Marque1

HOW MANY CYLINDERS DOES YOUR ENGINE NEED? SURPRISE! THREE MAY BE ENOUGH

Now that BMW has announced its intent to market the next 1-Series with a three-cylinder engine the skeptics may start to believe. North America has always been the land of bigger is better and the more cylinders it has the more we love it, so cars with just three cylinders have always bordered on being a joke. But engine technology has raced at full speed in the last few years to develop six-cylinder mills that produce the power of an eight and four-cylinder engines that perform like a six... and soon you'll be driving turbocharged three-cylinder cars that combine sporting performance with remarkable fuel economy.

BMW is just the latest manufacturer to join the three-cylinder club. Ford is offering their new 1.0 Ecoboost unit in the European Focus from 2012. This new engine features several innovations, including the use of an unbalanced flywheel to remove the need to use balancer shafts. The Volkswagen Group is featuring three-cylinder engines in the Audi A2, VW up!, and versions of the Polo, Seat Ibiza, and Skoda Fabia. Peugeot and Citroën are using a common inline-three-cylinder engine. But here in the land of bigness the only car currently available with a three-cylinder is the Smart.

The three-cylinder engine has a lengthy history that includes such once-successful makes as Saab and DKW. Indeed the first Saabs sold in the US and Canada featured a three-cylinder two-stroke engine. By 1966 the Saab 96 (above) came with 46 bhp, an unimpressive number until you remember that Saabs were lightweights with slippery aerodynamics. With the additional advantage of front-wheel-drive Saabs were quick enough to win the Monte Carlo Rallye, a mark of superiority in those years.

Germany's DKW, one of the historic Auto-Union marques, also featured two-stroke three-cylinder engines. The largest of these was just under 1.2 litres capacity but it had an output of 60 bhp. Among its last and much desired cars was the 1000 SP Roadster and Coupe, which owed much of their styling influences to the Ford Thunderbird.

More recently, GM marketed the Chevy Sprint/Geo Metro/Pontiac Firefly, three-cylinder badge-engineered versions of the four-cylinder Suzuki Swift, intended to provide Chevrolet and Pontiac dealers with a low-cost alternative to Japanese competitors. GM's advertising generally ignored the number of cylinders, while emphasising fuel economy. With the standard 5-speed transmission, performance was adequate for city and most highway driving but the optional automatic came only with three-speeds, quite a stretch for an engine of that size.

Back in the 90s I happened to be in Phoenix, directing a sales video that I'd written for GM Canada. At the conclusion of the shoot I decided to rent a car and spend a couple of days further north, in the Sonoma area. Always a small car enthusiast, I was quite willing to take the least expensive vehicle offered by the rental car company, which turned out to be a Metro 4-door sedan with the three-cylinder Suzuki-designed engine and GM's 3-speed auto. I expected it to perform like a slug but in fact it handled the mountain ascents with ease and thanks to nimble handling could leave other vehicles in its tiny wake. Okay, with a full complement of passengers and a trunk full of luggage that would not have been the case but as a single traveler I was impressed.

In this fast-changing auto world three-cylinder engines will no longer be an oddity in the US and Canada, although older generations of drivers, brought up on multi-cylinders, will no doubt grumble and complain and make derogative remarks, as they once did when a car with "just" four cylinders made them eat toast on a winding road.

History probably records many more cars with three-cylinder engines than those mentioned above. If you know of any, feel welcome to add to our Marque1's visitor's knowledge by using the "Comments" box below

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY: A DELIGHTFUL '72 DATSUN

Every year there are cars at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction that make me wish I was there but because I stayed home I missed the opportunity. This is one, a 1972 Datsun 510 Wagon that sold for $8525. At that price it was a real bargain although if I'd been bidding the numbers might have gone higher. And yes, you are correct. If I'd paid more attention to the 2012 B-J catalog that I was recommending on this very site I'd have known about the Datsun and could have bid by phone. I might have even persuaded Marque1's Nigel Matthews, who was there, to check it out for me.

Ah well, hindsight, etc., and the world is full of "what ifs" and "I wish I had," along with too many "wait 'til next years." Put me in that latter category as I don't expect to be any wealthier then and nice cars at the bottom end of the price scale will still attract me.

The good folks at WindingRoad.com found the Datsun Wagon while they were perusing cars that humble folk like we auto journalists can actually afford. The writer said he tries to stay away from modified or unoriginal cars "but this one was too hard to pass up." Judging from the photo and the specs it appears that any modifications must have been minimal, for it still has a 1.6-liter engine in US specification plus its original rear-wheel drive. The wheels are not stock but I don't have any problem with that, nor with the green paint job. Or was the 510 available in that colour when new?

Nissan/Datsun enthusiasts, along with vintage race fans, will be well aware that the 510 was a fast, chuckable, and fun car that could easily be modified for competition. Paul Newman, the actor and race driver, drove a Datsun 510 when he began his racing career in 1972. Of course a wagon was not likely to be seen on a track, but as a street car the one featured in this blog would be a delightful combination of practicality with good times. Well, there's always next... no, no, I won't say it.

SCOTTSDALE AUCTION CATALOGS: 7 BEST FREEBIES ON THE NET

Quicker and (maybe) smarter than me, the folks at Sports Car Market added seven terrific links to its most recent newsletter and I'm here to say thanks while passing them on to you.

They all link to the catalogs of seven major companies appearing in the Scottsdale auction festival during mid-January. In past years such catalogs were available only in print and at a high price. Indeed, RM's catalogs were keepers, a combination of coffee table book and vehicle history. No doubt they were helpful to the well-heeled prospective buyers but not everyone was willing to lay out that kind of money and, let's face it, there are countless enthusiasts who simply like to admire the cars and, perhaps, learn a little. So we can all be thankful that the catalogs are now available for downloading, absolutely free. I might add that for the auctioneers it makes marketing sense to expand the appeal.

I'm not even going to attempt describing the contents. You can do that yourself, simply by perusing the catalogs. If you're an enthusiast without deep pockets, you'll have fun. If you're a person of means you may find the car (or cars) of your dreams and either head for Scottsdale or use your phone as a bidding tool. If it were me I'd head straight for the RM catalog and inform my banker that I'll be bidding on the 1959 BMW 507 up top. One of my all-time favorites and a candidate for most beautiful sports car.

On the other hand, with less money to spend and a nostalgia for art deco-inspired Fords, and wooden boats, too, I'd hop over to the Gooding catalog and get ready to bid on this 1939 Ford station wagon. With original wood paneling and expert restoration, plus a history that included musem display, I'd love to park it next to the docks at a classic boat show.

While clicking through the Russo & Steele catalog I was brought to an instant halt by this 1953 Corvette. It is one of the rare original examples and is totally unique in having served as the "model" for a US Postal Service 1953 Corvette stamp. The car belongs to Noland Adams, who has 55 + years of experience as an owner, restorer, and Corvette historian. This beauty was owned by him for 43 years.

For sheer volume and variety you can't beat the Barrett-Jackson "circus." It provides five days of entertainment, fun, a chance to see over a thousand collector cars all in one place, and an opportunity to buy some genuinely affordable wheels. That's why I was attracted to this 1969 Toyota Corolla hardtop; that and the fact that vintage Japanese cars are beginning to get some deserved attention. I'd be happy to drive this one home. Get the catalog here.

The Silver auction at Fort McDowell is smaller and more intimate than some of the others, but no less interesting. For example, Silver is offering this 1937 Dodge D5 convertible sedan, one of only 473 produced. With a restoration by a professional mechanic for his own use (same owner many years) it shows off a black lacquer exterior, tan leather interior, factory fender skirts, wide whitewalls, and comes with a heater; handy for those cool weather tours.

I must admit that I've never heard of the MotoExotica sale in Phoenix, which kicks off auction hysteria on January 14-15. But a glance through the online catalog made me realise I'd be missing an important event if I failed to attend. In fact, budget permitting, I might be bidding on a lovely 1947 Buick convertible. I fell in love with these beauties when I was a kid and my affection hasn't changed after all these years. With a wide variety of cars and a slide show accompanying every vehicle pictured, this catalog is one to enjoy.

And now, as they say, for something completely different. In addition to a selection of high end classics, the international auctioneer Bonhams, making its Scottsdale debut, is offering the complete auto library of the late David E. Davis, one of America's most revered automobile journalists. Like countless others I frequently read his work and enjoyed it. Met him once, when he put my 4-year-old on his shoulders for a better view of the Grand Prix at the Glen. This is a collection with a personal history that adds to the interest.

[Thanks again to Sports Car Market for these links]

 

Acura's Legend Becomes One

Maybe they should create an airline called Time Flies because sooner or later everyone's going to need a ticket. To my astonishment I was made aware, by way of the Hemmings Blog, that the Acura brand is now 25 years old. Where I live 25 years is the point at which a car officially becomes a collectible, thus anyone who currently drives a 1986 Acura Legend coupe or sedan now has special status. Hardly a classic, yet it is gratifying to see another Japanese car that can legitimately be displayed at shows and driven in cruises.

I remember being impressed with the Legend for its clean lines, its sophisticated chassis, and its double-overhead-cam V-6 engine. Indeed, when a coupe pulled alongside for the first time I was mystified and thought, "wow, what a great looking car, but what is it?" Being made by Honda gave the Acura extra cachet as that firm's reputation for building cars that are fun to drive would surely filter upwards. This would soon be proven when the Integra was launched (really an upgraded Civic), and then the Acura NSX mid-engine sports coupe appeared, a sensational looking super car that offered Ferrari performance in a reliable, affordable package.

It is unfortunately typical of the snobbish attitude of many collector car enthusiasts that they turn up their noses at anything that doesn't come from Europe or America. The NSX never achieved the expected sales numbers and I've yet to see an Acura at any shows I've attended recently. Hopefully that will change but in the meantime I'd be willing to bet that you can purchase an early Legend for a giveaway price, and I mean one that's in top condition. Coupes will obviously be in greater demand but there's nothing wrong with the sedans. So what I'm saying is that if you're seeking a future collectible at a budget price, you should act now. Or buy a ticket on that airline.

Toyota Celica Supra: A Best Buy Among Low-Price Vintage Cars

When Toyota first introduced the Supra in 1978 it was little more than a stretched Celica coupe with the addition of a 110 hp SOHC 6-cylinder engine. If Toyota's intention was to make it a competitor to the Datsun (now Nissan) Z-car, this was certainly a tentative step. All that changed for the 1982 model year, however, when Toyota completely redesigned the Celica Supra (as it was then known) and in the process gave it the performance and handling that the car needed.

The 2.8 liter 6-cylinder inline engine now featured double overhead cams, a derivative of the twin cam engine used in the 1967 2000GT. It produced 145 hp, and 155 lb·ft of torque, good for 0-60 in 9.8 seconds. Manual transmission came with five speeds though the automatic made do with 4-speeds and a lockup torque converter. The Supra's 4-wheel independent suspension was tuned by Lotus and featured variable assist power rack-and-pinion steering. A nicely finished interior came standard with power windows, power door locks, power mirrors and a tilt steering wheel. An automatic climate control system was optional, as was a sunroof. If you were into sound in those days you ordered a 5-speaker AM/FM/MPX tuner with cassette. Supra power went up almost every year, going from 150 hp in 1983 to 160 hp in 1984, with a slight increase in 1985, at which point it could accelerate to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds.

In 1986 the Toyota Supra again renewed itself with a particularly attractive body design and 200 hp. A turbocharged version was rated at 230 hp. But in 1993 both Toyota and Nissan turned their relatively affordable sports coupes into high performance cars with prices to match. Great cars, no doubt, but not what the market wanted. The Supra and 300ZX continued for five years and then were consigned to history.

The Supra that got my attention for this blog is the 1982 model shown here. Find one like this in good, rust-free condition and you've got yourself a collectible sports coupe at a very reasonable price, for the market is still slow to recognise the true value of Japanese cars. What's more, it will be reliable and fun to drive. You can't buy this one, though. It belongs to the Toyota USA Museum, which reminded us that it won Motor Trend's "Import Car of the Year" trophy and was named one of Car & Driver's "Ten Best Cars".

How Nissan (Datsun) Scooped the Low-Price Sports Car Market

Mazda is credited with building the sports car the English should have built, or to put it a kinder way, an MG or Triumph free of reliability problems. It's called the Miata. And yet another Japanese automaker actually did that first. The car was called the Fairlady 1500, then (with a larger engine) the Datsun 1600, later the 2000.

The 1963 Fairlady 1500 featured a 1.5 liter engine rated at 85 hp with a single SU carb. Standard equipment included a transistor radio, tonneau cover, map lights, and a clock. In 1964 it acquired dual carbs, but a more significant change was in 1965 when a new engine was fitted and horsepower rose to 95.

Just two years later Datsun got serious. A 2-liter SOHC 135 hp engine was fitted and, unusually for the period, a 5-speed manual transmission was included. Also available was a 150 hp competition model, successfully raced by Bob Sharp, John Morton, and others, winning ten National SCCA Championships over a 20 year period. It was said that a well-tuned Datsun 2000 could exceed 120 mph and average 30 mpg at normal speeds.

In its final iteration the car got a new body with a taller windshield, integrated rear-view mirror, padded dash and lifting door handles. Interestingly the 1600 continued as a lower-priced model until the end of production in 1970, when the gutsy little sports car made way for a vastly more sophisticated 240Z.

We rarely see one of these on the road although I was astonished to spot at least two dozen parked at a motel during a Watkins Glen vintage race weekend, no doubt members of an owners club. It reminded me of how the classic car community still regards Japanese collector cars as an inferior breed. (Wake up guys and girls; they represent a wonderful opportunity to grow the hobby!)

The photo above was taken by Bob Schulties, who got me into the Internet journalism business eleven years ago as cars guide for the Mining Company, which later became About.com. Bob is boss of the entire About Autos group and lives in Brooklyn, where he frequently strolls the streets and even in that crowded Manhattan borough manages to spot the occasional vintage automobile. (Note: rusting hulks in Queens don't count.)

Just a few years ago Bob and Marque1 associate Colin Hefferon and I were doing exactly that on a misty Brooklyn evening when we came upon a well-preserved Volvo P1800 coupe. While we were admiring the car a lovely young lady joined us with nostalgic memories of a similar Volvo coupe. Old cars can do that to you. Japanese included.