Expect another entry from me, I’m gonna enter a second car.
[size=150]Introducing the second entrant from Erin…[/size]
[size=150]The Erin Civera GT-L![/size]
With added cheesy 70’s marketing!
i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s527/Mackiatoe/civera%20marketing%20b_zpsylybjcaf.jpg
AutomationHub Page (for extra details): automationhub.net/company-ca … rmodel/729
Keep 'em coming, folks! at least two in each category now! A little over 2 days left to submit.
Here is the current motor usage count, including benchmark cars:
6T33-SQS - 3 cars
6T29-STO - 2 cars
6T33-SDE - 2 cars
6T29-SDE - 5 cars
6T33-SMF - 3 cars
6T33-STO - 2 cars
Entries are now closed. We have one entrant who needs to resubmit and clarify, then I should have results shortly after that. Thanks to those who participated.
Woop! I look forward to the results.
Alright, here we go with the first round of results! Please note the winners in each category will be coming shortly in separate review posts.
Here’s the final engine usage tally, including benchmark cars.
6T29-SDE - 5 cars (2.9L V6 12-valve SOHC, 2 barrel carb)
6T33-SMF - 4 cars (3.3L V6 12-valve SOHC, MFI)
6T33-SQS - 3 cars (3.3L V6 12-valve SOHC, 4 barrel carb)
6T33-STO - 3 cars (3.3L V6 12-valve SOHC, turbo MFI)
6T29-STO - 2 cars (2.9L V6 12-valve SOHC, turbo MFI)
6T33-SDE - 2 cars (3.3L V6 12-valve SOHC, 2 barrel carb)
[size=120]Entry Level[/size]
5th - Bogliq Admiral GX - 6T33-SDE - Design Score 54.325 - “Squirrelier than Kentucky in the Spring.”
4th - Rado Ordures - 6T33-SMF - Design Score 60.625 - “Because economy and expensive sometimes go hand in hand.”
3rd - Townsend Tassel 6 - 6T29-SDE - Design Score 69.525 (Benchmark) - “Still waiting for it to cross the finish line.”
2nd - CMC Padrino Bilancio - 6T29-SDE - Design Score 73.300 - “Super comfy, rather boring, and definitely expensive.”
[size=120]Upscale[/size]
5th - Rado Crawler Luxury - 6T33-STO - Design Score 63.325 - “Please tell me their entire marketing and engineering departments were fired.”
4th - Townsend Tassel Super 6 - 6T33-SMF - Design Score 93.775 (Benchmark) - “The very definition of putting lipstick on a pig.”
3rd - Storm Prince II - 6T33-SMF - Design Score 97.950 - “Seats and bitchin 8-track tunes for 6. And a weird louvered pseudo-landau roof.”
2nd - Erin Civera GT-L - 6T33-SMF - Design Score 103.425 - “Super premium! Just don’t have a big family, because you can’t even throw more than one kid in the trunk.”
[size=120]Truck[/size]
3rd - Solo Orca T - 6T29-SDE - Design Score 76.375 - “Great fuel economy. Not so great at hauling stuff. Or keeping stuff in the bed from flying through the cab.”
2nd - Townsend Texas - 6T33-SQS - Design Score 80.075 (Benchmark) - “Comes in only one color: Rental White.”
[size=120]Sport[/size]
6th - Townsend Trigger - 6T29-STO - Design Score 69.875 (Benchmark) - “This, my friends, is called a coffin.”
5th - CMC Padrino Mostro - 6T33-STO - Design Score 80.775 - “Glorious, uncontrollable fun. And a big price tag.”
4th - Erin Comprida SV6 - 6T9-STO - Design Score 81.625 - “Gorgeous, flashy two-seater. Lumbar pillows not included.”
3rd - Kraft Haus Technik Flug concept - 6T33-SQS - Design Score 87.075 - “Cushy and reasonably sporty. Kinda too bad it’s just a concept.”
2nd - Bogliq Fox Sports - 6T33-SQS - Design Score 87.200 - “A kick in the pants. Just make sure they’re brown before you look at the safety figures.”
[size=150]Entry Level Winner: Solo Toledo Beaver BM[/size]
Design Score: 92.70
Cleanliness and simplicity. Two words to describe the Solo Beaver. These words might be a turn-off without context, but thankfully we had a chance to drive this 5-door hatchback for the full scoop.
As far as basic transportation goes, the Beaver hits on all points. The fact that it’s got Toledo Ironwork’s 2.9 liter 6T29-SDE V6 under the hood is a little icing on the cake for those looking for just a bit more. Solo paired it with a 4-speed manual transmission putting power the rear wheels, allowing the Beaver to hit 60 MPH in just under 11 seconds, while garnering 21.7 MPG in mixed driving. Amazingly enough, Solo decided to fit the Beaver with drum brakes on all corners. Pedal feel is a bit on the firm side, but it stops well enough. Steering is power assisted, though a bit lacking at low speeds.
On the inside, the Beaver is very simple. Wall-to-wall carpeting, vinyl seats, a radio and hand window cranks. With only three gauges, the cluster is not cluttered: fuel, coolant temp, and speed. While this makes for a rather un-stimulating driving experience, it also keeps costs and issues to a minimum, as evidenced by the long life projection.
The Beaver BM is certainly the point-and-go type of car that will appeal to the masses. Its MSRP starts at $3,296.
[size=150]Upscale Winner: Kraft Haus Technik Flug Stolt concept[/size]
Design Score: 119.45
Let’s be up front about something. We truly hope the “concept” label is temporary.
Let’s also make something else clear up front. The Flug Stolt is slow. But no one here cared about that. Kraft Haus Technik has created a wonderful luxury cruiser, utilizing an underpowered 133HP Toledo 6T29-SDE V6 motor and 4-speed automatic. This hefty rear-wheel drive boat takes over 13 seconds to get to 60, but it does so in absolute spoiling comfort. KHT put a hydropneumatic double wishbone suspension on all four corners, along with disc brakes that, frankly, are actually a bit too soft for our tastes.
Inside is where it gets truly interesting to those of discerning tastes. Both rows of seats are saddle leather-clad buckets. The rears fold forward to extend the cargo bay, and the fronts recline and have independent adjustable lumbar supports. Air conditioning, power windows with central locking, power steering, sun roof, and power driver’s seat are also all standard. A high-quality quadrophonic 8-track stereo with digital presets and equalizers rounds out the lists of fun toys on the inside.
At $6128 MSRP, it’s not exactly affordable to the masses. But those who can purchase one will certainly appreciate its finer points.
[size=150]Truck Winner: AMM Theodoro 4x4[/size]
Design Score: 90.125
Boxy, ugly as sin, and downright great at moving people and stuff. AMM gave us the Theodoro to test, and we put it though its paces and then some.
3.3 liters of V6 fury sit under the hood in the form of a Toledo 6T33-SDE. It’s matched with a rather clunky but effective 3-speed automatic transmission with a manual locking 4-wheel drive system. Meaty, staggered tires provide grip, and front disc/rear drum brakes stop the little ute. AMM felt it suitable to put power steering in the Theodoro, which is a boon at low speed.
The inside is somewhat of an enigma. Two bucket, cloth-faced seats and full carpeting are present, but there is no radio. A little odd given the brawny look and feel of the Theodoro. It was expected to be even more basic than it was.
In any case, $3,264 will buy you a Theodoro, which is a bargain for such a capable hauler and off-roader.
[size=150]Sports Winner: Storm Prince II TCE[/size]
Design Score: 94.075
This is a thought that just screams “Holy Toledo!”
There may be some kids out there putting up a poster of a 4-door car on their wall, and dreaming about driving it.
While the Storm Prince II fell in the upscale category, its nasty twin, the TCE trim line, took the cake here. Powered by a turbocharged Toledo Ironworks 6T33-STO V6 putting power through a 4-speed manual, the Prince II TCE is an oddly hot sedan. Contributing to this is its pushbutton locking rear differential, four wheel disc brakes, and progressive monotube suspension. It gets up to 60 in a very respectable 7.5 seconds, can pull almost 1g in the slalom, and does it all while seating 5 people.
Speaking of seating, here we have a sports car with sueded full-cloth seats, power everything, and a quadrophonic 8-track player. Storm clearly didn’t interpret “sports car” to mean “stripped car”.
It does come with quite the price tag, however, at $6,949.
Please note, MSRP’s are in real-world 1978 dollars. I will pick my WTF winner in a little bit, but life calls.
I am really proud of my entry level score, I wasn’t expecting to come 2nd 
I’d say I captured the spirit of the Buick Regal and Grand National well, then. That evil twin with no visual distinction from the counterpart cars, but a much meaner engine did the trick, I see.
And yeah, you can’t strip the interior on something that was upscale and expect people to buy it, even if it’s sporty. Stripping the middle seat from the front of the car was done for practical purposes: No one wants to be the guy in the middle seat, straddling the transmission and shifting stick. As for keeping all the luxury goodies, well, it’d be a dead giveaway if you pulled up to the TCE at a light and he didn’t have a radio on. Instead, pulling up to it at a light and making that mistake to challenge it… Well, it may not be the fastest 1978 car out there, but if you’re challenging it because you’ve got a hot hatch and think you can beat the big luxury car, you may just be in trouble.
[size=150]WTF Winner: Rado Crawler Luxury[/size]
Design Score: Oh, just set it on fire already.
So we’re not entirely sure what happened here. We asked a number of manufacturers to give us upscale vehicles to test drive, and Rado shows up with the Crawler. At first we thought it was a mistake and they sent the paperwork in incorrectly, but the PR contact said it wasn’t a mistake.
So where does a ladder-frame utility vehicle fit into this segment? Honestly it doesn’t. But that’s not to say it doesn’t have its merit. Somewhere out there, Rado feels that someone wants to drive up the side of a mountain while riding in a leatherette seat and blasting Sabbath as loud as it will go. The Crawler is for them.
But don’t expect road manners from this Toledo turbo V6, specifically the 6T33-STO model. Between that, its absolutely raucous, lugging automatic transmission, and its primitive suspension, the Crawler isn’t exactly the epitome of comfort. It’s also projected to be the single worst vehicle this year in quality, so you may want to buy an extra as spare parts.
(Challenge host’s personal note: This thing reminded me of a Jeep Wagoneer with a disturbing turbo, a Cadillac interior, and a Yugo transmission. Seriously… WTF!?)
(Honorable Mention: Solo Orca T. Reminds me of my dad’s old Rampage, but with a bigger motor.)
Wow, I wasn’t expecting a winner. And I’m glad you found the Orca T fairly unique… I didn’t want to make just a regular pickup or van.
And congrats to the other winners!
Excellent! 2nd and 5th! Good competition all, well done to the winners.
Huh… stolt did good! 
I should put it into production by 79 then.