"Retro off-roaders"

[globalgregors]

Not for everyone these electric vehicles

Robert quietly gives the LDV a few whacks with the rock in a sock.

 

[Tazzieman]

You can increase the range by putting a big battery in the tray.

 

[Krabby]

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

SCOUT

 

[Krabby]

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

More DETAILS from a BAT sale.

 

[klarie]

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

 

[Krabby]

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.

 

[klarie]

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..

 

[Krabby]

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.

 

[Logsplitter]

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.

 

[Blackwolf]

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:

4 friends retrofit cabs to revitalise old Land Rover Discoverys - Farmers Weekly

Early generation Land Rover Discoverys have been a farming favourite for two decades but many have been struck down with a vicious case of tinworm that, until now, has left them destined for the scrap heap. However, a gang of upcyclers in the Isle of Wight have come up with a new cab design that …

www.fwi.co.uk

 

[Logsplitter]

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

 

[Krabby]

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:

4 friends retrofit cabs to revitalise old Land Rover Discoverys - Farmers Weekly

Early generation Land Rover Discoverys have been a farming favourite for two decades but many have been struck down with a vicious case of tinworm that, until now, has left them destined for the scrap heap. However, a gang of upcyclers in the Isle of Wight have come up with a new cab design that …

www.fwi.co.uk

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.

 

[Logsplitter]

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.

 

[Logsplitter]

Patent pending

 

[Tom109]

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.

JLR doesn’t have a valid claim on anything (said the Courts).

 

[Krabby]

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.

 

[ADVAW8S]

A FC would be parked in our driveway if Ineos did one.

 

[stavok]

LONG Defender production line story, so feel free to skip. But, I'll try to keep it short nonetheless.

My wife and I went to the UK on our honeymoon and I convinced her to take the Land Rover tour and driving day in Solihull. So we're there (amazingly it's just the two of us and the guide) and he takes us into the factory. It was amazing - spotless, relatively quiet, super hi-tech, etc. We see Range Rovers and Discos coming down the line and he's showing us this and that, but there were no Defenders (proper ones, this was 2009) in sight. So I ask, since I really do like them, where they are made. Well, he says, there's a different part of the factory, but that's not part of the tour. Seriously? We're like c'mon man, we came all this way, we're a small group etc.; after some cajoling he gives in. It's a pretty big secret, so I hope I am not ruining for anyone, but there's a time machine in Solihull. You walk through a few doors and then boom, it's 1948.

The differences between where the RRs and the Defenders are built cannot even be explained. Think ultra-modern, top-of-the-line-hospital surgery center in the US vs. a medical tent at the height of the American Civil War. No super ergonomic robot assistants for the workers, no white overalls or pristine surfaces, it was seriously 1948 and it was awesome. Highlights included a guy whacking the door hinges on a 90" at full blast because the door wouldn't sit flush or the guy carrying a tire in one hand, the other slung on top of his shoulder like a boom box and a freshly-lit Camel dangling from his lips. We loved it!

Another classic moment on the day and perhaps the funniest thing my wife has ever said: They take us into where the offices and stuff are (if I remember they're in part of the original brick building) and there's the latest engine (don't recall what it was) on an engine stand on display. It was kinda mounted on a pole and the pole was in a large plant pot with crushed rock in its base. The stones were a light shade of gray and there was a wet-spot making some of the rocks darker; upon seeing this my wife says "They even leak oil when they're not in the car?" and I lost it. The tour guide, on the other hand, flashed an awfully cold look, but we giggled for the rest of the day!

You've all probably hear

LONG Defender production line story, so feel free to skip. But, I'll try to keep it short nonetheless.

My wife and I went to the UK on our honeymoon and I convinced her to take the Land Rover tour and driving day in Solihull. So we're there (amazingly it's just the two of us and the guide) and he takes us into the factory. It was amazing - spotless, relatively quiet, super hi-tech, etc. We see Range Rovers and Discos coming down the line and he's showing us this and that, but there were no Defenders (proper ones, this was 2009) in sight. So I ask, since I really do like them, where they are made. Well, he says, there's a different part of the factory, but that's not part of the tour. Seriously? We're like c'mon man, we came all this way, we're a small group etc.; after some cajoling he gives in. It's a pretty big secret, so I hope I am not ruining for anyone, but there's a time machine in Solihull. You walk through a few doors and then boom, it's 1948.

The differences between where the RRs and the Defenders are built cannot even be explained. Think ultra-modern, top-of-the-line-hospital surgery center in the US vs. a medical tent at the height of the American Civil War. No super ergonomic robot assistants for the workers, no white overalls or pristine surfaces, it was seriously 1948 and it was awesome. Highlights included a guy whacking the door hinges on a 90" at full blast because the door wouldn't sit flush or the guy carrying a tire in one hand, the other slung on top of his shoulder like a boom box and a freshly-lit Camel dangling from his lips. We loved it!

Another classic moment on the day and perhaps the funniest thing my wife has ever said: They take us into where the offices and stuff are (if I remember they're in part of the original brick building) and there's the latest engine (don't recall what it was) on an engine stand on display. It was kinda mounted on a pole and the pole was in a large plant pot with crushed rock in its base. The stones were a light shade of gray and there was a wet-spot making some of the rocks darker; upon seeing this my wife says "They even leak oil when they're not in the car?" and I lost it. The tour guide, on the other hand, flashed an awfully cold look, but we giggled for the rest of the day!

You've all probably already heard this before, but anyway: "How come the British never made computers?" - "Because they couldn't figure out how to make them leak oil!"

 

[Blackwolf]

Patent pending
View attachment 7915646

That's superb! Add Letech portals and I'll buy one (after I win the lottery of course)!

Jeep did one a few years back for its annual Easter Safari special editions that was pretty badass.

I remember that, I thought it was a superb and inspired recreation of the original FC Jeep and wish it had gone into production.

It represented the kind of heritage-inspired thinkyi admire in a manufacturer, and I used to wish Land-Rover had that kind of imagination.

 

[Krabby]

That's superb! Add Letech portals and I'll buy one (after I win the lottery of course)!


I remember that, I thought it was a superb and inspired recreation of the original FC Jeep and wish it had gone into production.

It represented the kind of heritage-inspired thinkyi admire in a manufacturer, and I used to wish Land-Rover had that kind of imagination.

Maybe post Gerry LR may again.