Eight thousand in the exam - comparison of Audi, Citroën, Datsun, Fiat, Mini, Peugeot, Renault and Simca

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Eight thousand in the exam - comparison of Audi, Citroën, Datsun, Fiat, Mini, Peugeot, Renault and Simca

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Created on January 1, 1975

Text:

Heinz Kranz

Photos:

Nissan Motor Company

12

Archiv Radical Mag / Peter Ruch

2

Fiat Press

2

Audi Pressedienst

1

Archiv

51

68

Eight thousands in a tough comparison test by 'hobby' on the race track

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Cover page Hobby 1/1975 - Ten thousands in a comparison test

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All of them are fast underpriced - Audi 50, Fiat 127, Datsun Cherry and Peugeot 104

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Three engines and drives at the front, one all at the rear - Renault R5, Innocenti Mini, Simca 1000 GLE, Citroën Ami S

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Eight thousands in the 'hobby' comparison test - on the race track

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Eight thousands in the 'hobby' comparison test

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Audi 50 LS (1975) - the parallel model to the Polo

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Audi 50 GL (1975) - a pretty girl leans against the little Audi designed by Italian master Marcello Gandini

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Citroën Ami S (1975) - strange, but well-sprung

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Citroën Ami Super (1973) - the 1-liter engine from the GS ensures spirited performance in the lightweight Ami - at the 1973 Geneva Motor Show

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Citroën Ami 8 (1969) - the special roof was lost on the successor to the Ami 6

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Citroen Ami 6 (1963) - popular with women

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Citroen Ami 6 (1962) - a test car in the sixties

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Citroën Ami 6 (1966) - modern and contemporary

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Citroën Ami 6 (1969) - short before the replacement

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Citroen Ami 8 - estate cars with economical engines are particularly popular in France - shown at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show

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Datsun Cherry (1975) - baroque, but with very good driving performance and handling characteristics

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Datsun Cherry (1970) - the two-door version

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Datsun Cherry (1970) - as a four-door sedan

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Datsun Cherry (1970) - as a four-door version

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Datsun Cherry (1973) - Interior of the European variant 1200

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Datsun Cherry (1970) - the two-door version

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Datsun Cherry (1973) - Model variant X-1R

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Datsun Cherry (1973) - Model variant X-1R

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Datsun Cherry (1971) - rear view of the 1100 X-1L variant

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Datsun Cherry (1973) - Interior of the X-1R model

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Datsun Cherry (1970) - Interior of the four-door X-1 model

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Fiat 127 (1975) - bigger on the inside than on the outside

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Fiat 127 (1972) - pleasing and inconspicuous

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Fiat 127 (1972) - for a trip for three or four

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Fiat 127 (1972) - two doors and hatchback

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Fiat 127 (1973) - with practical tailgate - at the 1973 Geneva Motor Show

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Fiat 127 (1972) - the practical tailgate is missing here

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Innocenti 1001 Mini (1975) - the progenitor of all 'Minis'

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Morris Mini Cooper (1963) - really lively with 997 cm3

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Innocenti Mini Cooper (1973) - the British Leyland offshoot from Italy is available for 11,400 francs - at the 1973 Geneva Motor Show

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Innocenti Mini Cooper (1973) - top model, compact and sporty - at the 1973 Geneva Motor Show

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Mini Cooper 1300 (1973) - built by Innocenti, labeled 'Leyland'

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Mini Cooper 1300 (1973) - built by Innocenti in Italy

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Peugeot 104 (1975) - the smallest four-door model, but with consistent use of space

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Peugeot 104 (1972) - straight lines predominate in the compact French car

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Peugeot 104 (1972) - four doors and tailgate - this is how the French want their compact car to look

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Renault R5 (1975) - modern, compact, practical

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Renault 5 TL (1972) - the practical everyday car from France

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Renault R5 (1972) - the whole range in one picture

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Renault R5 (1972) - it has it, the practical tailgate

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Renault R5 (1972) - with or without roll-up roof

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Renault 5 TL at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - compact dimensions and front-wheel drive - the R5 is not yet available in Switzerland

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Renault R5 TL (1973) - R5 for competition use - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1973

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Renault 5 TL at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - elastic bumpers are intended to reduce the consequences of bumps on the R5

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Renault 5 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - cutaway model of the compact front-wheel-drive R5, whose export to Switzerland had not yet started at that time

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Renault R5 (1972) - See-through drawing - View of the technology

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Renault R5 (1972) - the dashboard doesn't need much explanation

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Simca 1000 GLE (1975) - the rear slinger for the sports driver

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Simca 1000 (1962) - simple appearance - photo from sales brochure

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Simca 1000 (1963) - for the whole family - from a sales brochure

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Simca 1000 (1962) - the small rear-wheel drive car as a movie star

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Simca 1000 (1963) - straightforward design and rear engine

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Simca 1000 (1962) - easy front and rear access

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Simca 1000 (1962) - Everything open on the Automobil Revue long-distance test vehicle

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Simca 1000 (1962) - good access to the interior

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Simca 1000 (1961) - simple yet tasteful dashboard

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Summary

In the winter of 1974/1975, the magazine 'hobby' compared eight compact cars from five countries in a meticulous test that required driving on the Nordschleife and the participation of eight test drivers: the Audi 50 competed against the Citroën Ami Super, Datsun Cherry, Fiat 127, Innocenti Mini, Peugeot 104, Renault 5 and Simca 1000 GLE and won hands down. The Datsun Cherry came second, but this was not the only surprise in the extensive comparison test. This article re-edits the findings of that time, showing the results in detail and the vehicles in many archive photos from back then.

This article contains the following chapters

The new and modern Audi 50
The unconventional Citroën Ami Super
The baroque Datsun Cherry
The almost ideal Fiat 127
The progenitor Innocenti 1001 Mini
The smallest four-door Peugeot 104
The modern Renault 5
The unconventional Simca 1000 GLE
Rating "Bodywork"
Rating "Driving"
Rating "Motor"
A head start for the Audi 50
Audi 50 remains in the lead
Driving performance measurements
Evaluation "Costs"
The Audi 50 is only outperformed in the cost category
The well-balanced Datsun Cherry
Fiat 127 - role model for the young car generation
Lack of variability in the Peugeot 104
The modular specialist Renault 5 TL
Cheap and different with a rear engine, the Simca 1000 GLE
Innocenti Mini 1001 - the classic for enthusiasts
The playful Frenchman Citroën Ami Super
The ideal concept for success
Overall ranking
Technical data in comparison
Equipment comparison

Estimated reading time: 30min

Preview (beginning of the article)

hobby selected eight cars for a comparative test to show what buyers can expect in a class that is one idea higher than that of simple models from the Fiat 126 to the 2 CV to the Renault 4. This is the 1000 cc displacement class. The selection is truly international: four cars from France are up against one each from Germany, England, Italy and Japan. The preponderance of the French can be explained by the fact that each of the four major French car manufacturers is trying to attract buyers in the 1000 cc class. The German industry is represented by the brand new Audi 50. Ford decided not to take part because the new Escort is just around the corner, and we have saved the Opel Kadett for the 1300cc Auto Cup because it fits in better there.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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