Vinyl roofs

[nopanic - neil]

Simple one here,

I saw a Hillman Avenger the other day, horrible car (I can say that as my dad had one)

but the question is which was the last production car to sport a vinyl roof ?
(as standard - not an boy racer addition)

[termietermite]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinyl_roof

[Andy Zarse]

Well that answers the USA question but what about Europe. Think it was an option on the XJS (flying butresses anyone?) for quite a while or how about the Talbot Solara/Alpine?

[termietermite]

So, that's got us to about 1983?
http://www.rootes-chrysler.co.uk/car-development/dev-alpine.html

[nopanic - neil]

Well that answers the USA question but what about Europe. Think it was an option on the XJS (flying butresses anyone?) for quite a while or how about the Talbot Solara/Alpine?

OK -  What was the bigger posher bigger Talbot - Granada style - I only ever saw one

and as a major car player in the 70's/80's they were crap.

[Matt Harper]

Talbot Tagora - utter monstrosity - sold like cold cakes.....

[MIKE C (Liverpool Boys)]

They also did a half vinyl on some of the sporty Avangers. I had a Avenger Tiger till it died of rust infestation, like most cars of the time.

[Andy Zarse]

Talbot Tagora - utter monstrosity - sold like cold cakes.....

Here you go Matt. Spot on, they were total crap.

http://www.rootes-chrysler.co.uk/car-development/dev-tagora.html

My ex-boss had one twenty odd years ago. He was a Scottish Orangeman, and he took enormous pleasure from trying to run over black people in Birmingham. Fortunately, his Tagora only had the 2.2ltr SIMCA engine and they were usually able to get out of his way. That all changed when he swapped the big lazy Talbot for a Saab Turbo....

[MIKE C (Liverpool Boys)]

Was it the original 99 turbo, with the lag the you could eat breakfast through, then it kicked you up the arse. Great fun

[Andy Zarse]

No I think it was a 900 actually, slightly less laggy but a real hoot to drive. A cough, a fart, then ker-pow in the ass!