Re: Honda (and fwd)

[George Caracatsanis <gcara@otenet.gr>]

Scott Fisher writes in his posting which I am sure will stir the almost
too-quiet-for-some-time-now AD:
>
>1.  While Sir Alec Issigonis' Mini (another choice) was in 1959 the
>first car to use the transverse FWD layout, Honda's use of it in the
>1973 Civic -- the first by a company outside of the British
>Phlegmsucking Leyland oligarchy of dunces -- moved it out of the realm
>of oddball or niche cars (such as Saab, Audi, and Lancia) and into the
>global market.

Whoa!!! What about FWD Fiats and derivatives (Autobianchi). The 128 was
introduced in 1969 was preceded by Autobianchis (Gruppo Fiat) which tested
the market and was followed by the 127 . Both these models (128+127) were
also very succesful in the market.
If we consider also longitudinal fwd: 
What about Citroens (starting from the 'Traction Avant' of  the 30s) ??
What about Renaults (starting with the 4 of the early 60's ?). Niche-cars ??
Even fwd Auto Union/DKW were considered cars for the average driver and were
sold at average prices.
What about Ford Taunus selling FWD cars (starting at 1200 ccs)in the late
60's ??
And also what about the N360,N600 and S800 from Honda ??

I dont want to downplay the Civic's role but it was not a trend setter like
the Mini or the Fiat 128.


>
>3.  The Civic's chief U.S. competition at the time, in its price range,
>were all wretched little cars, poorly made and often poorly supported...

However this was not the case in Europe where it faced a stiff competition
(and trade barriers) and its sales never came close to those of its competitors.

>
>4.  Virtually every automobile in the world today owes its platform,
>layout, and execution to the transverse FWD setup that the Civic, if not
>invented, then certainly proved in the automotive world.

My view is that Issigonis invented and proved the transverse fwd layout (in
racing too) and Fiat established it in the world market, before the Civic.

Cheers 
GC
Athens (in forest fire flames)