You may be right; when designing a car, it is possible to get away with just a few minor warnings that aren’t worth fixing, and still make it highly competitive in at least one demographic.
Olympus Motor Group
Reboot
Hollywood loves a great reboot. Whenever a story gets old, or backed into a corner, we reboot. Who will play your favorite role? Find out in the reboot. With lessons learned, we reboot Olympus Motor Group; a car company born out of post war excess. Rather than focusing on the different eras, and what can and cannot be found, we will focus on the different brands found under the OMG banner. Stay tuned.
Pegasus
The Pegasus brand is OMG’s value/economy brand. The brand was conceived in 1946 by Rathbone and Associates, but the first models did not come out until the 1953 model year. This gave Olympus ample time to build up assets, such as a large volume plant, and parts inventory, to help mitigate costs.
Pegasus debuted three models on 29th of July, 1952 as 1953 models. All three models were available, only in standard trim, and the only color available was black. All three models featured a 1.3 Liter Inline 4, with twin-Eco carburetors; this was known as the Pegasus 4. The Pegasus 4 was capable of 60 hp, and 96 lb ft of torque. Most importantly, it was very easy to build; this would become the hallmark of the Pegasus brand, as enthusiasts loved tearing down, rebuilding and modifying these engines. These models also came equipped with a 4 speed manual transmission.
The Courrier was an entry level sedan. It featured basic seating, with two individual seats in the front, and a bench in the rear. This model would remain largely unchanged until 1980, other than safety features that were made standard equipment by law; such as padded dashboards, 3 point safety harnesses, and the like. Heat was standard, but Air conditioning and radios had to be added aftermarket.
The Porter was a short wheelbase van, that was available as either a minibus with seating for 5, or a light delivery vehicle with seating for 2. Like the Courrier, the Porter came with 135/75C13 tires, mounted on basic steel rims. A spare tire was attached at the front, so as not to take up any precious cargo space. The Porter was very popular among conversion enthusiasts, as its simple design allowed for easy modification.
The Wanderer varied from the Courrier and the Porter, in that it had much larger wheels, and a 4x4 transmission. The 4 wheel drive train was derived from OMG’s Star brand, with which this vehicle shared a line. Still, the Wanderer featured the Pegasus 4, similar to its siblings. Much like the Courrier and Porter, enthusiasts loved this vehicles ease of tear-down, and rebuild. Many customize Wanderers can still be found today.
In 1960, Pegasus released two more models, specifically for fleet orders. Those were the Traveler Sedan, and the Hauler pickup. Being that these vehicles would be delivered to various municipalities and commercial organizations, that would likely emblazon their own logos on them, they were shipped in primer. Primer also became an option on Pegasus other models. This allowed Pegasus owners further customization, without raising costs. Unlike the Courrier, Porter, and Wanderer, these vehicles would receive updates as their upper trim chassis-mates did, keeping them current in style.
The Traveler Sedan was a mid-size sedan, built on the same line as the Olympus Libra Coupe, and the Star Family-man line (available in coupe, sedan, and estate). As such, in addition to the standard Pegasus 4, some units were shipped with left over Olympus or Star power trains. The Traveler often had quality issues, as many were built with recycled parts from the more expensive models: The Olympus Libra for example, had an insanely high QA expectation, and this allowed only the best Libras to leave the plant, while at the same time mitigating costs for both models.
A 1960 Traveler, customized for use as a taxi. Even better, this particular example came equipped with the Libra’s Inline Six motor and Lux-O-Matic transmission.
A 1962 Traveler, customized for the Portland, Michigan police force. This model was originally equipped with a Pegasus 4, but was swapped out for the Orion Leopard’s 300 cid V8.
The Hauler was built on the same line as the Star Tradesman Pickup. It, being much larger than other Pegasus vehicle, and used in a more utilitarian role, was given a new 8 Cylinder motor. The Pegasus 8, is quite simply two Pegasus 4 blocks, married by a shared crankshaft at a 90 degree angle; this had a displacement of 2,546 cubic centimeters, put out 121 hp, and 175 lb ft of torque. Still other examples also feature leftover and recycled Star Tradesman power trains.
In 1970s, Pegasus became OMG’s ‘import fighter’ changes had to be made to the lineup, to make the vehicles more competitive. By the end of the decade, the automotive industry was evolving, and the traditional rear wheel drive car fell out of favor. The new Courrier and Porter were debuted in 1979, as 1980 models. The Wanderer was discontinued, but would return again in the 1990s. These new models featured contemporary styling and front wheel drive. While the Pegasus 4 had gone through numerous updates in the previous decade, that was merely to meet fuel efficiency and environmental standards; they still offered a simple layout, and 60 peak horsepower and 95 lb ft. of torque.
Like its predecessor, the Porter came in bot passenger, and commercial variants; both of which were popular for their customization.
The Courrier was now available in 3 door or 5 door variants. These were very simply designed, and were quite affordable, though not quite as popular as its predecessor. (To be continued…)
Coincidentally, working on something else at the moment, and would like some advice. I wasn’t sure where to ask, so I put it in general chat. Do these fixtures work for you?, linked here.
Pegasus in the new age
October 1986, the stock market crashed. Car companies start cutting corners, bringing out old outdated boxy designs with under-powered motors. And then come the layoffs, and the off-shoring. Olympus Motor Group prides itself on its close relationship with the local unions, but they may have to resort to drastic measures if they don’t think outside the box.
Recently, the concept of a low priced, fix-it-yourself vehicle has become more of a niche market, and Pegasus started losing some market share; after all, their target market is typically the hardest hit by this economic downturn. Over the last 40 years, Olympus has built new plants for its other brands, and it seems like now would be the time to re-invest in the Pegasus nameplate. Beginning January 1, 1987, the large plant producing the Courrier and Porter models was put into 24/7 production. The crew continued to work their 5- 8 hour days, but not necessarily Monday through Friday. Extra personnel were brought in from other plants, where they would split their week 3 days at their home plant, 2 at the Pegasus plant. Production would continue like this until June 30, 1988, when the Pegasus plant would be shut down and razed to make room for a new, more up to date plant. In these 18 months, workers built enough Courrier and Porter models to last through the end of 1990, when the Courrier would cease to be (until 2008), as would the Porter (with no plans as of yet to bring back that name). At the end of this production run-up, anyone who was within 5 years of retiring was offered a full pension, if they would help to make way. This allowed most of the workforce to be distributed to existing plants, while the remaining would be utilized in the construction of the new plant.
For the 1988 model year, Three new motors were introduced for the Pegasus line, meaning the carbureted Pegasus 1300 would end with the Courrier and Porter. The New Wave Pegasus motors were the New Wave Pegasus Three, the New Wave Pegasus Four, and the New Wave Pegasus Six. All three models were DOHC with 4 valves per cylinder and multi-port fuel injected, co-opted from the parent companies more expensive brands. Their displacements were 1.2 liters, 1.6 liters, and 2.4 liters respectively. The New Wave Pegasus Three, produced 62 hp and 96 lb ft of torque, and the New Wave Pegasus Four, 85 hp and 120 lb ft of torque; both motors had a turbo option which was good for an extra 45% more horsepower and torque, as well as slightly better economy, at the expense of having to pay for premium fuel. The New Wave Pegasus Six did not have a turbo option, but produced a decent 112 hp and 154 lb ft of torque.
The 1988 model year also saw the end of the mid-sized Traveler, in favor of the more compact Fidget; which shared a chassis with the Orion Panther and Star Comet. Also gone, was the Full-size Hauler pickup truck, replaced by the compact P-50; which shared its chassis with the Star Craftsman compact pickup. Black and Primer were no longer a charming way to cut costs in customers’ eyes, so Pegasus expanded its color pallet to include black, white, and six candy colors in between, with primer being reserved for large fleet orders (for which these cars were still designed). The trim packages now included the Standard (absolutely basic package), the Plus One (which would feature a 4 speed automatic transmission for the first time under this brand), the Plus Two (Air conditioning and AM/FM Cassette stereo), Plus Three (on the Fidget and other future models would feature the Turbo variant of their respective motor with the 5 speed manual), and Plus Four (on the P-50 would feature 4 wheel drive with a 5 speed manual, and off road suspension)
The Fidget shown here in coupe variant for 1988, featured the New Wave Pegasus Four. The Plus Three Trim package would feature the turbo variant. Also available in Sedan, and Estate Wagon. The P-50 shown here as standard package for 2003 (those lights I think are a result of the update, they weren’t red before) came equipped with the New Wave Pegasus Six
A model that would be resurrected was the Wanderer. The Wanderer would feature the New Wave Pegasus Four and was produced on the same assembly line as the light trucks, but on its very own chassis. This Wanderer would be a bit smaller than older generations, but just as adept at off-roading.
Even though this is a picture of the 2010 Wanderer, it was reprised in 1988 and continues to this day, trust me.
Construction on the New Pegasus plant was completed in July of 1989, a bit later than expected; the 1990 models would be delayed, quite possibly until the 1991 model year. As the economy started to recover a bit, and word got out that there would be no more Courriers or Porters, Pegasus supply of entry level cars began to dwindle. In fact, the last Courrier would be sold on 29 September 1989, and the last Porter on February 12, 1990. This meant there would be a gap of six months before the Courrier’s replacement could reach showroom floors. Finally on July 1, 1990, the world would see the model that replaced the beloved, and famed Courrier (as well as the Porter, but people really weren’t clamoring too much over that); the 1991 Pegasus Getaway. Featuring the New Wave Pegasus Three, the Getaway was an economical and quite affordable entry level car. Many people however, were demanding the Plus Three trim; there was a run on showroom floors. Pegasus could not meet demand, even with their new high tech facility. By 1995, supply and demand began to equalize, and people were happy with Pegasus once again.
Olympus Motor Group Executives wanted to have the Getaway ready for the 1990 model year, but conservative estimates had it projected as a 1990.5. In the end, it arrived just barely in time for the 1991 model year. High demand, especially for the Plus Three variant, caused rushed work, and very frequently reliability problems. By 1995, most of the problems had been ironed out. Unlike the Courrier and Porter, executives decided to keep the Getaway fresh, by performing cosmetic changes every 5 years.
In the 2000s, engineers wanted to design something fun for Pegasus owners. They designed a 21st century variant of the New Wave Four Turbo, that would feature direct injection. This would give the engine 13 extra horsepower, making it more efficient, and allow it to run on regular unleaded fuel. This engine would be put in a small two seat coupe, with an expected release for the 2008 model year. Unfortunately, the economy started heading south once again. Marketers launched a last minute campaign to badge the new coupe with a familiar name. The car whose project name was Zoom, would be branded the New Courrier.
The new Courrier got a class leading 47 miles per gallon, and could accelerate to 60 MPH in under 6 seconds. This model was so successful that Olympus Motor Group decided to make an Orion based on it, rather than the other way around; that model would not see showrooms until 2011 however, and would feature a much more aggressive powertrain. The New Courrier would only come in 1 trim, being that it was already turbo-charged and had the necessary accoutrment, but because of the Courrier’s do-it-yourself legacy, aftermarket turbo modification kits were often sold.
This is the lineup of Pegasus until this very day, although many models have been refreshed and updated.
New Courrier
Getaway
Wanderer
Fidget
P-50
Pegasus Motors. An entry level, economy brand, import fighter. Part of the Olympus Motor Group family.
And now a moment for some artistic expression
Here, it looks like the bad paint job might’ve been on purpose
It wasn’t. When the stripes get so long, they gravitate towards the middle, so they have to be unnecessarily layered. If anyone knows how to do rollbars, that would be helpful.
I’ve improved the design a bit
I tuned the engine down for 1980s CAFE requirements, but it’s still a little OP, and not quite as efficient.
Chickenbiscuit
#35
That rack of drive-lights is making the mid-west murican in me cry eagle tears. The old truck’s hood looked like someone painted over it to hide rust. This one is very well crafted however. It looks more era-correct too.
Lore Retcon
It has been brought to my attention that OMG’s performance brand had been using a moniker that had been previously used by another poster. Therefore (and I have searched this) the performance brand will be referred to as Pantheon, as in the place where the Greeks worshiped their gods. Any posts in which I previously used the Orion name, are no longer considered Canon.
As part of the reboot, and retcon, here is the 1950 Olympus Virgo Sedan .The Virgo, along with the Libra coupe, first rolled into showrooms Labor day weekend, 1948, as a 1949 model. The updates for 1950 were minor, except this would be the year Olympus introduced the Lux-O-Matic 2 speed, automatic transmission, as an option, along side the 4 speed overdrive manual. The model was available in 2 trims; Luxe and DuLuxe. It would also come with one of 2 engines; the 210 cubic inch Inline 6, or the 296 cubic inch V8. The Inline 6 delivered a buttery smooth 120 horsepower/158 lb. ft. of torque, with minimal effort; The V8 produced a gritty 158 horsepower and 197 lb. ft. of torque, for extra confidence on country roads. The Luxe model was a premium sedan with voluptuous appointments and wood trim, and a top of the line AM radio. The DuLuxe trim was more extravagant, with hand stitched, personally monogrammed upholstery, and hand-burled walnut trim, and gold watch inlay, in addition to the AM radio.
side note: my old computer quit last week. I bought a computer with similar vitals to replace it. 2 issues that I did not account for. 1) The case on this new computer is not the right size for the GPU I had. 2) I believe that part of the reason my old computer crashed, was because I had been having driver conflicts with my GPU, that kept causing BSOD. The result is, I’m playing on low graphics setting (Who’d thought that 1 GB would make such a difference?), and the photo backdrops don’t fully load.
I edited post #10, The Troublesome 50s part 2
I posted the advertisments for the new designs. Here are the corresponding files.Gen3-UndercoverHardwareman - Olympus Libra Luxe.car (31.6 KB)
Sagittarius - Roadster.car (25.4 KB)
Libra - Luxe.car (31.5 KB)
Aquarius - Luxe.car (22.9 KB)
Virgo - Premier.car (27.0 KB)
Virgo - DuLuxe.car (27.0 KB)
This should be titled ‘The Troublesome 50s part 3’, or maybe 'Into the 60s’
During lite campaign in the kee version, the Pisces was the smaller counterpart to the Aquarius (more accurately, the Aquarius was the larger counterpart to the Pisces). However, the UE4 version does not have that model. I decided to resurrect the nameplate for a CSR recently, and re-imagined it as a small, light duty pickup coupe. In the original lore it was a small Inline 6 cylinder, however for CSR, reliability was a concern, so I replaced the small DOHC straight 6 for a push-rod flat-plane V8.
CSR72-UndercoverHardwareman - Olympus Pisces.car (48.4 KB)
Here’s a link to the picture that inspired this creation
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj40eDepfTaAhWI54MKHRCDBX8Qjhx6BAgBEAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fhappilyretired%2F12224256635&psig=AOvVaw0-Hbk9W-9LiQmbdCrSfunx&ust=1525806346225028
1958 saw the retirement of Robert Stewart, head of Olympus. In his absence, Pantheon boss, Jerry Springstead was brought in to refresh the Olympus Roster. This meant an updated, cleaner looking front and rear fascias, and a re-commitment to the Lux-O-Matic transmission - pushing the limits of available technology - as well as filling the gaps in the luxury car market.
From the beginning, the Libra had been a full-size luxury coupe, with a 102 inch wheelbase; whereas the Virgo, which was always a sedan, had increased in size: From having a similar wheelbase, and just being slightly larger overall, to 1956’s titanic 133 inch wheelbase, with massive overhangs. Indeed the Virgo had adopted the convention “Bigger is better”, like many other luxury manufacturers, whereas the Libra remained the same touring coupe as always. Ideas were bantied about, such as a coupe version Virgo, and Libra sedan, or even this intermediate offering, available in coupe, sedan, or estate.
Referred to through internal memos, as the Capricorn, the idea was quickly scrapped, and those responsible, were sacked. There may come a day when Olympus needs an intermediate car, but that day had not come yet.
The Face-lifted Virgo and Aquarius would be available to the public in 1960, as a 1961 model.
In 1961, there would be a refreshed Libra and Sagittarius, for the 1962 model year. The next year, would be the face-lifted Pisces in limited run, and an all new offering.
Joe Rathbone met with Hollywood producers in 1958 to design a high-performance luxury coupe for a movie about an international spy. The car had to be high-end, to convey a aura of mystique, it could not simply be a Pantheon, or even a re-badged Pantheon. 12 Prototypes of the Olympus Scorpio were used in the film. The Scorpio used the Titanic Twelve, producing 243 horsepower, coupled with a 4 speed manual. The movie was set to come out during Summer 1962, the car would not be released until after labor day. Every numbered example of the Scorpio (a run of 250 cars would be produced each year) featured 2 hand stitched, monogrammed leather seats, hand-burled walnut inlay, and actor James Connery’s signature. It would go on to become Olympus’s first ‘Super Car’.
ATI-Archana Transport International
This is a brief bit of lore, that got edited out when I was re-telling my story. In 1990, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the decline of communism, and during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Olympus Motor Group purchased a little outfit called (in English) Archana Transport International. In a little known region of Estonia, there is a place called Archana. ATI built light transport vehicles for the Soviet army during World War II. After the war, and all throughout the cold war, ATI’s primary responsibility was keeping the Soviets moving. Once in a while, there would be a surplus, which would then be distributed to other Eastern Bloc allies, such as Poland, Romania, and Czechoslovakia. As the company’s stable of vehicles grew, they would often be traded with other countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The Soviet Union even sent a few to China and North Korea.
ATI’s 1st generation model, was the 1-20. It had a 2000 cc 4 cylinder engine that ran on low quality fuel. This was the vehicle the Soviets used in the war, and continued through 1989.
In 1955, a larger model was introduced. This was the 2-20. The 2-20 used the same 2000 cc engine, and could seat up to 8 soldiers, their gear, as well as supplies.
The slit eyelid on this models headlights were because during this time, the threat of air raids was very real. The 2-20 also continued until 1989.
In 1974, the soviet military ordered a new model that could easily convert from carrying soldiers, to carrying cargo. The 3-25 was introduced. It was a smaller, lighter model, fitted with a more powerful 2500 cc 4 cylinder engine, with a 4 barrel carburetor.
The 3-25 was faster than previous models, and fully capable of going off-road. This made it more suitable as an ambulance. The 3-25 was continued through 1989 as well.
The 4th generation came in 1985, with the 4-25. The 4-25 was a favorite among troops, as it was more ruff and tumble than any of the previous models; and despite having room for 5 inside the cabin, with a utility bench serving as a rear seat, many opted to ride in the bed, where they would able to fire in case of ambush.
As the 1980s started to near the 1990s, there were rising tensions; political protests, mass defections, and ration shortages. The managers at ATI knew that if things continued, they would no longer be able to sustain themselves. They began reaching out to western nations, trying to sell as many cars as they could produce. When western nations weren’t receptive to vehicles that were, let’s face it, outdated, they reached out to anyone who would be willing to buy. The 4-25 became a big seller in many African nations, but it was not enough.
As Estonia declared its independence, ATI knew there would be no more large government orders. They put the company up for sale, hoping some western investment would keep them working. Olympus Motor Group, who had purchased Italian automaker, Giusseppe in the 1960s in order to sell Olympus models in Europe, decided to take on the burgeoning Eastern European market, by acquiring ATI. In the merger, Olympus would gain access to all of ATI’s Eastern Europe, and Asian contacts. ATI would continue to make the 4-25, and design newer, better models with access to Olympus’s technology. Some ATIs would eventually make it back to the United States; but the market was truly a niche one, catering to diehard offroaders, and military buffs. As the 1990s became the 2000s ATI was absorbed into the OMG family, and while their plants run today - mostly manufacturing European spec Olympus and Pegasus models - , the ATI name is no more than a memory.
The 1960s, Giusseppe, and Global Expansion
Detroit Michigan, 1967:
It’s been quite the decade. The United States nearly got involved in a Nuclear war, and were now intervening in the war in Vietnam.
Back at home, Dale and Joe Rathbone were starting to feel their age, as this decade had been particularly stressful. Joe, who had been a bachelor his entire life, had no heirs to leave his share of the company to, and Dale had gotten off to a late start; his eldest son, Dale Joseph was now a freshman at the University of Michigan, with designs of going on to Harvard after graduation. He had two younger children, a daughter named Anne-Marie, and a young son named Aaron. It would be years before any of them would be mature enough to run the company; not enough time for Dale, though. In the spring of 1967, Dale had a heart attack; and though he survived, he was in no position to handle the day to day operations of the Olympus Motor Group. His wife Elizabeth, who was 20 years his junior, took his chair on the board and headed a search committee for OMG’s next CEO.
William Bennett, was hired that May. As the CEO of Big Apple State Bank, he had a head for finance, much like Dale. Bennett took the position with the understanding that the Rathbone family was still in charge, and that his position was to be given to any of the children who would seek the position.
Giusseppe was an Italian manufacturer that Olympus had partnered with in the 1950s to try and sell their cars to Western Europe. This came with mixed results, as Giusseppe itself, while popular in Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Lichtenstein, had a hard time competing in nations with large automotive communities, such as West Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and even at home in Italy. Giusseppe automobiles were often similar to competitors’ cars, but ultimately inferior. Olympus originally had exported their cars to Europe, utilizing Giusseppe’s distribution channels, but many Europeans found Olympus cars too large and unwieldy for narrow European streets. Olympus, being a luxury brand, was also seen as too excessive and overly ostentatious for post war Europe. When in 1955 Giusseppe developed a car that they would build up to Olympus standards, that would appeal to European sensibilities.
The Gemini was more compact than anything Olympus offered at home; it was more akin to the vehicles OMG was making under its Star marque. The success of the Gemini, inspired a more aggressive soiree into the compact market.
The Karkenos was a bit smaller than the Gemini, but still felt like a premium city car. These two models gave Olympus the European presence the felt they needed, and also helped Giusseppe’s image.
That was, until 1967. As Giusseppes were similar, yet somewhat inferior to their competition, that was often used as a marketing tactic. Giusseppe would often tout their model as being similar, but cheaper than some other model. They found themselves in court quite often for trademark infringement. As Giusseppe himself started to age, his behavior became more erratic. The board removed him as the CEO, and sought outside investors to help with the mounting legal costs that had driven the company to bankruptcy.
William Bennett’s first act as the CEO of Olympus Motor Group was to purchase the Giusseppe Motor Company. Giusseppe was now a marque under the Olympus Motor Group banner. In so doing, Olympus would sell their Olympus branded vehicles at the top tier, Giusseppe at a lower tier, and Pegasus at the lowest tier, in Europe. In the United States however, Olympus would remain as the top tier, while Giusseppe would share the 2nd tier with Pantheon, as they would cater to different demographics, but both would still be slightly upmarket; followed by Star as the common tier and Pegasus as the bargain tier.
Meanwhile, the Agent 069 films proved to be such a hit that they became a franchise, churning out a film every other year. James Connory had retired his spy gadgets to make way for Roger Brosnon. The 1969 film, ‘Never Having to Say You’re Sorry’ would again feature the Olympus Scorpio Elite. Olympus found that demand for the extremely limited Scorpio was undeniable. At the same time, the market was not sustainable for 2 two-seat luxury roadsters (particularly since only slightly down budget, was Pantheon, built for more speed than luxury). With that realization, the Sagittarius was retired (though it would re-appear later), and the Scorpio was now THE two-seat roadster. It would only come in Elite trim, still however, as it would share the same chassis as the Pantheon Challenger XS in the United States, and the Giusseppe G-250R in Europe.
The 1970s: The William Bennett era and the oil embargo.
William Bennett was running thing smoothly at Olympus Motor Group. With the Capricorn taking up where the Libra left off, that gave Bennett and Olympus engineers the luxury (no pun intended) to innovate the Libra model. Other top name luxury brands had brought to market what became known as the personal luxury vehicle - a large front wheel drive four seater - targeted at middle age divorcees. While not necessarily a trend setter, the Libra took the concept to another level; being the only company to offer a V12 in their personal luxury vehicle. The front wheel drive Libra debuted as a 1969 model and ran until 1974.
The oil embargo hit the auto industry hard. This was especially true for large luxury models, as it not only created a gas shortage, but also triggered a recession. During this time, the Scorpio was culled from the Olympus lineup, with the intent that Pantheon would be the sole OMG source of performance vehicles. This kept Pantheon from cannibalizing Olympus sales, and vice versa. Also due to get the axe were the Aquarius luxury off-road, and the Capricorn. The Virgo, being the brands trademark offering was kept as is, unapologetically large, though CAFE restrictions would lead to smaller, tamer power plants. The Libra had already made its paradigm shift as a personal luxury coupe, a front wheel drive at that; it was too late to go back. The 1975 models had already been ordered, and the next iteration could not possibly go to market any sooner than as a 1980 model.
During this time Olympus Motor Group shifted a majority of focus towards its Star and Pegasus brands. As Americans began looking more seriously at compact offerings from import brands, Bennett devised a marketing strategy to point out that America already has its very own compact. Branded as an Import from America, the Pegasus began to see a boost in popularity. People who had looked down on the ‘shabby’ little entry-level cars, were now buying them en-masse. in 1977, sales of all Pegasus models combined outpaced both Olympus and Pantheon combined; Star models only outsold Pegasus by a whopping 5,000 units. This was impressive as Star offered more different models than Pegasus.
That was not to say that Olympus Motor Group was immune to pressure from imports. Olympus itself was now down to two models, that were being bought primarily by staunch loyalists; they weren’t practical in any sense of the imagination. In order to bring in new customers, Olympus began importing the Italian made Olympus Gemini; made by Giusseppe. They also began to import Giusseppe vehicles in an effort to attract set import buyers. The G-160, was a favorable competitor to anything brought by Japan.
Then in 1978, the company that had been started by a man and his brother, with hopes of one day passing it down through his family for future generations, was returned to the family. In a ceremony at Olympus Motor Group headquarters, a frail, 77 year old Dale Rathbone took the ceremonial keys to the company from William Bennett, and handed them to his daughter Anne Marie Rathbone. Anne Marie was to take the title of CEO and chairman of the board of directors. William Bennett was given Joe’s old seat, as he was ready to retire too, as assistant chairman. Anne Marie had been studying engineering, and had a few ideas of what was to come, heading into the next decade. Bennett was named Vice President in charge of marketing. The future was Olympus.
Into the 1980s
In 1980, the Libra launched a new model, as a front wheel drive, despite internal discussions of returning it to its roots as a rear wheel drive luxury coupe. To make up for this, the Capricorn was brought back to the lineup after a 4 year absence. Both cars were built on a similar platform, with the Libra being a bit shorter overall.
The Virgo was given a cosmetic refresh in 1981. The front and rear fascia were cleaned up a bit, and the power plant was updated to be more efficient. Since aftermarket stretching had been known compromise the structural integrity of the vehicles, Olympus began to offer factory made limousines at many domestic dealers.
Missing the deadline for a 1982 model year release, the European inspired Gemini was released as a 1982 1/2 model.
Author’s note: When I was in 4th grade, it was my dream to own my own car factory. I particularly loved drawing police cars and limousines. Thanks to Automation and @Corvette6317, I can do both.
…to be continued
Generations [LORE, UE4] [FINAL RESULTS]
Into the 1980s continued
American manufacturers were resorting to badge engineering and smaller econo-box models, even among luxury car makers. This was about the time when fine German, and even Japanese models started to take over market share. Olympus countered with the European inspired Gemini, released originally in mid 1982, which proved immensely popular; not just for it’s style, but also for its entry level price tag. Now you could look like an upper-middle class suburbanite, while living in a working class neighborhood. By 1988, little had changed other than the shape of the headlights and front fascia.
Drawing on the European inspired design theme, Olympus released an update for the Libra, that featured a smaller, more fuel efficient engine.
By this time, Olympus’s market was more or less Wall Street Yuppies, Doctors, Lawyers and the like; not so much the car enthusiast anymore. Most did not know the meanings of the words Brougham, Landau, or Saloon, let alone pretentious terms such as Luxe and DuLuxe. As a result, the naming convention of trim levels were condensed into simplified letter combinations: For the entry-level, ELX replaced Executive, PRX replaced premium, LX replaced the Luxe trim, and DLX for DuLuxe. Elite trim was retained, but was limited to only certain models.
Insurance and CAFE regulations had put a damper on the performance car market in the 1970s and 1980s, leading to the cancellation of Olympus’s former performance models, lest they cannibalize Pantheon models’ sales. A surge in popularity due to increasing disposable income and yuppie culture, made Pantheon one of the more profitable product lines in the mid 1980s, which embolden Olympus’s decision to bring back their popular Sagittarius Roadster. Sagittarius, along with the brand’s flagship Virgo, would be the only cars in the 1980s to emblazon the company’s Elite trim decals.
SIDE NOTE
In 1985 Olympus Motor Group purchased a Japanese manufacturer, Nagoya - named after the hometown of its corporate headquarters - in an effort to expand its influence into Asia, Africa, and Australia and New Zealand. At the time, Nagoya had designs on expanding its sales to North America; such a move would have eroded at OMG’s Pegasus sales numbers. This hostile takeover bid made sure that never came to be. In Japan, South Korea, and Oceana, Olympus would be marketed alongside Nagoya, though most designs were by Nagoya’s engineers.
Generations [LORE, UE4] [FINAL RESULTS]
1990s
As of December 31, 1990 - the official last day of the 1980s - Olympus Motor Group had long outlasted all the other independent auto manufacturers, while at the same time, maintaining a commitment to its customers, as well as its employees. The company evolved in all of its departments: Pegasus - at one time, merely a budget friendly, folksy brand - had developed into a cost-value sales leader. Star continued to cater to the mass market, which by this time was quite diverse. Pantheon - envisioned as a performance brand - was essentially two companies: The hyper/super Challenger XS, and the sporty coupes and sedans marketed towards everyone else. Giusseppe proliferated, along with Olympus across all of western Europe, while ATI proliferated all across Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and Nagoya across Asia, Africa, and Oceana.
Olympus on the other hand, while evolving, maintained its same stated goal and focus: High tech, high end luxury vehicles. Olympus strives with every release to be better than other vehicles in their class. Most of Olympus’s evolution came from within; technical aspects such as fuel efficiency, comfort, safety, and best of all, gadgetry.
The first cell phone equipped Olympus models started appearing in 1984, but were often limited to Elite trim models. In 1991, all models were now equipped with cell phone antennas, dialing screens in the dash console, and hands-free speaker phone. This was on top of other niceties, such as passenger air-bags, quad-zone climate control, and CD players.
This Olympus Virgo was originally released in 1993, pictured here as a 1994 model.
Originally dropping in 1992, the all new Capricorn was still the only Olympus model available in Coupe, Sedan, or Estate model (even though the Estate seems to be missing its mirrors. Surely, a result of an accident on the way to the photographer’s studio)
Generations [LORE, UE4] [FINAL RESULTS]