Classic crossword

David Cass

Clues across: 7. Sweden’s home-market model name for the successful Volvo 120–130 series saloons — nearly 668,000 were sold from 1956 to 1970 (6) 8. Italian-born stylist, active in France between the wars, notably with the company jokingly known as ‘phoney and flashy’ after producing several flamboyant designs! (6) 10. Prominent British marque name, on motorcycles initially, then on cars from 1923 to 1984 (7) 11. Model name for Iso’s 1967–’74 four-door saloon styled by Ghia (5) 12. Racing car manufacturer from 1974 to the early 2000s, with early engineering input from Ron Tauranac through to 1993 (4) 13. A ----- head engine is one with the combustion chamber formed mainly in the piston top rather than the cylinder head (5) 17. French car company active from 1921 to 1933; it used several makes of proprietary engines in its cyclecar, light car, and sports car production (5) 18. Brazilian car builder from 1962 to 1985, initially DKW two-stroke based, then used VW componentry from 1968, notably for some rather attractive coupés (4) 22. Traditionally, the first major international rally in each calendar year (5) 23. Classic racing circuit complex in Germany, the -------ring, first used back in 1927, though the old circuits are now little used for competition, having been replaced by a modern 1984 design (7) 24. Successful 1934–’38 model series from 10 across; four models, with variant four- or six-cylinder motors from 1.1 to 2.0 litres (6) 25. Important contributor to cabin comfort in colder climates (6)

Clues down: 1. De Tomaso supercar, which sold over 7200 units in a 20-plus year run from 1971–’92; mixed opinions over these, they certainly performed, but build quality was at times suspect (7) 2. Model name for the pre-war Fiat 508 built from 1932 to 1937 (7) 3. Japanese-market model name for Mazda’s top model GT and sports cars from 1967 through to 1995 (5) 4. Chrysler’s 1934–’37 attempt to introduce streamlining/aerodynamics to the US mass market — too much before its time, it was a commercial failure (7) 5. Major Japanese car, motorbike, and small commercial vehicle builder, whose first cars were built in 1963 (5) 6. Low-production (1978 onwards)–but fondly remembered UK kit-car coupé of distant Mini-marcos parentage; it used Mini/metro running gear (5) 9. Model name for Austin’s A110/A125 six-cylinder big saloon, intended as a cheaper downmarket rival to other manufacturers’ prestige models (9) 14. Model name shared by AMC and Jowett during the classic car era (7) 15. Small Lancia saloon, a 1933–’37 pre-war rival to Fiat’s rather cheaper 508 saloon in 2 down (7) 16. Influential 1964 styling exercise / show car on Alfa Romeo GTZ chassis, penned by Giugiaro while at Bertone; crashed and believed destroyed, it was rebuilt and shown to renewed acclaim again in 2005 (7) 19. Model name used by GM for an Opel executive car (1986–2003) and an Oldsmobile compact (1973–’84) (5) 20. GM Canada’s marque name (1959–’70) for their attempt to sell Uk-model Vauxhalls and Bedfords in Canada (5) 21. Interesting Lancia small car, successor to 15 down, built from 1939 through to 1953 — noteworthy as the first mass-market car with a fivespeed gearbox (5)