Trafikjournalen (Test: 1955 TORSHALLA POESY KOMBI)

[Knugcab]

REPRINT FROM #5 1975
REVIEW OF CEDER 515 TS

PRACTICAL PIONEER

The Ceder 515 is a good example of a modern generation of executive cars, where intelligent design is more important than chrome and wood veneer.

The french automaker Ceder have released a new generation of cars lately, that is following a formula that we predict will be the leading one in the future. Hatchback bodies, front wheel drive, and relatively compact outer dimensions on a long wheelbase. Like it or not, it is a type of car that is here to stay, and more automakers are probably to follow very soon.

The top model is the 515 TS, which we have decided to take a closer look on. In a class where most cars still are very conservatively built, it is an interesting challenger indeed.

DRIVING CHARACTERISTICS
The car has a longitudinal engine, but for that configuration it is not overly front heavy. There is 4 wheel independent suspension. Not the worst base for building a car with good handling. But the suspension has a quite soft setup, aiming for a comfortable ride in a typical french fashion. The handling is secure and predictable, but far from inspiring and a corner carver is something this car is not. It starts to understeer relatively early and there is a fair amount of body roll. To sum it up, this car is meant for comfortable highway cruising - and it is warning you in good time if you pretend that it is something else.

Power steering is standard, which is a good thing considering the weight over the front axle in a longitudinal FWD car (even if the 515 is far from the worst example here), and we were satisfied with the function of it. Steering was light, it gave adequate feedback from the road and we never experienced that it wouldn’t cope with fast steering input. But the powerful engine means that there is more torque steer and wheelspin that we would like.

The brakes are good. 4 wheel disc brakes that stops the car in 43.7 metres from 100, pulling straight and no alarming amounts of fading.

VERDICT: ***

PERFORMANCE
A 132 hp V6 gives the car good performance. 0-100 is done in only 9.55 seconds, there is a 193 km/h top speed and a quartermile time of 16.99 seconds. 80-120 is done in 6.36 seconds, making passing of other cars relatively easy. The car feels - and is - quick, no question about it.

VERDICT: ****

COMFORT
The suspension is soft and copes well with bumps, without making you sea-sick. The seats are also soft in a typical french fashion but gives your back surprisingly good support. Sound insulation is extensive, but that is needed too. Being a 90 degree V6, the engine is harsh and far from smooth, also the exhaust note is not really the most quiet.

As we said earlier, there is power steering, making the steering relatively light, the same goes for the power brakes.

VERDICT: ****

ROOMINESS
Despite a relatively short length of 447 cm, the car is built on a long wheelbase of 269 cm, and it shows on the inside. The car is roomier than many large competitors, especially the RWD ones. Seating comfort for 5 is not completely out of the question. Having a hatchback makes it practical and if you use the folding rear seat it will take lots of cargo. But even with the rear seats in place, it will take 767 litres of luggage, and that is far from a bad number.

VERDICT: ****

EQUIPMENT
The Ceder 515 is from a new school of executive cars where chrome and wood have largely been replaced by plastics. Instead, you get sensible equipment like a tachometer, clock, nice and comfortable velour upholstery, flowthrough ventilation, remote control mirrors, rear dome light as well as lights under the bonnet and in the luggage compartment, power steering and central locking. And especially for its moderate price, we think that this is a well appointed car. It does feature well thought out things that will satisfy you in the long run, instead of stuff that will impress bystanders at first sight.

Also included is an advanced 8-track player with stereo sound and self seeking radio, that had a deep and rich sound.

VERDICT: ****

ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN
The all aluminum SOHC V6 might look modern on paper, but being a 90 degree V6 it has vibrations that does not really belong in an otherwise so comfortable car like this, and an exhaust note that is not really quiet. But it has a wide power band and 132 hp at its power peak, so the resources are always there. An interesting detail is its 2-stage dual carburetor setup, that is said to improve fuel economy on low loads, though a theoretical thought that we could not really notice in real world conditions.

The gearbox is a 4 speed manual with relatively wide spaced ratios. Not the dream gearbox for a race car driver, but we found nothing negative in its function, operation is easy.

VERDICT: ***

QUALITY
To some extent, the car gives a feeling of quality - but unfortunately only a feeling. Ceder has far from excellent reliability records, fact is among the worst on the market and nothing says that the 515 should be an exception. Also, rust protection is far from excellent. Expect rot in just some years if you don’t give it an extra treatment in time.

VERDICT: *

ECONOMY
The engine is not really sparse on gas at 13.2 litres per 100 km - and requires expensive premium grade fuel. The service costs are higher than on most conventional cars, but still far from a disaster at $764.80. The price is not bloody though - for the amount of car you get, $18600 AMU is a competitive figure. But count with a low resale value though.

VERDICT: ***

SAFETY
The experiments from the ESV era is starting to pay off in regular cars now. The Ceder features headrests and inertia reel seatbelts on the outer positions, energy absorbing steering column and wheel, a strong body with side impact bars and crumple zones front and rear, a safe placement of the fuel tank, halogen headlights and bumpers that will withstand low speed collisions. Also, the relatively large interior space means that there is a good amount of distance to hard surfaces that can be struck by the occupants in an accident. Considering that it is light and has compact outer dimensions for its class, the safety record is probably quite good.

VERDICT: ****

Practical: Rear hatch that is hiding a large cargo compartment.

FINAL VERDICT: 30/45
The Ceder 515 is far from flawless, especially the predicted reliability record is alarming. However, it is generally a well thought out car, that probably will show some other manufacturers the way. If you value comfort, technology and practicality, and has the economy to trade up with small intervals, before warranties expire and before too much value is lost, the Ceder 515 is probably great value and one of the most obvious choices for you.

Still, we don’t expect this to be more than a player in the margins on the swedish market, and it is absolutely not the right choice for everyone. But if you are willing to live with its flaws and take a chance with the reliability, it is a car that is easy to enjoy, and that will grow on you for every kilometer of driving.

(Thanks to @Mythrin for the car!)

[Knugcab]

REPRINT FROM #10 1975
TEST DRIVE OF CEDER 419TS

BLAND BARGAIN

The 419 is practical and gives good value for the money, but some of the charm from the 515 was lost.

Ceder 419 is basically a cheaper 4 cylinder version of the 515 that we tested in #5 this year. That means that it also has some of the good characteristics from the 515, like the practical body, high level of safety and comfortable ride. And at $13800 AMU we can’t complain about the price. But of course, it means that you have to lose some of the things that a 515 buyer will get (if not, there would be no point selling the 515, right?). The 1.6 litre 90 hp 4-cylinder is a 10 year old unit, though it actually runs smoother than the 90 degree V6, and is not much louder. But you lose some power even if it is still enough to give a 0-100 time of 12.1 seconds and a top speed of 175 km/h. Unfortunately, the fuel economy is even worse than for the 515, showing the date of the construction.

What you are also losing is the power steering and comfortable interior of the 515, which is among the stronger sides of that model. Also, a downgrade in tyre equipment means that the understeering is more annoying and the handling feels more bland than it did in the 515. Braking capacity is also downgraded, and we felt that they faded quicker than you would expect on a car with 4 wheel discs.

We liked the Ceder 515, but have a harder time with the 419 actually. It is a practical and good family car, but it simply feels a bit bland, with most of the charming points of the 515 being sorted out. It would be a perfect car for the buyer that is having a 100% rational view on his car purchase - but reliability and rust troubles with the Ceder as well as the subpar fuel economy actually makes it kind of questionable.

But at $13800 AMU, it is not questionable that it gives you a lot of car for the money.

[Knugcab]

REPRINT FROM #4 2020
PROJECT “KOJAK” PART 1

WHAT HAVE WE BOUGHT?

Kojak sure has an impressive grille, but what is lurking behind?

As you may know, we bought a Durendal Havana as our yearly project. First owned by an old man and then by his grandson, and honestly speaking, none of them was really into car care. What we knew was that the battery was bad, that the body had its dings, that the interior smelled horrible of cigarrette smoke, that there was some problems with the climate control. On the positive side, new transmission and low mileage. A closer look revealed that it was in worse condition that we had thought, especially considering the low mileage.

But let’s start with our positive discoveries. The engine still showed very good results on the compression test, they were known for being durable and should hardly be worn-in at this mileage. The front suspension had many parts replaced recently, as it appeared when we looked at it from underneath anyway. And everything except the climate control worked just fine when we tested it.

What we have discovered since we bought it, though…

There is a small leak from the rear diff, but it is probably an easy fix.

There is way more frame rot than one could expect for a car with mileage this low that has a galvanized chassis. Dirt was accumulated on places where it had never been washed underneath. It needs welding to pass the next safety inspection.

Also the exhaust piping is so crusty that the question is WHEN and not IF it is going to leak.

But other than that, it is in about average condition for what is a 15 year old car after all. The strange feeling in the power steering was solved almost immediately after flushing the system and filling it up. And…yeah, that is about what we have done to it this far. Next time, we will return with probably way more to tell about Kojak.

But it feels like a good omen that he reacted so good on just a simple fluid change. Maybe this is a friendship in the making?

(Car taken over from @GassTiresandOil, thanks!)

[Knugcab]

REPRINT FROM #12 1966
REVIEW OF OLSSON 67

HOPE OF THE NATION

The 67 gives Olsson a trump card. Being one of the few manufacturers with a car in a class that is predicted to grow may give other automakers a hard time to sleep at night.

Usually, small cars haven’t been much else than small. Cheap, easy to drive, sparse on gas. And we can understand why some people appreciate that. But, aiming higher has traditionally meant going for a larger car, since to get room, comfort and refinement you have had to go that route.

With advanced technology like front wheel drive, overhead camshafts and independent suspension systems, some automakers are challenging that “fact” nowadays. Most often slotting in in a size between the large family cars and the small econoboxes, being compact but still practical. And one of few is our Swedish pride - Olsson. Their 67 model ticks all the boxes on paper what a modern compact car should be - but how does it stand up in real world conditions?

DRIVING CHARACTERISTICS
The car is rolling on radials which makes for a stable ride. Overall, the handling oozes of security. The front wheel drive 67 will never surprise you. It maybe doesn’t carve corners like a sports car, but is still a good handler, albeit a bit understeering, however, it is warning its driver in time.

With all the advanced technology on board, the front end of course has disc brakes, making for straight and safe stopping, and reducing the fading problems that often was the case with drum brakes. You still can feel them, though, when the car is fully loaded and driven hard. But that is during harsh conditions and for normal driving, the brakes are more than adequate.

With much of the weight over the front axle, the steering is not as light as one can expect, but still acceptable, and the Olsson is very easy to drive in everyday traffic.

VERDICT: ****

PERFORMANCE
A 67 hp 1397 cc engine is something that is about what one usually can expect in this class - and it is enough in a car that weighs under a tonne. 0-100 takes 14.2 seconds and the top speed is 164 km/h. Quartermile takes 19.62 seconds and 80-120 needs 11.1 seconds. Maybe that should be kept in mind before trying to do some risky overtaking, but overall the performance feels adequate.

VERDICT: ***

COMFORT
The suspension has advanced technology. Independent suspension all around, progressive springs and gas filled shocks. That means that the comfort is good for its class. The suspension soaks up bumps well, yet it is not by any means wallowy. The seats gives good support and are comfortable to sit in. Sound levels inside the car is about average.

We would say that the Olsson 67 is a proof that a car doesn’t need to be a land yacht to be comfortable. Even if it is nothing like a luxury car, it still puts some larger cars to shame.

VERDICT: ***

ROOMINESS
The compact size of the car of course puts a limit on the room inside. But the upright, boxy shape, combined with space saving front wheel drive still means that the room is adequate. It is registered for five people, it is fully possible but four is max for acceptable comfort on longer trips. Better then is the luggage compartment. Olsson have gone for the latest trend and made the 67 a so called hatchback. With the back seat folded, you get a huge loadspace, almost like a station wagon, but even with the seats in place there is room for 768 litres. Not a bad number at all, and the best part is that the car is so flexible.

VERDICT: ***

EQUIPMENT
Radial tyres and front disc brakes are included in the price - positive surprises. Other than that, it has a decent amount of equipment if not impressive. You get things like a clock, cigar lighter, a pretty well sounding radio, nice and comfortable cloth trim, carpeting on the floor, 2 speed wipers with electric washer, a centre rear armrest and storage pockets in the door. Nothing to brag about - but good stuff.

VERDICT: ****

ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN
The engine is of a fully modern construction with an overhead camshaft. As the small 4 cylinder it is, it feels a bit buzzy and unrefined but it’s not worse than anything else that is similar. The torque band is great for most of the average drivers out there. It has an unusual setup with a tiny four barrel carb, but it worked fine, no cold starting troubles or stalling. Even though its numbers aren’t impressive, it feels a bit peppy and is well suited to the car.

The 4 speed manual gearbox worked well. The linkage is maybe not as direct as in a rear wheel drive car but we could not complain about much. Ratios and gearing seems to be sane for the car.

VERDICT: ****

QUALITY
The most positive part first. Olsson has galvanized the unibody structure - that means that when other cars are rotting, the Olsson will still stand fresh. And in general it felt like a very well built car. Good fit and finish, no rattles or squeaks and no annoying problems.

But the amount of advanced technology is worrying us a bit. There is a risk that it will not be as sturdy as a more conventionally built car and that costly repairs will pile up in the long run.

VERDICT: ***

ECONOMY
Frankly, the 67 is not extremely cheap to buy at $13100 AMU. You can get more metal for your money, and you can get similar cars size-wise cheaper. But what you don’t get then is the advanced technology that makes the 67 so clever. Also, we think there is a chance the 67 will hold its value well. Not only an attractive car, it is made in this country which means that parts and servicing are everywhere, making it feel like a secure choice for many buyers.

Despite the advanced technology the service costs are kept down. At $532.7 AMU they are lower than for many other cars.

The 67 is far from a gas guzzler at 8.7 litres per 100 km, you can drive it economical if you want to. Just note that it needs more expensive premium fuel, though.

VERDICT: ****

SAFETY
You aren’t surrounded by lots of steel in an Olsson 67 and it is lightweight compared to many other cars. But we think that for its compact size, the safety level is quite good. It has front seatbelts and rear mounting points, a recessed steering wheel hub, padding on hard surfaces inside and there is no overly questionable parts that can create injuries, except for maybe the grab handle on the dash at the passenger side. The door locks are reinforced to keep the doors shut even in high speed impacts and the bodyshell doesn’t feel overly flimsy.

VERDICT: ***

Sheer size is not everything. Intelligent design and clever engineering can get you far sometimes. Like in this case.

FINAL VERDICT: 31/45
The Olsson 67 shows that we have automobile manufacturers in this country that can give us modern family cars that are fully able to keep up with, and sometimes beat, the competition, not only here at home but also on the export markets. It is a good allround car for a small family, that is practical, economical and features lots of modern technology. It appeals to rational customers but yet it manages to have a kind of soul unique to itself. There are no real weak spots but many strengths in the car.

We think that cars like the Olsson 67 is something we will see more of in the future, and without letting patriotism affect our verdict, Olsson is doing its job as an early pioneer of the concept very well.

(Thanks to @ACoolCrab for the car!)

[Knugcab]

REPRINT FROM #3 2004
FIRST LOOK: HAKUMAI CREST SX

REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE

On the outside, the Hakumai Crest SX does look fairly conservative, but fact is that it is a weird oddball.

A RWD 87 hp small hatchback. It’s a joke! It’s a throwback article from 1978! No, It’s…HAKUMAI!

They are known to have been able to surprise us sometimes and this time they are doing it again. But who the intended buyer for the Crest SX are, is something of a mystery for us. We would understand the concept of an aluminium bodied RWD hatchback if it had been about sheer performance. But the 82 hp naturally aspirated 1600 cc engine is far from a powerhouse, and it is thirsty on gasoline considering its tame nature. Neither is the driving dynamics by any means sporty. The Crest is a mediocre car, on the same level as other anonymous, mediocre cars in its class. Not bad at anything, just…mediocre.

The price is going to start on $20400AMU and since that is a sane figure and since the Crest is not really bad at anything, we can’t call it a bad purchase, but at the same time it is very hard to find any reason to spend your hard earned money on this instead of on something else.

Wait for the V6 version. An insane car but it will at least fulfill its niche on the market. The Crest SX is only weird.

(Thanks to @interior for the car!)

[Knugcab]

REPRINT FROM #6 2020
PROJECT “KOJAK” PART 2

THANKS BUT NO THANKS?

Kojak has been testing our patience a little lately, but fooling us is not an easy task.

First of all, we want to take back what we said last time about Kojak being happy about his new power steering fluid. Appearantly he was not. The day after when we were reversing out of the garage, we started seeing traces of oil on the floor. Could it be…?

Yes. Kojak had taken some strange kind of revenge on us. A cracked hose from the power steering pump quickly took us back on earth. After some well spoken words, an intensive cleaning of the garage floor, a new hose and yet some litres (or should I say gallons?) of power steering fluid later, we hope that we will be able to steer this US barge even in the future.

Other than that, we have actually used Kojak numerous times the last weeks and it has been rolling around quite flawless, and after the mishap with the steering, there was absolutely no complaints coming from his side. We started to think that maybe it was a boring decision to choose such a modern-ish vehicle for our 2020 project car. Would it maybe only keep on running and running?

Until one late, snowy evening when we got the answer. It was “no”. Kojak started sputtering and we barely made it to our destination. Kind of annoying to barely make it forward through a snowstorm. We were almost hoping for some complicated fault to give some life to this project.

A new fuel filter and it was running flawlessly again. Well, as we have already said earlier, they do have a good reputation for durability.

On the other hand, we haven’t started on any of the well known problems on it yet. Maybe we should…

[DuceTheTruth100]

Is there a link to the original thread/post for Kojack?

[Knugcab]

The 2020 project car challenge (part 2: Results!)

Congratulations to @GassTiresandOil for your success and thankyou @Knugcab for hosting! I think this competition struck the right balance of fun, balance and authenticity; I will definitely be a part of the next one!

(BTW, in case someone is curious, I am doing kind of an experiment with the project car posts where D20 rolls etc. play a part in what will happen.)

[Knugcab]

REPRINT FROM #15 2020
TEST DRIVE OF BAUMHAUER 340 RS KOMBI

EXPRESS DELIVERY FOR SMALL PARCELS

The 340 RS Kombi may be bonkers, but it does it with grace.

With all the reports of the ICE being a dying breed, Baumhauer is doing nothing to show their belief in that statement by stuffing a 562 hp 4 litre V8 into a compact station wagon. A station wagon that is borderline a hatchback, to start with. The 340 RS kombi is more for hauling golf bags than concrete bags, to put it that way.

All this power is planted to the ground via an AWD system that is sending three quarters of its power to the rear wheels, leading to almost banzai like starting if you are not careful. The torsen differentials does help a lot here. A dual clutch transmission with 7 gears is what we find behind the engine. It works in a car like this. The enthusiasts that still prefers a “real” manual is probably not where the customer base is anyway. Besides, DCTs of today shifts faster than most humans could ever dream of doing.

But that does not mean that this vehicle is by any means tame. Most of the gizmos that you expect to find in a car like this today are not there when you look for them. To save on weight, there is no unnecessary equipment, only a simple radio (though with an aux-port) and the lack of safety equipment is almost scary by todays standards.

But the technology is by no means simple, with a glued aluminium chassis, double wishbone suspension up front and multilink in the rear, active aerodynamics and active suspension. This is more or less a supercar in the shell of a small wagon. Call it a sleeper, if you want to.

Not only is the performance stunning, with a 300 km/h top speed, a 3.4 second 0-100 time, a 1.9 second 80-120 time and 11.47 second quartermile time. The brakes are among the best we have ever tested with a sub 30 metre stopping distance from 100. The handling is amazing too with a skidpad rating of 1.22 G.

But wagon or not, this car is only realistic for a few enthusiasts. Even if $66200 AMU is not bloody for what you will get. A thirst of 9 litres per 100 km is maybe not economical today but fully acceptable for a car with this kind of performance, but service costs, oh boy…

The enthusiast that gets it will probably enjoy the somewhat eccentric combination though. But for most of us, this would be a little bit too much to swallow even if it would be a realistic buy. It is just not the kind of car you daily drive despite the family car shape.

But as a dream car? Oh yes…

(Thanks to @S_U_C_C_U_L_E_N_T for the car!)

[Knugcab]

REPRINT FROM #5 1993
TEST DRIVE OF JEDAMO ENOXA GTI R-EDITION

FORBIDDEN FRUIT

The Enoxa GTI R-edition is a great driving machine, but forget buying one here at home.

It is a well known fact that we tend to lust the most after what we can’t get, and cars are no exception. If you had been living in Japan, you could have bought an Enoxa GTI R-edition. And on the question if you are missing something, we can unfortunately only answer yes.

The Enoxa is in many ways kind of a traditional sports car. Inline six engine up front, a steel unibody with strut suspension up front and double wishbones in the rear, steel body with some aluminium panels. What is not so traditional is maybe the all wheel drive system. Maybe a blasphemy if you ask many “true” sports car enthusiasts, but it makes for quick takeoff and secure handling. Torsen differentials are also helping with giving the car traction, as well as sticky 235/45R17 rubber. At least on paper that is far from a bad start. The 2.7 litre six has a power output of 306 hp which is enough to send the 1349 kg car up to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, giving it a top speed of 240 km/h as well as 13.39 second times on the quartermile. It also has all the latest in technology like turbo, VVT and 4 valves per cylinder.

Tossing it around the corners is both fun and stable, when it goes too fast it is warning you with mild amounts of understeer. Skidpad rating is 1.11 G and the communication between you and the car is direct and honest, you always know what it is going to do next. The brakes are also amazing, 4 wheel vented disc brakes stops the car in 33.2 metres from 100 with no fade whatsoever. But numbers aside, this car is pure FUN. Maybe not the fastest, not the best handler, not the most powerful in the world, but a really clever packaging of everything that makes a great drivers machine.

So, any drawbacks then? Well, it is of course not very practical, and it gulps quite large amounts of fuel. The interior feels a bit cheap compared to the rest of the car. But probably the major drawback is that you can’t buy it - unless you are willing to move to Japan.

A shame. $28800 AMU is nothing to complain about for a car that is as competent as this one. We don’t doubt that there would be a customer base in Europe - but chances are that it wouldn´t justify development of a left hand drive model.

(Thanks to @replaY for the car!)

[abg7]

The more I think about it, the more the Enoxa GTI R-edition reminds me of a crossbreed between an FD RX-7 (exterior styling) and a Skyline R33 GT-R (mechanical configuration). It should not work on paper, but in fact, it does - very well indeed. I wonder how much a pristine example is worth now? Especially when considering the fact that the Youngtimer movement (particularly for performance cars) has exploded in recent years.

[replaY]

Thanks! I’m glad I’ve achieved my goal of RX7 looks but skyline underneath

[Knugcab]

REPRINT FROM #4 1985
CLASSIC CARS ON A BUDGET, PART 3: ZKF Z500 GT

SCHLAGER STATT ROCK’N ROLL?

With american classics going up in price every day, it’s time to consider the german alternative, the ZKF Z500 GT.

The 50s are maybe more hip than ever. Every day we hear new records for what 50s american tin have been selling for, cars that were hard to even get rid of 10-15 years ago. And it is not hard to understand why. In times of efficiency, plastic and electronics, there is something radically different with tailfins, pastels and chrome instead. A time missed by many people, at least its aesthetics.

But if you were too late to jump on the train, and still wants some 50s feeling, is there any alternative that still can be had for sane money? Yes, there is, but you have to look at this side of the atlantic. Forget the americans, instead, consider a german alternative, the ZKF Z500 GT. The attempt from ZKF to get a foot into the american market, that enjoyed a lukewarm success there, to say the least, and in europe, not too many people seems to have understood it. But they were around. I remember a couple of friends having some beat up examples in the late 60s and early 70s. Already by then, they were not a bad choice if you wanted something a bit more odd and eccentric for not too much money.

Now, the daily driven examples are more or less gone. Yet, the collector car market haven’t been catching up. And that’s why you have a chance to find a bargain at the moment. Good examples are getting a bit thin on the ground, but they are out there and when you find one, they are generally going for affordable prices. But what do you get for your money?

The outside is clearly inspired by american cars from the era, albeit a little more on the compact side. But when the americans were concentrating on making everything bigger, on more raw brute force, ZKF took another approach. Under the bonnet we find a 2.9 litre inline six, for example, and not a large V8. But it has a kind of a high power output of 164 hp, running not only an overhead camshaft but also a very unusual for its time valve arrangement with three valves per cylinder. The body was unitized, no separate frame here. That is one of the reasons behind a sub 1200 kg weight despite the size of the car. The suspension had struts up front and a coil sprung solid rear axle, while most americans were running double wishbones up front and leaf springs in the rear. Another very unusual thing was the front disc brakes.

How it did work out in the end? Well, to look at it completely without rose tinted glasses, both good and at the same time quite disappointing. It was not always much better than vehicles running more conventional technology. The 4 seater configuration suggests a sporty car and yes, it kind of was. 199 km/h top speed and 8.7 second time from 0-100 was fast for its era, especially with such a small engine. But the fuel economy suffered, 17.9 litres per 100 km during normal driving was too much for many europeans to swallow. Handling was good for its era and would probably be even better with more modern radial tyres, if you are willing to sacrifice style for safety, but the disc brakes did not perform better than most drum brake systems of the era. Also, the advanced technology that were not fully developed meant that reliability suffered and servicing was seen as complicated. It was a vehicle that had its strong sides, that neither europeans or americans understood.

But today we can enjoy it for some forward-thinking ideas, and for its styling, not only on the outside but also on the inside. A very german atmosphere despite the american influences, offering stylish design and high levels of comfort. It is not only white bakelite and leatherette that is surrounding you, sportiness is accentuated with real wood on the dashboard and steering wheel. Another touch of the past that spawns positive memories, the large canvas sunroof!

Maybe it is time to give the ZKF a small revival? Just because it wasn’t appreciated the way it should have been back then does not mean that it shouldn’t be now!

A trip to the continent or a nice relaxing sunday drive on the backroads? The ZKF Z500 won’t disappoint you in any case.

Sven Landström, of all the cars available to choose from, why a ZKF Z500?

-To be honest, it was my grandfather’s pride and joy that he kept in pristine condition. So I am just holding on to that tradition.

And that is the kind of car you should find?

-Actually yes. There is cars out there that is in very bad condition and they should be avoided like the plague.

Were they as fragile as the rumours said?

-(Laughing), and you are asking me that? To be honest, I have to agree on that point. They had lots of advanced technology for the era, that was not fully developed back then. They can break, and they do break horribly sometimes. I don’t think that I would recommend a ZKF Z500 to anybody that just have gotten into cars. There is easier cars to live with out there.

But if you have a little more experience in cars…?

Then they aren’t more complicated than any small econobox of today, but the difference is that parts are expensive and hard to get. I really don’t want to steer anybody away from the car itself though, one should just be aware that they aren’t always joy and sunshine.

What should a buyer look out for then?

As all early unibodies, rust. Absolutely everywhere, because that is where they do rust. Watch out for worn out camshafts or rattling chain drive. Neither power steering nor disc brakes were fully developed in 1959, leaking steering systems and seized calipers aren’t unusual. Some of the interior parts, mainly the small amounts of safety padding that was introduced as a first step towards passive safety, can more or less fall to pieces and are hard to get nowadays.

So a complete and rust free car then?

-Yes. The differences in price are so small that they are silly. There is absolutely no reason to buy a wreck. It will only cause you headaches.

And how will it reward you then?

-By being a great driver’s car for its era, with good handling and spirited performance, as well as tons and acres of style. For 1959, it was a very good car in many ways. But while it feels more modern than it is, it has lots of the classic 50s styling that we all know and love.

What kind of reactions do you get?

-Interestingly, non car people are more interested than car people. “Hey, what kind of car is this?” or “I haven’t seen one in years!”. For some reason, the low values and interest in the classic car crowd somehow seems to have affected car people in general, that likes to pretend that cars like this hardly even exists. A shame, since it is a model that deserves much better than just being forgotten.

The ZKF Z500 is not the classic car for everyone, but if you are a dedicated owner with some previous experience, that is willing to think outside the box, we think that it might as well be the right choice for you. Forget the rumours from the 50s and 60s, or the bad image that clapped out examples was giving the model in the 70s. The Z500 is a classic now and should be seen with new eyes. But as long as the world is still sleeping, get your example for a bargain price before it is too late.

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Thanks to @BannedByAndroid for the car!

[Knugcab]

REPRINT FROM #3 1985
REVIEW OF LACAM FURKA COUPÉ 140G A

AFFORDABLE DREAM OR EXPENSIVE NIGHTMARE?

The Furka really looks the part, but fact is that it is affordable. The question is still, what do you get for your money? We will try to find out now.

Lacam is a brand that has a rich history. A lineup consisting most of upmarket cars that have been famous for luxury, beautiful design and performance. But now Lacam have realized that they have to widen their lineup to stay competitive in an increasingly tough market. The new Furka range is said to be the “Lacam for the people”. Available as a sedan or a coupé in many different configurations, there should be one to fit most people’s needs. Our test example is a top of the line Coupé, the 140G A. Is this an affordable way to get a taste of a finer world, or is it an expensive badge slapped on a mediocre car? Let’s find out!

DRIVING CHARACTERISTICS
Being a relatively compact car (4.3 metres of length) it is reasonably easy to maneuvre around in crowded city traffic and tight spots, especially since power steering is standard and vision great through the large glass areas. When driven hard, though, it is not really as impressive. The good part first, there is good feedback from the road despite the power steering and it seems to be quick enough to react on any input it is given when driven through the slalom course.

But honestly speaking it feels relatively bland to drive. The handling is stable and secure in a straight line, even nimble and quick up to a certain speed, but the front end starts plowing early. A skidpad rating of 0.81 G is maybe not what we expect from a brand with the traditions that Lacam has, even if it could not be called an unacceptable rating.

The brakes are fair. They are pulling straight and they can cope with numerous attempts of stopping without showing any alarming amounts of fading. A stopping distance of 42.4 metres from 100 km/h could not be called bad, but still not impressive either compared to what some competitors offers today. The standard mounted ABS, though, is a great safety feature.

VERDICT: ***

PERFORMANCE
The car is light and there is a relatively high power output of 141 hp from the 2.2 litre four cylinder. And sure, it tops out at 233 km/h. But the automatic transmission is eating some of the power, a 10.6 second time to 100 would have been seen as good 10 years ago, but once again, some competitors offers better numbers. The 6.24 time 80-120 is a positive surprise though, safe overtaking should be possible. The quartermile is done in 17.94 seconds.

VERDICT: ***

COMFORT
For its size, the Lacam is absolutely a comfortable cruiser. To start with, there is four very comfortable bucket seats inside, that feels like your favourite armchair at home, and the sound insulation is great. Suspension has a quite soft and comfortable setting without being overly boat-like. As we have stated earlier, there is a great power steering system too. The Lacam can absolutely rival some lager cars in the comfort department.

VERDICT: ****

ROOMINESS:
As we said, the Lacam is a pure 4-seater. Maybe that was a wise decision since the cabin is far from roomy. Not that it should be expected from a compact rear wheel drive coupé maybe. Neither is the trunk space very roomy at 444 litres. But sure, for a couple of golf bags it is absolutely enough. This is not something that should be seen as a practical family car, Lacam is aiming at a completely different market.

VERDICT: **

EQUIPMENT
You’re not missing out very much in the Furka. Power steering, 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS, a decent sounding tape player, electric mirrors, comfortable velour upholstery, electric mirrors, a sunroof, colour matched interior panels, tachometer, alloy wheels and much more are all standard equipment. Everything that you could expect in a compact premium coupé is there, and some more. Here, it is obvious that Lacam has a tradition of building upmarket cars.

VERDICT: ****

ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN
Four cylinders may sound a little bit thin in this class maybe, some people would have preferred a six. But it has a relatively high power output from its 2.2 litres (140 hp) and is running acceptably smooth. It is a bit rough and loud at idle but in the higher RPM ranges it feels better. The unit in itself is nothing special though. Single point injection, single overhead camshaft and 8 valves. Being completely made of aluminium it saves some weight though.

The automatic transmission is a bit more modern, being electronically controlled. We know that some people would have preferred a manual in this car though, but if you are more into automatics, it does its job well. It’s geared more towards highway comfort than sport though and may feel a bit sluggish at times.

Absolutely, everything does the work good and is fully acceptable, but some competitors have more exciting things to offer here.

VERDICT: ***

QUALITY
The Furka feels like it is bomb proof, the attention to detail when being put together is impressive, everything you touch feels rock solid and there is no rattles or squeaks whatsoever. Also, the rust protection is said to be impressive and will probably mean that a Furka will survive flawless and shiny still when some of its competitors are rotten behind recognizion in some scrap yard.

But there is dark clouds on the horizon too, advanced technology means that there is lots of things that could break, our experiences says that Lacams aren’t exactly trouble free, and the predicted reliability is unfortunately quite low.

VERDICT: ***

ECONOMY
The purchase price is not bloody for what you get at $23500 AMU even if there is cars giving you more metal for the money. Also, it will probably be a sought after car on the used car market, meaning it will keep its value well. Service costs are kept at a sane level at $727.60 AMU. But the risk of expensive repairs after the warranty have expired is somewhat alarming.

Also, the fuel economy is not good for a car this small with a 4 cylinder engine. 12.1 litres per 100 km is really not an impressive figure.

VERDICT: **

SAFETY
For its size, the Lacam is probably as safe as it will get. The bodyshell is stable and has front and rear crumple zones as well as reinforced doors for side impacts. There is headrests on all places, as well as three point seatbelts, up front with pretensioners. The gas tank has a safe place above the rear axle and the interior is free from sharp or hard surfaces. Independent crash testing in the USA have shown that it can rival many larger cars when it comes to safety. Also, things like ABS means that not only the passive but also the active safety is top notch.

VERDICT: ****

The picture is not completely honest. It is a stretch to say that the Lacam Furka does shine this bright.

FINAL VERDICT: 28/45
Except for questionable reliability and bad gas mileage, there is not easy to find any overly weak spots in the Furka. Unfortunately, though, Lacam is entering a highly competitive market with a car that does not shine at very much either. Calling it “mediocre” would be unfair, but being “good enough” is maybe still not good enough in this segment, and suggesting buyers to choose a Furka over any of the competitors in this class may not be the easiest task for Lacam so we can only wish them good luck.

But if you want a good looking, comfortable boulevard cruiser for a more affordable price than it looks like, does not care about sporty driving and likes the heritage in the Lacam brand, and are willing to cope with the costs for gas and to gamble on reliability, then it is not a bad choice. We are sure that you are out there somewhere and this is the car for you, we can recommend it.

But is this the car that will put a Lacam in the driveway for everyone? No, we don’t think so.

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Thanks to @Arn38fr for the car!

[Madrias]

So, if I wanted to send in a car, how would I go about it? Curious as to how the 2005 Sinistra Savage would do in these reviews.

[Knugcab]

Just PM me the car file. And maybe some further info about the car.

[Knugcab]

I have decided to take a break from Automation (not from the board) until the engine update, so this is temporarily closed now.

[Knugcab]

“Taking a break” was working well…not.
And with all the challenges out of the way, I feel that I can open this for submissions again, BUT…
At the moment there is some things that I want you to keep in mind.

1. It can take some time to get a car reviewed at the moment, since I neither want, or have the time, to sit glued behind the computer and automation at the time.
2. If the queue gets too long, I may temporarily close for entries again.
3. If I find a car more interesting to review than another, I may not take them in chronological order. Hint: I think that there is kind of an overweight for sports cars and hot hatches now and would gladly see something else submitted. (And since this is a magazine that’s mainly for Mr. Average doing his car shopping, there is a greater chance to get a full review, and maybe even to get it quicker, for a more “average” car too)
4. I can’t promise that I will be able to review your car before the update will render it useless. Send it at your own risk.

[Marcus_gt500]

Good to see you back. I was missing my lazy chair read!

[Knugcab]

REPRINT FROM #19 1971
REVIEW OF ARMOR STREETHAWK

A DYING BREED OF HORSES

It seems like many of our readers dream of an Armor Streethawk. To use a metaphor, the alarm clock is soon ringing, unfortunately.

“Please test the Armor Streethawk!”
“Why haven’t you tested the Armor Streethawk yet?”
“If you will not test the Armor Streethawk soon, I will cancel my subscription!”

The letters from the readers are all saying the same thing. And now we agree with you, we have to test it now. Because in some months production will be cancelled. The muscle car fad is already dying on the other side of the Atlantic. Stricter regulations and silly insurance premiums means that an end is coming soon, and one of the first models to be axed is the Armor Streethawk. But will it be missed or was production barely justified at all? We will answer this now, and also some of the other questions that readers have sent in, regarding the Streethawk.

DRIVING CHARACTERISTICS
In city traffic, it is of course a barge, like most large american cars. However, standard mounted power steering is something we appreciate with the heavy V8 up front. And we are also surprised how well it works, given that a good feedback from the steering isn’t necessarily what you expect in this type of car where straight line performance is a priority.

The behaviour is the usual one, easy to swing out the tail at slow speeds, but understeering when pushed hard through corners. But sticky and wide radials makes the cornering abilities better than usual for this kind of car. But that didn’t help them from easily going up in smoke. This is not a car for unexperienced drivers (which the insurance companies in the states can confirm).

When it comes to the brakes, though, they are excellent! Yup, you did probably not expect to read that, but four wheel disc brakes puts them in sports car rather than muscle car territory. Hardly sensitive to fading at all and a short 42.7 metre stopping distance from 100. Bravo, Armor!

VERDICT: ***

PERFORMANCE
It would be a shame if the Streethawk didn’t excel here. And it does. The performance is almost scary. To start with, it can reach a 270 km/h top speed - where on earth you are supposed to be able to drive that is another story. 0-100 is done in 6.43 seconds - if you can get grip instead of burning tyres or clutch. 3.40 seconds 80-120, yup, you read it right. The quartermile is done in 14.47 seconds.

The Armor should be respected for its performance - it is almost too much, actually.

VERDICT: *****

COMFORT
The traditional soft suspension found in american cars is gone - the Streethawk is actually quite stiff. But the seating comfort is a surprise - better than many of the more “refined” cars out there. But it is heavy on braking, heavy on clutch and the gearbox is not the easiest to handle - common drawbacks of manual performance cars. And we have a quite remarkable engine drone. Tough or only rough? Well, probably depends on your own mood that day.

But overall, the car will get rather tiresome in the long run and is probably better suited for a short time of fun and games than for the long trips.

VERDICT: **

ROOMINESS & PRACTICALITY:
A two door body is not the most practical - but once you have crawled into the rear seat you have adequate space. The Streethawk is a bit cramped for its size - but so are many of the competitors too.

Armor has not joined the “fastback” trend, instead the Streethawk has a conventional notchback body. That means easier loading and a large luggage compartment. 598 litres are able to fit inside - not too bad.

A large luggage compartment is at least one rational argument for the Armor Streethawk. As if you wanted or needed one…

VERDICT: **

EQUIPMENT
How about radials, 4 wheel disc brakes, power steering, a nice velour upholstery, map lights both front and rear, flow-through ventilation, rear centre armrest, a leatherette sports steering wheel, alloy wheels… Yes, the Streethawk offers much in the standard equipment. A pushbutton selector radio is also standard. It had a crystal clear reception and a richer sound than most we have heard.

VERDICT: *****

ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN
The 5.8 litre V8 features conventional technology, which is not necessarily a bad thing. It puts out impressive figures of 312 hp @ 5400 RPM and 498 Nm@2800 RPM. Sure, it is a bit loud and unrefined, and maybe even better bottom grunt would be expected by many people, not that we see why, because it is more than enough.

The 4 speed transmission works well - when you have gotten used to it. Spacing is sane but gearing is high for a muscle car.

VERDICT: ***

QUALITY & RELIABILITY
Forget the myths about american cars - the Streethawk is well built. Also, reliability is decent (thanks to true and tried technology maybe). Body on frame construction means it has fair rust protection - but absolutely nothing more since there was no extra treatment.

VERDICT: ***

ECONOMY
Expensive to tax and insure, expensive to run. Unstable second hand values (nobody knows what will happen to the muscle cars in the future), 19.1 litre fuel consumtion per 100 km - at NORMAL driving.

$21000 AMU to buy - but of course, a competent car is what you get back.

However, we can’t fool anyone that this will be cheap to run. Because it will not.

VERDICT: 0

SAFETY
American regulations are more stringent than european. There is also a great deal of safety equipment like dual circuit brakes with a vacuum operated servo, collapsible steering column with yielding wheel, 3-point safety belts, extensive padding on all hard surfaces and headrests up front. If one should complain about anything, unibody cars ofter have a stiffer passenger cell and some better controlled crumple of front and rear ends.

VERDICT: ****

FINAL VERDICT: 27/45
Soon, you can’t buy this anymore. But at least it leaves with flying colours. Some muscle cars is pure muscle - Armor Streethawk is some brains too. Still, it’s of course a completely unnecessary car. For some people - totally unthinkable.

But it has many enthusiasts, it seems like. And our test have found out that it is after all justified. It is surprisingly good at many things you don’t expect from cars like this. If you can afford running it, then why not?

Insanity on wheels - but sane insanity.

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Thanks to @GassTiresandOil for the car!

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