Techzle has been in existence for 30 years and that is why we look back every week on this week’s edition in 1990. As of today, Techzle 48 will be in the shops, but what was exactly thirty years ago in number 48?
News
The Ford Escort Clipper was a car that many families took to vacation in the 90s, but once they got to the campsite, the work for the Ford was over. That the car itself could also be used as an extension of the camping pleasure, was something they wanted to show with the Ghia Seeka Concept. An Escort who was provided with all kinds of things to serve the convenience. It had, among other things, an awning, a refrigerator, a sunroof and it was higher above the ground. This also made it easier to get everywhere. The most important option was without a doubt the fax!
Those who prefer a more adventurous approach from the factory will undoubtedly have been happy with the news that could be read a little further in Techzle 48 of 1990. Opel would come with an all-terrain vehicle, based on the Isuzu Rodeo. 30 years ago we thought it would listen to the name ‘Prado’, but that turned out to be incorrect. We are of course talking about the Frontera. He did not do badly here, but it did not become a real top seller in the end.
Tests
At the end of November 1990, we had the pleasure of driving a car for the first time that would then remain inextricably linked to the street scene for years to come: the BMW 3-series E36. In terms of design, that was a huge leap compared to the E30 at the time. The first impression when driving was also good. According to the test editor, the motto ‘Freude am Fahren’ was ‘reflected in all its glory’ in the E36. It was therefore no shame that the price had also made a leap compared to its predecessor.
The first driving test with the 3-series, however, was not the biggest spectacle in Techzle 48 of 1990. That was the trio test between the Ferrari Testarossa, Porsche 928 and Chevrolet Corvette. Three very fast cars for their time that were not only very similar in terms of performance. They also had all three folding headlights typical of that time. The Ferrari was the strongest with its 390 hp and also made the most impression. This was due to the twelve-cylinder and the sound thereof, but also its handling. The Porsche followed second place and for the Corvette ‘you may have to be an American’.
If you think back to 1990, you will undoubtedly also think back to the German unification on October 3 of that year. With that, the DDR heirloom Trabant of course ended up in dire straits. In order to still try to keep it afloat, Trabant therefore came up with the somewhat unluckily named Tramp. An open Trabant with a fabric hood and doors. A bit like the Citroën Méhari. In the nose was now a Volkswagen engine, because the west turned out to be really a bit further in that area. However, the Tramp could no longer turn the tide. Less than six months after our test with the yellow thing, the last Trabant left the production line.
Reports
Some advice from 1990 is still valid. We brought them to the attention in a report at the time that autumn is the best time to buy a convertible. Of course, that doesn’t seem like such a good plan because of the weather, but it has everything to do with the offer. In the spring, more people are simply looking for it and some of the early birds have already been sold. We therefore highlighted a number of interesting options on the used car market. For example, the Ford Escort MK4 Cabrio was a ‘neat choice’ and a ‘surprisingly elegant’ open Opel Ascona was also interesting. Those who prefer something more spectacular could, for example, look at a Porsche 914 or a recently used Mazda MX-5.
A convertible had to suit you and your budget, of course, but fortunately there was also an interesting other option on the used car market. The Volvo 340 was also worth recommending at the time, according to the editor of service. And otherwise it was also for sale new for a while, because Volvo extended production in 1990 for a while. Techzle went out with the 340 again to see if the Volvo built in the Netherlands still had enough in it to keep up with the times. The performance was not flashy, but the 340 was known as reliable and was apparently still a ‘beautiful and balanced model’ in 1990. It was also ‘the last DAF you could buy new’.
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An extra large C-segmenter with butt. That is a phenomenon that clearly no longer belongs in the present time. In 1990, however, it was still the most normal thing in the world that you could buy such a car new in the Netherlands and then you could go to Ford, for example. The Orion, essentially an Escort with a big butt, had to be the perfect alternative for those who thought an Escort was a bit too tight. The fact that the Orion bore the name of a constellation was no coincidence: in Orion everything revolved around space.