Day: Jan 30, 2016

Toyota Takes Over Daihatsu

We all like Daihatsu for their original concept cars and useful small cars. Except the Europeans, of course. Toyota have decided now is the time to pounce

2015 Daihatsu Hinata: www.japanbullet.com
2015 Daihatsu Hinata: www.japanbullet.com

According to Autocar, Daihatsu, Reuters, Bloomberg, AutoExpress, Japan Times, and the Washington Post, Toyota have raised their stake in the firm by purchasing $3.2 billion of the remaining shares. The argument runs that Toyota needs Daihatsu´s talent at building small cars. Toyota feels it lacks this capacity while Daihatsu could benefit from being smothered inside a large firm. Reuter describes the deal as follows: “Toyota Motor Corp. will aim to transform Daihatsu Motor Co. from a maker of small cars that used to deter their owners from going out on dates into a brand as valued as BMW AG’s Mini.” The difference here is that Daihatu doesn’t Continue reading “Toyota Takes Over Daihatsu”

Gorfe’s Granadas 1985 Ford Granada 2.8 GL estate

Among those in the know, a Mk2 Ford Granada is recognized for its space, speed and quality, writes Myles Gorfe, our senior acting classics sub-editorial assistant.

1985 Ford Granada 2.8 V6 estate interior: source
1985 Ford Granada 2.8 V6 estate interior: source

For sale for a modest £3,950  here’s a lovely 1985 Granny in white, with fog lamps, factory alloys and a factory windscreen. It just doesn’t get any better than this ever, really. Some people might be looking into an old W-123 Merc or maybe a Volvo 740 but those cars are over-rated, lumbering and over-priced. They don’t even look as smart as the Ford either. The Merc is dated and the Volvo too square-rigged and American.  So, what do you get with an ’85 Granny estate? You get to Continue reading “Gorfe’s Granadas 1985 Ford Granada 2.8 GL estate”