UNUSUAL SHOW MODELS

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32127, 24 October 1969, Page 9

UNUSUAL SHOW MODELS

A two-seater mid-engined GT sports car which was designed with the aid of a computer and has been described as “a designer’s dream” is being shown at the London Motor Show by the British Leyland Motor Corporation. The Zanda, as it is called, has attracted many inquiries from potential buyers, but the car is not for sale and the model will not go into production. British Leyland says the car is an exercise to illustrate modern British car-styling techniques. Another futuristic car is being shown by the Automotive Products group—it is a scale model of a 100 m.p.h. saloon designed by the group to illustrate some of the ad-

vanced design projects with which it is involved.

The group claims the car gives a glimpse of what the small family saloon will look like in 10 years. By then, the group says, such cars will have anti-skid and dual-line braking systems, self-level-ling hydraulic suspension, and automatic transmission with five forward speeds. Even small cars will have extensive stream-lining and will accommodate five persons and luggage.

A third dream car is the Probe Sixteen, a coupe which is powered by a rear-mounted

British Leyland 1800 engine. The car was designed and built by Dennis and Peter Adams and has been chosen by the Institute of British Carriage and Automobile

Manufacturers for display at the show.

Dennis Adams, who styled the Marcos 1800 car, said the Probe Sixteen was made as extreme in its design as possible while still adhering to appropriate road-use regtflations. The car has smaller wheels at the front than the back, and as a result the vehicle is only a few inches higher than the top of the 13in rear wheels. The retractable headlights are electrically-oper-

ated, and so is the sliding roof. Two British coachwork companies are showing convertible versions of the new Ford Capri, and the Crayford company is displaying a 5litre version of the Capri which it calls the “Xtermsnator.” ‘