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"Retro off-roaders"

Oooooold thread, but just saw that Magna will be doing the new Scout for the VW group.

SCOUT
 
Just came across THIS weird little crossover-type thing. Has a very D1 vibe to it. WIKI

More DETAILS from a BAT sale.

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Just came across THIS weird little crossover-type thing. Has a very D1 vibe to it. WIKI

More DETAILS from a BAT sale.

View attachment 7841121View attachment 7841125
What? Simca/Talbot Matra Rancho
That piece of shite?
Still existing or survived rusting?
That one was one of the worst lemons ever built on earth.
btw it was not intened as an offroader but as a mimic station wagen. Vehicle got at this time the silver lemon award for most failures and terrible build quality.
In a way in deed what we call street suv today..
shudder
 
What? Simca/Talbot Matra Rancho
That piece of shite?
Still existing or survived rusting?
That one was one of the worst lemons ever built on earth.
btw it was not intened as an offroader but as a mimic station wagen. Vehicle got at this time the silver lemon award for most failures and terrible build quality.
In a way in deed what we call street suv today..
shudder
I'm not comparing it here, but it does have a retro look for certain. It's probably not a surprise that these were not properly imported to the States, so it's certainly a novelty.
 
I'm not comparing it here, but it does have a retro look for certain. It's probably not a surprise that these were not properly imported to the States, so it's certainly a novelty.
From that perspective yes .. it IS retro. For sure. Talbot (correctly french spoken you omit the tail "t" did some smaller cars. All of them including the Matra Bagheera
a 3 seats in a row sports car were perhaps quite stylish but quality construction, build and materials used .. rather poor.
I think Simca / Talbot was bought by Chrysler and later PSA (Peugeot / Citroen.. etc.. )
The Rancho you pictured was previously built a tiny pick up / ute and then designed as a mini SUV. Originally it should be equipped with AWD.. but the management decided as to much effort and to expensive. Indeed the Rancho was the first serial leisure car / Mini SUV built.
There were other leisure cars such as the Mini Moke, Citroen Pony .. what has some design style of Mercedes G Wagen several years earlier.

Funny to see vehicles that were built during my childhood and nearly forgotten.
Are there other mimics and strange SUV .. not talking yet abut the Volkswagen buggy..
 
As a sideways bump to @stavok SIMPLY 4x4 thread, I just had an (albeit small and superfluous) epiphany - how cool would it be if the manufacturers of these classics - and as someone said the 80s-90s were peak times for the automobile - were able to sell them "as new" again through the "continuation" schemes some automakers do? I think JLR did something similar a while back, but how many of us here would buy a brand new 80 series Toyota, proper Defender, 90's Pajero/Shogun/Montero, Patrol, or any of the others mentioned in this thread? If the prices were comparable to the Grenadiers, I bet lots of folks around here would jump at the opportunity.
 
I would jump at the chance of an old school Landcruiser or G-Wagon. But would also jump at a modern interpretation of the old Landrover forward control. Wouldn’t it be great if Ineos made a forward control Grenadier or Quartermaster. 😍
 
I have often toyed with the idea of taking a 2.4 Puma (or possibly TD5) Defender and fusing it with a II or IIA FC to produce a modern version of the original Forward Control Land-Rovers. I think it would be an interesting and fun project.

There was at one time a group in the Isle of Wight offering an FC conversion for Disco 1 and Disco 2 chassis, which had a certain appeal, but this seems to have fizzled out. There is an article about this conversion at the link below:

 
Brilliant. I think an Ineos forward control would make a great base as a chassis cab to convert into a overlander/camper vehicle. . Ineos are you reading this 🤔😂😂
 
I have often toyed with the idea of taking a 2.4 Puma (or possibly TD5) Defender and fusing it with a II or IIA FC to produce a modern version of the original Forward Control Land-Rovers. I think it would be an interesting and fun project.

There was at one time a group in the Isle of Wight offering an FC conversion for Disco 1 and Disco 2 chassis, which had a certain appeal, but this seems to have fizzled out. There is an article about this conversion at the link below:

FC Rovers are indeed cool. One of the members of our Rover club has one and it's a blast. But TBH, the prototype in that link is awfully strange and a bit homemade looking. I'm sure JLR would be up their asses if it really looked authentic but still.

Jeep did one a few years back for its annual Easter Safari special editions that was pretty badass.
 
If Ineos made one then JLR would not have a valid argument against it. As the Pinzgaur, Hafligers and Volvo forward controls look similar as do many cab over vans.
 
That actually looks good - far better than the LR Disco-based prototype.

I'm not a "jeep guy" any more - haven't owned one in 15 years - but I have much reverence for the brand (but not Stelantis). I love that each year they whip up a handful of awesome one-offs for the Easter Safari.
 
A FC would be parked in our driveway if Ineos did one.
 
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