Wilko's spots: Some cars seen in some places

[Wilko220]

Well, I was driving along the other day and was somewhat taken aback to be passed by an AMC Pacer. Of course, I didn't have a camera to hand - but it made me realise that it was about time I started a spots thread and shared some of the interesting tin I have managed to catch on film recently.

First up is this blue ovaled curiosity. It was parked outside the Labour Party constituency office in my home town, but don't let that put you off - they may have been entirely unconnected. I've never seen one before anyway. Any ideas?



Not far around the corner, and we find this interesting pair. I'll have the Saab please, although I wouldn't mind a go in the other contraption, just for laughs...



This beauty probably isn't all that rare, but I include it simply because I walk past it every time I go to work, and lust after it every time. The picture doesn't do it justice, but it looks perfect in dark green. Just waiting for a 'for sale' sign to appear in the window - it probably never will.



Also in dark green, but in rather worse shape and in a less salubrious part of town is to be found this classic Ovlov. Seems to be rotting away pretty quickly - I hope it gets saved but I'm pessimistic. An old Mk3 Cortina died on the same driveway a few years back, I seem to recall.



And while we're on the subject of rough stuff, have this jalopy as a little bonus, spotted in a local car park.



So we move out of my home town and into London, where I work, and here are two contenders for top prize in the "swankiest address vs shitest car comparison" competition - both parked in the same spots every day...





This very original looking Golf also makes a daily appearance, outside a theatre in Covent Garden. Just begging to be "ratted" I'm sure...



...Speaking of which, check out this disaster, a few yards around the corner.



And then there's this Daihatsu - not very old, clearly, but I've never seen one before or since. Anyone know what it's called?



Finally - and with apologies for the poor photo - I had to throw this one in. Spotted on the A1 in Bedfordshire, driven by a very elderly man, this luvverly and remarkably tidy looking Mk3 Escrot



Hope you enjoyed them. Cheers all!

[Woody]

And then there's this Daihatsu - not very old, clearly, but I've never seen one before or since. Anyone know what it's called?

 

 

Tis a Daihatsu Extol, always looked a little odd to me as though it should have side skirts to go with the front and rear bumper spoilers. There's 6 for sale on Autotrader http://vans.autotrader.co.uk/used-vans/daihatsu/extol

 

Although new, I think it qualifies as suitably shite.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

First up is this blue ovaled curiosity. It was parked outside the Labour Party constituency office in my home town, but don't let that put you off - they may have been entirely unconnected. I've never seen one before anyway. Any ideas?

 

 

L IS FOR LABOUR

 

L IS FOR AUSSIE SPEC FORD FESTIVA

[Woody]

Oops!! After going off to google that car, I was going to come back and say that's not a Ford Fiesta, it's a Festiva. Then I re-read your post properly - thanks God I did

[Felly Magic]

The Festiva is an old name used by Ford for the Kia Pride, which looking at it, that is a more modernised version of the Pride.

[Woody]

Shame they didn't come with whitewalls like the Pride

[Wilko220]

A couple more I forgot to include...

 

A daily used and abused Volvo estate near me. Looks like it will live forever...

 

 

...and, in contrast, something that's not going to live very much longer at all...

 

[MK5 Escort]

I see Woody has beaten me to it. The Daihatsu van is indeed an 'Extol' (knew it was 'Ex-' something). A very oddball looking thing that sold in small numbers and was only sold here for a few years. I think it's just a slightly larger version of the Hijet.

 

I think I have only seen four or five in the flesh, myself. I still remember the first time I saw one too and had a sneaky look inside a parked up one. Jesus - the pattern on the seats reminded me of one of those collage / eye-trick book things. Ohhh, I can still feel the searing pain through my eyes now...!

 

Whoever chaved-up that Escort drop-top deserves to be shot...

 

this luvverly and remarkably tidy looking Mk3 Escrot

 

Mk4

[Wilko220]

Not a huge number of spots to update I'm afraid, but as it's a glorious sunny day (down south at least), let's start with a glorious Lancia, spotted hiding behind a fence in a posh part of Westminster...

 

 

Let's take a closer look at that...

 

 

Ok, so sorry about my GR2 FOTO SKILZ. Nice car anyway.

 

Here's a multi-coloured Ronda, with a token Royal Mail LDV in the background. An unusual paintwork treatment, but I guess it still looks better than a Streetwise.

 

 

We were talking about special editions a while ago, on a thread that I now can't find. So I present to you... The Suburu Justy Monte Carlo. At first sight, Bognor Regis might have been a more appropriate moniker.

 

 

And, finally for now, how about this? Spotted it in the yard where my Humber is being repainted and thought it looked interesting...

 

 

Anyone know anything about Matero?

[Shep Shepherd]

Actually, it's Matbro:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matbro

[Wilko220]

Actually, it's Matbro:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matbro

 

Oh

Thanks Shep!

[Albert Ross]

Surely that'll be Matbro, of farm and building plant fame? Etc.... Telehandlers and stuff.....

[Shep Shepherd]

No worries

 

Actually, there is a company in Cyprus called Matero, but it makes aircon units and industrial control systems.

[Wilko220]

Another batch from me. Apologies for the poor foto skilz but they're all snapped on the phone.

 

Let's start with this BX GTI 4x4 with the grass growing around it. Shame - looks pretty straight.

 

 

Perhaps a contender for "nice house, shame about the motor", here's a Mazda 323 with an alarming amount of moss growing on it - that's what all the stuff above the doors is. Seems to be in regular use though.

 

 

Another bashed up '80s Jap wagon. No doubt still uber reliable...

 

 

And for you motor-sport lovers:

 

 

 

Spotted in the local station car park - don't see too many of these about nowadays

 

[Ross_K]

 

Anyone know anything about Matero?

 

No, but I've got a 5-year old who's into Mater - they do have a similarity...

[gricer]

The Festiva is an old name used by Ford for the Kia Pride, which looking at it, that is a more modernised version of the Pride.

 

Sorry for zombie posting - this was sold in Korea as a Kia Avella.

 

 

It was meant to replace the Pride, but ended up being pitched as a more up-market car. It used the same platform, but developed in-house by Kia. Ford sold it as the Aspire in the US and the Festiva in Australia. Never exported to Europe. Not particularly pleasant IIRC - rented one in Aus once, handled much worse than the Pride.

 

Also made as shite four-door version, the Avella Delta

 

 

Pride also came as four-door. Amusingly named Pride Beta

 

 

Also sold as a Ford Festiva Beta in Japan and some South American markets.

 

[Barry Cade]

I think the estate versions are excellent! Mini Civic aerodeck?

 

[Wilko220]

So, time for another instalment. Fanfare please...

 

 

It's a long time since I've seen one of these special editions although there used to be tons of them around here. This particular example is customised with some matt black, although it obviously doesn't look anywhere near as good as that Retrorides nobber's Triumph 1300...

 

 

Turns out Sainsbury's car park on a wet Wednesday is the place to be for supermini tat of the Ford variety. Have this rather smarter looking Mk2 Ghia:

 

 

Other supermarkets are available, of course, and over at Morrisons, this wonky-bumpered but satisfyingly un-ratted Jetta was on offer:

 

 

Another car park, MOAR cars. Here's a jap Micra/March in a face-off with a Beetle avec stupid eyelids, or whatever they're called:

 

 

Some stuff in nicer nick. This is so hot, it has to be kept behind bars...

 

 

This escaped though

 

 

And finally, an old Bentley which sounds even better than it looks...

 

 

 

That's all for now.

[Wilko220]

Just back from a very enjoyable holiday in Normandy which I spent, mostly, eating cheese and drinking cider and calvados. However, in between those activities, I did get chance to do a bit of tat-spotting.

 

We stayed in the town of Honfleur, on the northern coast, just in the estuary of the Seine - a lovely town which I would recommend to any 'Shiters seeking an oversees holiday in easy driving distance. I took the Rover 75 which, apart from getting overexcited with its brake fluid, behaved impeccably. Anyway, that little incident at least enabled me to convince SWMBO of the need to spend a morning touring the motor factors of the region instead of looking round boring souvenir shops.

 

First impressions were that they're a bit of a strange lot when it comes to motoring, the French.

 

Exhibit 1: use of one's dashboard as a mobile baguette warmer:

 

 

Exhibit 2: concept of acceptable parking:

 

 

Anyhow, things got off to a good start when, on arrival in Honfleur, we were confronted with a small display of old and modified Yank tin as part of some weird '50s rock and roll festival. Voici une selection!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But, of course, you don't go to Frenchland to see American stuff, so it was good news that the week also threw up some tat of a more sophisticated and European nature. The number of photos I took were constrained by Mrs Wilko not being particularly enamoured with me stopping to snap cars every few paces but also by the fact that there is so much of the Renault/Peugeot/Citroen variety that you hardly ever see in the UK these days which is still so common in its homeland. As the climate / rust factor is pretty much the same in northern France as in southern England, I can only assume that parts and servicing are cheaper here - or maybe it's just because almost everyone French buys French. If only the British consumer had displayed such patriotism in the past...

 

So, I saw millions of these

 

 

as well as 205s and AXs - and an alarmingly large number of these horrible Twingo things, almost all of which in total shed-like condition, regardless of age:

 

 

A little bit more noteworthy, perhaps - although still not an epically rare site here - was this:

 

 

and this sexy barge...

 

 

This Simca Aronde was absolutely gorgeous (despite the silly white-wall tyres). Sorry about the red tape

 

 

But the real wantage was reserved for this series 1 R5 in ok but very much workhorse rather than polished classic condition. What an GR99 colour!

 

 

Let's take another look at that

 

 

Moving on to commercial-tat, some van trivia for you. What was the Bedford Rascal badged as in France? A "GME" apparently. I never knew.

 

 

 

and here's a Mahindra, because I know you all love these

 

 

What else? Well, there was this shabby looking special edition Golf which looked a bit different to the norm. Dealer special?

 

 

An AC Cobra which had crowds drooling over it (yawwwwwwn)

 

 

and finally, an old tractor on the D-Day landings beach of Arromanches-Les-Bains

 

 

Hope you enjoyed them.

Au revoir mes amis!

[catsinthewelder]

That 5's lush

 

I wonder if GME is General Motors Europe ?

[CreepingJesus]

Had a day in Honfleur in '87, as part of a school trip to Normandy/Brittany. The impression of the cars then was much the same, but shifted back 25 years. It was (and is) commendable, how many old cars are just patched up and used daily.

Same story in Dinard, where we were based, and St Malo and everywhere else we got to.

Excellent pics, they're making me hanker for a trip over La Manche...!

[Wilko220]

A very small and select smattering of classics at this weekend's Hertfordshire County Show

 

 

 

 

 

 

and my personal favourite

 

[Wilko220]

Recently got back from a nice break with Mrs Wilko in the south of France. I've given up taking photographs of run of the mill chod while on holiday as a) it doesn't go down all that well, and b, if I snapped every old C15, 2CV or crap-looking  80s Renault in France, then my memory card would be zapped in five minutes.

 

So, a very limited selection of spots...

 

Vans first

 

 

 

I don't remember the last time I saw a 929, let alone one in this guise

 

 

And finally, my favourite

 

 

 

 

[Wilko220]

While we're at it, a few recent spots from closer to home too.

 

Two silver Fords...

 

 

 

Another silver Ford, this time with a snazzy two-tone vibe (spotted outside a garage in Hemel)

 

 

 

And, finally, a silver Vauxhall. This one's for you, Cavette...

 

[brickwall]

That Chevette van is to die for.

[worldofceri]

That Astramax abomination looks familiar.  Have we seen it on the Ebay bargains/tat threads?

 

Loving your French spots in particular.  You should have snapped every old C15, 2CV or crap-looking  80s Renault though, obvs.

[Wilko220]

Thanks Mr Ceri - the Astra did look a little familiar, but I think we've seen a few such tasteful paint jobs, usually on American trucks and PT Cruisers, so I wasn't sure if I was just thinking of them.

I must say, I did feel a bit of a twat standing there in car park photographing it, like I was in some way impressed...

[Tayne]

It was in the ebay tat thread.

I remember the murals on the other side as being worse, this side looks recognisable.

 

PS. Who's the chap in the red shirt supposed to be?

[worldofceri]

Jack Black?

[Tayne]

Could be.

I thought it was a bad Jack Nicholson.