"Style Auto" is a magazine, I believe it was Italian, but it is written in
English. Back in the early seventies they did a two part series on the
Chrysler UK "Arrow" and "B" bodies. You have to keep an eye out for them in
large antique auto flea markets. You are lucky to have an H120, Americans can
only dream about them.
Jan
"Mike Hooper" <mike.hooper@panavision.co.uk> wrote:
What has Fred Levit started?
Have you got an ISBN for this book? Sounds interesting.
By the way, I've got a slightly rusty 1968 Rapier H120.
Thanks,
mike.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jan Eyerman" <jan.eyerman@usa.net>
To: "Mike Hooper" <mike.hooper@panavision.co.uk>; "Jan Eyerman"
<jan.eyerman@usa.net>; <alpines@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2003 2:48 PM
Subject: Styling, etc.
> The "Apex" (Imp) connection is in Robson's book and can be seen in the
Style
> Auto article (but tactifully not mentioned). Rootes expected the Imp to a
> resounding success (after all, everything they had done for the previous
25
> years had been!) and they were planning on carrying the Imp styling
throughout
> their entire line. Trying to image a Humber based upon Imp styling makes
me
> ill. It is too bad that the Imp sports car project died (the Asp) that
would
> have been a nice successor to Alpine.
>
> Jan Eyerman
>
>
> "Mike Hooper" <mike.hooper@panavision.co.uk> wrote:
>
> I hadn't heard about the Imp influence (brought out in '63?).
>
> The 'Arrow' front end I thought was the standard Hunter layout, the Rapier
> being different because of the proposed air con., and as for being fully
> aware, this might have only caused despair; it sounds like initially they
> were expected to make do with the designs the Hunter boys came up with.
>
> Sorry, I haven't heard of the 'R' car.
>
> The convertible looked good.
>
> Mike
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jan Eyerman" <jan.eyerman@usa.net>
> To: "Mike Hooper" <mike.hooper@panavision.co.uk>; "Jan Eyerman"
> <jan.eyerman@usa.net>; <alpines@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2003 6:43 PM
> Subject: The "Big Fastbacks"
>
>
> > Interesting article. It does provide some additional insight, but there
> are a
> > number of points that it is not clear on. The development of the
"Arrow"
> cars
> > was long and drawn out. The cause of this was the initial plan to play
> upon
> > the success of the "Apex" design (Imp). The Curtis article is probably
> > referring to one of the early, "pre-Arrow" designs when the shape of the
> > "Arrow" front end is mentioned. The pictures of the models in the
"Style
> > Auto" article show that the final "Arrow" front end was indeed
considered
> for
> > the Rapier. The cost of tooling for the hood and front fenders was not
> > insignificant to Rootes/Chrysler UK, particularly for such a low
> production
> > vehicle.
> >
> > In addition, the designing of teh Arrow and Rapier were essentially
going
> on
> > next to each other, so the designers of the Rapier would be fully aware
of
> > everything that was happening on the Arrow. Thus the changes in the
Arrow
> > nose were no surpise to the Rapier design group.
> >
> > The car I am most interested in finding out about is the Chrysler "R"
car.
> > This was supposed to be a 1971 car using the 1725cc engine and trans in
a
> USA
> > build sub-compact. Around 1969 the project was dropped and all I have
> ever
> > been able to learn is that such a thing was considered.
> >
> > Jan Eyerman
> > 1962 "Audax" convertible (aka Hillman Minx)
> > 1973 "B" sedan (aka Hillman Avenger/Plymouth Cricket)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "Mike Hooper" <mike.hooper@panavision.co.uk> wrote:
> >
> > Look at:
> >
> > http://members.tripod.com/Sunbeam_Rapier/style.htm
> >
> > or
> >
> > http://members.tripod.com/Sunbeam_Rapier/history.htm
> >
> > Mike
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jan Eyerman" <jan.eyerman@usa.net>
> > To: <alpines@autox.team.net>
> > Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2003 4:20 PM
> > Subject: More details on the "Baby Cuda"
> >
> >
> > > Actually the Alpine GT and Alpine fastbacks were introduced in the USA
> in
> > 1969
> > > and were sold into 1970. While the basic Alpine stayed more or less
the
> > same
> > > for both years, there is some variation between the '69 Alpine GT and
> the
> > 1970
> > > models. Most notable is the change in the dashboard. The '69s have a
> > wood
> > > verneer dash while the TRUE 1970 models (not '69 leftovers retitled)
> have
> > a
> > > wrap around dash made of plastic. In addition, the backup lights are
in
> > the
> > > trunklid. There are a number of other subtle differences but those
two
> > allow
> > > you to pick out the 1970's quickly. Roughly 3,500 '69s were sold and
> > maybe
> > > another 1,000 1970's. Total sales of Alpines, Alpine GT's and Arrows
> > appears
> > > to have been about 10,000 cars over 2 years in the USA. The Alpine
GT's
> > were
> > > the biggest sellers with the Arrows and basic Alpines doing quite a
bit
> > less
> > > well.
> > >
> > > Roy Axe of Rootes, then Chrysler UK and then Chrysler USA did the
> styling
> > of
> > > the Alpine GT (called the Rapier in England). Design work started at
> just
> > > about the time of Chrysler involvement so Chrysler input is possible.
> The
> > > Arrow seems to have a great deal of 1964-66 Valiant styling cues. The
> > oddity
> > > is that the Rootes cars show styling influences of PAST and current
> > Chrysler
> > > USA products, NOT future Chrysler products. If Chrysler styling had
any
> > > notable input, the Rootes cars would have looked more like Chrysler
> > products
> > > of 1969 then 1965. "Style Auto" magazine had excellent articles on
the
> > > styling of the "Arrow" and "Alpine GT" cars. It went into details of
> the
> > > background of the designs and showed the styling mockups from the
> > beginning.
> > >
> > > Jan Eyerman
> > > 1962 Hillman Minx Series IIIC convertible
> > > 1973 Plymouth Cricket
> > >
> > > "lauri lehtinen" <lauri.lehtinen@pp.nic.fi> wrote:
> > >
> > > After Chrysler bought Rootes people looked if there was influence in
> > styling
> > > (Like Opels had similiar characters as Chevrolets, "General Motors
> look").
> > > And 1968-69 Sunbeam Alpine GT looked really like Barracuda that was
> > washed
> > > in too hot wather and it had shrunken.
> > >
> > > Well, this is how I have understood it.
> > >
> > > Larry
> > >
> > > > Could someone please tell me what a baby Cuda is ?
> > > > Fred Levit
> > > > Wilmette, IL. USA
> > > > fle426@northwestern.edu
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
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