Hooniverse Asks- What Nation Built the Best Every-Man’s Car?
Nearly all of the world’s free market economies have been built, or expanded upon, based upon the proletariate’s ability to move over great distances. This drove prices down, as consumers weren’t beholden to regional monopolies, and increased discretionary spending to include such modern conveniences as the motel and fast food drive-thru. And each great nation seeking to give their populace that freedom and economic advantage has had a basic automobile as the catalyst.
Henry Ford offered his line workers five dollars a day, not because he was particularly egalitarian – which he wasn’t – but because they could then afford to buy themselves a Model T. In Germany, Adolph Hitler commissioned a national network of high-speed highways, and then cars to ply them – even calling them the People’s Car, although it became obvious later that his definition of people was considerably narrower than most. Britain had the Austin 7 and later the Mini, Italy, the Cinquecento, France the 2CV, which was designed with the farmer in mind. Japan had the. . . well, probably the Corolla would most fill the position of the common man’s car, although there were others that could be argued were more iconic.
All of these cars put their respective nations on the road, and who they put on those roads were those who had previously had to limit their travels to where ever public transportation, or their feet, provided. They became important elements in the machinations of progress and prosperity, and it’s interesting to note that the members of the European Union facing the worst financial crisis – Greece and Spain – are those without a traditional and proletariat-supporting home-grown automotive industry.
So, without these basic cars, we might be in a whole lot worse shape than we are today, and not only did they make their mark on global finances, but many of them were just plain fun to drive. Because of that, it’s important to consider them for both their historic and fun values. Considering all that, what nation’s every-man car do you think was the best?
Image source: [lefux.com]
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I don't know about the early 2CV's reliability, but I'd say that the Model T, the Corolla, and the Type 1 sedan (Beetle) are the most bulletproof.
<img src="http://img.timeinc.net/time/2007/50_cars/yugo.jpg">
IMG from Timeinc.net
Japan: Corolla
Probably the best car for Joe Everyman, because Joe Everyman is lame.
At least in my area, it's what the Everyman (or Everyman Who Took Driver's Ed) learned to drive in. But more Corollas sold than anything else speaks pretty strongly.
Most fun? That would be this little bugger:
<img width=500 src="http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-abc/Austin-Mini-Cooper-Sport-red-f-lr.jpg">
Pardon me, but Signore Abarth disputes your assertion.
<img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6190/6160051653_cc2145c46c.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="68 gp der tourenwagen@nurburgring abarth 1000tc">
Monsieur Redele is disgusted by the cars of Perfidious Albion to his west and the degenerate wastrels to his southeast, and presents to you the Quatre Chevaux:
<img src="http://www.toptenautoracing.com/files/2402/thumbnails/5787793858_ff26d0d914.jpg">
As does Mr Parkes.
<img src="http://cmsracing.com/storage/PoR_2010/PoR_pics/bevan.jpg" width=500>
Ford Model T without a doubt. It put the US on the road. I saw one mention that in 1921 Ford had a 60% market share and at one point more than half of all the cars in the world were Ford Model T s. No other car will ever come close to anything like that.
I would have to agree with the model T. Not only did it put the MOST Everymen on wheels, compared to what came before it the Model T clearly raised the bar in terms of bang-for-the-buck and the amount of abuse it could endure.
That said, I would nominate a strong first-runner-up:
<img src="http://cmcn90.com/graphics/Honda%20Civic%201972.jpg">
1980s Japan.
I'll say the Model T. It put the average American on the road, without looking at the ass end of a horse. That in itself was a major innovation.
I agree with Henry's Model T Ford.
<img src="http://www.rarecarrelics.com/attachments/Image/10_millionth_model_T_Ford.JPG"width="500"/>
Obligatory:
<img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5172/5483045902_23ef03631b.jpg">
Round-lamp & chrome bumper classic Lada 2101. Sure, it's closer to a farming instrument than a road-going vehicle, but this thing will actually start and have a working heater at -40 degrees. And a Fiat twin cam will swap right in if the 1200cc of Soviet power isn't enough for you.
<img src="http://mediaserver-2.vuodatus.net/g/71992/2082859.jpg">
As much as I want to say Beetle, it's wrong. I will fully agree with all those picking Lada to be the best everyman's car, especially when your choices are "limited."
Czechoslovakia
<img src="http://www.shorey.net/Auto/Eastern%20European/Tatra/1933%20Tatra%20V570%20Prototype%20-%20fVr%20(Czechoslovakia).jpg"width=500>
The United States of America.
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2574/3773274424_9ca6f38916.jpg" width="400">
I'd pay at least twice that for one of these today. I'd drive it, too.
The newer brushless models were more reliable, I heard.
British, Belguim or German's "best" is IMO the Escort Mk1
<img src="http://www.wedding-classics.co.uk/img/slideshow/ford-escort-mk1.jpg">
I'd have to go with the 2nd gen Aussie Ford Falcon on this one. They beefed up the working bits and ended up with a simple, rugged sedan that can hold its own in the outback. Love those kind of cars.
<img src="http://restored-classics.com/gladstone/ford/img31.gif">
There's a part of me (that sprung up just now) that wants to drop a 1000cc motorcycle engine in a Tata Nano, to make it the Tata NanoLitre.
DDR über alles!
<img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/hoopd87/300afa12.jpg" width = 500 >
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3447/4087493404_49639646f6.jpg" width="500"> I'm a fan of the FIAT 126p from Poland since some of my family had them. My father in law would repair the gearbox on the kitchen table. My grandmother's niece emigrated to West Germany in one, stuffing valuables behind the headlights. I mean imagine leaving your home for good with a kid with only what you could stuff in that little car. Just lots of little stories like that make it a sentimental car for me. Here's an almost ad caption contest worthy image: http://www.a-c-d.dk/brochurer/EUROPE/POLAND/POLSK…
I'm going to base my answer on semantics! See, for a car for regular person, it's obviously the Model T, since that let people with less buy a car. But it was never really a car for every man, since if you were wealthy you'd probably buy something posh and a bit less agricultural. In my mind, only one car managed to be something that anyone, no matter what their income, social sphere or whatever, could buy look both at home and cool in. Obviously, that's the Mini. Here's Twiggy sitting in one.
<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aSqHRamGQoo/TZaE_dGE1sI/AAAAAAAACdI/cxkJ1dPPSy0/s1600/twiggy%2Bmini.jpg">
She looks cute in that picture.
It's interesting to note that not every car that was intended to be a true "People's Car" was successful as such. The Toyota Publica and ZAZ 965 certainly come to mind in this regard. The ZAZ 965 was considered bad-by Soviet standards-when new but was the only car that could be bought without a long wait. Sadly though, it was so bad that most Soviets decided they would rather wait for a Zhiguli instead. The Publica eventually evolved into the Tercel but it never achieved the kind of all conquering popularity in Japan that cars like the Model T Ford or VW Beetle saw in their home countries. Also, the Mini was not the first people's car of Great Brittan. That honor goes to the original Austin 7, which also spawned a license built copy from Datsun. Finally, the Tata Nano was supposed to put India on wheels but so far has not sold well. It is not likely then that it will fulfill it's intended role as the car that put India on wheels. I guess that even in India the Nano is too spartan for local tastes.
As for my vote for the best people's car, that's easy. The original Mini. While it has it's flaws, it is nonetheless the car that offers the best driving dynamics of any of them. As an added bonus it also offers the best utilization of space of any car of it's era and can still compare favorably with many more modern rivals in several areas.