Austin-Rover Metro : 1985

1985 Austin-Rover Metro

The overall length of the 1985 Austin-Rover Metro was 11’2″, making it a very agile hatchback. But it also had a wide track, which made it more stable than other cars in its class. The low profile tires plus rack and pinion steering made it light and precise. It had outstanding all-around visibility at 88% and the aerodynamically designed hood sloped down for an even better view of the road. With its back seats down, there was an enormous 33.8 cubic feet of storage, and a full tank of gas would take to 400 miles. The MRSP for the 1.3 Metro was £6,384. It made it Britain’s best selling car.

1985 Austin-Rover Metro

Published on April 10, 2013 2:19 pm.
Filed under: 5-Door Hatchbacks Tags: ,

Nissan Micra Colette : 1986

1986 Nissan Colette

The 1986 Nissan Micra Colette was light on your purse but full of luxury features such as push-button LW/MW radio, quartz clock, reclining front seats, intermittent wipers, rear wash wipe, hinged rear side windows, halogen headlights and a heated rear window, to name a few. Further raising the “value” bar, it also added luxury seat upholstery, adjustable head restraints, elegant wheel trims, a “Collete” badge, body side pinstripe and the option of two-tone paint. All that in a car that would take you from 0-60 in 16.5 seconds and yet offer fuel consumption of 56.5 MPG and cruising speed and 44.1 MPG around town. Nissan even offered a 6-year anti corrosion warranty and a 3-year/100,000 mille warranty. It had an MSRP of £4,699.

1986 Nissan Micra Colette

Published on April 10, 2013 9:40 am.
Filed under: 3-Door Hatchbacks Tags: ,

Hyundai Pony : 1986

1986 Hyundai Pony

The 1986 Hyundai Pony was a fraction longer than the Ford Escort, and this made the “surprisingly spacious little thoroughbred” behave beautifully, at least according to Hyundai. Its most appealing standard features on the 1.5 GLS were front-wheel drive, a five-speed gearbox, four-speaker radio-cassette and split folding rear seats. It had an MSRP of £4,500.

1986 Hyundai Pony

Published on April 9, 2013 2:04 pm.
Filed under: 5-Door Hatchbacks Tags: ,

Volkswagen GTi Callaway Turbo : 1985

1985 Volkswagen GTi Callaway Turbo

I don’t think there is anyone out there who doesn’t like, no LOVE, the GTi. If you are out there, then this is the car that will flip you. It is a 1985 Volkswagen GTi Callaway Turbo. It was built by Marketing Corporation of America in Royal Oak, Michigan at the request of Mike Kaptuch of Volkswagen of America with the goal of creating a performance image for Volkswagen in the United States. Together, they contacted Callaway to be a part of this build and they agreed. AutoWeek Magazine heard what they were doing and the editor then, Richard Hinson, contacted Marketing Corporation of America and asked if they could have the car first for a cover story. They said yes and thus began a great adventure with this car.

1985 Volkswagen GTi Callaway Turbo

Published on April 5, 2013 10:26 am.
Filed under: 3-Door Hatchbacks Tags: , ,

Ford Fiesta ST 5-door hatchback : 2014

2014 Ford Fiesta ST 5-door hatchback

As you’ve probably noticed, we tend to favor the classic hatches here, but while the new 2014 Ford Fiesta ST 5-door hatchback will be a bit pricey, it delivers class-leading performance with 197 HP. With an aggressive, sporty design, this ride is Ford’s newest contribution to the world of hot hatches. Fiesta ST offers a 6.5-inch MyFord Touch® screen, unique ST high-mounted rear spoiler, interior trim accents, leather shift knob and seats for that race car feel.

 

2014 Ford Fiesta ST 5-door hatchback

Published on March 22, 2013 9:52 am.
Filed under: 5-Door Hatchbacks Tags: ,

Volkswagen Fox GL Wagon : 1988

1988 Volkswagen Fox GL Wagon

Not too many people think Volkswagen when you say Fox, and even less of the two-door wagon, which was produced from 1987 to 1990, a rare vehicle evn back then, it is really a long hatchback, despite the “wagon” title. If you’ve always wanted one, then here is your (possibly only) chance, because this 1988 specimen is available for just $3,800.

1988 Volkswagen Fox GL Wagon

Published on March 18, 2013 1:26 pm.
Filed under: 3-Door Hatchbacks Tags: ,

Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evolution 2 : 1995

1995 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evolution 2 interior

This 1995 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evolution 2, with its 2-litre 16-valve turbo inline four, produced 215 HP and is the car that buried the Audi Quattro, both in the World Rally Championship and on the open road. The first Evolution cars rolled of the production line at the end of 1991 and through 1992. Presented in June 1993, the second Evolution version of the Delta HF Integrale featured an updated version of the 2-litre 16-valve turbo with a new water cooled Garrett turbocharger. A catalyst was also fitted to lower emissions but overall the power was increased to 215bhp.

In order to underline the even more advanced engineering and performance of the 1993 version, the new Integrale was also given a cosmetic and functional face-lift including body coloured roof moldings, improved air intake grilles, an aluminum fuel cap and a red painted cylinder head. (image and info courtesy of 4Star Classics) 

For those of you who are more interested in this great hatch, here is the history of the Lancia Delta HF Integrale. As of this posting the car is available here.

 

1995 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evolution 2

1995 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evolution 2

1995 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evolution 2 interior

 

 

Published on March 12, 2013 9:31 am.
Filed under: 5-Door Hatchbacks Tags: ,

ABT Golf VII GTI : 2013

2013 ABT Golf VII GTI

The Volkswagen Golf GTi is almost universally loved in every generation, but the ABT designers and engineers have been working on the seventh generation of the GTi and the result is a car that leaves nothing to be desired and is a real eye-catcher called the ABT Golf VII GTI.

2013 ABT Golf VII GTI

 

Published on March 6, 2013 12:04 pm.
Filed under: 3-Door Hatchbacks Tags: , ,

Mitsubishi Mirage : 1978

1978 Mitsubishi Mirage

The front-wheel drive Mitsubishi Mirage is still around today, but this generation was produced from 1978 to 1983. It had a maximum of 72 HP. In 1979, they added a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine producing 105 HP. I for one, like (this design) better. (image source: Mitsubishi)

1978 Mitsubishi Mirage

Published on March 4, 2013 9:27 am.
Filed under: 3-Door Hatchbacks Tags: ,

BMW 1800 Touring : 1971

1971 BMW 1800 Touring

The 1800 and 1802 Touring models were early hatchbacks, designed by Michelotti and had the 1.8 liter engine. BMW started selling these in April of 1971. They featured split folding rear seats, making the large rear hatch extremely useful. Produced until April of 1974, by then, 30,206 were produced.

(image and info courtesy of Classic and Vintage BMW)

 

1971 BMW 1800 Touring

Published on February 14, 2013 7:56 pm.
Filed under: 3-Door Hatchbacks Tags: ,

Ford Escort : 1989

1989 Ford Escort

The 1989 Ford Escort 3-door hatchback was quite versatile which made it the best selling car in the world for over six years.

1989 Ford Escort

Published on January 31, 2013 7:38 pm.
Filed under: 3-Door Hatchbacks Tags: ,

Bertone Innocenti Mini M120L : 1973

1973 Bertone Innocenti Mini M120L

This 1973 Bertone Innocenti Mini M120L was fetaured as a BaT Exclusive on January 24th of 2013 and I except it will sell fast since it is believed to be one of about five such cars in North America. Penned by Luigi Innocenti of Bertone and was featured in the December 2008 issue of Mini Magazine.

1973 Bertone Innocenti Mini M120L

Published on January 24, 2013 10:05 am.
Filed under: 3-Door Hatchbacks Tags: ,

Renault 6 : 1969

1969 Renault 6

The Renault 6 was launched at the 1968 Paris Motor Show and this 1969 Renault 6 (with an 850cc engine and a 4-speed transmission) is surely a rarity, especially in this condition and in the USA. It is currently available on eBay, and there are many more images to look at in this Shutterfly album. Production and sales in France and most of Europe ended in 1980 with no direct successor, but in Spain and Argentina the car was still produced and sold until 1986.

1969 Renault 6

1969 Renault 6

1969 Renault 6

1969 Renault 6 interior

 

 

 

Published on December 28, 2012 10:31 am.
Filed under: 5-Door Hatchbacks Tags: ,

Ford Pinto 3-door Runabout : 1974

1974 Ford Pinto 3-door Runabout

1974 Ford Pinto 3-door Runabout was a basic car with further improvements to the engine (now with 2000 cc – with an option of 2300 cc), the brakes, (now with front disc brakes as standard) for more efficient fade-resistant braking with little pedal effort and the more refined front and rear suspension. With rack and pinion steering, front bucket seats, 4-speed synchromesh transmission and a welded unitized body, it was America’s best selling economy car. These days, they are hard to come by, but check out the 1973 Ford Pinto Runabout on eBay Motors in this post.

1974 Ford Pinto 3-door Runabout

Published on November 24, 2012 4:13 pm.
Filed under: 3-Door Hatchbacks Tags: ,

Plymouth Horizon TC3 : 1979

1979 Plymouth Horizon TC3

The 1979 Plymouth Horizon TC3 was an entirely new sports coupe (hatchback) with real road feel and joined the best selling 5-door Horizon. Car and Driver even rated it as one of the most aerodynamically perfect cars built in North America and one of the shortest stopping cars around. Its sleek design using galvanized steel and aluminum alloys also fought corrosion. Standard equipment including an AM/FM Radio, contour front bucket seats, fold down rear seat, radial tires, positive rack and pinion steering, front wheel drive, front disc brakes, and column mounted controls. You even had optional choices like air conditioning, power steering and power brakes, TorqueFlite automatic transmission and a removable glass sunroof.

1979 Plymouth Horizon TC3

Published on November 24, 2012 2:30 pm.
Filed under: 3-Door Hatchbacks Tags: ,