Jon's Spotting Thread. USA Road Trip.

[chaseracer]

Spot of light reading...

 

A_Brief_History_of_English_Fords_in_North_America.html

[sheffcortinacentre]

Yes they were ,mercury delears sold the mk1 capri & mk3 cortina, then stopped breafly & then re started again with the kk2 Capri & mk1 fiesta, stopped then started again in the 80s as merkur with the Sierra & mk3 Granada.

[Schaefft]

Yes they were ,mercury delears sold the mk1 capri & mk3 cortina, then stopped breafly & then re started again with the kk2 Capri & mk1 fiesta, stopped then started again in the 80s as merkur with the Sierra & mk3 Granada.

 

I'd own a Merkur Scorpio, love them in white with grey lower body cladding. Too bad they didn't catch on in the states, guess there just wasn't a point with the Taurus and Sable being large yet cheaper alternatives. Thats probably the reason the 2nd gen Scorpio received such an American design, they must have considered selling them over there originally.

 

[Jon]

Cheers for all the replies, chaps and all the juicy 'UK Fords in the USA' info. Sad to say that I didn't see a Mk1 Fiesta over there, as I think that would have been shite nirvana for me. Always loved the fact that they had XR2 headlights before the XR2 was a thing and that they went to the trouble of changing side body pressings to incorporate a fuel flap, as per US regs or something. Crazy.

 

 

Anyway, here's the rest of what I saw in the yard, starting now with my favourite spot:

 

 

Lesser loved early/mid Seventies Dodge Charger! Faded graphics really add to the scene, as does the addition of an avocado telly on the trunk  boot lid. Satisfyingly, I don't think there's a single thing in shot not to date this happy little scene from the 21st Century - barring the digital clarity, of course.

 

 

 

 

Front shot, complete with (I assume) factory steel. Am 50/50 on whitewall here, personally - at least this combo is preferable to the rest of the slightly gash rims it rode on. Incidentally, that sticker at the bottom right of the bumper/grille surround is a veteran's disability parking sticker, with an expiry date of 1984, so chances are this has been off the road quite some time. Colorado seems to be a favourable climate for parked up cars and they don't salt the roads apparently, so another state to consider importing from, for those wishing to bag some US tin.

 

 

 

GMC truck, formerly used to transport and launch house boats. But everything I told you is there to see from the picture, so I could've saved on the keystrokes.

 

 

 

Now, forgive my ignorance but I wasn't aware that this shape of Falcon was sold in the US - I thought they threw the towel in after the second model, which itself wasn't manufactured in Australia; they went straight from the first shape to these, from 1966 onwards. Can't say the first series does much for me, unlike these ones, which are real lookers in my eyes. 

 

 

Here's the rear view. Someone seems to have modified it with the rear lights from a late Austin Princess. In retrospect, despite my ambivalence to them, I should have photographed the first series Falcon sat nearby, as the yard owner made special mention of it being his first car. 

 

 

 

Check out the styling* of this appliance on wheels. I've certainly seen a sight, here.

 

 

 

Another Maverick. I really like these and to me, the styling shouts AMC far more than it does Ford. Maybe that's why, since I'm such an AMC licker? Note owner's Falcon, left of frame.

 

 

 

Another El Camino. These are almost getting a little boring now, eh? But what's that, in the background?

 

 

 

A great big line up of Cherokee based Jeeps! These two were my firm favourites of the bunch but annoyingly, now I've noticed that the bonnet always kept its kink from the original 'uggers grille' period and therefore filled the gap in some unnecessarily fussy manner, I can't now unsee it, sadly.

 

 

 

Happily, the rear end of these are much more pleasing, even with the weirdy roof rack adornment thing. Great flaps on this brown beauty.

 

 

 

 

As if to somehow predict danthecapriman's personal liking of the original version, I documented this one in his honour. I think that flat panel which surrounds the headlights works much better on the commercial versions, tbh. I now dislike these front ends even more though, since making my latest discovery. 

 

 

 

 

The owner told me these early Scouts were very rare as closed cab versions, since they didn't sell well compared to the canvas roofed ones. I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd seen another one parked up on a street, earlier that week. That said, it was about 6 states away, so I think his claim is probably legit.

 

 

 

One for Seth. If you're reading this, how's the Borgward going? On a completely different note, isn't it weird when cars are styled with one round wheel arch and one squared off one on each side?

 

 

 

Roadkill spec. How insanely solid does this look, despite such weathering?! Also note owner's Falcon in background. Hurrah!

 

 

 

Last thing I took a photo of here. White grille tells you which year it is apparently, as the grille was chromed the following year. These of course are great lookers but they're almost a little 'obvious' as an old US truck - a bit like a commercial '57 Chev. Plus Forrest Gump ruined these for me, since those nobs chased him in one at the start of the film.

 

Anyway, such a nice bloke and a great way to while away half an hour or so. Stuff holidays are made of, meeting locals in a non-touristy manner and getting on so well with them.

[Jon]

After all that 1950's - 1970's US tin, let's get back to something a little more prosaic:

 

 

1986-90 Toyota Tercel, with a rather beige looking man piloting it. Nabbed this one whilst waiting for the oversize load to pass. Still confusing that Toyota sold these and Corollas concurrently.

 

 

 

 

I think I'm right in saying that this was my only spot from Utah. Got to say that I didn't find much of interest in the state. Bonneville was good to see but the salt was slush, so no vehicle access, sadly. Plus, it's only a couple of miles from the Utah border. Perhaps that correlates with its interesting level? Apologies for those reading from Utah (as if that's a likely thing..)

 

 

 

You'll have to forgive me for completely not documenting Idaho as a state we visited but again, I don't recall much of interest from it, apart from spotting 2 resting SAAB 96s and a forlorn Omni on the same road - alas, only seen with the old peepers. Anyway, this was seen at a yard in Oregon, a state I was happy that we had made it to. On actually design analysis, that bonnet really is pretty bad, isn't it? Conventional truck on the bottom half of the front, rear end of a 1960's Ford Thunderbird on the top half. Despite all that though, why do I think it actually works?!

 

 

 

 

Anyway, as you can see, we're at some fella's yard, which I rocked up to look at, since it was tucked down a street with a name, so I thought I wasn't trespassing. It was a Sunday afternoon in a sleepy town, so didn't expect anyone about but all of a sudden a roller door shoots up and a guy comes to say hello. I play the old 'from NZ' card and lay on the charm, which works a treat and Chip (I think he was called) lets me roam freely. Love the colour of this Rambler Rebel but not so keen on the narrow gauge and large fins, which all look a bit fussy. 

 

 

 

 

Seems that somebody at GM shared my thoughts re: bonnet design and this later model received a much more cohesive one. I bet they must weigh a tonne though! 

 

 

 

 

These spinner Fords or whatever they're called are well and truly in the 'scene' category of old Fords but I wonder which one is more valuable in this state; this, or a Mk1 2dr Escort? Was this the car that led the design influence for 1950's chrome excess?

 

 

 

 

Been reading a comparison test of these in a WHEELS magazine from 1968, where it's pitted against a Mk2 Cortina, Rootes Arrow and a Mazda 1500. Doesn't fare too badly but I somehow don't put these in the same bracket as the others, on size alone. Presumably, that was the thinking behind launching the 412 shortly after.

 

 

 

 

Not sure why there's two photos of this but it bumps up the content a bit, so suck it up. Inset rear wheels look more acceptable from this angle. I think the styling would've suited a wagon version quite well.

 

 

 

 

Some truck. Sky indicative of the crap weather that came shortly after leaving the yard.

 

 

 

 

Cadillacs often sport glitzy paint jobs when seen out and about but I reckon this one looks well fit for all the weathering. I'm sure Junkman would have a succinct comment to sum up my thoughts.

 

 

 

 

Sat at home writing this all up, flicking along to the next image and I'm beginning to tire a bit of all these old trucks. Maybe I'm glad I didn't go through with my hair brained idea to buy one, tour the US and then ship it home to NZ!

 

 

 

 

Wow, an Auntie Rover in the US!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

Some heathen's modded the front of it and taken away the Cyclops!    (For those of you unsure, yes I know it's not really a Rover)

 

 

 

 

 

A much more interesting truck to see and one for SL/Bickle. Just look at the size difference between this and a very standard sized pickup beside it. How did these ever catch on?

 

 

 

 

Last one for now, in a slight Ode To Rab style. Quite liked the eerily bleak backdrop to this one. Laterz, handful of people still reading this tripe!

[danthecapriman]

More great pics. Keep em comin Jon!

[Spottedlaurel]

Just ploughed through three pages of your thread, excellent stuff!

 

I'm glad you did it, and recorded all those sights. I'd love to, but I can't see Mrs SL ever going for it.

[Jon]

Just ploughed through three pages of your thread, excellent stuff!

 

I'm glad you did it, and recorded all those sights. I'd love to, but I can't see Mrs SL ever going for it.

 

It's a shame you think you wouldn't get to see the sights, as there are obviously a lot of them! That said, how far would 7500 miles get you round Europe?!

 

 

OK, sadly this is all going to end in just a bit of a whimper. I'm not sure what happened in the last few days but I just didn't run in to the chod like I had been before, so scant pickings from the rest of Oregon and California. Prepare to be underwhelmed (by the volume).

 

 

 

This completed the trio of my Ford Maverick spots and I think the quality went in a quite linear fashion, as this one looks like it still might drive. And it's an excellent colour. I'm guessing it may have had a vinyl roof at some point?

 

 

 

Nabbed this literally as we left our motel one morning - my Ninja skills managed to reach in to the dash, grab the camera and somehow get an in focus shot, all thankfully from the safe confines of an empty car park, just as I was stopping to turn away. Note to self: try and maintain such bursts of productivity in other aspects of your life, such as the ones that actually matter.

 

 

 

Have a nice misty lake somewhere along the Oregon coast, in lieu of some actual old car content.......

 

 

 

 

Number plate aficionados nerds will take note that this this selection was based somewhere in Oregon but very close to the Californian border. Such a hipster line-up of vehicles and I was happy to nab the following in this image (left to right):

 

Federal bumper spec 5 Series.

 

Blue Californian plate.

 

One of at least a gazillion Mercedes W123s; this one is presumably a diesel, like all the other ones I saw smoking about. 

 

 

 

 

California proper now and some lovely little coastal town had this sitting down a side street but very little else of note. Up to now, each spot has represented a different day - that was my level of success.

 

 

 

Have another scenic interlude, this time some clouds nestling over some pointy rocks. Saw lots of T25 campers around these areas, the owners all waving to each other when they passed.

 

 

 

We're at San Francisco now and here's a tasty Alfa passing us by in the queue to drive over the Golden Gate bridge. Take note, shiters who wish to emulate this trip, that outside lane is the fastest flowing one and I actually had the camera out ready to snap a SWB Series III Land Rover with canvas tilt that had bombed past in it a while earlier. Looked just like the one that's seen in the opening of The Living Daylights, minus the smoke flares and international agent battling.

 

 

 

We drove over the bridge to much aural delight from us both, then went to park up and visit the visitor centre. Within our 15 minute walk, we arrived to an entirely cloud-covered Golden Gate Bridge, so here's some pictures of their service Piaggios instead. Didn't expect to see any of these in the US!

 

 

 

As you can see, the maintenance dept. has a fair fleet of them, although many are very ropey looking. Note Chevy badge application by some wag and what I presume is their forebear jutting into left of frame, which looks like one of this silly Police things Officer Hightower is seen hilariously* alighting from in a Police Academy film. 

 

 

 

My only other spot from San Fran, as we only drove through, due to time restrictions. I'd like to visit again and don't think we'd need a car to get us round the sights, so our ignoring of it was sort of on purpose, as we could fly over from NZ quite cheaply (all things being relative, that is). Bonus spot here of those black Californian plates, which means this has been Cali registered all its life. You can get black vanity plates now but they're too shiny and look a bit silly on a Prius - but they are much nicer than Texas plates, for instance and are a nod to the automotive past, which I wouldn't have expected from California state officials. Good on 'em.

 

 

 

Nice early Midget seen in Monterey, in what I assume to be the Smurf blue of the Mk1 MX-5s like Mrs_Jon used to own but in this environment, doesn't it look just right? I spotted a French Blue late model Midget that evening, parked up on a street in Santa Barbara but it was too busy to net a shot, so you'll just have to imagine THREE windscreen wipers, which was a sight to behold. Bonus postie van back of shot here, glad they got to represent in this thread.

 

 

 

Saw this parked in an IHOP (international House of Pancakes - didn't know that was a thing) car park in Santa Barbara, on our last night in the US. Presumably, some late-80's undercover cops were taking a well earned coffee break.

 

 

 

 

And this sorry, overexposed example of a photograph concluded our US trip. It was a great subject, literally parked round the corner from our hire car drop-off area at LAX but the neighbourhood didn't seem that flash, so I didn't hang round too long, hence the poor qualz.

 

 

On reflection, we had a great trip and I'd love to do it again and visit places we weren't able to see this time. Here are a few observations from our trip:

 

• (Almost all of) the people were welcoming and friendly, though the cynic in me suspects a lot of it is tip-driven, especially in restaurants and hotels. 
• Bog standard coffee is surprisingly OK, unlike in Canada, where it's awful. That said, creamer can do one.
• Only one very obese child observed and only 2 or 3 people seen who were larger than people we'd see in NZ.
• It's not as cheap as you think to holiday there (especially + tax + tip)
• If guns are rife in the US, they are well concealed, since we only saw them on police belts at the airports.
• Public toilet locks are not very good at their job and toilet doors often have overly large gaps between the hinges.
• Pickups rule in many southern states and saloons and hybrids abound in northern cities.
• Australians are still loud and easily recognisable.

 

Hope you enjoyed my trip!

[danthecapriman]

I did enjoy your trip Jon, great pics again!

 

I'd love to go over there and do something similar at some point. Maybe bring some stuff back with me too.

[Clanger]

 

You can get black vanity plates now but they're too shiny and look a bit silly on a Prius - but they are much nicer than Texas plates, for instance and are a nod to the automotive past, which I wouldn't have expected from California state officials. Good on 'em.

 

The DMV gave us the option of bringing back three different styles of license plates - 50s yellow and black, 60s black and yellow, or 70s blue and yellow.  All that was needed was for DMV to receive 7,500 orders of the type.  I really thought the 50s plates would be a go - in the end only the black and yellows hit the numbers.

 

And, yes, my missus has the black and yellow on her Touareg - it doesn't look bad as the car is dark blue.  I would have liked the blue and yellow for my Rover P6 as they would be the most age appropriate but, as it was built in 1969 there is an argument for the black and yellow plates.

 

Good pics from a great trip - thanks for sharing.

[Jon]

Hey Clanger, that's some great California plate info, just the kind of boring jucy facts I revel on, for some reason. Glad you enjoyed the pics!

 

 

I did enjoy your trip Jon, great pics again!

I'd love to go over there and do something similar at some point. Maybe bring some stuff back with me too.

 

Cheers for all your support, Dan. I know there's only so many ways you can show you're still reading but a few comments here and there really helps the thread pages move along, else it would just be a wall of pics and my drivel, which I suppose wouldn't be very interesting.

 

 

Righto, I know I've chucked a load of images up but let's have a little look back at some of my personal highlights, just for a bit of fun*. Do read on though, there may be a little bonus......

 

 

 

In at 10, this early Texan Hilux twin wheeled motorhome had me hooked in with its tremendous cracking vinyl graphics. I hope the interior was just as orange.

 

 

 

 

At 9, the American version of an Autoshite dream collection was marred only by my inability to do any more than just peer through the window, mouth agape.

 

 

 

 

New Mexican beauty at number 8. Just look at that grille!

 

 

 

 

It couldn't be a meaningless countdown without a load of old Renualts, in at their best model number of all (perhaps), 7.

 

 

 

 

Riding high at 6, it's an English Ford on a plinth. Naturally.

 

 

 

 

Just like a good tune, I couldn't get this tasty Torino out of my head and would have loved to have taken it home with me but I spotted it at a great big shed of old cars for sale, so #5 is where it stays.

 

 

 

 

 

1974 Dodge Charger is riding high at number 4. It's good, but not a Challenger to the top 3.

 

 

 

 

Seen resting at the same place was this excellent AMC Eagle Kammback, which was one of only 6000 or so produced between 1981-3. If a re-hashed, 4wd version of an AMC Gremlin, sold briefly and in small numbers only makes it to no.3, what are the other two?

 

 

 

 

 

Potentially controversial at 2 and I may well be biased, but come on! A US spec Series IIa! In brown! Just gorgeous. Looks fully equipped, too - for a Land Rover.

 

 

So. Number 1 spot. I'm not going to lie, it wasn't a toughie. In fact, it was one of the very first spots I made in the entire trip so frankly, I peaked super early and everything else thereafter would play second fiddle. Remember this placeholder, way back in my first post?

 

 

 

Well, it hid this........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

US spec Citroen CX!!!!!!!! This is no retrospectively imported version, but a bona fide personal import jobbie from back in the day - the round headlights and long term decrepitude give the game away big time. My hands can now lay claim to having touched one of these mythical beasts, so straight in at number 1 it goes.

 

 

But wait, there's more!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a second one!

 

 

 

Missing headlamps make this find a bit less exciting but that's as understated as saying that a Ssangyong Rodius is a bit stylistically challenging. I spotted the silver one from the roadside and so just had to delve further. The guy working in the garage remembers picking them up years before and admitted that he and his boss had no idea what they were for quite a while (?). I've googled for their existence online and I haven't found any other pics of them, so consider this a potential WORLD SCOOP. You literally saw it here first, shiters!

 

 

If all of this wasn't exciting enough, I've a small local update to make, from a couple of days ago. Cheerio!

[danthecapriman]

Christ, I didn't think they were available in the US! I've certainly never seen one or heard of them.

I bet those US spec headlights and their round lamp converter trims would be worth a few quid. Possibly even more so in Europe. Great for converting a euro car to a much more unusual stylish* look. Much like I did with my Volvo!

[Jon]

Yeah, they did seem to dribble into the US in small numbers, most seemingly from the late 1980's, towards the end of CX production. A few companies offered them up for sale I think but it was all a bit knife edge legal, from the sounds of it - either from Citroen or the US's point of view, I can't remember. At least one company even imported XMs! Just to clarify though, my 'world internet exclusive' gibberish pertains to these exact motors, not the general existence of CXs in the US, which is readily documented.

 

Also Dan, I'm pretty sure those headlamps were offered aftermarket by Moretti, who did similar units for BXs. Makes the CX look like a grown up Visa GTi!

 

On a Citroen-y note, here's a US road test of a 2CV:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gojvdvcAfXs

[hairnet]

madness

 

usa do frog

[eddyramrod]

One thing I love about my USA road trips is the car spotting.  You've just given us a masterclass!  Thank you!

 

 

Dan, you know what you must do...

[danthecapriman]

One thing I love about my USA road trips is the car spotting.  You've just given us a masterclass!  Thank you!

 

 

Dan, you know what you must do...

So, who's up for a group trip. We'll get a container for the end of the trip and see what we can bring back here!

[Spottedlaurel]

An excellent #1 find there Jon.

 

Also good to hear that IHOP is still a thing.

[eddyramrod]

So, who's up for a group trip. We'll get a container for the end of the trip and see what we can bring back here!

If we can get a 40-footer double-decked, we should be able to fit 4 cars/pickups in; there won't be many over 20ft long.  I suspect entry/exit would be very much General Lee style though!

[STUNO]

Loved the 2CV tester's statement-- " you love to coax them along verbally"

[danthecapriman]

I liked how the American guy brought up the 'typically French body roll'!

 

Ironic from an American who's probably well used to domestic products of the era!

[Jon]

So, STUNO and I took a little trip out the other day, involving meeting up with a mate of mine and picking up a few bits and bobs. More updates tomorrow but here's a taster of what we saw:

 

 

 

 

Off to bed now. Laterz.

[Jon]

So, I hadn't been to this house before (he'd moved away from Auckland to a more rural area) but we'd clearly found the right place. Here's a better view of the ace Marina ute:

 

 

 

Very much not street legal but it's tucked away at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac and he apparently gets on with his neighbours, so all good. Welcome to New Zealand!

 

 

 

 

SII Land Rover runs a Holden 202 (3.3L petrol straight 6). Or did, when it was on the road. Bought cheaply to use as a storage shed, it may well see the road again some time.

 

 

 

 

Then we travelled to his other storage shed, which has featured here before. Not sure if I've seen this Transit before or not but it reminds me of one I saw on Trademe years ago, which was an incredibly early one; registered in NZ in early '66, so highly likely to be a '65. This is a later one, I'm sure but the camper bodies were very similar.

 

 

 

I donned my super wide angle lens here, as you can tell by the funny shape of this Commodore but space is a little tight in places, so as to cram in as many cars as possible. This is so decked out as he hires out cars for TV and film shoots.

 

 

 

 

A35 is a little hanging by NZ standards but probably eminently restorable from a UK perspective. The future's unsure for this one but a guy who turned up later did seem pretty keen on working on it, so who knows? Those wacky stickers must've have been on there a good 20 years, I'd say.

 

 

 

 

Something within this image came home with me; if you're a regular subscriber to my diatribes, it won't take much detective work to solve this puzzle. Must update my fleet thread at some point. 

 

 

 

 

Another Marina ute but this one is in much better shape. Lovely all the same, but what's behind it??

 

 

 

 

A flipping epic MkII Transit van, that's what! I fell for this big time and would love to use this as a camper base - but without changing a single thing from the outside. It's always been a windowed van, never a minibus, btw. I should ask for first refusal should he want to sell, I suppose but I am very happy to know where one is and right now, there's no room at the inn for any extra stuff.

 

 

 

 

Earlier model SAABs are a rare sight on the roads, so this is a great spot. I've seen a few 900's (the proper ones) but never a 99. To me, these ares sooooo much more interesting than 900's due to the amazing shades the interiors and exteriors were offered in, plus the smaller tail lights and winning wheeltrim/hub cap arrangements. That said, it's hardly an integrated bumper design though, is it?!

 

 

 

 

Next to it was a nice Triumph 2000. Ignore the bonnet wonk because no space to step further back.

 

 

 

 

Have a late model soft focus Marina, included purely to document what else we saw. I've a feeling this was bought from serial NZ Marina owner, Kilroy. Therefore, if so, it's likely to be in good mechanical shape, despite the rust. Didn't get a shot of the Cressida or the other Transit. Or the Marina van behind. Naughty Jon.

 

 

 

 

I did get an interior shot of the Cressida though, mostly because I thought the stereo looked interesting.

 

 

 

 

 

There was another one close by, so hope that makes up for it. Can't say it's a pretty shape but then it's not offensive, either. Front end looks a lot more modern than the trims.

 

 

 

 

No, I've no idea what these are doing in NZ, either. Thing is, they won't take many jobs to earn their keep and US dramas seem to be a thing at the moment, so a wise investment. 

 

 

 

 

These are now a bit of a rarity on the roads, whereas they were still quite common when we arrived here in 2010. I'd say give it another couple of years and they may be worth something, although that doesn't seem to be the case for 77-85 Hiaces. Probably because there's next to no survivors!

 

 

 

 

A very nice example of a late Princess, although STUNO and I had to disclaim the notion offered to us that this was possibly the best one left in NZ, since we know a guy locally with a better one! His is an earlier one painted in sludge green (has featured here before), so extra points for those two facets, too.

 

 

 

 

Inside, it's luxuriously equipped with wool seat covers, mostly because it's got vinyl seats. Did UK models come with these in late Princesses?! Seems a bizarre thing to do in a country that gets warm in summer but I'm sure that practical old Kiwis of the late 70's and early 80's would've seen these as more hard wearing, so better. I must say though, the dash gives the impression that the designers suddenly remembered at the very last minute that ventilation might be useful.

 

 

 

Early Telstar with that amazing front end - I love Aussie re-designs of stuff from this era.

 

 

 

 

Interior could do with a spruce up but I took a photo mostly to document those excellent seat covers, which look like a cardigan you'd have seen a middle aged man wearing in a working men's club 30 years ago. Strangely enough, you can still buy these new! (Edit: not the cardigans).

[sheffcortinacentre]

2 utes, a saloon & van, so there were either 4 gullible people or one mental case loose in 70s NZ

[chaseracer]

Trigger will have the wheels off the orange Marina pickup ute...

[STUNO]

Did you get a pic. of the $90 ZX that arrived ? I did not . 

[STUNO]

A couple of photos I took on that trip to the shed. Both taken outside our lunch and fuel stop.

The plastic and probably original sunshade on the Oxford must have gone a bit brittle. 

 

 

 

The Xj 6 that  Jon tried to hide 

 

 

And a random streetside shot

 

 

[hairnet]

is the saab for sale and are there any hiaces for sale local to hamilton

[STUNO]

Close-up of the Saab badging, do you still want it ? Note the paint quality...

 

 

Also Hi Aces by the hundred ! 

 

$3380.00 and only 305000Km

 

 https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/toyota/auction-1481929950.htm

[hairnet]

Auto ahm oot

 

No - early - late ones meh

[Jon]

Did you get a pic. of the $90 ZX that arrived ? I did not . 

 

 

Yes I did, though it was a smidge more expensive, at $110 - or £56. For a road legal turbo diesel manual ZX estate!!

 

 

 

Sported alloys too, so likely a flashy model. Had a towbar too, for extra bargain points.

 

 

 

I think its safe to say that when 'slightly baggy seat covers' is the only minus point of note in your sub 60 quid motor's interior, you've done pretty well. Despite residing in NZ, the dash top hadn't even lifted!!