These rugged little cars are still popular among enthusiasts in Australia and absolutely ubiquitous in Iran. One of them won the "world's toughest rally", the 1968 London-Sydney. I read this week that William Towns, the designer of the Aston DBS, Lagonda and V8 models had a hand in the design while at Rootes. Obviously he took the tail light idea with him to Aston (that is after pinching the design from Bolwell).
The car lives on in Iran (just as the Morris Isis lives on in India and the XK Falcon lives on in Argentina) in the form of the Paykan. Taxi drivers in Tehran, I'm told, wouldn't drive anything else. I wouldn't have thought they had much choice.
Here's an Iranian police car.....
....and they even do a ute......
......which, of course, provides the basis for ambulances and camper vans.
Is that a Mazda I see there?
The car lives on in Iran (just as the Morris Isis lives on in India and the XK Falcon lives on in Argentina) in the form of the Paykan. Taxi drivers in Tehran, I'm told, wouldn't drive anything else. I wouldn't have thought they had much choice.
Here's an Iranian police car.....
....and they even do a ute......
......which, of course, provides the basis for ambulances and camper vans.
Is that a Mazda I see there?
You forgot the mighty Hustler!
ReplyDeleteRemember that tarted up version that sold about like pork chops in a synagogue?
A few were even imported two door versions complete with English rust at time of purchase for no extra cost!
Lyn had a Hunter 770 with trim that matched the then Valiant Regal 770 in embossed fake leather, carpets, wood dash, full instruments. Little beast with Rostyle wheels, 1725 cc and 3 speed auto would chirp the tyres into second gear. did not rust on hr as she did not have it long enough before we replaced it with a Datsun 240K.
ReplyDeleteThere was a Mark 7 with a Hunter Royal wood dash. Is that still around?
ReplyDeleteBurned to the ground in Whyalla did it not? About 20 years ago.
ReplyDeleteOh yes.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating subject to read up on. They produced this car for nearly 4 decades. They sold this little car until 1995. Fitted wit Pug 504 motors then with their own motor. Now all I have to do is read up on the Falcon in Argentina. Thanks John.
ReplyDelete