Skizzer's spotting thread

[Skizzer]

Just got back from hols in Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps, where (coincidentally) Hitler liked to kick back and take a break from despotism and genocide.  It's very pretty.

 

We drove down in the hate-me modern via Belgium.  It wasn't exactly Autoshite heaven, but there were a few spots along the way:  Mrs S was mostly on paparazzi duty in the car but she only had a phone as camera, so quality isn't great and a few things got missed waiting for the phone to wake up (a CX, a lovely mk1 Polo, a Scania 82 and an early Opel Omega stick in the mind).  

 

Here are some crap pictures of old cars anyway.

 

Fiat Topolino and 500 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Chrysler 300M V8 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Lada Niva by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Toyota Estima and Volvo 340 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Opel Astra by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Mazda 323 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Renault 19 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

More to follow in a bit.

[Skizzer]

Noch mehr aus Deutschland.  These were all in Heidelberg, a town I quite like.

 

Saab 900S by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Ford Fiesta 1.1C by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Morris Minor Traveller by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Opel Astra Berlina by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

1980s Mercedes G-Wagen by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Lancia Delta 1500 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

VW Golf C mk2 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

We were only there a few hours, so not a bad tat haul.

 

 

I'll post some more when this thread has dropped off the first page - i.e. in about ten minutes.

[Skizzer]

Some more German spots, as this is proving so popular*.

 

Volkswagen Passat combi by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Opel Astra by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

I reckon these pre-facelift Astra Fs have now edged themselves into eligibility for spotting, just.

 

Citroen DS by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Having turned her nose up at them a while back, Mrs Skizzer now rates DSs very highly.  This got me quite excited...right up until I looked at how much they cost these days, which isn't far short of SM money if they're not fucked.

 

Trabant 600 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

OK it's up on a roof and not on the road, but this is a rare Trabant 600 (1962-64) rather than the ubiquitous 601.  So there.

 

 

More later.

[chaseracer]

Blurry CX.  Sorry.  Apart from the general yummy Citroenité of this, I wonder how many other cars still had a vinyl roof option in 1987?

 

 

That's a Prestige, built on the LWB Safari floorpan.  Because merde de pigeon welding, it didn't have the option NOT to have a vinyl roof...

[Adrian_pt]

Love seeing the old font on German plates - looks so much more "right"

[Skizzer]

Here's a round-up of some recent brilliant* photographs in this, my frequently* updated spotting thread.  Whether anybody wants it or not.

 

Just a couple from Germany over Christmas.  The local favourites that have previously featured here (green Opel Senator A, red Volvo Amazon, gold Audi 80 B3) were still running around, but only a couple of new spots.

 

This was for sale but had no price and nobody was around.  Probably just as well, or I might have been tempted to have Fun Fun Fun 'Til The Missus Took The T-Bird Away.

 

Ford Thunderbird c.1974 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

This was what I'd actually stopped for, though - round the corner was a rather spiffy Open Rekord D in base 1700 flava, advertising a chemist's shop.  A spoonful of shite helps the medicine go down.

 

Opel Rekord 1700 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Speaking of Rekord Ds, here's another from summertime 2012 that I don't think I've posted before, probably because it's a lousy picture full of fence.  The neighbours were twitching the curtains though, so it was the best I could do.  It's beige and 2-door, so I'm going to post it anyway.  Suck it up.

 

Opel Rekord 2-door by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Some UK stuff to follow in a bit.

[Skizzer]

When I'm working in London, like I am at the moment, I leave home at stupid o'clock on a Monday and drive to Ealing where I leave my car in the multi-storey for £10 a day and get the tube into town.  (I'd take the train but it's about £200 each way in standard class at peak time, which I can't possibly justify to my client, plus you have to stand for two hours on the way home on Friday night.)

 

One of the best reasons for doing this, though, is Ealing.  As I've posted before, Ealing is truly Queen of the Shite Suburbs - just the streets between the Gunnersbury flyover and Ealing Broadway seem to have more tat than the whole of Swansea.  Here's a fresh haul.

 

I've seen this Civic before but always thought it wasn't old or rare enough to bother with.  It's 25 years old this year though (which makes me feel ancient) and they are finally getting scarce.

 

1991 Honda Civic by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

 

The 2002tii from a page or so back seems to have been replaced with this Baur TC.  Ideal Winter Beater Of Distinction.

 

Baur BMW 320 E21 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

 

These SLCs are getting pricey now, so I was delighted to see one on sagging tyres littering the streets of West London just like they all did in 1989. 

 

Mercedes 450SLC by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

 

Autoshite Exotic Holiday Rentals: for when a Bedford Midi is just too mainstream.

 

1992 Isuzu Fargo motorhome by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

 

This raises grim campers to a whole new level though.

 

VW Transporter T24 Westfalia by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

 

This Land Rover is fully taxed and MOTd, but appears not to have been washed since Thatcher resigned.  It's a V8, too.  Class.

 

1988 Land Rover 110 V8 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

 

I like this Mini, which is across the street from the Land Rover.  Looks a bit sorry for itself, but actually is also road legal and appears to be in good nick apart from a metric shitload of tree film and dust.  Extra points for the stickers.

1991 Mini 1000 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

 

Lastly, a W124 estate.  If the owner of this doesn't wear yellow cords and a cravat I'll be greatly disappointed.

Mercedes 230TE by Skizzer, on Flickr

[barrett]

There really isn't anywhere like outlying London to find tat. The land rover is great, that's exactly the kind of 'look' I'm going for with my BX but I can't bring myself to park it under a sappy tree quite yet.

More pleasr!

[danthecapriman]

Great spots.

I couldn't persuade you to go back to Germany and bring that Thunderbird back for me, could I?

[Skizzer]

A round up of some spots from the last half year.  Some from Wales first:

 

Love this, especially the colour.  Parked outside Halfords.

Wolseley 1300 (ADO 16) by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Mock Tudor Morris Minor that's thankfully not over-restored.

Morris Minor Traveller by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Do Ford F-150s count as shite?  Never mind, what the hay (geddit).

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Ford F-150 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Not into kit cars in general but I like JBA Falcons because they were the stars of a 1990 TV series called Chancer that was Clive Owen's big break.  That show almost made my job (fixing broken businesses) seem sexy, something nobody else has ever tried to do before or since *sigh*.

JBA Falcon by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

This Nova is a neighbour to my shed.  All Vauxhalls etc.

Vauxhall Nova by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

This early-ish 440 lives up the road from me a little way and I think it's one owner from new.  House and car in similar state.  I suspect a sad story.

1991 Volvo 440 GLT by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

The owner of this Aerostar also has an interesting Ford Prefect based hot rod that I see about occasionally but haven't papped yet.

1988 Ford Aerostar Wagon by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Breadman lookalike.

Triumph Dolomite Sprint by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

This is a crap photo even by my standards, but I'm posting it anyway because it's the first time I've seen a running Clan Crusader in the wild.  It nearly got wiped out by a twat in a Focus doing 90+ over the Severn Bridge while apparently texting or something, but thankfully swerved out of the way in time.  Sounded great.

1972 Clan Crusader by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Corolla.  Rain.  Dull.  Don't care, posting anyway.

Toyota Corolla by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

This SD3 was so beige that even the faint glow of the headlamps was beige.  It was plodding doggedly along past Cardiff at a sedate pace, and why not.  Looked relatively un-rusty too.

Rover 213S SD3 by Skizzer, on Flickr

[Bucketeer]

Some excellent stuff Skizzer, thanks a lot for sharing (and papping).

I love it when I've missed a load of spotter's updates and I can luxuriate in the chodly glow of a big fat catch up.

 

Just got back from hols in Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps

That's one of my favourite places and probably the most beautiful area I strolled through on my whole journey.

 

 

Did you go to Konigsee? I ended up camping for a few nights on a rock ledge halfway up a waterfall on the side of the lake.

 

 

The view from my tent was ace, as not really shown in this terrible photo.

 

 

Unfortunately it started raining really heavily one night and the waterfall grew in ferocity to a point where I had to pack up the tent and scarper at 2am before I was swept down into the lake.

 

Anyway, forgive this self indulgent, non car related rubbish. It's meant more as a bump for a proper thread than owt else.

[Skizzer]

Thanks - we did go to Konigsee, and took more or less exactly the same photos as your top two.  Not nearly brave enough to take the third one

 

Update part two.

 

Diverted off the jammy bit of the M4 round Newport on Friday night and came across two Brucie Bonus spots.  This caught my eye first:  a tidy looking Cortina 80.  It's a Y-reg and those look like Crusader stripes to me, but did Crusaders come in that colour?

Ford Cortina mk5 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Two cars down was this little sweetheart - the shiter's answer to the R129 Merc SL.  JR Ewing drove one of these you know, although I think his was the same colour all over (silver).

Cadillac Allante by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Ealing continues to delight, this time with this Austin Garden Ornament...

Austin A40 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

...and this, which I first took for a Chrysler LeBaron but in fact it's its Dodge cousin.

1983 Dodge 400 Coupe by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Once upon a time I did a 'cheap old cars in posh parts of London thread', and these would go in it if I could be bothered to find it.  These three are in Barnes, which is celeb central:

Toyota Corolla by Skizzer, on Flickr

BMW E28 520i by Skizzer, on Flickr

Honda Civic LSi by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

And this nice 190 is in Richmond:

Mercedes-Benz 190E by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

I once saw someone leave their Audi Q5 there overnight having (presumably) got pissed in the pub, only to find it next morning up to the door handles in river as the Thames is still surprisingly tidal here.  Shame, hey.

[RobT]

I'd regularly get pissed in that pub when I lived down the road in Ham. Happy, younger days! I never left my car on that slip though.

 

Good spots as always Skizzer. I should be arsed and do the same, as there's a fair bit of tat around these parts.

[oldford]

That's one of the standard colours, Caribbean Blue that the Crusader was available in.

[Skizzer]

Thanks John - I don't know which is more sad, you for knowing that or me for recognising a special edition from 34 years ago by the shape of the stripes down the side.  Ah well.

[oldford]

It's likely me for having the brochures nice and handy and for owning one.

[Skizzer]

How about some Skizzer spottage to liven up a damp Saturday afternoon?  It's been a while.

 

 

This Beaufighter was in the short stay bit at Heathrow Terminal 5.  I must say these have grown on me somewhat over the years, and white suits it.

 

1981 Bristol 412 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

I went to a work offsite thing at a rather posh hotel and was rewarded with this rather gorgeous Standard Ten.  Usual apologies for crap photo appy, I had to stop on a fairly major road even to get this.

 

1955 Standard Ten by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Happily lived-in looking Deuche in Richmond.  This was in the Old Deer Park car park, where you park your old dear.

 

Citroen 2CV6 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

This Bond Bug was parked by the slipway in Mumbles, lending a pleasing splash of orange to an otherwise uniformly grey day.  It had some wanky sticker in the back window, can't remember what it said now but it put me right off.

 

Bond Bug by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Loved this.  I went the wrong way out of Victoria Station one evening and was very glad I did.  It was properly shonky and looked to be in daily use as a van.  Win.

 

Nissan Prairie by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Four middle aged blokes in an XJ6 = old school East End gangsters, right?  I like to think they just got out after a 25-year stretch in the Scrubs for armed robbery, dusted down the Jag and picked up where they left off.

 

Jaguar Sovereign 4.2 (XJ6 Series 3) by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

I like E28s.  I did a gouache painting of an E28 for my art O-level, for some reason.

 

BMW e28 520i by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Finally for now, I went to a meeting on Wigmore Street and spotted this absolute honey of a Bedford Rascal.  Looked minty apart from the mild dent in the door.  Central London is ace for spots.

 

Bedford Rascal, London W1 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

That's all for now.  Soz for picture quality and to anyone who has already seen all these on Flickr.  

 

 

[chaseracer]

Compare the headlights of the Bristol above with those of the Rekord D a page or two back.

 

Yep.

[RobT]

Quality spots, cheerz Skizz. There's a white Bristol 412 I see lurking about in Brixton, wonder if it's the same. Can't recall the reg, but can't be many around either.

[Skizzer]

Fancy some Skizzerspots? It’s been almost a year since I posted any and I had an absolute cracker this morning.

 

First up, a nice Series Land Rover in hipster Shoreditch, with bonus passing hipster.

 

I like this Volvo 440, also in Shoreditch. Who knew these were cutting-edge cool?

 

I may have posted this before somewhere, can’t remember. Lotus Elite with a V8 transplant. I like a Rover V8 as much as the next man (having two), but why would you when the 16-valve 907 engine is such a peach?

 

A brace of Metros, both incorrectly (but understandably) on phase 1 non-metric wheels.

 

Sierra Ghia wagon with slightly lived-in wheel arches. Like.

 

Can’t remember the last time I saw an E32 roaming free, live and in colour. This seemed happy enough in a stationary jam on the M4.

 

There’s a bunch more but here’s this morning’s star spot. I would’ve gone mental for this back when they were new because it’s the same as the Corgi one with the Graham Hill figure - ladies and gentlemen, I give you the ultra rare Mk 3 Cortina GXL 2-door.

 

(Yes I know it’s a shit photo, but you didn’t see the Starsky and Hutch u-turn I had to do just to get that shot.)

[danthecapriman]

Cor that Cortina 2 door is rather nice. Great choice of wheel too!

[155V6]

I used to see a 2-door GXL on my way to school around 40 years ago,I don't think I've ever seen another one 

[Asimo]

Don't remember ever seeing a 2 dr Mk3 and I was obsessed with such matters when they were new.

 

But from this page of spots, I'll take that Allante. Ta.

[wuvvum]

I've seen 2-door Mk3s before, but never in GXL spec.  Looks in nicely "used" condition too.  Good spot.

[danthecapriman]

There's a white 2 door GT model a few miles from here. It only comes out in the summer on nice days though (just like my Capri will!). It's absolutely immaculate too.

There's also a low spec mk3 estate in orange near here. Also in really nice condition.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Don't forget Graham Hill's 2 door GXL.

[DSdriver]

Just discovered this thread. It is epic. Keep up the good work.

[RobT]

That Cortina is a mega spot. I normally can't be arsed doing evasive maneuvers to capture chod, so extra marks for diligence! London is it?

[Skizzer]

That Cortina is a mega spot. I normally can't be arsed doing evasive maneuvers to capture chod, so extra marks for diligence! London is it?

Yup, Ealing again. I got a vibe that it might be local, too, so I’ll keep an eye out for a better shot.

 

It’s definitely nicely ‘used’, doesn’t look restored or showy at all. Driver looked about 60-ish and was smoking a fag.

 

 

I’ll post some more up soon - found one that I’ve just realised is a lot rarer than I’d thought.

[skoda_fan]

Have likewise just discovered this thread. Many excellent spots. I love these spottage threads, particularly as although I live in a shithole, I never spot anything remotely interesting. Seems all the local oiks run boring newish stuff on finance deals. Looks like I need to explore the back cracks of London with a camera.