Motor World Review, August 1951
Model Year-In-Review Edition
Best Entry Sedan – 1951
Bogliq Mutineer Entrance
Relative Rating: 100.00
Our pick for Entry Sedan of the Year, 1951, has us all feeling a bit blue, but in a good way. The 5-seat Bogliq Mutineer Entrance fits the bill for us this year in the commuter/family category
Under the hood is a 121 cubic inch four good for 70 horses. The engine itself is a simple, straight forward affair, but this year Bogliq came up with a new, 4-speed manual transmission to mate to it. This takes the otherwise uninspiring engine and gives it life similar to its competitors.
We found all 5 seating positions to be comfortable compared to others in the class. Trim is pretty typical, with vinyl seating surfaces, woven weather stripping, and a chrome-accented painted dash.
On the road, the Bogliq has reasonable manners. It is neither top of its class nor bottom, but a good compromise all around. Straight line performance to 60 takes a leisurely 16.7 seconds, though it uses 20% less fuel than anyone else in the category, so this can be forgiven.
It is also not the cheapest in the classs, but still manages to undercut other competitors at the same time.
Bogliq’s tagline is “Buy Better. Buy Bogliq.” This year, they are on the money with that assessment.
Best Upscale Car – 1951
LMC Captain Series 6
Relative Rating: 93.51
Certainly, there has been an explosion over the last few years in premium and luxury offerings from various manufacturers. This category was the most crowded this year, but of those, LMC’s Captain Series 6 stands out.
Powered by a 158 horsepower 281 V8, with power sent to the rear by a 4-speed manual, the Captain gives one of the most thrilling rides in the class. Skidpad handling was the best of all in class, and its acceleration was second best, attaining a 0-60 of 11 seconds flat. Top speed was clocked at just shy of 119 miles per hour.
Interior trim is below average for this class, with seating for four, an AM radio, and Swiss-action in-dash clock.
Long-term testing predicts this will be one of the most durable upscale cars available this year, and also one of the cheapest to fuel and run. This goes hand-in-hand with its relatively low purchase price.
Overall, we feel that the LMC Captain is a good bargain for the money, and its pulse-pounding performance is something to behold.
Best Other – 1951
Caliban Type SC
Relative Rating: 100.00
One hears the words “kit car” and conjures the image of a hotrod cobbled together in someone’s garage. Caliban’s Type SC buries any such preconceived notions, and shows that a kit car can be something to be reckoned with on the road.
Though not huge at 195 cubic inches, the V8 under the hood utilizes advanced technology, giving it 152 horses. This in turn lets the Caliban shoot to 60 in under 10 seconds, and top out at 115 MPH. But its small and agile body, along with clever tuning of the suspension, gives it the absolute best lateral handling of any car we tested this year.
One might expect a car with such bravado to cost quite a bit, but the Type SC has a relatively low cost, making it an attractive option for a Baron of the Boulevard.
The Caliban is a road cruiser, through and through. Those in rural areas should abandon any idea of purchasing this, as rough, broken rural roads are not compatible with this low-slung rocket.
Caliban claims that Type SC “takes the lead.” Verdict? Guilty as charged.
Best Engine – 1941
Dominion 244ci V8
(+5.00 Relative Rating bonus for this round)
Of the engines put before us this year, we are most impressed with the 244 cubic inch V8 from Dominion. It puts out a respectable 138 horsepower, while coming in a relatively light package for a V8. As well, lab testing indicates that the 244 is one of the most reliable of the current offerings. For that, Dominion Motors receives our Best Engine award for 1946.
Entry Sedan Class Reviews
Epoch Model 20
“…tradition of an unbeatably low purchase price continues. What has been left behind was the old underpowered 31 cubic inch engine. A new 85 horsepower straight-six gives new life to an old brand. Unfortunately, it still drives like an ox cart…”
Pros: Lowest purchase price by far, best in class reliability
Cons: Flat out terrible handling, low practicality and comfort
Relative Rating: 87.88
Ardent 410 Custom Sedan
“…seating for 6 people in reasonable comfort. Also, despite good manners, nimble handling on paved roads, and solid straight-line performance, we found it was a little less than pleasant on a rutted, muddy road, seemingly characteristic of all recent Ardent sedans. Fuel economy is also off the mark…”
Pros: Good comfort, best in round handling, fastest car in class
Cons: Worst in class offroad, poor fuel economy, low reliability
Relative Rating: 87.88
Upscale Car Class Reviews
Sinistra Emperor Mk.2
“…bizarre front wheel drive contraption. It liked to just sit there and burn rubber, or to wander off the road in hard turns. This newcomer also has a big question mark when it comes to long-term reliability…”
Pros: Strongest I6 engine, very comfortable and prestigious, best in class top speed
Cons: Poor reliability, round-worst drivability, high purchase price
Relative Rating: 75.32
Olympus Virgo Deluxe
“…spendiest car of the group. The interior is, bar none, the most comfortable for both drivers and passengers. Unfortunately, the engine is a bit underpowered, and the automatic transmission didn’t help its case at all. In addition, the test car developed some disconcerting noises during our time with it…”
Pros: Best in round comfort, best in round prestige
Cons: Worst in round reliability, highest purchase price, poor handling on rough roads
Relative Rating: 71.43
Vermillion Bismarck V8 DualMatic Deluxe
“…from having one of the best engines in the industry to one of the most underwhelming. In a big cruiser and mated to an automatic transmission, this makes for a less than exciting drive. In every way, the Bismarck V8 is just mediocre…”
Pros: Relatively low purchase price, decent rough road handling
Cons: Worst in class performance, poor safety
Relative Rating: 71.43
Dominion Ensign DeLuxe
“…a worthy consideration for those looking to crack into the upscale market, without the premium price tag. It looks the part, but doesn’t drive it. Handling issues and blind spots plague the Ensign. On the bright side, it does have what we believe to be the best engine of the year…”
Pros: Best in round engine, low purchase price
Cons: Poor drivability, poor economy, relatively low comfort, poor safety
Relative Rating: 73.83 (including bonus)
Side note: Fixture violation (no mast antenna to support the radio). Future violations will result in Relative Rating penalties.
ACA Corona V8 Twin Power
“…not particularly good road manners, which are exacerbated on country roads. This seems to be more of a sheep in wolf’s clothing than anything else. A shame, as we are fond of the 303 V8…”
Pros: Good engine, relatively good performance
Cons: Poor drivability, relatively low comfort and prestige for the price, poor offroad
Relative Rating: 68.83
PMI Usurper Sabre V8
“…lovely 185 horsepower 318 V8. The Usurper Sabre continues a tradition of performance, making it to 60 in 10 seconds flat, and being able to hit just shy of 119 MPH. While it handles competently, the level of comfort just doesn’t rise to our expectations…”
Pros: Good performance and handling, relatively low purchase price
Cons: Poor comfort, poor safety
Relative Rating: 92.21
Other Class Reviews
Birmingham 7000 Sarthe
“…just plain outrageous. The 7000 is a pure adrenaline sports car, but it just seems to miss the mark of any established category…”
Pros: Highest in round prestige and top speed, reasonable reliability
Cons: Highest in round purchase price, poor comfort, mediocre handling
Relative Rating: 79.55
Fenton Grand Touring
“…big and heavy V8 that manages to be underpowered. It’s more like what you’d get if Townsend Coachworks built the Caliban…”
Pros: Good comfort, good handling
Cons: Poor reliability, relatively mediocre performance
Relative Rating: 88.64
Deer and Hunt Fallow
“…a very good selection for rural owners and farm work, Deer and Hunt has addressed deficiencies in the previous motor with a new V8 engine. This did cause the price of the Fallow to tick up slightly, but it is still a good value…”
Pros: Low purchase price, high reliability, best in round offroad
Cons: Poor comfort, utility still on the low side
Relative Rating: 88.64
Overall Relative Ratings are now in the OP and will be updated round by round.
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