Andrew353w

All Japanese catalysts are more "valuable" to the thieves, as the Japanese environmental standards are higher than European ones-hence the better made catalysts. While on the subject, may I pose this hypothetical question: My Subaru has a keyless ignition system and I keep the keys in both a Faraday bag AND in the microwave at night. Furthermore, I've fitted a battery lock that prevents the car from being started without the bolt being replaced, which involves opening the bonnet, all of which would make quite a lot of noise and delay a potential thief. However, given my penchant for all things electrical, I don't think it'd be too difficult to wire the car's central locking and electric windows in such a way that when the 25 amp fuse pops, totally disabling the car, they'd lock and prevent the thief from opening the doors. On my driveway this is legal (an Englishman's home is his castle etc.) but if parked on the public highway I'm not so sure...... I suppose fitting a small auxiliary pump (maybe an old screen washer one) to simultaneously spray petrol onto the thieves through the facia vents would be going too far, wouldn't it (or would it....?) Sorry to have gone on a bit!

When I worked at Heathrow Airport I well remember a British Airways staff 'bus having the number FLY 747 T. I ought to have taken a picture, but, understandably, the Airport authorities were somewhat "sensitive" about photography......

Many (many!) years ago my lovely, shapely and very comely next door neighbour had a Renault Clio with the registration L 573 PMT . She couldn't wait to sell the bloody thing, if only to loose the plate!

So true, so true! I used to work in that very office and during rare quiet moments we would go exploring around the station. I truly miss my days working for B.R.!

This is deeply embarrassing, as I used to work at St. Pancras for the then B.R., so I really ought to have known where the initial picture was taken!

Round the back of Euston Railway Station!

The Lord's Prayer, with which I suspect everyone, Christian believer or not, is familiar, says (inter alia) "Forgive is our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us" Perhaps if all drivers, Autoshite readers or not, Christians or not, non-believers in anything or not, took note of this maxim driving standards would improve.....

From memory that's the bridge under the old railway line from Tavistock South to Plymouth, near the old Tavistock Cattle Market......or am I miles off course? It never ceases to amaze me the number of Autoshite spots you find in and around Tavistock! I have family in the area and visit frequently, but I never see anything like the things you do! Well done, sir!

Is that a Brogward van on the left? I never knew the company produced commercial vehicles!

I had one and I agree; a fan-body-tastic car! I wished I kept mine, too!

I think that's a Belgian plate.

Just spotted this down the road from my home. What a WINNER!

Eastern Europe car heaven! Wartburgs, both early and late, Trabants, a rear engined Skoda and (I think) an early IFA F9 in the background. I've died and gone to "a socialist paradise"! Look at those workers' flats; perfect.....

The Current view, courtesy of Googlemaps:

That Fiat 500 is to DIE for!

I thought that was a shopping centre......

That must have been one of the earliest Subaru dealers!

I shall watch that piece of road with interest in future.....

Yes, I agree the front 3/4 angle has a distinctly Moskvich look to it, but the rear panels are too big, so my money's on the Opel, too.

Spotted at the end of my road this morning. Full Ghia specification and a (wait for it) cassette unit, which must be in working order, given the loads of cassettes all over the seats! It seems to be a decorator's workhorse.

Is that a Moskvich 403 in the middle? That's a Wartburg 311 next to it and a Renault Dauphine next to that. Great!

No 34, Frith Street, junction of Old Compton Street, Soho is currently a branch of Balans Café. Somehow I don't expect there are any Vauxhall Veloxes parked outside....

Taken from a badly shaking dash cam, this is an early BMC Landcrab (with the strip of lights, as opposed to the clusters) on a transporter going clockwise round the M25 yesterday evening.

Bloody hell, the car in front of the Minx is a Wartburg Knight! Beat that for a rare spot!

Is the lower picture that of a Jowett Javelin? There are shades of an early D.K.W. in there, too. I.F.A. cars of that era were almost identical, although less common.