Left hand or Right hand drive, this is the question.

[diecastdude]

Just looking through the In Transit area on the web site and I see two 1.18 models that while not 100% Australian they are cars that are seen on Australian roads. The models are the VW 1600 L 1969 number 100 051000 and Opel Kadett Coupe 1973 (Gemini) number 180 045620 and while the picture of the vehicles appear to be left hand drive models it would be realy helpfull to know for sure, as has been mentioned in these forums before. If they are left hand drive then I'd give them a miss but if they were right hand drive and I new this with out having to bother making inquiries I just might buy them, this goes for other models I have seen on this site from time to time. Why not indicate Left or Right hand drive on all unusual models on this site.

[admin]

They are made by Minichamps and so, being German, cars are LHD.
Its as close as you will come to a Gemini in the case of the Opel, but apart from being LHD, they are also Opels and so have totally different interiors.
We will note when common cars are RHD, but not when they are LHD.
Autoart make either drive and we only order RHD.

[SmartyMarty]

@diecastdude
..not 100% australian??:p They are 100% german...you australians have just stolen them because they were so good and you can t make cars by yourselves!Its a miracle there are cars left in germany at all....;)
I think all Models produced by Minichamps are LHD...
wish you all a merry x-mas and a nice time with your families and modelcars....may santa bring the right ones....cheers Marty

[Three_o_seven]

Hehehe.....Smarty I'm sure the Kombi was Hitler's revenge.....and besides we need something to throw rocks at:p

[SmartyMarty]

throwing stones doesn't change the facts..but feel free;)

[Esses]

Oh, Marty, I suppose you like VW Passats, too? The car that wore out brake DISCS before the pads?
Besides, the Gemini/Kadett was a GM WORLD car, different countries/companies, different mechanicals, same body. The version we got here was almost totally Isuzu, down to the "Holden-Isuzu" badge on the rear panel on the first model.
I'd buy it as it's the closest you'll get to a "real" Gemmy, just as I'd buy a Kadett or Viva that looked like my old HB Torana, lemon that it was, too.

[KRAKA05]

I'd luv a hb torana. Yes it was a lemon ....rusted out floor...dodgy gearbox...but my father, brother and moi learnt how to drive in it and then lasted over 21 years of driving.

Great memories.

Kraka

[SmartyMarty]

@ Steve
ooh..didn t know Isuzu was involved in the Gemini....guess the chassis and the interior was built by Isuzu and the engine by Holden?The german version was very successful in racing...especially the B-and C-Kadett..heavily modified in the 70s.Were the Geminis racing in Australia too? Never seen one in a magazine....Had 2 Kadetts...1 was my first car..very reliable but only 40 something hp:( and Three-o-seven..they were both H.revenge cars,i knew somebody would say the bad H-word sooner or later:rolleyes: )
I m not very much into the australian car history yet (just 6 weeks here) but was very astonished when i saw the commodore first time.Its pretty close to the german Opel Rekord and the Opel Commodore.Also the Holden Camira is very much like the Opel Ascona.Also some of the 60s Holden look like the early Opel Rekord/Admiral.
Some of the 90 s Holden seem to be GM world cars too cos they look alot like the Opel Omega
Was just wondering why you have a Chrysler and a Mitsubishi Sigma.How comes?
And Steve,i was never a VW man...i ve had about 25 cars so far(my Commodore VB included) and none of them was a VW...most of them Citroen(dont laugh.....i love them!)..Acadiane, ZX,GS,GSX,2CV...a DS 21 inj. and a DS 23 inj. a couple of Opels like Kadett's and Manta's...a Mercedes 280S...an Audi100 and some ugly japanese cars...but most of my cars were french ones...

[toecutter]

Oh come on:D The vee-dubs go alright. Things have changed in the VW camp and they have made a V12 SUPERCAR with some serious horse power and is ready for shipment in 2004. You will eat your own words putting down the ole Vee Dub company.
Here is the VW NARDO LINK (http://www.auto-salon-singen.com/vw_nardo_w12_xxxx_xx_01_06_01_e.htm)

[ducksguts]

Was just wondering why you have a Chrysler and a Mitsubishi Sigma.How comes?

I dont know the intimate details, but basically Chrysler in Australia fell down in the late 70's and Mitsubishi took over.

[Three_o_seven]

I must admit clack clacks are fun to drive except for the lucky dip gear shift on a Kombi....I have fond memories of replacing a motor in a light green one affectionately named HELGA for a couple of back packers that were passing through town about 10 years ago....funniest buggers you'd ever meet, and drink.....:eek:

[Richard Poole]

Originally posted by toecutter
Oh come on:D The vee-dubs go alright. Things have changed in the VW camp and they have made a V12 SUPERCAR with some serious horse power and is ready for shipment in 2004. You will eat your own words putting down the ole Vee Dub company.
Here is the VW NARDO LINK (http://www.auto-salon-singen.com/vw_nardo_w12_xxxx_xx_01_06_01_e.htm)

The last I read was that the VW W12 supercar project had been cancelled and no production cars had been produced.

I think it was in wheels or Motor magazines in a fairly recent release.

[toecutter]

Originally posted by Richard Poole


The last I read was that the VW W12 supercar project had been cancelled and no production cars had been produced.

I think it was in wheels or Motor magazines in a fairly recent release.

Thanks for that info. Maybe they have just put it back a few years until the German economy get better. It would be a shame if they just let it go as it is a good looking car. Thanks again!

[SWRT]

Smarty Marty,
Out of these next 5 Cirtoen 2003 WRC drivers,who will do the best(give a rating of 1-5 to each driver-1 highest,5 lowest).
Phillipe Bulgaski-fulltime
Sebastion Leob-fulltime
Colin Mcrae-full time
Jesus Puras-selected rounds
Carlos Sainz-selected rounds

[SmartyMarty]

1 SmartyMarty
2 Loeb
3 Bugalski
4 Mc Rae
5 Puras
6 Sainz
;)

[Esses]

Marty, the local Gemini was a completely Isuzu effort & fully imported. Holden's Engineers had input to the styling & suspension side of things. The 1600 engine was also used in 1800 & 2.0l (actually just over 1900cc) forms in Rodeo utes (4WD & 2WD) & Jackaroo 4WD's. One of the common tricks in hotting up Gemmys is to get an 1800 or 2.0l and drop it into your Gemmy, then hot that up a bit.
Apart from a "Formula Gemini" series in the 80's, they weren't widely raced, as the main interest here has always been in the outright classes, read "V8".
My interest is that I learnt to drive in one, my High School Learner Driver Car. It soldiered on for 10 or 12 years I understand, not bad for a badly abused student car.

[Glen Alexander]

The best conversion for a Gemini is a Holden Piazza turbo engine. My mates first car was an 84 Panelvan, Piazza motor, Holden 350 gearbox with Mega shifter and 2 different sets of gear ratios or something, piazza disc rear and Volvo ventilated discs on the front, paint was a peppermint green colour. The thing went like a rocket, beat WRXs and HSVs with ease.

[Graeme]

The original 1975 TX Holden Gemini was based on the Japanese Isuzu variant of GM's T-Car. The German Opel version was already in production running a proven economical 1.2 engine.

Holden's car was however not fully imported, being assembled in it's Acacia Ridge ( Queensland ) plant. The only significant imported items were the basic engine and gearbox.

The Gemini racing series was also born in Queensland and spread to some other states, later to incorporate the early 1980's Ford Lasers as well, as a Holden/Ford minor league battlefield.

The pre-Brock HDT also rallied the Gemini, and Wayne Bell figured prominently in the car when it ran the 2.2 litre "Starfire" pre-production engines with twin sidedraught Weber carburettors.

The Gemini lost it's way in 1985 with the all-new Isuzu based RB front wheel drive model, extinct as a Holden one year later.