The Mini !!!! The one that started it all!!

Fiat 500.

Datsun Bluebird

Still reckon the Alfasud was pretty groundbreaking. Was one of the first (if not the first) attempt at a mass production hatchback. The first Sud Ti was in about 1972 which was a couple of years before the Golf GTi. Was very unusual for Alfa as it was their first front wheel drive car but it had great handling, decent performance for the time and great sound from the boxer engine. Should really be remembered more ..... but unfortunately a lot of them rusted very quickly which has tended to cloud people's view of them I loved them

Yay! my first car was an Alfasud 1.5Ti Cloverleaf, awesome car for it's time.

Everything you said is true, awesome handling, performance etc, only downside (apart from rust) was the shockingly awfull inboard brake discs! :eek: (for those that are too young to know, inboard discs means they are mounted on the side of the gearbox rather than the end of the driveshafts, great for un-sprung weight and therefore handling, but truely dire for stopping the car in a hurry!)

Indeed you are also correct about it being the first mass production hatchback, early examples were not hatch back though, and the first of the hatchback examples still had a large bulkhead behind the rear seats so you couldn't fold them down. later examples had the bulkhead removed and foldable back seats!

Hi

What about the Citroen 15? Introduced front wheel drive and unitary body construction, independent front suspension and serious attention to aerodynamics.

Was a time when Citroen could rightly claim to be the most advanced car makers in the world. Also remember the DS as being very ahead of it's time.

Jensen Interceptor FF had four wheel drive, but more significantly perhaps, anti lock brakes.

Chris

I agree with the comment about the Espace being the grand-daddy of all the current MPV's, so what started the 4x4 thing off?

Ignoring the war time Willy's jeeps etc, could the Suzuki SJ410 be accused of starting something?

I agree with the comment about the Espace being the grand-daddy of all the current MPV's' date=' so what started the 4x4 thing off?

Ignoring the war time Willy's jeeps etc, could the Suzuki SJ410 be accused of starting something?

[img']http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b257/andy2407/Briskoda%20Stuff/sj410.jpg[/img]

Fiat Panda 4x4

Still reckon the Alfasud was pretty groundbreaking. Was one of the first (if not the first) attempt at a mass production hatchback. The first Sud Ti was in about 1972 which was a couple of years before the Golf GTi. Was very unusual for Alfa as it was their first front wheel drive car but it had great handling, decent performance for the time and great sound from the boxer engine. Should really be remembered more ..... but unfortunately a lot of them rusted very quickly which has tended to cloud people's view of them I loved them

Darned good car - but it wasn't a proper hatchback until 1980/81.

Even I could be persuaded to forget my alfahatedness for one - my brother had 2.

But First hatchback(s) ummm

Renault 16 - 1967

Austin Maxi - 1968

Fiat 127 - 1971

Renault 5 - 1972

But before these there was the Hilman Imp 1963. Rear Engine but opening rear window and space behind the seats.

Mini was a world beater, but if proper development took place the imp ran rings round it.

I agree with the comment about the Espace being the grand-daddy of all the current MPV's' date=' so what started the 4x4 thing off?

Ignoring the war time Willy's jeeps etc, could the Suzuki SJ410 be accused of starting something?

[img']http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b257/andy2407/Briskoda%20Stuff/sj410.jpg[/img]

what, like jeep safari's on holiday

Mk1 Escort- the diy revolution