Hooniverse Asks- Historically, What Cross-Brand Component – or Car – Sharing Have You Found the Most Appalling?

Robert Emslie

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saab_lancia_600

One of the things that we are all taught – usually as early as pre-school – is that sharing is a good thing. I mean, it is when it’s tasty cookies or perhaps a scrap of wreckage floating in the icy North Atlantic – THERE WAS ROOM FOR TWO, ROSE! – and not necessarily when it’s bad news, or a case of the crabs.

When it comes to the auto industry, that lesson about sharing is one many of its members have well learned, both for better and for worse. Sometimes sharing – such as Ferrari offering up versions of its amazing V8 to both Maserati and Alfa Romeo – ends up a win-win-win. Other times, like in the instance of the wildly unfortunate Toyota Cavalier, which was foisted upon Japan by the partnership of that company and an obviously Nihon-antagonistic (and possibly drunk) General Motors, it couldn’t have turned out worse. Well, I guess it could have, Rodan could have emerged from a volcano and vaporized all other transportation options with his supersonic speed, forcing the nation into the US-built cross-dressers. That would have been worse.

Yeah, so sometimes it doesn’t work out so well, and it’s those low points in the history of sharing that I want to discuss today. It may not even be an entire car either, it could be a part – like the VW (which to many is code for nazi) engines in that most American of cars, the Gremlin, an act that made a lie of the Kenosha-based company’s very name- American Motors, my ass! What do you think, is that sharing taken to a new low, or do you have an example of auto makers going Dutch that you find even more appalling?

Image source: [DRIVR]

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Robert Emslie

Robert Emslie

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139 responses to “Hooniverse Asks- Historically, What Cross-Brand Component – or Car – Sharing Have You Found the Most Appalling?”

  1. I Think Not Avatar
    I Think Not

    I'll lead off with some low-hanging fruit:
    The Caddy Cimmaron.
    The 80's Pontiac LeMans — by Daewoo
    My favorite/least favorite:
    Honda J35/Isuzu Circle L swap — Honda gives GM a more advanced engine than they are capable of building at the time to stuff into a milquetoast CUV. In exchange, they get a small oil burner to wedge between the uprights of their Euro Civic because Honda couldn't be bothered to engineer a diesel at the time.

    Reply
  2. HSA Avatar
    HSA

    Alfa Romeo Arna. At 1982, if you are could take anything from both Alfa Romeo and Nissan, what are your picks? Of course Alfa's rock solid boxer engine and excellent build quality put together with the stylish body and great handling of a Nissan Pulsar (Cherry) N12. What could go wrong?
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/2011_NEC_Classic_Car_Show_Alfa_Romeo_Arna_DSC_2210.jpg/300px-2011_NEC_Classic_Car_Show_Alfa_Romeo_Arna_DSC_2210.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. I Think Not Avatar
      I Think Not

      This is why I come here — where else can you learn this kind of thing?

      Reply
      1. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
        FuzzyPlushroom

        I'm even more amused, as I had the opportunity to reference this… creation a few days ago. Twice in one week, Hoons! This is my kind of trend.

        Reply
    2. Vavon Avatar
      Vavon

      Hahaha!!! Great minds think alike!

      Reply
      1. HSA Avatar
        HSA

        Exactly! Or maybe it was so obvious?

        Reply
        1. Irishzombieman Avatar
          Irishzombieman

          Vavon's picture is better.
          /wink

          Reply
          1. mr. mzs zsm msz esq Avatar
            mr. mzs zsm msz esq

            HSA's is cropped expertly.

          2. HSA Avatar
            HSA

            I thought an exotic boxer engine would always be preferred over some chick – this is Hooniverse, after all. How wrong I was! The photo is naturally brought to us by Google, as my original photos of an Arna are still off-line.

  3. Vavon Avatar
    Vavon

    Can it get any worse than this? The Alfa Romeo Arna: design of an 80's Nissan with the quality of a 70's Alfa…
    <img src="http://pub.tv2.no/multimedia/TV2/archive/01021/Alfa-Romeo-Arna-5-_1021221i.jpg&quot; width="660/">

    Reply
    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      Only popular in one place.

      Reply
    2. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      There are more curves on that Arna than I remember.

      Reply
    3. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      <img src="http://www.tanshanomi.com/temp/Lina-I-liked-it.png"&gt;

      Reply
  4. Garland Avatar
    Garland

    It was very nice of Ford to share with the Italians.
    <img src="http://www.hemmings.com/story_image/186871-1000-0.jpg?rev=3&quot; width="600">

    Reply
    1. I Think Not Avatar
      I Think Not

      You say appalling; I say brilliant!
      For what other supercar can you find spare engine parts on rusted out F-150?

      Reply
      1. HSA Avatar
        HSA

        Agree. It happened a number of times that an Italian sports car manufacturer put an American V8 in their car. At least spare and tuning parts are available everywhere.

        Reply
        1. AJKH Avatar
          AJKH

          this apply only in america, since american cars weren't (and aren't) officialy sold in the rest of the world. mantaining an iso, a de tomaso or a bizzarrini in italy would be more expensive than mantaining a ferrari.

          Reply
      2. BlackIce_GTS Avatar
        BlackIce_GTS

        Well, strictly speaking parts commonality is probably zero, but the Ford Modular V8 has been used by a variety of super-ish cars. MG X-power SV, Qvale Mangusta, Panoz Esperante and Roadster. And the genuinely super Koenigsegg CC_/Agera, although with likely even less (than zero) parts shared with anything in an F-150, rusty or otherwise.

        Reply
        1. I Think Not Avatar
          I Think Not

          Weren't the aluminum ford mod blocks cast in Italy, or was that only a brief production run while the Romeo plant was converted? Either way, if the Italian foundry kept the molds, that could explain why so many exotics choose to use that engine. Or it could be that it's an inexpensive way to get stupid power.
          As an example, my brother-in-law's whipplecharger-upgraded Terminator is making something like 650hp at the wheels on pump gas these days. I believe the larger supercharger is his only upgrade, apart from a freer flowing exhaust. The long block has not been opened since the car left the factory. He took it to Naples when he got stationed over there for a couple of years, and had a great time taking it out on weekends and surprising the exotics.

          Reply
    2. Irishzombieman Avatar
      Irishzombieman

      Probably worked out better than Chrysler hooking up with the Brits.
      <img src="http://www.britishv8.org/other/JohnTargett2/JohnTargett2-B.jpg&quot; width="400/">

      Reply
  5. Jeb Avatar
    Jeb

    I never cared for the GM Geo versions of…anything, really.

    Reply
    1. I Think Not Avatar
      I Think Not

      I had a 1996 Prizm. Previously owned by my best friend's grandmother, so just about perfect at 62k miles, and cheap because of the connection. My folks bought it for me to drive in HS because we lived in a rural area and they were sick of shuttling me around or letting me borrow their cars.
      It was a great teenager car, being appallingly slow (105hp 1.6/3spd auto), reliable as the sunrise, and supposedly safe with airbags. I drove it until my sophomore year of college, even ran my first autocross ever in it (talk about "run what you brung", eh?), but I finally got bored with the 3spd auto and traded it for another boring car, a 1998 Saturn SL. The Saturn was slightly more hoonable with a manual, no power steering, and despite the SOHC's dearth of power, quick enough because 2340lbs (measured on the scale at Silver Dollar Raceway in Reynolds, GA, where I took it because I wanted to actually have numbers to tell me how slow it was. 16.8@82mph, btw).

      Reply
    2. Hatchtopia Avatar
      Hatchtopia

      People like Jeb are what made the Prizm one of the greatest cars of it's contemporary price point. You got a spectacularly-reliable Corolla at rock bottom prices. Before GM beancounters got to it, the first generation Prizm featured long-lasting and fairly luxurious upholstery, decent power for the weight (don't get the auto though), and a hatchback that would swallow vast quantities of stuff. The second generation started down the long beige road of boredom – though that was a very good car too.

      Reply
    3. Irishzombieman Avatar
      Irishzombieman

      I'm a long time Metro lover. But I'd love it just as much were it a Suzuki.
      As it is, Geo was an interesting experiment in completely badge-engineering an entire brand for marketing purposes. Everything came from someone else–several someone elses, actually–and while they managed to put together a decent lineup, they never quite got the brand identity right.

      Reply
      1. I Think Not Avatar
        I Think Not

        Yup — they pulled from Toyota, Isuzu, and Suzuki for the Geo lineup. Not a single original vehicle among them.

        Reply
  6. I Think Not Avatar
    I Think Not

    To add to previous Daewoo-dislike: every Suzuki-branded car sold in America that was engineered and built by Daewoo.
    The SX4 wasn't awful, as such, but phoned-in sedans like the Forenza were damned near insultingly boring. Meanwhile, the rest of the world and the twowheelsgood contingency get to experience what Suzuki puts out when it bothers to do the engineering itself!
    <img src="http://images.thecarconnection.com/lrg/2004_suzuki_forenza_100007315_l.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      And the awful Verona, with its transverse inline six:
      <img src="http://images.thecarconnection.com/med/2004-suzuki-verona-s_100030407_m.jpg"&gt;

      Reply
      1. Hatchtopia Avatar
        Hatchtopia

        I never knew the Verona had an I-6. Generally, I would say that a transverse inline 6 would be pretty intriguing. In this case, you're right – awful.

        Reply
        1. I Think Not Avatar
          I Think Not

          Look at the Volvo S80 and XC90 if you're interested in transverse I6es that work.

          Reply
  7. OA5599 Avatar
    OA5599

    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Sunbeam_Tiger(3).jpg" width="500">
    Sunbeam Tiger. Not that there was anything in particular wrong with the engine except its origin. After Chrysler purchased Rootes in 1967, they didn't have their own V8 that would fit the dimensions of the engine bay, and they didn't want to sell a car with ties to the Blue Oval, so they killed the model.

    Reply
    1. I Think Not Avatar
      I Think Not

      Shame. I wonder what a hot slant-6 might have done in the Tiger.

      Reply
      1. OA5599 Avatar
        OA5599

        <img src="http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/1965_Sunbeam_Tiger_Mk1_Engine_1.jpg"&gt;
        I don't think it would have fit because of the length. A V6 possibly could have worked, but a Slanty is even longer than a V8, since all the cylinders are in one row instead of two.
        My understanding is that the issue was that Chrysler's smallblock had the distributor in the back and would have had interference from the cowl. Not an issue with the Fords.

        Reply
        1. Alff Avatar
          Alff

          I have a descendent of that Chrysler V8, still with the distributor in the back. Even when it fits in the engine bay,, the distributor is a PITA to access. Even replacing ignition wires and cap is a hassle.

          Reply
          1. OA5599 Avatar
            OA5599

            I suppose it depends on the vehicle. The Magnum engine in my ZJ is a bit of a hassle to get to the distributor, but the LA in my AD-150 isn't too bad as long as you are standing on something so that you can reach far enough.

          2. Alff Avatar
            Alff

            The Magnum in my '02 Ram is wedged right up against the firewall, despite a plethora of room under the hood.

        2. I Think Not Avatar
          I Think Not

          Wow that is a tight space! Having never seen a Tiger in the metal, I didn't realize just how compact they were. TMIK.

          Reply
          1. OA5599 Avatar
            OA5599

            When Get Smart had scenes caling for the use of the hood-mounted machine gun, they had an Alpine on set to double for the Tiger. No room under the hood for the mechanism AND the V8.
            <img src="http://starcarcentral.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/picture-007.jpg?w=655&quot; width=500>

        3. jeepjeff Avatar
          jeepjeff

          That has to be it, because IIRC, the LA 318 is about the same size as the Windsor, if not an inch or two smaller on some dimensions. Ford's distributor placement is much better.

          Reply
        4. sunbeammadd Avatar
          sunbeammadd

          Chrysler/Rootes did get so far as drawing up proposals for an all new Tiger with room for a Chrysler engine but unfortunately budget constraints meant it went no further. What a shame. Killing off the halo car pretty much sealed Sunbeam's fate.

          Reply
      2. scroggzilla Avatar
        scroggzilla

        The Slant 6 and Hemi 6's were too long to fit.

        Reply
  8. jonathan Avatar
    jonathan

    The "Saab" TrailBlazer.
    <img src="http://img2.netcarshow.com/Saab-9-7X_Aero_2008_800x600_wallpaper_03.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
    1. Hatchtopia Avatar
      Hatchtopia

      "Appalling" is not a strong enough word for that abomination. Neither is "abomination."

      Reply
      1. danleym Avatar
        danleym

        Ok, forget that it's a Saab for a minute. Which vehicle looks better, this or a Trailblazer?
        I know it's an affront to all things Saab, but I'd take it over a regular Trailblazer any day.

        Reply
        1. P161911 Avatar
          P161911

          I REALLY want a 9-7X Aero. A Trailblazer SS without the tacky boy racer looks!

          Reply
    2. I Think Not Avatar
      I Think Not

      On the upside, it's the best looking of the GMT360 sextuplets.
      Just like the Saab 9-2x is the best looking Subaru WRX.

      Reply
    3. engineerd Avatar
      engineerd

      Beat me to it.

      Reply
    4. Irishzombieman Avatar
      Irishzombieman

      Friend of mine has one, and it's somehow much worse than the Chevy, a fact exacerbated by the lack of folks willing to honor Saab warranties.
      Seeing a Subie in Saab clothing never made much sense to me either.
      <img src="http://www.cxacar.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/2005-Saab-9-2X-Aero-1.jpg&quot; width="400/">

      Reply
      1. jonathan Avatar
        jonathan

        Being a diehard Saab guy through and through, the 9-2x initially bothered me but then I realized it was kind of the type of car the Saab should have been making themselves, albeit with thicker steel. I dare say I'd even drive one. But the 9-7x is totally unacceptable and was just a desperate attempt by GM to pander to the masses.

        Reply
      2. Alff Avatar
        Alff

        It may not have made much sense but at least there was little to dislike about either brand's contribution.

        Reply
  9. jonathan Avatar
    jonathan

    Those new "Lancias" are also pretty offensive.
    <img src="http://www.dieselstation.com/wallpapers/albums/Lancia/Flavia-2013/Lancia-Flavia-2013-widescreen-32.jpg&quot; width="600">
    <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aQQT6MCsa1A/TTR0b8WYJ-I/AAAAAAAABNs/nYI1P5geloc/s1600/Nuova+Lancia+Thema+2011+-+ItalianTestdriver+copy.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
  10. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    More fruit so low-hanging it's probably lying rotten on the ground – the Aston Martin Cygnet.
    I mean, I get the business model behind it on some level. But Toyota and Aston Martin are about as opposite as you can get, and until I drive one (as Toyota hasn't seen fit in following in smart's path of doing all but yelling at passersby to get people to drive the fortwo), I'm convinced the iQ is a cheap, hateful little thing. You know, a small Toyota.
    I could see a lightly restyled Scion tC with the powertrain from a Lexus HS (since they"re both Avensis-related) as serving a similar purpose without seeming so horrid. I have to assume Aston was dead-set on a city car, and Toyota was the only one willing to play ball.

    Reply
  11. julkinen Avatar
    julkinen

    The Toyota Cavalier.
    <img src="http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120315201623/gran-turismo/images/9/96/Toyota_Cavalier.jpg"&gt;
    <img src="http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/images/12/2008/07/medium_Toyota_GM.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. I Think Not Avatar
      I Think Not

      If I am ever unlucky enough to come into possession of this particular generation Cavalier, I will rebadge it as a Toyota and attempt to get a custom plate of the "JDM YO" variety.
      Also, the Cavaliers in the ad above have California plates. Someone from marketing didn't do their homework. At all. And came in hungover that day.

      Reply
      1. Preludacris Avatar
        Preludacris

        From what little I know of Japanese car culture, they seem to be obsessed with all things American. Running Cali plates on these cars for the photo shoot was probably a way to underscore the USDM origin of the Cavalier.

        Reply
      2. OA5599 Avatar
        OA5599

        "It's now in Japan: a new form of luxury. An American package based on a new concept."
        I'm sure the Toyota Marketing department was just trying to demonstrate how all those rich Hollywood movie stars and jocks roll in their luxurious Cavaliers.

        Reply
  12. quattrovalvole Avatar
    quattrovalvole

    The Suzuki Aveo (Swift+)
    <img src="http://autotraderca.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/swift.jpeg"&gt;
    Why do we have to deal with this monstrosity when Suzuki has a perfectly good Swift sold elsewhere?

    Reply
  13. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    The Volkswagen Caravan. Why Chrysler would risk damage to their good name with a VW badge is beyond me. Same with the Acura SLX SUV. Why, Isuzu, why?

    Reply
    1. Devin Avatar
      Devin

      Isuzu really wanted to sell Honda Odysseys for some reason.
      <img src="http://www.productioncars.com/send_file.php/ad_isuzu_oasis_blue_sporty_1996.jpg&quot; width="500">

      Reply
      1. Vavon Avatar
        Vavon

        Wouldn't you love to have a Honda Crossroad???
        <img src="http://img.favcars.com/honda/crossroad/honda_crossroad_1993_pictures_1.jpg&quot; width="660/">

        Reply
        1. Alff Avatar
          Alff

          Wow, that's quite a discovery.

          Reply
        2. dculberson Avatar
          dculberson

          I quite literally had no idea. That amazes me. I can't imagine Honda customers being too happy with the build quality and reliability of a Land Rover.

          Reply
          1. bhtooefr Avatar
            bhtooefr

            Apparently it was primarily for Japan, and a few made it to New Zealand.

      2. danleym Avatar
        danleym

        A sports sedan? Really? Now there's some overly optimistic advertising…

        Reply
    2. I Think Not Avatar
      I Think Not

      It's all about introducing a product in a market niche in which you do not already play ball — and quickly. And it usually stinks.
      Honda really needed an SUV in the early/mid-90s while they worked on a Civic-based CUV. They got the Passport from the Rodeo, and Isuzu got the Oasis from the Odyssey. For luxury, the Rodeo wouldn't do, so they got the SLX from the Trooper.
      Isn't it brilliant?

      Reply
      1. Devin Avatar
        Devin

        Isuzu also got a JDM Accord variant called the Aska.
        <img src="http://encarsglobe.com/data_images/models/isuzu-aska/isuzu-aska-02.jpg"&gt;

        Reply
        1. I Think Not Avatar
          I Think Not

          I always wondered what the other vehicle was that Isuzu got from Honda, seeing as it seemed unbalanced in the USDM — 2 Isuzus for one Honda.

          Reply
        2. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
          FuzzyPlushroom

          …which replaced a Legacy…
          <img src="http://gomotors.net/pics/Isuzu/isuzu-aska-cx-type-t-04.jpg&quot; width=500>
          …which replaced a Cavalier/Ascona/Camira/et al.
          <img src="http://encarsglobe.com/data_images/models/isuzu-aska/isuzu-aska-01.jpg&quot; width=500>

          Reply
  14. Devin Avatar
    Devin

    For a simple component, Aston's hidden Volvo key has to be the silliest.
    <img src="http://motorbeam.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/aston_martin_volvo_key.jpg"&gt;
    For an entire car, I'll nominate Graham Paige taking Cord bodies and then doing this to them:
    <img src="http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/197402/GrahamHollywood.jpg&quot; width="500">

    Reply
    1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      But I LIKE the Graham Hollywood.

      Reply
      1. mdharrell Avatar
        mdharrell

        I do, too, but I'd rather have a Hupmobile Skylark:
        <img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4024/4620384439_75524ed9db.jpg&quot; width="500">
        If for no other reason, this would give me an excuse to remind people that "Hupmobile" has one "p" but "Hupp" has two.
        I would do so constantly; it would be a big hit at car shows.

        Reply
        1. OA5599 Avatar
          OA5599

          Did it have seats that converted to a bed, or was the "built for action" claim based on something else?

          Reply
          1. mdharrell Avatar
            mdharrell

            Perhaps this is what that word "distinquished" means.

          2. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
            Peter Tanshanomi

            And isn't "breathtaking" one word? It reads as though there was some beauty laying around, and my breath took it.

          3. mdharrell Avatar
            mdharrell

            "Low Priced" really should be hyphenated, too, unless it's meant to indicate that the car is low and bears a price, in which case a comma would be nice. I'd call to complain, but I don't like the looks of the PRospect for that exchange.

          4. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
            Peter Tanshanomi

            in fairness, PRospect is written properly for an alpha exchange of the time. The phone number is PR(x-x)241.
            My wife's grandmother's number was 278-1055, and to her dying day she told people her number was "Broadway eight, ten fifty-five."

          5. mdharrell Avatar
            mdharrell

            Precisely. I don't like the looks of it because the last digit of the exchange is missing (as is most of the first digit of the station code).

          6. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
            Peter Tanshanomi

            I'm with you now.

          7. OA5599 Avatar
            OA5599

            I'm not sure the exchanges were followed by a digit back then.
            http://archive.org/stream/sanfranciscobayaug1938p…

          8. mdharrell Avatar
            mdharrell

            Ah, good point. New York had already adopted three-digit exchanges but not Los Angeles. I shouldn't have assumed that from the size of the gap; the street address, after all, has large spaces. You've enumerated another reason not to call.

      2. Devin Avatar
        Devin

        That lower grille puts me off. Like the car was punched in the mouth and is dealing with the swelling.

        Reply
  15. LTDScott Avatar
    LTDScott

    Lots of Mustang owners like to forget that this:
    <img src="http://www.kzclassiccars.com/pictures/2003-Ford-Mustang-Cobra-1.jpg&quot; width=700>
    started out as this:
    <img src="http://media.caranddriver.com/images/09q4/311247/1978-ford-fairmont-sedan-photo-311271-s-1280×782.jpg&quot; width=700>
    Personally, I have used this to my advantage, as my LTD is a Fox Body mutt with pieces from several different models and nearly everything bolts on.

    Reply
    1. OA5599 Avatar
      OA5599

      Ahem.
      <img src="http://images.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/01/ford-falcon-and-ford-mustang.jpg&quot; width=500>

      Reply
      1. LTDScott Avatar
        LTDScott

        Yup, same deal.

        Reply
      2. JayP2112 Avatar
        JayP2112

        I was hoping the 50th Anniversary would kick off a a new RWD Falcon based off the Mustang.

        Reply
        1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
          Peter Tanshanomi

          Too awesome to happen.

          Reply
          1. JayP2112 Avatar
            JayP2112

            A boy can dream.
            <img src="http://www.roadandtrack.com/cm/roadandtrack/images/Dq/2014-ford-mustang-sedan-01-1-md.jpg&quot; width="450">

    2. Felis_Concolor Avatar
      Felis_Concolor

      I enjoyed your CC article expressing that sentiment.
      "Build a fast Mustang, and you're one of the crowd. Build a fast Fairmont, and you're a street hero."
      I have no idea what the numbers are, but I wouldn't be surprised if the entire Fox- and G-body aftermarket is larger than the rest of the model-specific field combined.

      Reply
  16. JayP2112 Avatar
    JayP2112

    The whole British Leyland – Honda thing…
    <img src="http://encarsglobe.com/data_images/models/triumph-acclaim/triumph-acclaim-07.jpg&quot; >

    Reply
    1. HSA Avatar
      HSA

      Was it so bad? I think it was a win-win thing. The car you show was a record-breaker: no other car in the history of BL had caused so few warranty claims per units produced. So, BL got excellent engines and manufacturing know-how. Honda got in return know-how on styling that would appeal the European customers – the interiors of 80's Hondas resemble those of Rovers, and definitely not by coincidence. Honda also got some sales and marketing help, I assume.
      Then again, cross-dressing Civics as Rovers or Triumphs may look a bit silly, but that's only badge engineering as we know it.

      Reply
      1. JayP2112 Avatar
        JayP2112

        Looking back at what Triumph had been before BL, then resorted to badge engineering a Honda.
        Had he new Spitfire been a rebadged S2000… I'd be on board!

        Reply
  17. marmer01 Avatar
    marmer01

    Hemmings used to run a feature every week on Friday called "Six Degrees of Automotive Separation" where basically, you started out with two manufacturers of wheeled vehicles and tried to find connections in six steps or less. Parts sharing, rebadging, things like that. Usually things like "Ferrari and International Harvester." Anyway it was full of examples of what this thread was about. My favorites are:
    the BMW diesels used in a handful of '84 Lincoln Continentals,
    the German Ford V4's used in several 60's SAAB's (and a Matra),
    the whole JDM rebadging thing where pretty much every make has a car sourced from a competitor
    the Bentley/Rolls breakup which forced BMW to sell engines to VW for a few months, and
    of course, the 1976 Buick/Opel by Isuzu.

    Reply
    1. mdharrell Avatar
      mdharrell

      The Ford Taunus V4 wasn't just used in '60s SAABs but also '70s and (by a thin margin) '80s Saabs, too.

      Reply
    2. JayP2112 Avatar
      JayP2112

      Didn't Ford have to use BMW engines in the Range Rover until they were able to fit the Ford-Jag engines?
      Now the Evoque and XF are using the Ecoboost 4. That may last a while.

      Reply
    3. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      The Lincoln Mk VII also had a few miscellaneous components supplied by BMW. I remember my dad fixing the sunroof on his Mk VII, the part that came out was stamped BMW.

      Reply
    4. BlackIce_GTS Avatar
      BlackIce_GTS

      "Ferrari and International Harvester"
      Ooooooh, this is fun.
      Probably not the best route, but: Ferrari is owned by FIAT, FIAT ~=owns Chrysler/Dodge, Dodge Stratus tooling was purchased by GAZ, GAZ was originally a joint venture with Ford, Ford has a truck manufacturing partnership with Navistar International, Navistar is descended from International Harvester.
      Using the Ford/SAAB connection, there's the SAAB/Lancia Delta, which is slightly less elaborate, but I wanted to see if I could do it without using your clues first.
      VAZ of course sold old Fiats for quite some time, and had a partnership with GM who owns Daewoo which used to sell Hyundai Accents in Russia. Hyundai used to use Mitsubishi motors, and Mitsubishi was partnered with Chrysler in the 80s and 90s, Chrysler is now owned by Fiat. Where was I going again?
      IH Scouts used AMC engines, AMC->Chrysler->Fiat. Also, Monteverdi made a version of both Scout and Volare ->Fiat->Ferrari.

      Reply
      1. marmer01 Avatar
        marmer01

        You can get there with tractors, too. IH sold their ag division to Tenneco, who folded it into their J.I. Case division. Fiat Industrial bought most of New Holland from Ford and Case from Tenneco and created CNH Global. Fiat also owns Ferrari.
        There are also Ferrari tractors, but they are not related to the Ferrari automobiles. It's a different company, probably a different family. Other high-end auto names associated with tractors, of course, are Lamborghini and Mercedes-Benz. There are Porsche Diesel tractors, also, but they were manufactured by Allgaier using a Porsche-designed diesel engine under license. They don't come from the Porsche auto works. Yes, when you play around in the ag and heavy truck worlds, you often have different ownership than the car companies of the same name. For example, the Volvo Group owns Volvo Trucks, which owns the Renault, Mack, White, Autocar, GMC, and UD heavy truck brands. Volvo Cars belongs to Geely. (for the moment.)

        Reply
        1. marmer01 Avatar
          marmer01

          You can get straight from IH to Dodge with the Metropolitan Body Company, which before its purchase in 1948 by IH to build Metro Vans built bodies for Chevrolet, Ford, and Dodge chassis. Once you're at Dodge, you're at Fiat.

          Reply
  18. jeepjeff Avatar
    jeepjeff

    I think the one that bothers me the most is the 2.8L GM V6 that AMC used in Jeeps in the early 80s. Also, AMC buying the Iron Duke for base CJs, Eagles, Spirits and Concords. Both turds of engines. I have seen one (one.) 2.8L Jeep Cherokee driving around. And no more. I was pretty impressed that it was still driving. Of course, it may not have had the original engine.

    Reply
    1. danleym Avatar
      danleym

      Well, maybe if AMC hadn't blown so much development money on setting up the Pacer for the Wankel that never was they could have developed the 258 based 2.5 a little sooner and not been so behind the curve on 4 bangers that they had to use an Audi engine and the Iron Duke as stand ins until they got their own up and running. But, things like that are why AMC isn't around anymore. Sad, I would like to see what could have been if all of AMC's gambles paid off.
      Also, I never understood the reasoning for the V6. They never made a product that a 258 couldn't fit into, so why use a GM engine?

      Reply
      1. jeepjeff Avatar
        jeepjeff

        I have no idea why they didn't just put the 258 in the Cherokee to start with. They had enough space, since they were able to cram the 4.0 in later.

        Reply
  19. marmer01 Avatar
    marmer01

    Hudson, Nash, Willys, Kaiser, (before Kaiser owned Willys), and Lincoln all bought Hydra-matics from GM until the Hydra-matic factory fire in 1953. Rolls-Royce built them under license until 1967.

    Reply
  20. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
    Peter Tanshanomi

    '98-'06 MZ Mastiff: Yamaha's pleasant and reliable (though somewhat dated) XT600 carby motor, but in a chassis with all the stylish beauty and rock-solid reliability former Eastern Bloc designers were famous for.
    <img src="http://images.autoscout24.ch/custom/60/178/731178/big_MZ%20002.jpg&quot; width="512">

    Reply
    1. smalleyxb122 Avatar
      smalleyxb122

      Couldn’t that be said of the entire MZ lineup from Baghira to Scorpion?
      (Okay, that could just as easily have read "Couldn't that be said of the Baghira and the Scorpion – the entire MZ lineup?")

      Reply
      1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
        Peter Tanshanomi

        I just find the Mastiff to be especially appalling because of the extremely kludgy looks.
        P.S.: I actually really liked the earlier Rotax-powered Silver Star. The build quality was probably no worse; at least the folks in Zschopau were still trying at that point.
        <img src="http://www.mz-club-schweiz.ch/bilder/mz_typen/36silverstar.jpg"&gt;

        Reply
    2. Irishzombieman Avatar
      Irishzombieman

      So I'm looking this thing over and thinking something along the lines of "At least it's not really terrible."
      And then, the front fender.
      Why on earth does it feel so horribly wrong? Too pointy when there aren't points anywhere else? Mounted a smidge too high? Gaaa.

      Reply
  21. Devin Avatar
    Devin

    I found one in China that's most unusual, and it's not even the continued production of Maestros.
    Beijing-Jeep made Jeeps. It was an officially sanctioned joint venture between BAW and Jeep. BAW still makes Cherokees, in fact. But one day, someone at BAW decided that the Cherokee didn't look enough like the Nissan XTrail, and this happened:
    <img src="http://www.carnewschina.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/beijing-auto-leichi-1-458×370.jpg&quot; width="500">
    <img src="http://www.carnewschina.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/beijing-auto-leichi-4-458×369.jpg&quot; width="500">
    The Beijing Auto Leichi.
    It apparently didn't sell in big numbers.

    Reply
    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      I like that rear bumper approach.

      Reply
      1. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
        FuzzyPlushroom

        Best part of the whole thing, since the nose looks like a startled Pokémon.

        Reply
    2. mallthus Avatar
      mallthus

      Not to be confused with this, the BAW S12…
      <img src="http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-6-foto_4219952_14299293_14303897.jpg&quot; width="600/">

      Reply
      1. mallthus Avatar
        mallthus

        Which evolved into the Qishi S12…
        <img src="http://img4.bitautoimg.com/autoalbum/files/20110420/900/08545390026479_1557823_3.JPG&quot; width=600>

        Reply
    3. TheOtherMacLeod Avatar
      TheOtherMacLeod

      It looks surprised at its own nose..

      Reply
  22. Tim Odell Avatar
    Tim Odell

    My '69 Wagoneer (from Kaiser) has a Buick 350 (from GM) that needs an adapter ring to bolt to a Turbo 400 (from GM), because the Turbo 400 is a Buick Nailhead pattern bellhousing. Oh, and another adapter to fit to the Dana20 transfer case.
    From the factory.
    So, It's got a Buick motor that needs an adapter to bolt to another Buick transmission, in a Jeep.

    Reply
    1. OA5599 Avatar
      OA5599

      Was it supposed to have an adapter between the engine and tranny, or did yours happen to be a project to clear leftover inventory off the shelves?

      Reply
      1. Tim Odell Avatar
        Tim Odell

        It's a Kaiser era Jeep, so both.
        They tended to shop at the Big(ger) 4's garage sales.
        Oddly enough, I could drop an overdrive 4L80e behind the Buick 350 without issue (BOP pattern bell), then sell the Nailhead pattern case and adapter ring for decent money.
        …tempting…

        Reply
    2. jeepjeff Avatar
      jeepjeff

      I left that one for you, Tim. It definitely crossed my mind when I posted above.

      Reply
    3. mallthus Avatar
      mallthus

      Of course, my '91 Wagoneer had an AMC 360, a Chrysler built TorqueCommand 727 tranny, a Motorcraft (Ford) 2150 carburetor, a Rochester (GM) power steering pump and a Sanden AC compressor. Oh, and it had the roof console from a Dodge Caravan, including IR remote locks (pictured).
      <img src="http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd214/fufoto/Grand%20Wagoneer/AUT_7522.jpg&quot; width=600>

      Reply
  23. POLAЯ Avatar
    POLAЯ

    Every car combo brings either a good product or a good lesson.
    I think there's something to love about every vehicle for the people,
    it's once you add the people that things go terribly wrong.
    <img src="http://img.xcitefun.net/users/2010/03/161460,xcitefun-driver-1.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  24. Sebastian Avatar
    Sebastian

    I'm from Argentina and we have a few cars here that are amazing. In the 90s there was a joint venture between Ford and VW called Autolatina in Brazil and Argentina, That meant you could buy a "Ford" Galaxy that was a modified Passat B2 or you could buy a Ford Escort with a 1.8 Audi engine.
    In the 60s Renault tried to enter the Brazilian market and failed for some reason, Ford Brazil bought what was left and they made something called "Ford Corcel", it was a modified Renault R12, they continued to use the R12 engine well into the 90s in the Ford Escort and (because of Autolatina) in the VW Gol, so you could buy a VW with a Ford engine that in fact was a Renault engine from the 60s.
    A couple of years ago they decided to reduce costs in our local Touring Car Competition, the TC2000, by using the same engine in all the cars, so you had makers like Toyota, Ford, Peugeot, Honda and Chevrolet using a Ford based engine, a Chevrolet Astra racing with a Ford engine, that's quite appalling.

    Reply
    1. BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ Avatar
      BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ

      Apollo, Verona, Santana, Versailes, Pointer and Escort, yes those Autolatina days were confusing.

      Reply
  25. I_Borgward Avatar
    I_Borgward

    1) The dreaded Volvo-Chrysler ignition in my '82 240. The bane of this particular vintage brick, which hasn't crapped out on me yet but likely will. While Iove me some Mopar, Volvo and Chrysler are two words that should never go together.
    2) AMC products. You never knew what you'd get under the hood. Sure, the sixes and V8s were Kenosha-made, but would it be Delco, Motorcraft or Mopar ignition, alternator, etc? This always made parts shopping a joy.

    Reply
  26. tiberiusẅisë Avatar
    tiberiusẅisë

    I'm not sure this is exactly on target but I can't get the Delorean out of my head. I'm not saying it didn't have other issues but surely the pathetic PRV motor was the major dealbreaker.
    <img src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTf2yGh2zYbBv3wtMXUzMKMMARrLXPk6UYRG7oqGpGo8m5zHJTA&quot; width="400">

    Reply
    1. jeepjeff Avatar
      jeepjeff

      The PRV engine itself is kind of a nexus for this question.

      Reply
  27. marmer01 Avatar
    marmer01

    Yes, the PRV motor, the Type Four platform, and the Buick-Rover V8 were pretty good glue for making weird connections. That and Chrysler owning half of the British car industry in the 60s.
    Tritec engines for original new MINI's found their way into Neons and PT Cruisers outside the US. the next gen-Prince engines show up in a lot of Peugeots and Citroens as well as newer MINI's.

    Reply
  28. Tomsk Avatar
    Tomsk

    No. Just…NO.
    <img src="http://media.caranddriver.com/images/09q4/317367/2011-aston-martin-cygnet-photo-317390-s-1280×782.jpg&quot; width="500" />

    Reply
  29. mallthus Avatar
    mallthus

    There's a VW engine in the Porsche 914…
    <img src="http://www.1302super.com/914_4_75_2_0.jpg&quot; width=600>

    Reply
  30. mallthus Avatar
    mallthus

    Or the VW engine in the Porsche 924…
    <img src="http://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2009/03/30/14/13/pic-12391.jpeg&quot; width=600>

    Reply
  31. mallthus Avatar
    mallthus

    Or the VW engine in the Chrysler/Talbot Horizon…
    <img src="http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/images/12/2009/10/81_Plymouth_Horizon.jpg&quot; width=600>
    <img src="http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/front_website/octane_interact/modelpicture.php?id=9715&quot; width=600>

    Reply
  32. mallthus Avatar
    mallthus

    Or the Trabant 1.1 with a VW engine…
    <img src="http://www.online-utility.org/image/ImageCache?file=2/27/Paj%C5%A1l_trabanta.JPG/800px-Paj%C5%A1l_trabanta.JPG&quot; width=600>

    Reply
    1. wunno sev Avatar
      wunno sev

      best thing that ever happened to the trabant
      too bad it was coupled with the worst thing that ever happened to the trabant, the fall of the berlin wall.

      Reply
  33. mallthus Avatar
    mallthus

    Or a Volvo 740 (or 760 or 940) with a VW engine…
    <img src="http://www.volvotips.com/wp-content/uploads/Volvo_240_D6_D24_diesel_Volkswagen_engine_compartment.jpg&quot; width=600>

    Reply
    1. bhtooefr Avatar
      bhtooefr

      That looks like a 240, as the intake manifold doesn't look like it's taking air in from the turbo. Which is good, because it was the non-turbo ones that sucked ass, the turbo ones (240s got NA, 740s got turbo, and the turbo ones had much better cooling) were good.
      In Europe, 240s and 740s all got a choice between the 2.0 straight-5 meant for Audis and the 2.4 straight-6 meant for VW LTs (think Sprinter-class trucks).
      Which leads into a couple other things…
      The Volvo 850 TDI. Not actually appalling, just weird. 2.5 straight-5 TDI in the nose of a Volvo 850. I want the transmission, it's gotta be useful for a swap.
      The 2nd-gen VW LT. Again, not actually appalling – it's a Mercedes Sprinter with a MWM engine (and later the same 2.5 straight-5 TDI in the Volvo 850) and VW badges.

      Reply
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    clash of clans gem hack

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