Todays curiosity - Daihatsu Charade 1.0 turbodiesel!

[lightyearman]

So the MPG thread on here reminded me how I've always had a bit of strange lust for that old shape of Charade. I owned a GTti for a short while - Far too big Greddy turbo, shell rigidity of a seasoned mollusc, it was so much fun. Through a combination of ridiculous boost delivery, youthful exuberance and rust, it managed to pull an inch wide gap where the front strut towers meet the inner wings and the rest of the tub. Fun times.

Anyway.

Its the 1.0 turbo diesel I've always been curious about. Rather than put a big 50 brake normally aspirated boat anchor of 1.5 - 2 litre capacity like most manufacturers where doing at the time, Daihatsu decided to use the same bottom end architecture they already had (3 cylinders, each of around 330cc) give it a little turbo and intercooler and use that to make its 50 horses on the dark fuel.

Pictures, experience, trivia, anything for sale, stick it here for me pretty please

[rblote]

I have never owned this model but have driven one a fair few times. I thought that is was a great car. I loved the sound/noise it made.
It was a near new car back then, it was fairly quick, super on fuel and all up a great thing.

[vanpeebles]

We had a good few of these, in the old style charade and later one. The MPG was massive, which my Dad absolutely loved. My Dad even collected tons of spares including the none turbo one. A bloke on here got the lot to build diesel bikes with.

The engines were good, but the cooling was marginal. They really needed bigger rads, or a perfect condition cooling system. One we had, over heated in traffic and popped a head gasket up on the moors, and we had to walk to farm house

The very first one we had, it had like a lot of old diesels, no oil catch set up, and while it was idling on the drive, the engine suddenly ran away with black smoke flying arl ower. I didn't know which to run! The smoke out the back was terrible, and the noise from the front was scary too, the whole street stank of burnt oil for hours lol.

Quite a few of these have made their ways in minis over the years and motorbikes.

Apparently, the petrol turbo boys, would use the diesel block as it was stronger.

[vanpeebles]

I've got a load of pics and info, I'll sort out later

[guz]

Page 94 of this month's Practical Classics

[lightyearman]

Mar 20, 2019 8:51:19 GMT vanpeebles said:

I've got a load of pics and info, I'll sort out later

Yes please hit me up with pictures, gen and trivia!

I did wonder of the diesel bottom end would be stronger. My GTti was on 180k miles and receipts for 3 bottom end rebuild and 2 head gasket / top end rebuilds haha.

guz I'll have to get this months Practical classics

[vanpeebles]

I'll have a rake about on my PC tonight I was planning to fit one to my mini and even started on the subframe, but never got anywhere with it, and a decent mini engine turned up locally.

[v8ian]

My lad had three GTIT. Go like little rockets until the front rips itself away from the bulkhead, He had so many spare parts left over, I think there was a gearbox left wrapped up, under a bush when I moved house

[qwerty]

About 22 years ago my Dad was going to buy one, but I sulked and for some reason he listened to a 10 year old and bought a Renault 21 1.7 Saloon. That turned out to be dreadful.

He should have given me a slap and bought the Charade!


Tom

[vanpeebles]

[datsundrew]

One went into our local scrappy about 18 years ago, looked tidy so bought it for £80. It went straight through an mot and I sold it to a mate. He loved it, non turbo, super slow, but it went on until the floor fell out. We then took it back and got £40. 😂😂