Car essay

[citroenxm]

remember this was 1967 too... it was 20 years to early!

Lots here... but in Dutch at the moment..

http://www.ro80.nl/

[casalingua]

There are two styling mis-steps. The way the bright metal on the a-pillar finishes at the top is odd. And the feature line that runs over the front wheel arch only looks right in profile. In front three-quarter it bends uncomfortably. But these don´t detract from the overall excellence of the car.

[Charles M]

Funnily enough when I popped over to the Citroen specialist today to organise getting the aircon sorted on my black XM, parked round the back was this little beauty:

[citroenxm]

WOW Charles!

Whats their plan, looks rather tidy and clean!

[russ92xmsed]

Very advanced car. Very flawed car. Why I suggested it. I like it only because it was so fresh when it was introduced.
Almost a timeless design infact. And if you look closely..the 1983 Audi 100 is strikingly similar in aesthetics....

I think the crease line actually adds to stance in 3/4 view. It looks less block like. Gives it shape.
The stainless steel is a bit clumsy, but still interesting for me. The thing that bothers me about it, is the rear door shut line and the wheels base. It looks a little too stretched. I think if the shut line was treated in a different way, it would look slightly better. I also prefer the larger rear lights.

That's a nice example Charles. Good colour.

[Charles M]

I am going to ask next time - he also had two W126 Mercedes S class out the back, one in very good shape, the other the wonderful 560SEL. This really was a good looking car, had the front not been busy I'd never have seen it.

[citroenxm]

The audi 100 IS the NSU follow on Russ. VW Audi bought NSU, they tried the K 70 which also failed, but the Audi 100 followed the RO80... hence the simmilaries...


Jeesus... a 560 SEL... Amazing.. Just seen a W126 420 SEL on ebay for £1,995.. ALSO LOVE the W126 Mercedes...

[Charles M]

The 560 was pretty tatty, I just wondered if the engine was going to be transplanted - it is such a huge V8 I'd love one (if I had the space!).

[russ92xmsed]

Yes I know Paul. But until I read it somewhere a while ago, I hadn't put two and two together. But it is so obvious now. What might have been.... They would have been swallowed up into the VW empire at some point anyway, regardless if NSU was successful or not!
The k70 was actually a nice looking little car. Shame that didn't really take off.

[citroenxm]

Ive actually got a K70 sales brochure too. I thought the k70 was ok too..