vortex controlled combustion) stratified charge engine debuted in 1975 , offered alongside standard civic engine. cvcc engine had head design promoted cleaner, more efficient combustion, eliminating need use catalytic converter new california emission standards - every other u.s. market car year needed exhausts catalytic converters. japanese, had competed on price, equipment , reliability conservative designs, starting make advanced, globally competitive cars.

ford had sold 2 million escorts across europe 1974, year mk2 launched squarer flatter panel body re-style. successful market uk. escort s success helped numerous rallying successes in 1970s, , performance versions escort mexico , rs2000 traded on success, , provided halo effect lesser models.

the chevrolet chevette introduced in september 1975 , produced through 1987. successful , americanized version of gm t platform (1973) world car developed opel, gm s german subsidiary , isuzu motors of japan.

chrysler having taken control of simca (and hillman in uk) in 1960s, part of expansion plans match gm , ford, turned french subsidiary, when needed launch american made sub-compact, comply federal corporate average fuel economy (cafe) regulations being introduced starting 1978 model year cars. replacement simca 1100, c2 project, became (simca) talbot horizon won european car of year 1978, , more 3 million sold in united states dodge omni , plymouth horizon 1978 1990. had been re-engineered federal emission vw golf 1.7l engine , macpherson strut suspension u.s. market. chrysler europe sold peugeot in 1978, due mounting operating losses in europe , u.s. required u.s. government bailout.

captive imports other response u.s. car makers increase in popularity of imported economy cars in 1970s , 1980s. these cars bought overseas subsidiaries or companies in held significant shareholding. gm, ford, , chrysler sold imports u.s. market. buick opel, ford cortina, mercury capri, ford festiva, , dodge colt examples.

volkswagen golf 1976 mk1 (australia)

technologies developed during post-war era, such disc brakes, overhead-cam engines , radial tires, had become cheap enough used in economy cars @ time (radials began adopted in 1950s , 1960s, , front disc brakes in 1960s, towards bottom of market in europe). led cars such 1974 mk 1 volkswagen golf designed giorgetto giugiaro, fiat 128 , 1972 honda civic. exotic technology, electronic fuel injection, became affordable, allowed production of high-performance hot hatch sport compacts 1976 volkswagen golf gti. car combined economy of use , practical hatchback body, performance , driving fun kicked off hot hatchback boom. introduced in 1976, 1.5 l vw golf diesel—the first small diesel hatchback. used new bosch rotary mechanical diesel injection pump technology. in year, ford of europe (produced merging of ford national operations in europe) launched first front-wheel-drive small car, ford fiesta, having gained experience ford of germany 1960s european midsized ford taunus p4 , ford of brazil ford corcel.

1980s

gm europe (vauxhall/opel) introduced first european market front-wheel-drive car, opel kadett d/vauxhall astra, golf-sized car in 1979 opel in germany , 1980 vauxhall in uk.

in 1980, fiat introduced giugiaro designed mk 1 fiat panda. designed produced in china @ 1970s level of industrialisation. utilitarian front-wheel-drive supermini fiat standard transverse engine , end-on gearbox. featured flat body panels , flat glass.

also in 1980, new hatchback , front wheel drive third generation ford escort mark iii (europe) launched. previous escorts saloon/sedans front engine , rear wheel drive. in 1981 ford launched american version of ford escort.

1990-95 fiat uno cd 0.30



peugeot 205

in 1982 gm launched first front-wheel-drive supermini, opel corsa/vauxhall nova in europe.

in 1983 fiat launched next step forward in small car design, fiat uno. designed giorgetto giugiaro s italdesign. tall, square body utilising kamm tail achieved drag coefficient of 0.34, , won praise airy interior space , fuel economy. incorporated many packaging lessons learnt giugiaro s 1978 lancia megagamma concept car, (the first modern people carrier-mpv-mini-van)—but miniaturised. tall car, high-seating packaging imitated every small car today. showed not low sleek cars aerodynamic, small boxy packaged cars too. voted car of year in 1984.

also in 1983 peugeot launched pininfarina-styled peugeot 205. while not radical uno in body design, aerodynamic. first european supermini diesel engine - xud. provided performance of 1.4 l petrol economy—55 miles per imperial gallon (5.1 l/100 km; 46 mpg‑us)—that better base 1 l petrol version. could, diesel engines, last several hundred thousand miles regular servicing. was, along larger (also xud powered) citroën bx, beginning of start of boom in diesel sales in europe. 205 gti popular golf gti in europe. 205 named car of decade in uk, car magazine in 1990.

in chevrolet offered 3 new small economy cars in 1980s replace chevette: chevrolet sprint, three-cylinder suzuki-built hatchback, chevrolet spectrum built isuzu , chevrolet nova built nummi in california, gm-toyota joint venture.

1990s

chevrolet offered geo brand in in 1990s featuring suzuki-built geo metro (marketed suzuki swift in europe, suzuki cultus in japan, , holden barina in australia), isuzu-built storm, , nummi-built prizm.

in europe in 1993, fiat launched boxy , conservatively styled packaged front wheel drive fiat cinquecento accommodate 4 adults larger austin mini. replaced first fiat panda , aged rear engined rear wheel drive 1970s fiat 126, smallest car in fiat range. real breakthrough in small car design 1993 renault twingo revolution in styling being first 1 box small car reach production. (the pre-production citroën ax supermini launched in 1987 monobox design, production version more conservative after negative reactions in focus groups.) both had interior space of larger car. twingo , cinquecento relaunched city car market in europe, decades competitors in market austin mini , polish built fiat 126, had been developed 1950s fiat 500.