Not everyone is good at building a mini-version of our world from scratch. But that’s not the case with Paul Smith. Not to be confused with the fashion designer, Smith is considered one of the best in crafting dioramas that mimic establishments and most important of all, classic cars. These scale models are able to match the actual vehicles, despite being made from a mix of cardboard, plastic, and metal. So without any further delay, here are some shots of the creator and his masterpieces.

Source: 0-60 Mag

Hatchbacks have become popular thanks to their compact size and their “cute” appearance. One vintage hatchback that made it big during its time was the Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Designed to be a sporty hatchback, the Volkswagen Golf GTI came in a 3-door and 5-door body type. It carried a 1.8-liter fuel injected engine that allowed it to produce 110 hp. Later models saw its engines upgraded in terms of power. Another thing the Golf GTI had equipped was a front-wheel drive feature.

During its initial release, the Volkswagen Golf GTI sported a small set of bumpers. That all changed in 1990 however, when the company decided to equip this hatchback would what would be known as the “Big Bumper.” This has become a standard in all GTI’s since then.

So if you’re on the hunt for a hatchback but are apprehensive to get a new model, you might want to consider looking for a Volkswagen Golf GTI. Aside from having a nice-looking exterior, it’s also no slouch in terms of performance. That means, you’re bound to get your money’s worth.

Source: Wikipedia

Volkswagen has penchant for naming its vehicles after creatures. One example would be its ever-popular Beetle which paved the way for small, compact cars. Since that proved to be a success, Volkswagen made a conscious decision not to stop there. The result was the Volkswagen Golf Mk1 Rabbit.

Introduced in May of 1974, the Volkswagen Golf Mk1 Rabbit was marketed as a front-wheel drive replacement of the Beetle. It proved to be a major hit upon its release, paving the way for other manufacturers to produce their own compact vehicles. Although the Beetle was a classic, Volkswagen needed to replace its iconic ride due to financial woes. By releasing the Golf Mk1 Rabbit, the company was able to shake things up a bit and recover from its financial woes.

Now, during its production run from 1974 to 1983, the Volkswagen Golf Mk1 Rabbit was able to enjoy having a number of variations. Each one came with its own unique style that made them distinct from one another. The first is the Golf GTI which was released in June of 1976. A diesel-powered version of the GTI came out three months later. Next is the Jetta, a notchback saloon that was launched on October 1979. Third was the Cabriolet which was released in January 1980, and the last was the Volkswagen Caddy, a Golf-based pickup.

While all these variants became fan favorites, they shared one common – and very disastrous flaw. They had very poor braking performance. This was caused by Volkswagen placing its brake master cylinder on the left side of the car instead of the right.

But despite that, the Volkswagen Golf Mk1 Rabbit and its variants became an instant hit among drivers. As a result, Volkswagen was able to stave off the financial problems it was up against and save itself from going bankruptcy.

Sources: Wikipedia: Volkswagen Golf, Wikipedia: Volkswagen Golf Mk1

When it comes to buying vehicles, there are some drivers who just don’t care about the aesthetics. All they care about is whether it runs or not. So to address this concern, Fiat decided to create a utilitarian type of vehicle. This gave birth to the creation of the first generation Fiat Panda.

Dubbed as a “peasant car” because of its lack of aesthetics, the first generation Panda was able to generate success in Europe. It ranked second in the European Car of the Year race only in its first year of production, with the Mark III ford Escort beating it out.

During its production run from 1980 to 1986, the Fiat Panda sported a number of engine options. There was the two cylinder air-cooled 652 cc engine which was used by the Panda 30. There was also a four cylinder water cooled engine 903 cc which was equipped with the Panda 45. Another engine type was added in September 1982, with an 843 cc water-cooled unit installed to the Panda 34. 1983 saw the Fiat Panda come with its first powerful engine, a 965 cc that enabled it to achieve 48 bhp at every outing. It was used by the Panda 4 x 4. The last engine type that this first generation Panda had was a 999 cc I4 engine.

Aside from having numerous engine types, the Fiat Panda also came in different types of body styles. There’s the three-door hatchback, the cabriolet, and the van. This gave buyers more choices, allowing them to pick one that suits their taste or need.

Thanks to its no-nonsense attitude, the first generation Fiat Panda is considered a classic car. It may not be nice to look at, but you can’t deny the fact that it’s able to get the job done for you. Now isn’t that what we want?

Source: Wikipedia

When Japan tried to inch its way into the automotive industry in the United States, one of the cars that helped establish them is the Honda Accord. This vehicle held the record of being the best selling Japanese car from 1982 to 1997, spanning nearly two decades. As a result, Honda was able to sell a total of ten million vehicles. Aside from its looks, what made the Honda Accord such a hit was its reliability. So as our way of paying tribute to this popular vehicle, we’ll be taking a look at the first generation of the Honda Accord.

Although the first generation Honda Accord wasn’t the responsible for giving Japan the distinction of having a best-selling car, it sure paved the way. Produced from 1976 to 1981, the first generation Accord was first released as a hatchback. It was larger than its cousin, the Civic, sporting a wheelbase of 93.7 inches and a total weight of 2,000 lbs. Combined with its engine that let it produce 68 horsepower, its size, and fuel economy, the 1976 Honda Accord was able to sell pretty well. Aside from having power, size, and fuel economy, the Accord was the first Japanese car to have cloth seats, a tachometer, intermittent wipers, and an AM/FM radio as part of its standard equipment.

After its initial launch, the succeeding year saw the Accord release different variations. 1978 saw the release of its LX version. The Honda Accord LX had the same specifications but with some components added. This includes air conditioning, digital clock, and power steering. 1979 saw the release of the four-door sedan version of the Honda Accord. This version carried a more powerful 1,599 cc EL1 engine that allowed the car to produce 72 horsepower. Other areas had the Accord come in a bigger 1,751 cc EK-1 engine.

During the 1980s, the Honda Accord was equipped with a three-speed automatic transmission, putting an end to the use of a two-speed transmission. Along with this upgrade, the car was given a redesigned bumper trim, a set of new grilles and tail lamps, as well as remote mirrors. 1981 saw the debut of the Accord’s SE model on top of its base model. The SE model stood out because it was equipped with novio-leather seats and power windows. However, despite not having these luxuries, the base model was given a smaller black mirror made of plastic that was similar to the ones used in the 4-door and LX version of the Honda Accord.

Because of the features it incorporated into the first generation Accord during its years of existence, the company was able to determine what its customers wanted. This allowed them to come up with a second generation that gave them the country’s first best-selling car. So before you call the first generation Honda Accord a nobody, you might want to reconsider. Without it, Honda wouldn’t be able to perfect this vehicle and pave the way for an improved second generation.

Source: Wikipedia

Hatchbacks have enjoyed immense popularity which has transcended even until this day. This ongoing popularity and demand for this type of vehicle has paved the way for car companies to continue the trend, with rides like the Honda Jazz and Toyota Yaris coming out of the woodwork. Because of what hatchbacks mean to the industry, we decided to take a look back at one of the early hatchbacks which has helped champion the cause of this miniature vehicle. This hatchback is the Dodge Omni.

The Dodge Omni was Chrysler’s first front-wheel drive hatchback for the brand. It was introduced in 1978 and lasted until 1990. It sported three or five doors and was based on the company’s new L Platform (which was developed as an answer to the 1970 energy crisis). This vehicle is one of the most important automobiles produced by Dodge since Chrysler at that time needed government support. And as a result of launching the Omni, Chrysler was able to stave off folding its operations and even beat out competitors such as Ford and General Motors. The Omni also received Motor Trend’s 1978 Car of the Year award.

Over the course of its production run, the Dodge Omni has enjoyed the use of a number of engine options. There’s the 1.6-liter Peugeot/Simca I4 which was made available for manual transmission Omnis allowing them to produce 62 hp and 86 lb·ft of torque. There’s the 1.7-liter Volkswagen I4 which carried a Chrysler-designed cylinder head and intake manifold. This engine allowed the Omni to produced 75 hp and 90 lb·ft or torque. There’s also the 2.2-liter K-car engine that enabled the vehicle to produce 84 hp and then later increased to a maximum of 96 hp. The last engine used was the 2.2-liter L-Chrysler engine which was used for models produced from 1987 to 1990.

Thanks to the impact it had in the 70’s the Dodge Omni has been somewhat considered an icon. It appeared in the 1990 flick Home Alone and in the novel Zodiac. It even has a song dedicated to it written by the comedians Arrogant Worms.

Source: Wikipedia

Aside from gigantic robots, Anime cartoons, and Godzilla, Japan is also known for its budding automotive industry. One particular brand that tops that list is Toyota. Established in 1934, the company’s been able to produce a number of cars that have become icons through the years. One of these cars is the Toyota Corolla TE72 liftback.

Developed in the 1980’s, the Toyota Corolla TE72 liftback was considered a forerunner to the Toyota AE86 hatchback. It carries a similar three-rear window layout, roofline, and front fenders. Aside from that, the TE72 also sports the same T50 5-speed transmission that the AE86 uses. But what made the Corolla TE72 better than its successor are the powerful engine options it sported. Since the car was made available both in the United States and Japan, the liftback came equipped with two types of engine options. The first was a 1.8-liter hemi pushrod engine (available in the U.S.) which allowed the car to hit the quarter-mile mark in just 7 or 8 seconds. The second engine, available in Japan, was the 2TG engine. This twin-carbed 1.6-liter twincam engine was considered a popular choice for circuit racing, even if it wasn’t as powerful as the 3TC turbocharged engine. The funny part here is that, while the 2TG and 3TC engines were considered a standard for the U.S. market of Corollas, these two engines were simply used by the Japanese for their lower-end Toyota vehicle models. Ouch.

Although this vehicle type lasted until around 1983, the Toyota Corolla TE72 liftback is still considered a thing of beauty. Not only does it look good, it’s able to perform just as well too. No wonder people are still fond of getting their hands on one.

Sources: Speed Hunters, Pbase

How can anyone forget the Honda Accord? It was one of the company’s top selling line and the first to be imported in the United States. That’s why it doesn’t come as a surprise that some of us prefer driving one, even the older models. Take for example this person who happens to be cruising around town in a well-maintained 1977 Honda Accord.

For something that’s been around for more than three decades, this first generation Accord looks like it just came off the production plant. Sporting a clean copper-like paint job, a set of rugged-looking rims, and a set of vents on its hood, it’s capable of giving other vintage hatchbacks a run for their money. Even the interior (when looking through its rear windshield) looks like it’s been taken care of.

Now you must be wondering; why would someone take time to maintain the upkeep of a first generation Accord? Well, with the exorbitant prices of fuel, this first generation Accord is known to provide stellar fuel economy. That’s due in part to its 1.6-liter and 1.8-liter engine. Not to mention the fact that for a small vehicle, it’s capable of producing 68 horsepower whenever you’re on the go.

Although it performs well, it does have one drawback. This first generation rusted easily. As a result, some of its metallic components like its strut towers would end up deteriorating quickly. Even its body can fall victim to it (check out the shot of one of its panels).

But if you can look past that drawback (and with regular maintenance), the first generation Honda Accord can actually serve you pretty well. It may not be as fast as today’s models, but it’s definitely no slouch either.

Sources: Jalopnik, Wikipedia