Thursday Twister: Self Leveling Suspension
Welcome back to another episode of the Thursday Twister, where the quiz reads like a Colorado public school exam for a hydroponics class — everybody knows who they are, but nobody really knows where this bus is going. Today we are going to build a list of
all factory cars equipped with self leveling suspension, because…well…why not.
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| image from http://www.roversd1.info/misc/suspension.html |
This first entry is a Rover SD1, a classic British 5-door liftback executive car that used a Boge/Sachs/Nivomat self leveling setup in the rear.
Standard contest rules are as follows:
1. Only one car per comment (be sure to hit the refresh button on your
browser before you post in case someone else has posted since you loaded
the page). Do not nest the replies, just reply to the main post — if
you reply to someone elses comment it should be in reference to his
comment and not another submission.
2. You can post again, but only after someone else posts another car. (Rule 2 Abrogated for the summer.)
3. The contest will end in on Sunday, Aug 30, 2015.
4. One submission per make/model.
5. Each car must be a prototype car, from which no production versions were built.
6. No anonymous submissions — pick a name with the Name/URL dropdown.
Ready….Set…level the field!
i do believe the Roadmaster had some sort of thingymajig… accessing… well, well look at this here Popular Mechanics article, complete with a "Save the Wagons" RM Estate giveaway!
The Roadie only had it with the towing pack – so THANKFULLY the Turismaster is free of self leveling voodoo!
If ever there were a B- or D- body GM that would include standard voodoo, it would be the Fleetwood.
E34 BMW, if you want a specific model I'll go right to the top and pick the M5.
And I'll throw in our E53 X5 next then go away for a while.
Packard Clipper, 1955-1956.
Citroën DS/ID for the win!
An adjustable, self-leveling suspension that doubles as a jack AND spare in case of puncture!
[img] s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/dc/36/d1/dc36d18787515809fea372568e3b6092.jpg[/img]
Also the Citroen SM, GS, and CX, just off the top of my head. Oh, and the Traction Avant 15/6 H (which was used as a proof of concept before the introduction of the DS/ID)
Excellent!
[img] gs.miklpa.dk/wp-content/2009/06/gs-pa-tre-hjul-lille.jpg[/img]
Here is the definitive list of Citroens with hydraulic suspension:
Traction 15/Six H (Rear only)
H-van (Rear of some vans, usually Ambulances only)
DS & ID
SM
GS & GSA
CX
BX
XM (Hydractive I, later Hydractive II on all UK cars)
Xantia (Hydractive II on top-spec UK cars)
C5 Mk1 (Hydractive 3 or 3+ on all)
C5 Mk2 (Hydractive 3+ on upper-spec cars, steel springs on lower)
C6 (Hydractive 3 on 2.2, Hydractive 3+ on v6)
The system also was licensed to Rolls Royce for the Silver Shadow.
Though I'm not sure all of them had the same degree of control over the system. I think the earlier implementations were the most driver-adjustable.
All you need is a hose run out in front of each rear wheel and your car can stop and pee on fire hydrants.
There is a certain resemblance, I will admit.
[img] thedogobedienceacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/32-dta-lizadaly-1680662925.jpg[/img]
I've always thought the Chrysler Ceasefire resembled a dog in pooping formation:
[img] s3.amazonaws.com/motofuze/chrome/styles/295761/images/2008CHR003a_640_02.png[/img]
What do you guys think?
[img] wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/1061evansville.com/files/2013/03/Dog-Pooping-iStockphoto-630×418.jpg[/img]
Careful, Nicholas Maher might be reading. He had one these and he no-likey the Daimler-Benz jokey.
Hope his was a convertible, then.
Okay, club soda all over keyboard, you owe me a new on$%2411135,..13.1.
I've always admired the dogs that can drop solid waste while balanced on their front legs, with the rears off the ground or at best barely tapping it.
Anyone think of any cars that can manage this? Some front-drivers under hard braking? Dunno.
youtube.com/watch?v=eW_1NEMcYIY
And
youtube.com/watch?v=sLtMh20qIp8
(go to 1:09)
Ironically, both rear-drive. Here's a front drive:
youtube.com/watch?v=RRuskNIgBoA
Alfa Romeo Milano (75)
Lexus LS400.
Cadillac Escalade
Mercedes-Benz W123 Tourings (wagons), 300TD specifically.
[img] i.imgur.com/AdRArjrl.jpg[/img]
Volvo 940
[img] utryckningsfordon.se/wopre/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/polis_Volvo_945_UL.jpg[/img]
Lincoln Town Car:
[img] chicago-charterbus-service-a1.com/img/our_fleet/limo1.jpg[/img]
Rears seem to go out on these all the time. Wife says "that a lowrider?", i say no , suspension is shot.
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Yep, even an intact Town Car will sag if left sitting for a few weeks. Drove one with blown bags once, it's everything you expect it to be (or not be).
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Alfa Romeo Alfetta Sedan, but only the automatic.
Optional on Tesla Model S.
Apparently not a dumb system:
"In September 2014, Tesla upgraded the height adjustment feature for Model S cars equipped with air suspension to remember locations that require higher clearance such as those with potholes and steep driveways, and automatically adjusts to avoid them."
'Beer keg on road ahead'.
"Taxpayer ahead"
"GPS signal lost"
THUMP
Oops…
Mercedes 6.9 and 500E
Merc Sonderklasse
SAAB 9-7X
Also the Buick Rainier and optional on the Olds. Bravada.
Carpet-bombing time: all kinds of Range Rovers, from the first ones to the current ones.
Mini's with hydrolastic suspension
Mini's with hydrolastic suspension
Volvo v70xc/v70r had nivomat rear shocks for a while in the late 90s-early 00s
Upper trim level subaru forester's had self leveling rear shocks for quite a few years.
BMW E32 (750iL)
Mercedes E320 wagon
Ferrari 400i
e28 M5
e24 M6
e39 5 series Touring models (optional)
Volvo 760/780 (don't believe 740's of any stripe ever had Nivomats).
Also, I'm hoping rule 5 is a leftover from a previous twister, or we are all in trouble!
Porsche Cayenne
Pontiac 6000 s/e wagon.
Mercedes E55, E63, CLS 55, CLS 63, S63, ML 550 and ML 63 and many more AMG models
All GL class, thankfully not on my G55
Rules:
4. One submission per make/model.
6. No anonymous submissions — pick a name with the Name/URL dropdown.
Valid point, if that had indeed been a submission.
So pick a name and steal 'em from Roy. That's how the game is played, if you're a player…
[img] i.imgur.com/W3rHEWC.jpg?1[/img]
Range Rover
The old Taurus-based Continental.
They seemed to have gone out the door with zero front rebound damping, flooring the gas from a stop (140 HP!) would point the nose straight up in the air.
Opel Omega/Vauxhall Carlton wagon!
All 3 of my current vehicles have self-leveling rear suspensions, for better or for worse. One has already been mentioned (E39 525i Touring), and the second shares a platform with something previously listed (Volvo XC90, which shares its platform with P2 V70), so my 3rd car is my submission here:
Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 ("Cosworth")