Oldies but Goldies!
March 26th 2009 13:24
Although it was the American consumer driven society that invented the theory of planned obsolescence, it was the Europeans who chose to largely ignore it!
Every year saw the release of a completely restyled model line of motorised land whales to much fanfare and spending of advertising dollars for all of the big three in the USA.
While over in Europe, the big news for the year might be a new design of hinge on the boot lid or perhaps a different colour for the gear knob! Car companies on both sides of the English Channel produced cars that were bordering on geriatric at the end of their respective production runs. So just who holds the title for the longest running production?
Now, I am not talking about a nameplate here, so Corolla does not count.
The English are brilliant at keeping old cars alive, the original Range Rover ran for 25 years basically unchanged, the Landrover which admittedly has undergone some major changes celebrates its sixtieth birthday this year and my own personal favourite, the Mini which was in production for a total of forty one years, still has a world wide cult following.
In the land of Berets and Brie, the 2CV was around for fifty one years and from competitor Renault, the R4 was a mere baby at the age of thirty three when they stopped production. Across the border in Germany, Volkswagen has had a couple of shots at the title with the Beetle and although a few were built prior to the war, it actually entered full production in 1946. Eighteen million plus cars later it was finally retired in 2003, final tally either 65 years or 57 years depending to who you listen to!
The champion? Still too early to call, as both of the final combatants are still in production, squaring up for the bout is the Kombi or VW Transporter, which entered production in 1950 and like many old Germans is living quite happily in South America. Production continues to this day some 59 years later. Surprisingly, the other possible contender was in production in England between 1953 and 1956 and then the production was shifted to the sub continent where the car continues with minor differences, its name? The Hindustan Ambassador.
Every year saw the release of a completely restyled model line of motorised land whales to much fanfare and spending of advertising dollars for all of the big three in the USA.
While over in Europe, the big news for the year might be a new design of hinge on the boot lid or perhaps a different colour for the gear knob! Car companies on both sides of the English Channel produced cars that were bordering on geriatric at the end of their respective production runs. So just who holds the title for the longest running production?
The English are brilliant at keeping old cars alive, the original Range Rover ran for 25 years basically unchanged, the Landrover which admittedly has undergone some major changes celebrates its sixtieth birthday this year and my own personal favourite, the Mini which was in production for a total of forty one years, still has a world wide cult following.
In the land of Berets and Brie, the 2CV was around for fifty one years and from competitor Renault, the R4 was a mere baby at the age of thirty three when they stopped production. Across the border in Germany, Volkswagen has had a couple of shots at the title with the Beetle and although a few were built prior to the war, it actually entered full production in 1946. Eighteen million plus cars later it was finally retired in 2003, final tally either 65 years or 57 years depending to who you listen to!
The champion? Still too early to call, as both of the final combatants are still in production, squaring up for the bout is the Kombi or VW Transporter, which entered production in 1950 and like many old Germans is living quite happily in South America. Production continues to this day some 59 years later. Surprisingly, the other possible contender was in production in England between 1953 and 1956 and then the production was shifted to the sub continent where the car continues with minor differences, its name? The Hindustan Ambassador.
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