These two caught my eye in this parking lot, as they share some similarities despite the obvious differences. Like what?
They’re both four wheel drive wagons, obviously; although on rather different scales. Their rear license plate holders are asymmetrical. Their tail lights are narrow and high. And they have raised roofs.
Here’s another view. These Tercel wagons are starting to get a wee bit thin on the ground too, like so many classic old Eugene-mobiles. They were once everywhere, but undoubtedly have been replaced by Subarus. Not very likely any were replaced by Land Rover Discos, though.
Paul, I never saw the similarities between these models until today!
Were Land Rover stylists inspired by the Tercel?!
It’s a shame their quality control wasn’t.
My mother had a Tercel wagon that she loved. She drove it until the Safety Inspectors couldn’t be bribed to ignore the rust any more, which took surprisingly few years. She cried when it was towed away to the bone yard but it was leaving a trail of orange crumbs wherever it went.
The Discos I only know through
horror storieslegends.You mean ‘legendary horror stories’!
Happy Motoring, Mark
I’ve always loved the disco in black. Esp the last 2 years. But that crimson one is just as nice looking. Mid 80’s tercels of all varieties are hens teeth in Canada now. Used to see those everywhere.
I remember when asymmetrically styled tall wagons were the curious new thing. I liked them then and I still do.
I would love a Land Rover like this – As a company car so that someone else was on the hook for the M&R.
The bevelled edge on the original Discovery rear was dictated by the rear lights that came from the Austin Maestro van, while the higher roof with toplight style came from the original ‘Series’ station wagons. The Mk.II like this was very much an updating of the first, but now with all it’s own parts, rather than dipping into the corporate parts bin, at least for the bodywork (so no Morris Marina door handles any more!).
Morris Marina?! At least those I recall seeing had their handles chrome-plated!
Here in Canada, they were sold as Austin Marina, a friend of mine had one, not for a very long time!
Oh the stories I could tell you about the Austin Marina. My brother-in-law had one (before he married in to the family). The quality control (or lack thereof) was legendary.
And don’t forget the range of other BL parts in it, from Range Rover doors and glasshouse to standard BL switches and handles
One of them is a faithful, reliable means of transportation. The other one is a Land Rover.
😉
Not to mention that the Tercel probably pays you back dividends with every mile, what with that ATM hanging off the back of it. ?
Disco is Dead!
I absolutely love those old Tercel wagons. They were really great looking cars and very capable, not to mention incredibly reliable. You can drive an old Toyota with 300,000 miles on the odometer and it would be way more reliable than a 1 year old Rover. I’ve heard my share of Rover ownership horror stories; bank breaking ones! Never do you hear of Toyota’s causing grief for their owners. Toyota rocks on!!
Honda had their version of the idea as well in the late 80’s. The original one had clerestory rear side windows like the Disco. Unlike the other two, no 4WD though.
The 3rd-gen Civic wagon did offer a 4WD model – pushbutton activation at first, then a “real time 4WD” system that automatically engaged the rear wheels if the fronts slipped from 1987. Honda revived the “real time 4WD” tags for the first CR-V, though I don’t know if it worked the same way.
For what it’s worth, battered old first and second generation Discoveries are almost ubiquitous in the Highlands and Islands, a part of the world whose vehicle owners are not known for favouring form-over-function, or for being a forgiving place to own/run unreliable vehicles. Just saying.