Car history

In this column, Anders de Lange shares history and pictures of cars that have gone down in history. Anders de Lange has written about cars and car history for over 30 years. Among other things, he has written the column "Klassikeren", which for several years formed the last page of the free newspaper Nytt om bil, which was distributed to all households. We can enjoy a rich archive of old brochures, photos and enjoyable advertising.

Ford Consul 315 – a nice and slightly special car model

Posted 17/01/2022 by Anders de Lange

Both the car and the marketing were characterized by 60s design and colours. Everything was fashionable, and many car buyers got excited.

Henry Ford started car production in 1903 when the Model "A" came on the market. The big breakthrough came with model "T" in 1908. It was in production until 1927. The model made Ford a world brand and it was produced in several countries. The next model was "A", which was also a success. In Europe, assembly of model "T" started in England in 1911. The first European model of its own came in 1932 with the designation "Y". The US market got completely new models in 1948. With a completely new and low design, the cars became big sellers. In the 50s, classic models such as Thunderbird and Skyliner came with a retractable hard top. Ford Consul and Anglia from English Ford were big sellers in the same way as Taunus from Germany. In the 60s and 70s came the Cortina and Escort which, together with the Taunus, gave Ford a firm grip on the market. In France, the Ford Vedette was continued by Simca.

Ford Consul 315

Ford of England had astonished the motoring world when the new Anglia 105E was launched in 1959. It was followed up in 1961 with the larger model Consul 315 which followed the same design concept. Bright colors and a rear window that was tilted "the wrong way" gave the car a modern and exciting look. It could remind a little of its American relative, the Galaxie 500. Technically, there were also many goodies for car enthusiasts. It was equipped with disc brakes and double headlights, so traffic safety was taken into account here. According to the factory, it was also sporty. But 56 horses under the bonnet were not enough to impress new car buyers with a drive for speed. There was no particularly impressive kick-off or top speed with the small engine.

The Ford Consul 315 was only produced between 1961 and 1963. It was a relatively expensive model to produce so Ford chose to replace it with the Ford Corsair.

1962 Ford Consul 315

Length 433 cm
Width 166 cm
Height 143 cm
Engine 1340 ccm, 56 hp
Top speed 125 km/h

The 1962 commercial highlighted disc brakes and dual headlights.

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Exciting car history from Anders de Lange's archives

Mazda 616 – popular family car

Posted 23/11/2021 by Anders de Lange

A relatively simple family car with a powerful engine, plenty of space and equipment that made it very competitive. The car was extremely reliable and that was something most people appreciated.

The road to today's cars

When Mazda came to Norway in the early 1960s, it was perceived by most as a completely new brand. But this factory located in Hiroshima, Japan, can trace its history all the way back to 1920.

In the beginning, various industrial products were produced. Production of vehicles started with motorcycles around 1930, and the first cars came as light trucks a few years later. Passenger cars in series production started in 1960 with the small R-360. Later came the models 1500 and 1800 which were some beautiful models with a design from Bertone. Mazda started out as one of the first car manufacturers with wankel engines in their cars. The first model was a sports car with a nice design. Sales of Mazda in Norway started in 1967. Mazda quickly reached the top of sales with the models 818, 616 and 929. Reliable cars with a good price appealed to Norwegian car buyers. Since then, Mazda has been known for its family cars.

Mazda 616

One of the very first models to really hit the Norwegian market was the Mazda 616. Here, Mazda offered a relatively simple family car with a powerful engine, plenty of space and equipment that made it very competitive. Compared to its European competitors, it was truly competitive. With a relatively simple construction, this model was not quite at its best on bad Norwegian country roads. Accessibility on winter roads was not the best on the market either. But the car was extremely reliable and that was something most people appreciated. Compared to European family cars at the same time, the Mazda 616 was probably a thought more reliable. In countries other than Norway, it could also be delivered with a Wankel engine. The model was produced between 1970 and 1978. It received several updates during this period, including a new design of the grill and rear lights.

Technical specifications

Length: 415 cm
Width: 158 cm
Height: 143 cm
Top speed: 151 km/h
Engine: 1586 ccm, 75 hp

See

mazda 1500 — Mazda 1500 – Japanese with European style

Austin mini

Posted 14/11/2021 by Anders de Lange

It was smaller than other cars in the same price range, had very small wheels, lacked luggage space, but the technology was completely new. With very good driving characteristics, it immediately made its debut in car racing.

Austin and Morris became BMC

Austin was for many years one of England's largest car manufacturers. The factory was started by Herbert Austin in 1905 as the Austin Motor Company. The first model was a large 5-litre car with 4 cylinders. Leading up to the First World War, a number of different models were produced. In 1, Austin launched the famous 1922, a small and affordable car. It hit the market very well and was also produced by BMW as the Dixi. After the Second World War, the factory quickly came on the market with new models. In 7, Austin joined forces with Morris to form BMC (British Motor Corporation). The most famous model in the 2s and 1952s was the Austin and Morris Mini. Mini-Cooper made the brand famous in car racing in the 50s. Other popular models were the Austin Cambridge and the Austin 60.

Austin Mini Seven

When BMC launched this model in 1959, it came as both Austin and Morris. The only difference between them was the color selection and the grill. For car buyers, the new model was a big surprise. It was smaller than other cars in the same price range and it had very small wheels. It also lacked luggage space. The technique was completely new. The car was equipped with rubber suspension and the transverse engine drove the front wheels. But it had very good driving characteristics, and immediately made its debut in car racing. When the Mini-Cooper came on the market with a larger engine in 1961, it also became a winner in major international rallies. The Mini-Cooper got a bigger engine in 1964 and it resulted in victory in the Rallye Monte Carlo. The model range was expanded to include a van, pick-up and station wagon. In 1967, the Mini MKII was launched with a number of changes and improvements.

Data Austin Mini and Cooper S

Length 303 cm
Width 139 cm
Height 135 cm

Engine 848 ccm and 36 hp. Top speed 116 km/h.
(Cooper S: 1275 ccm and 76 hp. Top speed 160 km/h).

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Berkeley - sports cars and leisure

Posted 20/06/2021 by Anders de Lange

Lots of fun with a small engine

The manufacturer of the car (Berkeley Coachworks) was started in 1946. The owners of the new factory had previously manufactured furniture. During the war, the factory also became involved in the production of parts for aircraft fuselages, primarily wooden frames. When peace came in 1945, aircraft production stopped and an alternative business had to be looked for to continue operating. The solution was to start producing caravans. This was a good solution. Now the factory could utilize both its own expertise and the remaining stock of parts from war production. The first models that came on the market were modern and streamlined, while competitors had models with angular and old-fashioned designs. Modern design and high quality in terms of materials and workmanship were the hallmarks of the first models. By 1950, the factory had a large product range that covered all parts of the market. Berkeley was probably the world's largest manufacturer of caravans at that time. In 1955, they began experimenting with glass fiber reinforced plastic and presented the first model made from this material in 1956. With the new expertise, the road to car production was not long.

Berkeley came on the market with a small sports car in 1956 at a time when several similar cars saw the light of day.

Light constructions and very small engines provided speed and entertainment. The first models were equipped with an engine of only 322 ccm which delivered 15 horses. Later there were models with a slightly larger engine and more horsepower. Although the car was small, it was technically advanced. It was equipped with front-wheel drive and a transverse engine. Fiberglass bodywork with aluminum braces ensured stability. Independent suspension on all wheels and a low center of gravity ensured that this small car really had good driving characteristics. Small and quick - the car was made for competition driving. Several of those who competed wanted more speed. Especially the customers in the USA were eager and they also believed that the small car deserved a bigger engine. It came and gave the car somewhat better top speed and acceleration.

A larger engine opened up new possibilities

The factory launched a new four-seater variant with a slightly larger body. Now it had become a family sports car with 4 seats. But the new model was not a success and only a few cars were sold. Management at Berkeley understood that customers wanted sports cars, not family cars with more seats. The solution was to further develop the sports car that was already in production. A new model with a slightly changed appearance came in 1959. But the most important thing was that it got a bigger engine with more horsepower. The result was a higher top speed (150 km/h) and better acceleration. The idea was now to introduce a completely new model with a larger engine in 1961. The new model was to have the same engine that was used in the Ford Anglia. The construction was completely new with a traditional steel body.

But the market for caravans collapsed in 1960 and the factory was hit hard financially. The result was bankruptcy in 1961 and no more cars were produced.

Data Berkeley sports car 1956

Engine 2 cylinders 327 ccm – 18 hp.
Top speed 115 km/h.
Length: 313 cm.
Width 128 cm.

Berkeley Cars on Wikipedia

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A quick Swede – Saab 96 sport

Posted 07/06/2021 by Anders de Lange

An exciting car from a car manufacturer that was long at the forefront when it came to the development of family cars. This particularly applied to driving characteristics and design.

Saab started in 1937 as a manufacturer of aircraft for the Swedish armed forces. After the peace in 1945, the need for aircraft decreased so that new opportunities and markets had to be considered. A war with great destruction meant that the need for cars and transport was very great. Saab, along with many other manufacturers, saw a large market in the following years, and decided to start car production. In the early days, a small family car was produced with the name Saab 92. It was only the beginning of a number of well-known and smooth-driving car models from the Swedish car factory. Saab had a difficult start as a car manufacturer right after the war. Access to all types of materials was limited at the end of the 1940s. But it eventually became a car, even though production was relatively small at the start. The car had good driving characteristics which made Saab a good name among motor sports enthusiasts right from the start.

Saab 96 sports

The successor to the Saab 93 was the model with the designation 96. It was produced between 1960 and 1980. The new model was very similar to its predecessor but had a larger rear window and slightly better space for passengers and luggage. The changes to the bodywork gave the car a far more modern look. Here there was also a sporty version with the designation "Saab 96 sport". This was a model with more horses and better equipment. The front seats were thick and very comfortable, while the back seat became a small bench. The car was tailored for motor sports athletes and others who liked to drive sporty cars. This was a real winning car both on the track and on the road. The pictures here show the latest version with a new and extended front section. It was also the last model with a 2-stroke engine. When Saab replaced the old 2-stroke engine with a new V4 engine, the car lost much of its distinctive character and the sports version (also called "Monte Carlo") disappeared in 1968.

Data Saab 96 Sport

Length: 417 cm
Width: 159 cm.
Height: 147 cm.
Top speed 155 km/h.
Engine: 3 cylinders 2 stroke – 841 ccm, 55 hp

iron's car business — Advertising from JJ Jernes Bilforretning in Kristiansand

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Nash Healey – a limitless collaboration

Posted 31/05/2021 by Anders de Lange

Today, it is common for many manufacturers to collaborate on new car models. This was not the case previously. Nash Healey is an early example of such a collaboration. European design and solid American technology were behind this sports car.

Nash was an American automobile manufacturer founded in 1916 by Charles W. Nash. He wanted to produce simple and solid cars for the American mass market. The cars were both solid and reasonably priced, and sales were good. Safety was an important selling point and the Nash was among the very first affordable American cars to have brakes on all 4 wheels. In the 1930s, Nash introduced many technical innovations. One of these was the "Bed-In-A-Car" where the entire interior of the car could be converted into a "sleeping compartment". Nash is probably best known for the new streamlined models that came in 1949 with the name "Airflyte". The competition between the car factories in the USA became tough in the 1950s, so Nash merged with Hudson in 1954. The new company was named AMC (American Motors Corporation). 1957 was the last year in which the Nash name was in use and the factory chose to collect all the brands under the "Rambler" name.

Nash Healey

The Nash Healey sports car was produced between 1951 and 1954. The car was described as the first American sports car produced after 1945. The foundation was laid when Donald Healey met Nash director George W. Mason where they began to discuss sports cars. The result was a collaboration where Nash supplied engines and drivetrains. Healey designed the new aluminum bodywork and was responsible for the final assembly of the car. The prototype was presented at the Paris Motor Show in 1950. Already in 1952, changes were made to both design and production. Pinin Farina was commissioned to adapt the car's design to the other models from Nash. The result was an elegant car with incredibly complicated production. The engine and drivetrain were manufactured by Nash in the USA and shipped to England. This was fitted into a frame manufactured at Healey and forwarded to Farina in Italy where everything was fitted into an elegant body and shipped back to the US. The end result was an elegant car that was very expensive with minimal sales. Total production was only 507 cars in 4 years.

Facts Nash Healey

Length: 485 cm
Width: 165 cm
Height: 139 cm
Top speed: 160 km/h
Engine: 4100 ccm, 140 hp

See

nash pininfarina — The Americans who disappeared

Renault 4 – a versatile Frenchman

Posted 24/05/2021 by Anders de Lange

It had a number of novelties. Such as child-proof locks on the rear doors, a thermostatically controlled cooling fan and brakes with pressure equalization between the front and rear brakes. As one of the first family cars on the market, it had a closed cooling system – no control of water and antifreeze.

You have to go all the way back to 1898 to find the start for Renault. It happened in Paris, and the man was Louis Renault.

The first car was built in a small shed in his parents' garden outside Paris. As for other start-up car factories, it was important to participate in car races, and Renault won its first victories before 1900. The next models followed the development of the market, bigger cars with stronger engines. In 1923, a small car appeared to take on the competition with Citroën. The theme of small cars was followed up in 1946 with the model 4 CV. It was one of the smallest 4-door passenger cars that has been serially produced. It was followed by the Dauphine in 1956. One of the most famous models, the R4 came in 1962 with front-wheel drive. In the future, a number of new family cars arrived. Some with rear-wheel drive (R8) and others with front-wheel drive (R5/R6/R12/R16). There have been many popular family cars from Renault and that is still the trend.

Renault 4

The Renault 4 was presented in September 1961. It was a simple and practical car to compete with the Citroën 2cv. With a practical and simple interior, this was a real utility vehicle. It had a number of news items. Such as child-proof locks on the rear doors, a thermostatically controlled cooling fan and brakes with pressure equalization between the front and rear brakes. As one of the first family cars on the market, it had a closed cooling system – no control of water and antifreeze. A typical French car with good comfort and good driving characteristics. It was Renault's first front-wheel drive passenger car. But unlike the popular Morris Mini, the R4 engine had longitudinal seats. When the NAF tested the model in 1962, it was praised for easy maintenance (no lubrication points) and low fuel consumption. Like most French cars at the time, there were leaks and poor installation. Gradually, new models came with better interior design and larger engines.

Facts about Renault 4

Top speed: 120 km/h
Engine: 845 ccm
Measurements: Length 365 cm, width 148 cm
Produced:
1962 - 1993

Prototype for what was to become the Renault 4

See

17-May ripple in Re

Posted 17/05/2021 by Terje Bjørnstad

At precisely 10 o'clock, cars from Re Motorklubb were ready to embark on a 3-hour journey through the surrounding villages. The event was approved by the police and Tønsberg municipality. The first stop was the health center nearby, then it was towards Ramnes, over towards Linnestad, up to Revetal again and on to Undrumsdal and Våle. When it's raining, it may not be as tempting to take the nice car out. But all the donnings seemed to cope well with the weather.

Re motor club consists of over 200 owners of hobby vehicles. This year, as last year, they go around the villages to make 17 May more pleasant for young and old.

The picture gallery contains 19 pictures. They may need a few seconds to download. The editors have several photos that have not been published.

re motor club — Re motor club before departure

A-Ford. Who is more natural to follow a T-Ford?

Rare car. 1930 Marquette 4 door. Marquette was a brand that had its origins in Buick, right?

Early English Ford, Ford Model Y from 1934.

One of the many nice folk wagons. Those of us who have lived for a few years remember folk wagons as a well-known feature of May 17 celebrations.

Great Opel Kadett City in a color many chose in the 70s.

Tough Tempo with flakes in fantastic fine condition.

Finally a bubble that has decorated itself properly.

Re Motor Club

Mazda 1500 – Japanese with European style

Posted 16/05/2021 by Anders de Lange

When Mazda came to Norway in the early 1960s, it was perceived by most as a completely new brand. But this factory located in Hiroshima, Japan, can trace its history all the way back to 1920.

Mazda 1500

The Mazda 1500 was designed by the Italian designer Bertone. This handsome family car debuted in 1965, and hit the market in 1967. Well equipped and with a modern overhead cam engine, this was the model with which the factory wanted to gain market share. Here in Norway, Mazda was relatively unknown, but this model was well received by the Norwegian public. Mazda quickly became known for operational reliability and problem-free car maintenance. When it came to road safety, this model was top notch. Many car dealers who previously sold English cars saw that Mazda had good opportunities and started selling them. The Mazda 1500 was delivered both as a passenger car and station wagon. In 1968, a model with a larger engine came into production. It had the designation Mazda 1800.

Facts Mazda 1500

Produced in the period 1967 – 1972.
Length 438 cm, width 164 cm and height 146 cm.
Top speed 150 km/h.
Engine 1490 ccm / 78 hp.