Cars you didn't know existed until very recently.

[Tamworthbay]

i had no idea the Spanish R8 made it, with a facelift, till 1976...

They are such a good looking car!

[cros]

Didn't realise what fun past generations of Suzuki vans were with their minute 2 stroke engines.

I dug up this comment on one of the many clones that the vans spawned;

"Both the Damas and Labos are only available with a manual transmission. Air conditioning is optional. But the 0.8-litre engine hasn't got sufficient power to both carry cargo swiftly and deliver cold air from the aircon unit at the same time without struggling. The engine struggles and shakes (potentially leading to a stall) if you try both."

 

Then I got bored with the poxy little thing.

[bunglebus]

Hi all, I may well have been posted somewhere in the last 40+ pages but I was chatting to a mate yesterday, who casually mentioned his Matra Murena;

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matra_Murena

 

 

 

It's not often I haven't heard of a car, but this was a new one on me.

[Rod/b]

Seriously?

[bunglebus]

I spotted this while in Malta, so obviously had to trek back and find out what it was, gotta be Eastern Bloc right?

 

 

 

 

Nope, Isuzu Florian. Diesel. Never seen one before so of course found another just round the corner.

 

 

Also saw this in the Maltese car museum - no info

 

[bunglebus]

Seriously?

 

Well...yeah, I'd never heard of it. My neighbours had a Matra Rancho when I was growing up which I could never get my head around, and I knew of the Bagheera. The Murena was a new one on me, hence its inclusion here. I'm not the only one as at shows he's been asked whether it's a kit/Lotus/DeLorean etc.

[Bfg]

 

Also saw this in the Maltese car museum - no info

 

^ Lynx Eventer.   Mustamit I always did fancy one but scared off by excessively complicated, costly, and often rust infested Jaguar.  Superlative styling whichever way you look at it. (Jaguar XJS by Malcolm Sayer + Lynx coachwork / estate)

 

 

 

"If I were a rich man ..do b do b dah

 

Bfg

[barrett]

I think attributing the XJS to Sayer might be pushing things a bit, but there is no denying the pre-HE cars are lookers in a naff sort of way

[Yoss]

Just been googling Allegro Equipe after a pic on another thread. I did know of those, I was just refreshing my memory but one of the related images was this.

 

 

Is this real? It looks a bit homemade. It looks awful anyway.

[dollywobbler]

I think attributing the XJS to Sayer might be pushing things a bit, but there is no denying the pre-HE cars are lookers in a naff sort of way

 

Well, he did die several years before it was finished, but he did come up with the buttresses. In about 1966.

 

Which is a lot better than this development...

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Just been googling Allegro Equipe after a pic on another thread. I did know of those, I was just refreshing my memory but one of the related images was this.

6737936217_056e4a6d1b (1).jpg

Is this real? It looks a bit homemade. It looks awful anyway.

Yes it's real, well as a prototype anyway. That's pictured at Gaydon in the super rare prototype scrapyard, sorry, storage area. Probably about to be stacked on top of the P8 or bulldozed into the corner with a prototype Austin 3-Litre Active suspension VdP Tubo Diesel 4 wheel steer hybrid , or summat.

[Bfg]

Well, he did die several years before it was finished, but he did come up with the buttresses. In about 1966.

 

 

..moreover, as I understand it ; Sir Lyons had Malcom Sayer head up the E-Type's replacement, while Bill Heynes was given the XJ4 project (subsequently released as the XJ6). So while the design development of the sports model saw various routes, some of which were dead ended (but each still being directly overseen by Lyons).. Sayer would have been leading and responsible for that work until his most unexpected death (..heart attack I believe) in 1970.  

 

He was by all accounts a Design Engineer - in the finest sense of the title, insomuch as he wasn't a stylist per-se but rather carefully studied, calculated, and applied best practices to perfect the design's style in search of ultimates (..at the time).   Admittedly, like many an Engineer, the talent to convey his thoughts in pencil-sketch form wasn't one of his strong points, but that statement might equally be applied to William Lyons ..who worked primarily with mock ups, or the likes of RJ Mitchell.

 

The Jaguar C, D, and E-type may have been more sensational looking ..but they were not the end of that series in design development. Indeed I gather the relatively boxy XJS has somewhat better aerodynamics than the curvaceous E-type (..it should be remembered also that the XJS's design brief was to compete with Italian automotive styles of the era).  Still, I have no hesitation in attributing key design elements and the fine aerodynamics to Sayer's dedication, talent and brilliance ..but that is of course ..just my opinion. 

 

Bob Knight took over the (subsequently named) XJS project, and although yet another brilliant Engineer and accomplished Project Manager - it is generally acknowledged that he didn't start from a blank sheet of paper. 

 

 

"The late Malcolm Sayer, who was a student at the Loughborough University’s Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering in 1938, was the designer of the C, D and E-type Jaguar, the XJ13 and the XJS.

 

He was one of the first designers to apply the principles of aerodynamics to cars with his scientific calculations, creating one of the most beautiful forms of the era. Sadly he died in 1970, aged 54.

 

Malcolm worked as Director of Design at Jaguar until his untimely death"

 

source : < Loughborough University > with the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust (JDHT).

 

..but of course they might be mistaken !

 

Bfg

[mercrocker]

There is much modern bulge-ness that I have not the faintest idea about, however it is rare for me to find something from the 1960s I was previously unaware of..... 

 

Just seen one of these during some Net abuse - Skoda MBX 

 

 

 

 

 

Bloody lovely!

 

 

 

 

[quicksilver]

Just been googling Allegro Equipe after a pic on another thread. I did know of those, I was just refreshing my memory but one of the related images was this.

 

6737936217_056e4a6d1b (1).jpg

 

Is this real? It looks a bit homemade. It looks awful anyway.

That four-door.version is apparently a photoshop but the Metro saloon does exist in two-door form, now in the Gaydon Collections Centre.

1979 Austin Metro Notchback prototype by Adam Floyd, on Flickr

 

More on AROnline at http://www.aronline.co.uk/concepts/concepts-and-prototypes/concepts-and-prototypes-metro-saloon/ - the photoshopped 4-door appears in the comments.

[bunglebus]

That one's not going on the "cars that look better from the back" thread.

[Sao Man]

Toyota Tamaraw

[Bfg]

^  Weirdly I like that..  Perhaps it's the subconscious mating of  'as crude as it possibly could be' with renown Toyota reliability ? 

 

Features :

Trim and adornments - zilch

Stylish colour scheme - less than half of that used with the 2cv Dolly

just one windscreen wiper - Ace !

windscreen washer - an old washing up bottle if you like ?

no door hinges, latches, wind up windows, door seals, or doors - bloody excellent

roll up side doors - PITA

inside bonnet release cable - in your dreams !

supermarket sensible rubber bumpers with pedestrian friendly radii - not on your Nelly

side repeater indicators - you've gotta be kidding !

seat belts - a piece of rope is possible as lap belts (optional)

Toyota's climatic control - nope, this is ozone friendly, with nature providing the climate. 

side entry step - use the spare tyre

tread on the tyres - optional extra

Oil tightness - not even in the showroom !

Mudflaps - standard all round

rear side windows - perfect for making to make into a camper.

 

Yes, I could definitely live with one of those ..where do I sign ?

 

[0ldCh0d]

I don't know if we have had this yet, But I only just found out this existed about 20 mins ago.....

 

A 100% genuine diesel AMG Mercedes Benz....

 

The C30 CDi AMG......

 

 

[Jim Bergerac]

You just cannot keep a good van down: https://www.carnewschina.com/2017/05/12/jmc-teshun-ford-tansit-turned-storm-trooper/

 

No "Banana" engine, sadly.

[Felly Magic]

Fuggin hell, all bolt on bits so no alteration to the main shell. Deffo needs a n/a banana for more shite points

[Snipes]

I'd bet it's more comfortable than the transit custom we have at work.

[Jim Bell]

Have we had this one yet?

When is a Vauxhall not a Vauxhall?

 

When its a Saturn.

 

Ive never heard of these toilets but they look amazing. Knight Rider vs Street Hawk.

 

 

Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/132201748396

 

 

 

Saturn didnt last long obv. The light that shines brightest and all that.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_Corporation

[JayW]

This weird looking thing from Hyundai, a 2012 Genesis, that has a 3.8 litre engine! The Mrs keeps seeing one around Newmarket

 

Neighbour's outlaws have one, a really nice looking motor with an impressive interior. Theirs has been completely reliable but I don't much fancy my chances!

[andy18s]

Slightly bemused looking Fords

Blue one reminds of Marvin,the paranoid android for some reason

[ProgRocker]

1975 Imperial LeBaron. Check out that interior!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Siv_6r43f5A

[bunglebus]

Saw one of these incredibly bad taste vehicles today, never knew there was such a thing or even a niche for it;

 

[Aston Martin]

I like them because they're stupid and pointless, I'll have one in orange please.

[chaseracer]

There's an orange one round here, with matching driver.  Give it 15 years, we'll be queuing for them!

[cort1977]

Related to that Toyota Tamaraw up there I saw a magnificently named Toyota Stallion pick up (bakkie) yesterday.   South African built version apparently.

 

 

 

 

[quicksilver]

I never knew there was a Renault Clio estate (or Sport Tourer) until I saw one the other day. I don't really see the point of that TBH.