The WORST Cars ever sold in Britain - Giles Chapman's book

shankar.balan · 23rd January 2009, 07:41

Found an old book in a second hand book shop the other day - all about cars which were adjudged failures in Britain.

A few of the most interesting ones I have placed below for the interest of TBHP colleagues.

1. Austin Gipsy - 1958-1968 vintage: Looks like an old Series 1 Landrover. Had interesting things like a "Trailing Arm Rubber Suspension" (which failed). Steel body and chassis meant it was prone to rust, compared with the Aluminium built Landrovers.

2. Matra Rancho - 1977-1984 Vintage: It is a simple SIMCA but looks amazingly like a Land Rover Discovery complete with Expedition Style lamps and so on. This car pre-dated the era of "affordable soft roaders, being a 2WD.

3. Dutton Sierra - 1979-1995 vintage: A Brit Kit Car with a simple Ford Engine, Leisure/ Soft Road segment, high riding and with lots of passenger space and of course MUCH CHEAPER than the real SUV type vehicles like Range Rover etc. Look at the design sketch pic closely and one can possibly guess where the original TATA SIERRA inspiration probably came from- right down to the name Sierra itself!

Cheers

aaggoswami · 23rd January 2009, 07:53

Good reading.
I am most surprised about the Sierra though. And they even sold it till 1995.
Would be great if we manage to get more details on the specs of these cars.

Mr_Bean · 23rd January 2009, 14:46

From Rover CityRover - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The CityRover made the media again when Rover refused to lend one to Top Gear to test. In order to answer the question of "just how bad could it be?" James May went undercover and test drove one at a dealer while carrying a hidden camera. He subsequently declared it to be the worst car he had ever driven on the show.

cheers:

GTO · 23rd January 2009, 15:02

Weren't Yugos sold in GB?

akhilesh51 · 23rd January 2009, 17:37

My vote for the worst car in GB goes to rather bizzarly named 'Reliant Robin' and I am sure real Mr. Bean would second my vote. I certainly would not rely on that car.

I mean c'mon, how can you even call it a car when It is riding on only 3 wheels, did the company run out of their car wheels stock???

Thad E Ginathom · 23rd January 2009, 17:38

Indeed they were!

Although I don't remember anything else about them.

We had lada, too. A second-hand lada was something almost anybody could afford. Have to say I rather liked the sit-upright front seat.

Pre-VW, Skoda was the butt of jokes:

How do you double the value of a Skoda?

Fill the petrol tank!

shankar.balan · 23rd January 2009, 19:03

hi

i will copy some of these details out of the book and post for you to see

there are some other disasters like our friend has picturized - the reliant robin and a whole lot of other monsters.

its a good book and nice trivia to file away in one's mind if one is interested in cars

cheers

sb

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaggoswami

Good reading.
I am most surprised about the Sierra though. And they even sold it till 1995.
Would be great if we manage to get more details on the specs of these cars.

greenhorn · 23rd January 2009, 19:26

the robin was sold by sipani as the badal in india

hrag · 23rd January 2009, 19:27

I thought the Tata Sierra was inspired by the Ford Bronco II. Its no secret that the Tata Estate was based on a similar model from Mercedes Benz.

Badal taxis (autos?) used to be common at Bangalore City RS.

Thad E Ginathom · 24th January 2009, 01:11

The Reliant Robin was a wonderful thing that enabled people to get on the road on more than two wheels at reasonable cost. If I remember rightly, it could be driven, in UK, on a bike licence.

23rd January 2009, 07:41	#1
shankar.balan BANNED Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 11,368 Thanked: 23,142 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/2 (8)	The WORST Cars ever sold in Britain - Giles Chapman's book Found an old book in a second hand book shop the other day - all about cars which were adjudged failures in Britain. A few of the most interesting ones I have placed below for the interest of TBHP colleagues. 1. Austin Gipsy - 1958-1968 vintage: Looks like an old Series 1 Landrover. Had interesting things like a "Trailing Arm Rubber Suspension" (which failed). Steel body and chassis meant it was prone to rust, compared with the Aluminium built Landrovers. 2. Matra Rancho - 1977-1984 Vintage: It is a simple SIMCA but looks amazingly like a Land Rover Discovery complete with Expedition Style lamps and so on. This car pre-dated the era of "affordable soft roaders, being a 2WD. 3. Dutton Sierra - 1979-1995 vintage: A Brit Kit Car with a simple Ford Engine, Leisure/ Soft Road segment, high riding and with lots of passenger space and of course MUCH CHEAPER than the real SUV type vehicles like Range Rover etc. Look at the design sketch pic closely and one can possibly guess where the original TATA SIERRA inspiration probably came from- right down to the name Sierra itself! Cheers Attached Thumbnails Last edited by shankar.balan : 23rd January 2009 at 07:43.
	() Thanks

23rd January 2009, 07:53	#2
aaggoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vadodara Posts: 4,982 Thanked: 2,930 Times	Good reading. I am most surprised about the Sierra though. And they even sold it till 1995. Would be great if we manage to get more details on the specs of these cars.
	() Thanks

23rd January 2009, 14:46	#3
Mr_Bean BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 891 Thanked: 241 Times View My Garage	Why is CityRover not on the list? From Rover CityRover - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The CityRover made the media again when Rover refused to lend one to Top Gear to test. In order to answer the question of "just how bad could it be?" James May went undercover and test drove one at a dealer while carrying a hidden camera. He subsequently declared it to be the worst car he had ever driven on the show. cheers:
	() Thanks

23rd January 2009, 15:02	#4
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,497 Thanked: 300,306 Times View My Garage	Weren't Yugos sold in GB?
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23rd January 2009, 17:37	#5
akhilesh51 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Jaipur, RAJ Posts: 631 Thanked: 339 Times	My vote for the worst car in GB goes to rather bizzarly named 'Reliant Robin' and I am sure real Mr. Bean would second my vote. I certainly would not rely on that car. I mean c'mon, how can you even call it a car when It is riding on only 3 wheels, did the company run out of their car wheels stock???
	() Thanks

23rd January 2009, 17:38	#6
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 10,990 Thanked: 26,379 Times	Indeed they were! Although I don't remember anything else about them. We had lada, too. A second-hand lada was something almost anybody could afford. Have to say I rather liked the sit-upright front seat. Pre-VW, Skoda was the butt of jokes: How do you double the value of a Skoda? Fill the petrol tank!
	() Thanks

23rd January 2009, 19:26	#8
greenhorn Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KL-01 Posts: 7,744 Thanked: 4,387 Times View My Garage	the robin was sold by sipani as the badal in india
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23rd January 2009, 19:27	#9
hrag BANNED Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore / Madras Posts: 1,982 Thanked: 31 Times	I thought the Tata Sierra was inspired by the Ford Bronco II. Its no secret that the Tata Estate was based on a similar model from Mercedes Benz. Badal taxis (autos?) used to be common at Bangalore City RS. Last edited by hrag : 23rd January 2009 at 19:28.
	() Thanks

24th January 2009, 01:11	#10
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 10,990 Thanked: 26,379 Times	The Reliant Robin was a wonderful thing that enabled people to get on the road on more than two wheels at reasonable cost. If I remember rightly, it could be driven, in UK, on a bike licence.
	() Thanks