I was just reading an article in which the point was being made that the S30 was primarily a chassis and styling exercise and the running gear and drive train were "off the shelf" parts.

Somewhat off topic perhaps...but....

Actually, it's hard to think of any car mass produced by a major automotive manufacturer, and sold in the USA since 1956 that doesn't fit that description. Can anyone think of a car that had a totally new body style, on a completely new chassis, powered by a completely new engine and drive train by its manufacturer?

Why 1956? I just picked it out of the air - pick any model or calendar year you like.

1960 Corvair perhaps....body √ chassis √ engine √ drive-train √

FWIW,

Carl B.

1974 VW Dasher (Passat, for the rest of the world). Radical departure from all that VW had done before. The Rabbit (Golf) was almost as new, but the engine carried over from the Dasher, just turned 90 degrees.

Probably other similar stories during the mass move from rear drive to FWD in the late 70s and early 80s. Although many of those conversions carried the basic engine over from something else.

.....and sold in the USA since 1956......

Yeah, let's not bring anything not sold in the USA into the discussion.