Obscure rebadged cars

[manol2]

GAZ M20 Pobeda



FSO Warszawa

[manol2]

Lancia / Autobianchi Y10
One of the first attempts at building luxury mini. It was based of the
first Panda. The last car to carry the Autobianchi badge:

[Biff Beltsander]

They even made a rather American-styled upscale version of it called Imperial:

Had that been imported to North America it could of easily of stolen sales from the late 80's early 90's New Yorker and Lesabre.


Very last of the landau tops American luxury car styling.

[gti_matt]

Just found this out:


Seems like it was written by someone using an online translator. I do have confirmation they shared engines but I am curious how related the bodies were. They look sort of similar.

I've been following T4s for over a decade and am on my 2nd one and nobody has ever commented on this. I am willing to bet these are not related.

For example, the T4 has a floor that is fairly distinctive in that the fuel tank is under the front seats and the floor in the cab is therefore raised a few inches relative to the rear cabin and the fuel filler is behind the driver's door. In the V-class/Vito the fuel filler is much farther back (and I bet the fuel tank is farther back as well). If they have significantly different floors, I think it's safe to say they're not related.

It is true that the V was available with VW's 2.8 VR6 too but it wasn't even the same one (in terms of the state of tune) as in the T4. The V got the 172hp version, the T4 got the 140hp version.

[gti_matt]

Another obscurity, a GM-gone-Mazda. A Holden Premier which was turned into the Mazda Roadpacer, complete with a 13B roatry engine. Apparently, it was a real turd. I wouldn't be surprised if this was an American car to begin with.

Holden design and not American, but yes it doesn't look too far from a Chevrolet Impala of the same era.

[PerL]

The Morris Mini was made under several different names.

Morris Mini-Minor (the original name)
Morris Mascot (Denmark Only)
Austin Mini
Austin Seven
Austin Partner (Denmark only)
Riley Elf
Wolseley Hornet
Innocenti Mini (Lisenced production in Italy)

The Italian version, the Innocenti Mini was even rebodied for 1975, still keeping the original chassis of the Morris Mini. It received Daihatsu engines in the early 80s. A DeTomaso performance version of the Innocenti was even sold in Canada in the mid 80s.

1972 Innocenti Mini Cooper 1300

[K.Lagan]

The Morris Mini was made under several different names.

Morris Mini-Minor (the original name)
Morris Mascot (Denmark Only)
Austin Mini
Austin Seven
Austin Partner (Denmark only)
Riley Elf
Wolseley Hornet
Innocenti Mini (Lisenced production in Italy)

The Italian version, the Innocenti Mini was even rebodied for 1975, still keeping the original chassis of the Morris Mini. It received Daihatsu engines in the early 80s. A DeTomaso performance version of the Innocenti was even sold in Canada in the mid 80s.

1972 Innocenti Mini Cooper 1300

Wow, thanks for that post! I've never ever heard of the Riley Elf/Wolseley Hornet:

[gti_matt]

At least it was probably better then this clould car badged as a Chrylser Cirrus that had a somewhat Dodge grille for the euro market.

Dodge wasn't a brand recognized in Europe like Chrysler but the Dodge versions of these cars were the more sport and European looking ones (or at least were less American looking). They did the same thing with the Chrysler Voyager and Chrysler Saratoga (which looked more like their Dodge counterparts but badged as Chryslers for Europe).





The Eagle Vision (Eagle not being a brand recognized outside of North America) also was sold as the Chrysler Vision overseas, most likely as it was more "Euro" already than any of its NA siblings with its EU-friendly amber rear signals.

[manol2]

Mercedes MB100 = Ssangyong Istana





The Mercedes is the original, despite it's Asian look.

This is the old version, built in Spain before the V-class/Vitto:



which comes out of this DKW Scnelllaster/van



They are all FWD.

[gti_matt]

Daewoo Royale:


...which is simply a rebadged Opel Senator


They even made a rather American-styled upscale version of it called Imperial:

Wow those things even have USA/Canada style side marker lamps and what appears to be larger bumpers. Were they thinking of exporting these to the US or Canada and pulled the plug at the last minute?

[PerL]

Were they thinking of exporting these to the US or Canada and pulled the plug at the last minute?

Not at all impossible that GM was considering them for North America, to join the Opel Kadett/ Daewoo Racer/ Pontiac LeMans.

[VWestlife]

THat was at least badged a Dodge, built by Mitsu. This one say "by Dodge", yet Dodge had no hand in it at all what does either company get out of the deal?

At least in the '80s, the Dodge/Plymouth Colt were not badged as a Dodge or Plymouth; the grille simply said "Colt" on it, with no brand name.

[manol2]

NSU - FIAT Neckar , mostly rebadged, with a mix of Autobianchi and SEAT thrown in it:

[VWestlife]

Wow those things even have USA/Canada style side marker lamps and what appears to be larger bumpers. Were they thinking of exporting these to the US or Canada and pulled the plug at the last minute?

Hyundai did a similar thing with the Stellar CXL -- which was the Canadian Export version sold in Korea as a special trim package, complete with sealed-beam headlamps and larger bumpers:

[Biff Beltsander]

Dodge wasn't a brand recognized in Europe like Chrysler but the Dodge versions of these cars were the more sport and European looking ones (or at least were less American looking). They did the same thing with the Chrysler Voyager and Chrysler Saratoga (which looked more like their Dodge counterparts but badged as Chryslers for Europe).

I was on Ebaymotors, the UK location and I was amazed at all the Caravans, even back to the old woodgrain first gens. This was only a few years ago.
I am pretty sure that some Euro markets got the Vision branded as an Eagle, I'm not totally sure though.
Some Chryslers were rebranded as Talbots, like the Omni.

[gti_matt]

I've been following T4s for over a decade and am on my 2nd one and nobody has ever commented on this. I am willing to bet these are not related.

For example, the T4 has a floor that is fairly distinctive in that the fuel tank is under the front seats and the floor in the cab is therefore raised a few inches relative to the rear cabin and the fuel filler is behind the driver's door. In the V-class/Vito the fuel filler is much farther back (and I bet the fuel tank is farther back as well). If they have significantly different floors, I think it's safe to say they're not related.

I am betting the T4 VW and W638 Benz are not the same bodies as that wiki article states.

W638 Benz:


T4 VW (front cabin step is very visible in the 2nd pic):



Totally different floor structure (VW's is raised for the front seats). Don't see how something like that would be different if the Benz used a VW T4 body.

[Biff Beltsander]

Hyundai did a similar thing with the Stellar CXL -- which was the Canadian Export version sold in Korea as a special trim package, complete with sealed-beam headlamps and larger bumpers:

The Stellar did not do badly in the Canadian market.
Last one I saw running was a few years ago.
Hyundai used the Canadian market as a place to test the waters for mass North American distribution and we got the Pony as well.

[mobile363]

Sorry if posted. All i got right now

Lancia Grand Voyager

[Biff Beltsander]

Sorry if posted. All i got right now

Lancia Grand Voyager

Lancia badged Chrysler's which have been posted a few times in the thread like the Grand Voyager, Thema, and even the Fiat Freemont will likely be obscure rebadges or at least some of them in a few years yet I'm not sure if they belong here. They are all in current production and being offered under their respective badges in Italy and their home market. Their success or obscurity is yet to be determined.

[manol2]

I am betting the T4 VW and W638 Benz are not the same bodies as that wiki article states.

W638 Benz:


T4 VW (front cabin step is very visible in the 2nd pic):



Totally different floor structure (VW's is raised for the front seats). Don't see how something like that would be different if the Benz used a VW T4 body.

I agree, they are not on the same platform. It is a Benz own platform. People maybe confuse them with the Sprinter/LT

[PerL]

I am pretty sure that some Euro markets got the Vision branded as an Eagle, I'm not totally sure though.

Nope, no Eagles here, not through the official channels at least. Everything except Jeep and Viper were branded Chrysler.

Some Chryslers were rebranded as Talbots, like the Omni.

The Omni was originally a French Talbot adopted to the North American market.

The history of Chrysler's attempt to enter the European market in the late 60s is not very well known, but the wiki article sheds some light. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Europe Things did not go well with Chrysler at this time, and brand recognition was something they hade trouble with. The fact that the cars were named Simca, later Talbot in France, and Sunbeam in UK did not help. Then they threw in the Dodge, DeSoto and Fargo names on top of commercial vehicles made by Commer and Karrier, both well known names, and the insanity was complete.

[Biff Beltsander]

Nope, no Eagles here, not through the official channels at least. Everything except Jeep and Viper were branded Chrysler.

Viper and Caliber. Although Europe got some diesel versions that were never available in their home market.

[PerL]

Viper and Caliber. Although Europe got some diesel versions that were never available in their home market.

Well, yeah, the Caliber also.

The funny thing is that it seems that Chrysler has never had any steady flow in Europe. As I said in the earlier post, CHrysler tried to get into EUrope in the late 60s/early 70s, but withdrew from Europe in 78, and sold everything to Peugeot for $1. Then they made a comeback in the early 90s with cars such as the Saratoga, Voyager and Vision, and later the Neon and Stratus, before things went quiet again. Fast forward to the late 00's and they are back again with the Caliber, this time trying the Dodge name via Jeep dealers. And now the Dodge name is dropped, and we got weird Fiats and Lancias instead.

[manol2]

In the 90's Daewoo went to a shopping spree, and bought a bunch of East Europen factories, so they rebadged done of the cars, made in there, like the Polonez:

[VadGTI]

Very rare: Pirin-FIAT 124

Built in Bulgaria for 5 years, with less than 900 total built:

Those aren't Pirin-FIATs. They're US-spec Fiat 124 wagons. The green one is a pre-'74, the blue one is a '74 .

[manol2]

Those aren't Pirin-FIATs. They're US-spec Fiat 124 wagons. The green one is a pre-'74, the blue one is a '74 .

I know, sorry. Pictures are hard to find. Only the first white one (the sedan) is a Pirin-Fiat. The rest are only for reference. I've only seen one in person

[TOMPASS]

Quote, originally posted by superleggera »

Audi 100 is still produced in China as the FAW Hongqi ca7220e. I'd probably have it over any Chinese-engineered Geely, Cherry, Great-Wall, or Brilliance death trap.

I'm surprised they didn't call it the Krauti!

Aw, don't be so sauer about it.

[bzcat]

Wow those things even have USA/Canada style side marker lamps and what appears to be larger bumpers. Were they thinking of exporting these to the US or Canada and pulled the plug at the last minute?

Daewoo and Kia both had plans to enter the Canadian market right around that time so it was possible that they designed their cars to comply with the bumper laws. Although more likely, it was just a styling statement. Big US-style bumpers were a popular styling trend/theme in Korea at that time too. Lots of Korean cars had these ridiculous looking oversized bumpers in the 80s.

[bzcat]

In the 90's Daewoo went to a shopping spree, and bought a bunch of East Europen factories, so they rebadged done of the cars, made in there, like the Polonez:

Very obscure

I remember Daewoo taking over the FSO factory but I don't remember that they rebadged the cars.

[HerrGolf]

The original Isuzu I-mark was just a rebadged Opel Ascona, and both were just essentially GM T-body sedans (e.g., Chevette, T-1000, etc.):





Most people know that; what they don't know is ANOTHER version of this car was sold--the Saehan Maepsy--in Korea, using a Kia-supplied engine:

The i-Mark wasn't based off of the Ascona, but the Kadett. Ascona was a size up from the T-body. Also, the i-Mark was pretty extensively re-engineered, with a completely different interior and powertrain, so I'm not sure if it counts as a rebadge.

I know nothing about the Korean derivatives. I also did NOT know that the Pony was based on the horrible Marina-interesting.

[manol2]

Very obscure

I remember Daewoo taking over the FSO factory but I don't remember that they rebadged the cars.

They used to make this strange truck
- like a Polskii El Camino

[PerL]

I bet that most Americans (outside of TCL, that is) don't know that the Jeep Liberty is named Jeep Cherokee outside North America. It kept the old, well known nameplate.

[manol2]

When Peugeot took over Citroen, they rebadged the 104 into LN and LNA:





Talbot Samba is another version:

[manol2]

Citroen AX= Proton Tiara





Tomos - Citroen. They are more famous with making mopeds:

[PerL]

I came across one I've never heard before. The Mazda 323/Protege was using an old AUstin name in Colombia, it was called the Mazda Allegro.



Another one from Australia. This late 70's 3rd generation Mitsubishi Galant was sold as the Chrysler Sigma. I believe it was sold as Dodge Colt in USA? Can anyone confirm this?