1984 Letaran Auto Convention Recap
At the end of the 1984 Letaran Auto Convention, the world’s motoring press began compiling reviews of the various cars that had been shown there. Here is what the staff of Highway & Raceway, one of the world’s most respected automotive publications, had to say about them:
Part 1: Standard
Mara Zora 1.3 K3 by @AndiD - “It may be a generic-looking third-world subcompact, but it’s quite easy to drive - and very cheap to buy and run. It’s also very reliable, despite (or because of) its use of an old-school carbureted engine developing just 45 horsepower. However, it does not have any advanced technology, and Mara could do well to incorporate this into its replacement that will be due several years, or even a decade, from now - partly out of necessity, partly out of customer preference.”
Canmo Chickadee Sprint Turbo by @crwpitman1 - “Quite an unconventional sport compact, with its turbo triple (albeit one with a 2v DOHC setup - we would have preferred a 4v one) providing decent performance for something its size. However, it should have been placed in the luxury/performance category - it’s not as much of an everyday car as the Zora. As a budget performance car, though, it does quite well, even without highly advanced technology - but it looks the part.”
Vanzandt Avant by @VanZandt_Breda - “One of the more expensive cars in this category, it’s supposed to be an economical commuter car, but the Chickadee turned out to be better in that regard. Also, our road testers found it to be under-damped, and this is also one of the few cars in this size class to be built on a ladder frame, something usually reserved for larger SUVs and pickup trucks. This makes it heavier, thirstier and less safe than it ought to be, and therefore unconvincing as a mass-market car.”
Kessel Strata by @GassTiresandOil - “A futuristic, aerodynamic design that will stand the test of time, the Strata uses aluminum for its doors, hood and trunk lid to save weight and reduce corrosion. Thanks to standard-fit ABS, it should be safer in a panic stop, and its advanced 4-speed automatic transmission makes it more comfortable in everyday driving. Expect this to be a standout in the mid-sized executive car market - and a popular choice even a decade from now.”
Primus Advance 1.8 GL Auto by @HappyHungryHippo - “If the Mara is too austere, may we recommend the Primus Advance? This is more of a first-world compact commuter car, and is priced accordingly, but it’s still affordable, and a lot safer as well. It’s much more comfortable, especially with its advanced automatic transmission (an optional fitment, but present in our test car), and despite slightly oversized light clusters front and rear, it still looks way better than the bare-bones Mara.”
Planar PG22 Genoace 1000 by @lotto77 - “This and the Chickadee are poised to compete for the sport compact crown, but I think the Planar edges it, thanks to its more advanced multi-point EFI set-up. It may not have an electronically controlled automatic gearbox, but it feels a lot sportier nonetheless, although that may be down to its stiffer springs. If you want a cheap fun car, you could do a lot worse than this, but most potential customers for the Planar Genoace line would be served by a lesser trim level.”
Class Rankings:
- Kessel Strata
- Primus Advance
- Planar Genoace
- Canmo Chickadee
- Mara Zora
- VanZandt Avant
Part 2: Luxury/Performance
Zephorus GGL by @Riley - “A jaw-dropping machine that is, unfortunately, more show queen than proper supercar. It gets kudos for its V10 engine and ability to run on E70 ethanol-based fuel, as well as traction control and ABS, but a flagship supercar should not have an automatic transmission (even an electronically controlled one), hydropneumatic suspension (even a well-set-up one) or undersized front tires (175mm wide, compared to 255mm wide rears), all of which give it rock-bottom sportiness in its class. With some changes, however, this could have been a winner, but as it is, it’s more about show than go.”
Primus Astrona Turbo by @Happyhungryhippo - “This is a sports sedan but not as you know it - it’s a FWD turbocharged four-cylinder lightweight in a world of naturally aspirated and RWD or AWD six- and eight-cylinder beasts. It should be able to worry some of today’s genuine sports cars, but it needs more brake cooling to be competitive. Also, I get why some 4-door performance cars are called street sleepers, but this takes the idea way too far - apart from its rear wing, it looks too much like an ordinary family sedan.”
Vaughn Sirin by @Knugcab - “Almost as striking as the GGL, but a lot more affordable. It may only have a 90-degree pushrod 12v V6 under its rear deck, and the strut rear suspension seems at odds with the dual-wishbone front end, but it works around its limitations very well indeed. It’s also very light, and can therefore make good use of its modest power. Most crucially of all, its pin-sharp handling puts it in a class above the GGL in terms of sporting appeal, much to our surprise.”
Canmo Super Sprint M8TT by @crwpitman1 - “This one looked like a (class) winner at first glance, but didn’t deliver on its promises. There’s too much turbo lag and oversteer, which makes it a deathtrap even at lower speeds. The result is a total waste of immense performance potential, and one whose shortcomings must be fixed (through better suspension tuning and/or more front-to-rear tire stagger, as well as a wider powerband) if even limited production is to ever be considered in the future.”
Swanson 237STF by @Ludvig - “Second only to the GGL in terms of raw power, the 237STF may not be the best-looking car here, but it is the quickest, thanks to AWD. It needs better brakes, though, and it could do with power steering. Also, as a four-seat grand tourer, it should have at least a premium interior and audio system, but instead, it has a sports interior and standard stereo. This saves weight and improves performance, but severely reduces comfort. All in all, the 237STF is a real beast on the road, but it needs to learn some manners.”
Class Rankings:
- Vaughn Sirin
- Swanson 237STF
- Primus Astrona Turbo
- Zephorus GGL
- Canmo Super Sprint M8TT
Stay tuned for the rest of the reviews and the overall results!
Thanks for the nice review anyway! 
