20 Dec 2015 – Driven To Write

Think Of A Number

If big is beautiful, why aren’t there car model names with more than four digits?

1992 Saab 9000000: autopartsrecyclers.co.uk

People expend a lot of breath on the topic of vehicle names. Until quite recently many held that a name (Silver Shadow, Miura, Astra) presented fewer challenges to the memory than a number. A distinct minority believed numerical model identifiers (518, 911, 75 and 75) represented a cooler style that suggested greater objectivity.

With the devastatingly consistent sales success of the Continue reading “Think Of A Number”

Driven to Write’s Top 50 Best Cars Ever: Number 8

A touch of Porsche magic gives the unique 1982 Seat Ronda its special allure.

Let's make sure everyone knows it's Spanish: onlytruecars.com — Let’s make sure everyone knows it´s Spanish: onlytruecars.com

Only die-hard Porsche fans and Seat connoisseurs know the secret of the Ronda’s appeal after all these years. For most people the Ronda is merely an attractive front-wheel drive car. For anyone conversant with the magic of Zuffenhausen, the Ronda is almost a Porsche in disguise, invisible to thieves and the law alike. What precisely was the Ronda? The Ronda had an efficient five door body, front wheel drive, rorty petrol motor and all-round disc and drum brakes. There is more to it than that though.

The Seat Ronda had other significance in addition to its clever engineering and distinctively Spanish styling. More than any other Seat until its inception it epitomised Spanish manufacturing capability and the country’s strong wish to Continue reading “Driven to Write’s Top 50 Best Cars Ever: Number 8”

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