Let’s talk about the little Audi 50 a bit here; it’s better known as the Volkswagen Polo Mk1, which it was re-badged as six months after its introduction, but I prefer the slightly more refined Audi version. The design is very much like a smaller Golf, but it feels like that famous ItalDesign Golf has been filtered and distilled down to its absolute fundamental essence, and it works better as a result. It’s taughter and leaner and crisper than the Golf, and the front end is ever so slightly raked forward, making it more purposeful and active. There’s that funny round air-extraction vent on the C-pillar, the only circular bit save for the headlights and wheels. There’s nothing wasted here. It’s like a greyhound, a sheath of skin stretched over the stuff that makes it go. And, it just works best in bright colors.
The interior was kind of stylish, too, in its own unfussy way. But my attraction to the 50 isn’t about the inside. It’s one of the few cars I like best at distance, in quantity, scattered about in a variety of colors like a handful of flung, sharp-cornered Skittles. It’s kind of a confusing affection, but aren’t those the best kind, really? The ones that defy explanation, that grip you and hold you and you can’t really express why or how, but you know that if you didn’t feel that peculiar clutch, you’d miss it terribly? That’s what I think about the Audi 50s and color. So there. For all of those people who think their Ferrari should always be red, see the following color options offered in the 70’s and early 80’s. http://www.308-328.com/308/308specstylen.html They sold all of those colors, as well. I have an image from a Ferrari factory from the 70’s and there were very few reds in the mix of colorful cars! Bring back the colors!!! And that distinctive Teutonic Bauhaus feel really comes through…if you showed someone on the street (those people Jason is always running up to & sweatily grabbing) just that interior shot, they’d immediately say “German car.” Then again, I’m one of those who still think Americans are too obsessed with cupholders! The jag interior is what I have always expected, very plush and couch-like, with “classic” construction methods, natural materials, and switchgear/gauges that almost looked aeronautic. The Bavaria interior tho? It’s just so unexpected. In modern BMWs, they try to coddle you in luxury materials/gadgets/very refined but complex forms, but the Bavaria has absolutely none of that. I couldn’t even really put my finger on how it felt to be sitting in it, other than “this is Bauhaus AF”. Everything is minimal, modern, and instead of natural materials, it’s gleaming stainless steel, heatpressed vinyl, and simplified forms/shapes. Even the font used on the gauges has a bauhaus feel. But you NAILED it with that Corbusier reference, and an aesthetic that is surprisingly absent from current production cars, from any brand, which is a real shame. For one brief afternoon, I had both of them in my driveway parked side-by-side, and I thought it was interesting enough that I shot a video about it here: https://youtu.be/G9UqliuIqcc Figured you’d appreciate it! What I find fascinating is that they both attempt to evoke their country’s version of “sporting” – your aeronautic reference nails it for the Jag, while the BMW evokes mountain roads and precision skiing. They’re like James Hunt and Nikki Lauda in car form. BTW thank you for explaining the Jaguar dual gas tank thing. I grew up seeing those twin chromed bumps (just like that engine, around forever) but never knew what they were for. I just figured something pre-war b/c you know, Jaguar. The thing is, I’m convinced you wouldn’t even have to fudge the science on it. I switched over from driving my yellow 1976 Benz to a gray Subaru beater a few weeks ago, and the number of other drivers who’re now cutting me off out of inattentiveness has increased exponentially in that time, and something tells me that’s a universal phenomenon. My only reservation is that the auto industry would have to be held to a certain legislated ratio of colors so that variety increases each cars perceived uniqueness and stands out on the road as determined by research, but if the government has to put its boot down on someone’s neck then certainly there are worse victims than car companies. They have already made a,b, and c pillars so thick to fit airbags and handle roof-drop tests. I don’t think visibility is a priority. I support the idea if you can make it work. I absolutely agree that these cars looked great – and in part because they had great paint colors. They also had great interior colors – not just black or grey. Audi in particular would give you light blue, light green, beige, red, copper, or grey interior seats – in cloth that seemed to wear like iron but was super comfortable, especially in winter. As an aside: they have a map tool and the app that lets you access the CROWD-SOURCED data went paid (was free for years) which seemed unethical. Absolutely hate when features that are free go paid. Fine with adding paid features though.
