would it be possible to potentially add another sub-brand for future rounds?
(the one after the current one)
I am thinking of founding a third company under the Anhultz family, which would be very utilitarian.
Just asking, no biggie if that’s not happening.
I feel for the sake of clarity between the registration and play rounds that should be a “no”
My EC entry is the Exordium 518B5. The B3 has slightly better fuel economy but the B5 is a better car in all the relevant categories (internal use only, not part of the Gen II scoring process AFAIK, hahaha).
My Utility entry is the Haulstar 325C All Terrain. The 2WD version is better at being a generic utility, but I was really proud of how the All Terrain turned out, it scores well in Offroad Utility and I wanted to benchmark it against it’s peers.
My IM entry is the venerable Sachem 133F. It’s the best trim, IMO, that’s relevant for Bogliq targeted families and is really important to see how it fares against it’s competitors… Fingers crossed!
Good luck everyone and don’t forget to have fun 
ONE WEEK REMAINING FOR SUBMISSIONS. I only have submissions from 4 of ye!
1977: Surviving the Depression!
With rising inflation and gas prices, the Global economy was really struggling. Automakers were either shuffling to create new mass market fuel efficient designs to meet the demands of the diminishing middle class, or forced to go out of business. Katsuro was already well positioned for success in the era as most of the brand’s lineup were already fuel efficient reliable people movers. With advancements in Tech, the entire lineup was gradually being refreshed with the addition of two new models, a lightweight unibody offroad utility vehicle, and a new hatchback, both with 1.6 liter engines producing between 50-70 horsepower. A new version of the L-2 was also announced, the Midnight edition which basically came in a midnight purple pearl paint, and blacked out interior, wheels and trim. This was a limited edition model that would only be produced for 1 year to celebrate the success of the L-2 over the years
1977 was a big year: Royal Canadian Motors was founded from Dominion’s acquisition of Mont Royal when the latter fell into financial ruin, as well as the acquisition of Cascadia from Japan as a subsidiary offering some much needed know-how (and market share) on small and economical cars.
The Fox was facelifted for 1977 and got a new HiMiler trim that offered a combined 31 MPG to commuters.
The Highliner was also facelifted this year, and the 4x4 model was outfitted with some new accessories.
Also of note is the new Atlantic Turbo, a sleek fastback with a turbocharged I6 making use of the forced induction technology Mont Royal was working on for nearly a decade. This allowed it to return 20 MPG without being sluggish.
Better comfort, Better performance, Better consumption. The new Goonie does everything better.
Since 1970 the Bambi subbrand brings cheap, afforadable transportation to anyone who wants to enjoy the Deer And Hunt services for a smaller price.
Another subbrand of Deer And Hunt is STAG. Mostly focus at the Heavy Duty, Commercial, Service, Military, Contract and Heavy Transport sector. The Hauler is mostly sold as a Boxtruck but other configaration like a Shortbus, Security and RV are also listed
Just over 24 hours remaining…
1977 Rocha Spok 413
1977 Rocha Toledo 416
1977 Rocha Toledo Cargo 416
Presenting the 1977 Family of Anhultz Vehicles
From left to right:
*note: entry appearance may differ from vehicle shown due to trim level differences
Submissions closed, results being tabulated.
Due to not submitting an entry for 3 consecutive rounds, the following companies are no longer part of this competition:
Watson
Silver-York
Platinum
Due to not submitting an entry for 2 consecutive rounds, the following company has suffered an overall RR penalty and must submit during round 6 or be eliminated from the competition:
Charge
RCM Fox HiMiler
Stop the presses. We have a shocker, and upset this year for the best of Compact or Economy cars. Long the domain of bargain-basement manufacturer Bogliq, this year we have to give the nod to an upstart of sorts.
Not really a new company, though newly re-branded, RCM gives us the Fox HiMiler. As the name implies, this trim’s focus is fuel economy.
Powered by a rather buzzy, gruff 1600cc overhead cam four-cylinder, the Fox generates enough power to move. We can’t say much more than that from a motivation perspective, but its good enough to keep it puttering along while getting 31 miles per gallon in combined driving.
Interior design is expectedly spartan, with vinyl seating, a most basic instrument cluster and dash board, and floor mats. We found the seating to be adequate for the task of commuting and errand running, which is likely what our readers would buy a Fox for in the first place.
On the road, it feels quite solid for a small car, without a propensity to wander as the tires run over small grooves in the pavement. Parking is easy, and visibility is excellent all around.
To put icing on the cake, the RCM Fox HiMiler is cheaper than the Bogliq or Ardent. Or any other car in the class save for the Bambi Liberator.
Bogliq Exordium 518B5
“…low cost to own and fuel, and quite handy with a well-designed trunk opening and liftover, and well thought out seating configurations. Really, Bogliq only bit themselves by putting in such an unreliable engine, and not putting enough padding in the seats…”
Pros: Low purchase price, low maintenance cost, high fuel economy, high practicality
Cons: Worst in class reliability, worst in class comfort
Rocha Spok 413
“…Rocha has made amazing strides in quality and reliability, worth of the best in the business. Competent road feel and great versatility are also hallmarks of this little car, though the price tag isn’t so desirable…”
Pros: Best in class reliability, good drivability, good practicality
Cons: High purchase cost
Anhultz Puck IV B
“…considered a microcar. This may not be for everyone, but certainly for those who consider long term costs to be critical…”
Pros: Best in class fuel economy, lowest in class maintenance cost
Cons: Poor practicality, poor drivability
Bambi Liberator B-2D MK II
“…bargain basement entry. It’s great for keeping costs down overall. We didn’t particularly like how the car handled, and the seats were nearly as backbreaking as the Bogliq’s…”
Pros: Lowest in class purchase price, low maintenance cost
Cons: Worst in class drivability, poor comfort, mediocre fuel economy
Earl Vista S
“…probably our favorite balance between practicality and comfort. Projections show that it will be among the more reliable in the group, too. That will be needed in the long run to offset costs…”
Pros: Good practicality, great comfort, good reliability
Cons: High maintenance cost, somewhat high purchase cost
Katsuro Joy X
“…very reliable model. We also love the low liftover and flat load floor, as well as the ease of getting in and out. Unfortunately the Joy gives you no joy at the gas pump…”
Pros: Best in class practicality, good reliability, good drivability
Cons: Poor fuel economy, mediocre otherwise
Ardent Piper L
“…a reasonable value for the money. Fuel economy could be better, as could the seats…”
Pros: Low purchase cost, low maintenance cost
Cons: Poor fuel economy, poor comfort, mediocre otherwise
Hampton Fennec 1.6i
“…plush seats with a stately driving presence gives you an experience that punches above this little car’s weight class. So, too, does the cost of owning one…”
Pros: Best in class drivability, best in class comfort, good fuel economy
Cons: High purchase cost, high maintenance cost, poor practicality
Courageux 3 1400 Rallye
“…a forgettable car with a driving experience that we wish we could forget…”
Pros: Good comfort
Cons: Poor drivability, poor practicality, poor reliability
Hakumai Katana XT
“…very reliable model. But to get one requires an exorbitant outlay of money, enough to buy 3 Bambi Liberators. And that’s if you can even find one…”
Pros: High reliability, decent comfort, decent practicality
Cons: Exorbitant cost, highest in class maintenance cost, lowest in class fuel economy
and as a Meta-con, you spammed the hell out of positive sliders on your engine, sending your ET and PU into outer space and your costs with it. Doing that in a competition like this is a sure-fire way to have a poor showing.
Rocha Toledo 416
Brazilian manufacturer Rocha has had a long and storied history in the States. Perhaps that is a kind way of phrasing it. So we will pardon you (and ourselves) if you are shocked to see a Rocha model at the top of our recommendation list.
The Toledo 416 2-door sedan (or coupe, for those of you that insist on calling it such) is, however, very worthy of the title which we bestow upon it this year.
At first glance on paper, it doesn’t seem like much. A 67 horsepower, fuel-injected horizontal four-cylinder engine. Cloth seats, AM/FM radio, full carpeting, and electric rear defroster. Pretty standard fare for its class.
What specifications on a paper will not tell you, however, is how effortlessly it drives, both on the highway and in the city. Steering response is even and immediate. The suspension soaks up ruts and bumps with ease. Visibility is great in all directions.
And though looking at the spec sheet will tell you it boasts high fuel mileage, most people don’t believe that because of manufacturers’ propensity to fudge their numbers. With the Rocha Toledo, there is no such gaming. It does, honestly, return over 21 miles to the gallon in combined driving.
And for the budget-conscious, the Rocha sits below the median in price, with a low price tag on maintenance.
Truly, Rocha has come far, and this honor is well deserved.
Anhultz Mimas VI D
“…second in driving experience only to the Rocha. It’s far more comfortable, yet still reasonable on gas. Upfront cost is pretty steep, however…”
Pros: Great drivability, good comfort, good fuel economy
Cons: High purchase price
Hampton Valiant III 2.8 Prime
“…came close to knocking off the Anhultz. It tested similarly in many aspects, but fell short in comfort and maintenance costs…”
Pros: Good drivability, good fuel economy
Cons: Mediocre in all other categories
Silverhare Spear Shamal (TIE-4th)
“…A good driving experience combined with, hands down, the most comfortable seats in the class. Many flaws overshadow this, however…”
Pros: Good drivability, best in class comfort
Cons: Subpar in all other categories
Katsuro L-2 Midnight Edition (TIE-4th)
“…seems a bargain with an absolute marvel under the hood. Long-term testing showed that there was a definite honeymoon period involved…”
Pros: Engine of the Year, low purchase price, good comfort
Cons: Poor fuel economy, mediocre otherwise
Bogliq Sachem 133F (TIE-6th)
“…the choice if low costs override your other needs…”
Pros: Low purchase price, low maintenance cost
Cons: Poor comfort, otherwise medicore
Courageux Quinze 1.7 (TIE-6th)*
“…the cheapest of the lot to buy, and pretty cheap down the road. Hopefully you can keep yours on the road, as it can be a handful…”
Pros: Lowest in class purchase price, low maintenance cost, good fuel economy
Cons: Poor drivability, poor comfort
Deer and Hunt Goonie Base
“…no doubt a fine car to define the new luxury market. Whether upscale buyers will bite in this economy remains to be seen…”
Pros: Great comfort, good drivability
Cons: Poor in all other categories
RCM Atlantic Turbo
“…quirky, peppy turbo engine that we really want to love. Unforunately it’s hard to find things we do enjoy about this, which felt tragic…”
Pros: Good fuel economy
Cons: Poor comfort, poor drivability
Ardent Chancellor S
“…the uninventiveness of Ardent’s designers would have Jack Chancellor spinning in his grave…”
Pros: Relatively low purchase price, decent comfort
Cons: Everything else
Hakumai Stallion LX
“…a complete miss on all fronts, and an affront when you read the sticker. We’d much rather buy two Bogliqs and pocket the extra cash…”
Pros: None
Cons: Everything
(Plus see all the Meta comments in the other class, because they apply here as you used the same engine)
(First, as a side note, I have to apologize. I should have seen and booted this entry when it was submitted and not let it sit on my desk for a while. This is a meme body, and I should have made the owner resubmit something that would have been applicable to the consumer market. That’s my fault for not doing so, and I can see why it fits in their lore. This will be the ONLY time I allow a meme body entry, even if it fits a company’s lore)
STAG Hauler Box
(This will also be the only time I skip the winner’s write-up because, realistically, I can’t find a way to write this and spin it to what would be appropriate to the publication and its target. Sorry.)
Courageux 3 Utility
“…quirky European “van” that offers decent dry cargo space in a small, inexpensive package…”
Pros: Lowest in class purchase price, great drivability, good reliability, low maintenance cost
Cons: Worst in class load capacity, poor offroad, poor utility
Bogliq Haulstar 325U All Terrain
“…offroad-worth contender on a tight budget. Unfortunately, Bogliq motors aren’t what they used to be…”
Pros: Low purchase price, high offroad, low maintenance cost
Cons: Poor reliability, poor drivability
Earl Thriftmaster LWB 4WD
“…line of vans ready to handle any sort of work or play. They make excellent work vans, campers, and small transit vehicles…”
Pros: Best in class utility, good load capacity
Cons: High maintenance cost, otherwise mediocre
Ardent Shoshone S
“…best of the new “mini-truck” breed. All indications point to Shoshones as having great longevity…”
Pros: Low purchase price, best in class reliability, low maintenance cost
Cons: Poor load capacity
Anhultz Callisto C LWB 4WD
“…an absolute must for woodsmen, hunters, and those in colder climates such as Maine or Minnesota…”
Pros: Best in class offroad, good utility, good load capacity
Cons: Otherwise mediocre
Katsuro Rascal
“…a slightly less expensive competitor to the Shoshone, that just doesn’t tick off as many of our boxes…”
Pros: Low purchase price, good drivability
Cons: Poor utility, poor load capacity
Rocha Toledo 416 Cargo
“…excellent road manners from this small truck. We also appreciate Rocha’s improved reliability. Unfortunately, they still fall short of other similar competitors like the Katsuro or Ardent…”
Pros: Good reliability, best in class drivability
Cons: Poor in all other categories
Hampton Nevis II
“…plagued by reliability problems. What would otherwise be considered a fine vehicle has been soured…”
Pros: Good drivability, good load capacity, good offroad
Cons: Atrocious reliability, very high maintenance cost
RCM Highliner 4x4
“…for the money, we were expecting more value. Poor reliability and high maintenance cost did not help in these matters…”
Pros: Good offroad, decent utility
Cons: Poor reliability, highest in class maintenance costs, highest in class purchase price
Ardent (Suzume) Amagi 2A2300S and Katsuro L6-2.6 Mk.2
+5 Point Relative Rating bonus for Katsuro
This year we have a pair of contenders vying for the top spot in the arena, and we honestly couldn’t be happier to put both through grueling side-by-side tests. Both the Ardent and Katsuro engines selected this year hail from Japan, providing motivation to the Katsuro L-2 Midnight Edition and the Ardent Shoshone. For those not familiar, the Shoshone is a rebadged Suzume Kaibokan, sold under the Ardent name as part of an investment agreement made 3 years ago.
Both manufacturers approach their respective problems with similar-sized straight-6 engines, with the Ardent 2.3 liter displacing a little less than the Katsuro 2.6 liter. Here, however, they diverge in philosophy. Where Katsuro uses pushrod technology and a carburetor, the Ardent is a modern fuel-injected, single overhead cam design. These differences lead to a different driving experience.
The Ardent motor is very smooth and responds to throttle input with precision. The Katsuro is torquier and, thanks to a well-engineered exhaust system, significantly quieter. Both motors are extremely reliable. Long-term ownership savings is split; the Ardent is more fuel efficient, but the Katsuro engine is cheaper to maintain.
Our testing staff could not come up with a clear winner after much debate. Honestly there probably isn’t one. Either motor is incredible, and worthy of considering models with them under the hood.
ALL BOGLIQ ENGINES
For the first time ever, we are issuing a general advisory against the purchase of engines from an entire manufacturer. We’re not quite sure what’s going on at Bogliq’s engineering department, but the results this year haven’t been pretty.
All three motors that we tested this year from Bogliq suffered from serious issues, and long-term testing indicates overall reliability to be very poor for these engines. In addition, their 3.3 liter V6 has an obnoxious, loud droning exhaust note at cruise, and their 1.8 liter 4 cylinder is among the most gutless on the market.
The worst of the batch, however, is their 2.5 liter 4-cylinder. This particular motor is very coarse and lacks any form of responsiveness whatsoever, in addition to the piled-on reliability issues.
Now, that said, we know a ton of you will go out and buy Bogliqs because they’re cheap. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Silverhare Spear Shamal
Bambi Liberator
RCM Fox HiMiler
Hakumai - 67.85 (Limited sample data)
Rocha - 67.07
Ardent - 64.63
Katsuro - 64.00
Courageux - 63.73
RCM (Dominion) - 63.50
Earl - 62.73
Hampton - 62.50
Anhultz - 62.13
Deer and Hunt - 61.43
Bogliq - 61.33
Rocha - 100.00
Deer and Hunt - 99.09
Anhultz - 98.09
Bogliq - 97.73
Katsuro - 93.52 (Including engine RR bonus)
Earl/Silverhare/Hirondelle - 93.46
Courageux - 90.38
Hampton - 86.56
Ardent - 86.16
Dominion - 79.16
Hakumai - 44.24
Charge - 40.00 (Static due to missing 2 consecutive rounds)
Watson - (Eliminated due to missing 3 consecutive rounds)
Silver-York - (Eliminated due to missing 3 consecutive rounds)
Platinum - (Eliminated due to missing 3 consecutive rounds)
1977 Earl Response - In Character
The late 70s was not precisely the greatest time for the Earl Motor Company, but it soldiered on well enough, maintaining a market lead in no small part due to previous momentum. Always the bridesmaid and never the bride, Earl products did not tend to win comparisons but also never embarrassed themselves, either. Despite less-than-modern technology, trucks and larger cars remained competitive with good sales numbers, although their reliability, which was once market leading, was caught up to and surpassed by others. The all new Vista proved to be just a little too large and expensive to woo over second car buyers focused solely on price and efficiency, but its high comfort and space did prove incredibly popular with those looking to downsize from traditional compacts and even intermediate size cars. Earl looked towards the future with fuel injection, overdrive transmissions, more front wheel drive models, and even turbocharging…
1977 Earl Response - Out of Character
Well this subverts my expectations, I expected the Vista to do well and the somewhat too realistic Spear Shamal to fall flat on its face and get damn near last place. But in hindsight the actual standard interior and larger size stymied the Vista as a true economy car (it’s good I didn’t go with the 3 speed auto or power steerting like I considered). I’m also interested you picked the Spear as a honorable mention, I put it together in 4 hours in the middle of last night.
The high maintenance on it and the Shamal make sense because of the interiors (why automation ties maintenance and reliability so heavily to interiors still seems odd to me) but I don’t know why that’s the case with the Thriftmaster, unless other utes had no radio at all?
The first few years after the oil crisis were a rough patch for Hampton. The redesigned Nevis, despite having a new body, was clearly showing its age; its mechanicals, hastily adapted from the original 1956 design on a shoestring budget, were over 20 years old and were now long overdue for replacement. Meanwhile, the new Fennec was struggling in the marketplace somewhat, since it was proving to be more expensive to buy and maintain than expected. It was not entirely without merit, though; critics praised its drivability, comfort and economy. On the other hand, the Valiant III was proving to be a more competitive offering in its class, by offering a good all-around package. And with the flagship Vanguard selling well after its redesign, Hampton still had every reason to be optimistic going into the next decade.
It was on a cool autumn evening in Warwickshire that Chairman Toby picked up the latest issue of Motor Review World, and began reading it. He was alarmed at how far some of his cars had fallen behind their competitors, but as worrying as his company’s troubles were, he was even more horrified to find out that other manufacturers had also dropped the ball in some aspects. At that point, he knew what he had to do: improve the overall reliability of his products, without pricing them out of their target markets. He gathered around his employees, and promptly made a speech:
“Listen up, lads! As you all know by now, we’ve had a rough ride over the past few years. Our products still deliver outstanding comfort, efficiency and drivability, but have fallen behind in reliability and affordability. As such, we’ve begun developing a new product plan that will hopefully yield significant improvements in perceived quality over the next few years. It won’t be easy, but I assure all of you it will be worth it - and I suspect it will be the only way for us to stand a chance of avoiding bankruptcy or foreign ownership. So get to it right now, and help this company fight back against the strongest opposition we have encountered in the marketplace.”
Emboldened by their leader’s speech, some of Toby’s workers immediately set to work on a new range of cars, but their debut would be several years away, so in the meantime, the rest of them turned their attention to improving the existing range. These updated cars would eventually serve Hampton well for the remainder of the current model cycle. Unfortunately, performance had taken a back seat to other priorities in the aftermath of the oil crisis, as evidenced by Toby’s painful decision to axe the Hampton V8 altogether and offer its tooling for sale. Nevertheless, Toby remained as upbeat as ever, and despite receiving numerous offers to step down, he proudly declined, knowing that he was the only person who could pull off such an audacious recovery plan.
KATSURO Automotive: Round 5 Aftermath
1977 saw auto manufacturers squeezing every bit of mileage out of their cars due to the gas crisis, increasing competition in the market when it came to efficiency. While Katsuro’s engines were literally bulletproof, they were slow to advance to newer more efficient tech that saw them trailing behind the competition in terms of raw mpg.
The joy as a new entry into the budget segment was a harder sell than some of its competitors due to fuel economy, but with it’s very cheap maintenance and high practicality, sales were steady, but not impressive.
The L-2 Midnight edition was also a little bit thirsty compared to the competition, and the market seems to have been dominated by a Brazillian manufacturer called Rocha. The Shamal was Katsuro’s biggest threat this year in the category for people who were looking for something less mainstream.
The rascal… well early sales projections look ok. It should appeal to younger buyers looking for an inexpensive and fun offroader, especially with optional rear seats in the bed.
This year also saw Katsuro’s straight 6 being mentioned as engine of the year again and this should boost overall sales and maintain confidence in our customers as a company that delivers solid engines.
Personal computers and game systems proliferate throughout American homes as IBM releases new PCs, Apple releases the revolutionary Apple II, and Commodore, Atari, TI, and others enter the market. Domestic oil supply increases as the Trans Alaska Pipeline is completed. Overseas, western Europe sees changes as Spain holds its first elections in 41 years, and a new Constitution is established. Moviegoers are treated to a spectacle of special effects as Star Wars premieres. The Camp David accords bring a framework for peace between Egypt and Israel. The comic strip “Garfield” premieres. Early in 1979, Ayatollah Khomeni returns to Iran from Exile, sparking great tension and causing oil prices to rise globally. Margaret Thatcher becomes the first female Prime Minister. Closer to home, security and safety concerns rise as the Three Mile Island reactor in Pennsylvania suffers an accident. Fascinating new products are launched in the form of the popular Rubik’s Cube puzzle and 3M Post-It notes. The US Men’s hockey team completes the “Miracle on Ice” and defeats the Soviet Union to earn gold in the Olympics. The country is shocked, and severe economic damage is caused, when Mt. St. Helens erupts in May 1980. The year closes out tragically with the assassination of John Lennon.
Economy
Unemployment: Moderate-high
Inflation: High
Economy: Recession
Short-term economic forecast: Potential recovery
Personal computers and consoles become more popular. Spanish elections held. Star Wars premieres. Camp David Accords. Iranian Revolution. Three Mile Island nuclear accident. Thatcher becomes UK Prime Minister. Mt. St. Helens erupts. CNN launched. Rubik’s cube and Post-it Notes debut. Miracle on Ice. John Lennon killed.
Fuel: Regular Unleaded (universal), Premium Unleaded (common in metro areas, uncommon in rural areas). Catalytic converters REQUIRED for ALL vehicles.
Bumpers: 5 MPH bumpers required. Most bodies with integrated bumpers qualify. If it does not have a discernable integrated bumper, bumper(s) must be added
Front lights and fixtures: At least one pair of headlights required. Only sealed-beam (including pop-up) are allowed in this era. Only one pair of headlights is required, regardless of whether they are round or square. At least one pair of turn indicators required. Exactly ONE pair of parking lights is required. Turn signals and headlights may NOT be placed in bumpers, but parking lights MAY. There must be some form of visual separation between turn and park lights, either by physical separation (separate fixtures) or color separation (Different color bulbs in the same fixture)
Front light colors: No red may face forward. Turn signals MUST be amber. Headlights MUST be clear or white.
Rear lights: At least TWO pairs of brake lights. At least one pair of turn signals. At least one pair of reverse lights. NO lights may be placed bumpers (however, optional red reflectors may be). If turn and brake lights are in the same fixture and of the same color, there must be a minimum of THREE bulbs in the fixture.
Rear light colors: Brakes must be red. Reverse must be white. Turn signals cannot be white.
Side marker/signal lights: Front and rear side markers are required.
Side light colors: Front side markers must be amber. Rear side markers must be red.
Mirrors: Driver’s side required.
Aerials: Long mast or retractable antenna required if car has a radio.
Fuel fillers: Fillers MUST be on the side of the vehicle (either side). Fuel fillers must be on the opposite end of the vehicle from the engine. Pickups may have the filler either behind the door(s) on the cab, or on the bed side.
Tires: No semi-slicks.
Safety: Minimum score of 26.
File Naming Convention:
Model: G2R6-(category)-(username) Trim: (MFR Model Trim)
Engine: G2R6-(category)-(username) Variant: (Whatever you want)
Export and PM me the .car file, make a post about your car in your lore thread (if not already there), and post an ad in this thread BEFORE the round deadline.
Economy Car (File naming convention: EC) - An inexpensive car, typically of a compact or subcompact body size. Usually powered by a 4-cylinder or smaller, though some cars of this era had a small 6-cylinder.
Performance (File naming convention: PF) - During this era, a wide variety of such cars was available. This can include pony cars, muscle cars, personal luxury coupes, grand tourers, or sports cars.
Full-size (File naming convention: FS) - The largest class of car in a lineup. These can run anywhere from modestly equipped sedans or wagons for large families, to executive or luxury cars, and can include large grand tourers or personal luxury coupes.
Remember, vehicle categories are based on your company’s lore for the US market, there is not a specific body size requirement or type for any category…
NO NEW COMPANY REGISTRATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED
Companies now eligible in this competition:
ALL COMPANIES NOW ELIGIBLE (Except those withdrawn or eliminated/dropped)
Charge
(none)
March 1977 - Rumors swirl as Ardent engages in talks with a private equity firm. Speculation grows that Ardent intends to sell Townsend Coachworks, though executives insist that the purpose is for increasing capital for new projects.
July 1977 - Ardent executives confirm that their private equity talks have ended inconclusively.
August 1977 - Ardent CEO Charles Bergman announces his intention to retire within the next year. As the search for his replacement begins, industry experts begin to dissect his tenure. Many consider him too timid to make the kinds of bold moves of his predecessor. Some suspect that he is being forced out by the Board of Directors, a rumor that is denied by executives, including Bergman himself.
January 1978 - Ardent receives recognition from Motor World Review as the “Top Domestic Manufacturer in Reliability”.
February 1978 - Ardent’s Board of Directors selects Matthew Seldon, currently serving as President of Townsend Coachworks, as the new CEO. Charles Bergman officially retires.
April 1978 - Originally introduced as a concept car called “Silver” at the 1976 LA Auto Show and refined into a production model, Ardent announces that their factories have started churning out the new third-generation Sentinel, ready for the 1979 model year.
May 1978 - Ardent CEO Matthew Seldon announces that the Townsend brand will be discontinued within the next year, ending the nameplate’s run after 60 years. One of the two remaining factories is to be shuttered, the other retooled to produce Ardent Shoshones, and Suzume Kaibokans and Kaminaris.
September 1978 - The third-generation Ardent Sentinel goes on sale, now on a front-wheel drive platform.
December 1978 - Ardent unveils the second-generation Piper subcompact at the LA Auto Show, slated to go on sale for the 1980 model year.
January 1979 - The last Townsend Toulouse rolls off the assembly line.
March 1979 - Ardent announces plans to invest $400 million to expand and modernize their Toledo Ironworks factory, where their V8 engines are produced. Renderings indicate that additional facilities will be built to support production of additional types of engines.
April 6th, 1979 - The last Townsend ever built, an Alpine White Trinidad Super, rolls off the line. Matthew Seldon, having once been the top executive at Townsend, is waiting in the parking lot to purchase it.
September 1979 - The second-generation Piper goes on sale.
February 1980 - First-year sales figures for the third-generation Sentinel show a significant increase over the previous year. However, revenue for the line misses expectations as sales are driven primarily by base-model units.
May 1980 - Ardent announces that development of a new family of four-cylinder engines has started. They are to be produced at the Toledo Ironworks factory currently under expansion.
In the third round, the closest equivalent to this category (which was the Muscle Car class) required trims of existing models from other categories, but it won’t be necessary for this round; as such, if I am not mistaken, submissions for this round in the Performance category may be entirely separate models from those in the other two categories.
OOC:
I was distracted and made some questionable decisions, hahaha!
In-C:
Bogliq USA made a public statement today that their alloy head engine range were being put on ice. Customer complaints were rising dramatically and even Bogliq workers were buying alternate brands. The problem seems to reside in gasket technology being unable to compensate for differing expansion rates.
The problem has resulted in Bogliq issuing a recall on engines over 20K miles, where Bogliq mechanics will retrofit an iron head to the engine. This seems to be the only way to provide long term easing of concerns over reliability…
Found in a bathroom stall at Bogliq R&D:
