Classics dwarfed by moderns

[austin]

Studio263 said:

This Ami 8 Break is our family car in the summer, I wouldn't swap it for anything.

Progress?

That is bloody glorious. We had one (or maybe two??) when growing up and loved them, so much better than the 2CVs that came afterwards. Would have another if a good one presented itself.

[ajprice]

Tickle said:

I may be misremembering, but I'm sure there was a old print advert for the classic Mini, I think 1980s, a Mini and a Rolls Royce parked nose to nose, and the steel bumpers are the same height.

[Studio263]

Strangely Brown said:

Is that an Auntie in the background?

I doubt it, he looks like a bloke to me.

[Strangely Brown]

Studio263 said:

Strangely Brown said:

Is that an Auntie in the background?

I doubt it, he looks like a bloke to me.

Careful now. They'll send you on a course for that.

[Studio263]

Here's another good one, a Honda N360 (their first family car) and the modern battery operated equivalent. The new one isn't really that big but the old one is absolutely tiny - like all the best stuff from Japan.

They are built to the original Kei car spec - 1.3m wide and 3m long with a maximum engine capacity of 360cc (the Honda is actually 354cc but it squeezes 27 bhp out of it). It is not an easy car to run though - the engine is very high-tech and parts availability is a bit tricky. Luckily the tyres are the same size as for an early Mini so they still make them (in Japan, oddly enough).

[austin]

Studio263 said:

Here's another good one, a Honda N360 (their first family car) and the modern battery operated equivalent. The new one isn't really that big but the old one is absolutely tiny - like all the best stuff from Japan.

They are built to the original Kei car spec - 1.3m wide and 3m long with a maximum engine capacity of 360cc (the Honda is actually 354cc but it squeezes 27 bhp out of it). It is not an easy car to run though - the engine is very high-tech and parts availability is a bit tricky. Luckily the tyres are the same size as for an early Mini so they still make them (in Japan, oddly enough).

That's a lovely little thing, and interesting from an engineering side as well.

Sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole and ended up trying to work out if the pistons would fit Austin 7s, (I think they might but the domed "crown" might be an issue.

[epom]

Studio263 said:

Here's another good one, a Honda N360 (their first family car) and the modern battery operated equivalent. The new one isn't really that big but the old one is absolutely tiny - like all the best stuff from Japan.

They are built to the original Kei car spec - 1.3m wide and 3m long with a maximum engine capacity of 360cc (the Honda is actually 354cc but it squeezes 27 bhp out of it). It is not an easy car to run though - the engine is very high-tech and parts availability is a bit tricky. Luckily the tyres are the same size as for an early Mini so they still make them (in Japan, oddly enough).

Crikey....

[braddo]

Flumpo said:

ajprice said:

Take the MX5 and Viper as the classics, compared to the modern Challenger. Yes the Challenger is a 4 seater but it's still massive. The other surprise was how close in size the MX5 and Viper are, The Viper is basically MX5 size with extra bonnet. In width, the Viper is a lot wider.

That’s massively screwing with my head.

I was just about the post the same thing!

[TarquinMX5]

Strangely Brown said:

Studio263 said:

It's not all one way. The old Citroen Ami is much bigger than the new one. Its also cheaper, faster, has a longer range, is more comfortable, carries more people and stuff, lasts longer...

This Ami 8 Break is our family car in the summer, I wouldn't swap it for anything.

Progress?

Is that an Auntie in the background?

Yes.

[Studio263]

epom said:

Crikey....

This is how they arrive from Japan (according to Jacques Tati)

[Escort3500]

[Blib]

[mko9]

FWIW, the Ford F-150 is a full size pickup, and the Nissan Frontier is a mid-size. Analogous to a Ford Ranger.

[ajprice]

[GTRene]

toy car

[21st Century Man]

[StescoG66]

It amuses me that a modern MINI is bigger than the old Maxi.....

[Silver Smudger]

StescoG66 said:

It amuses me that a modern MINI is bigger than the old Maxi.....

Especially when BMW bought the rights to both names, so could easily be using it

[mko9]

I think a 2024 Mini would even dwarf a 2001 Mini. The name no longer seems appropriate.

[PomBstard]

More a case of “classic that is as big as its modern equivalent” than anything being dwarfed - W123 parked behind my VF2 wagon…



The Holden is only about 100mm longer and wider, with a wheelbase about 150mm longer, yet still has all the modern crash protection. Knowing how big the Holden is inside, that Merc must be mahoosive, and the W116 simply cavernous!