Cars you didn't know existed until very recently.

[lesapandre]

48 minutes ago, Asimo said:

There is just something about that to make me think "why didn't the Marina Coupe look like this?" 

Perhaps it is the proportions. 

Or maybe the door handles.

The original sketches kinda did...but I expect it was all cheaply engineered and compromised out. For example - that windscreen looks bonded to get those sharp corner angles whereas I think the Marina's is standard flange and rubber which means rounder corners?

[vulgalour]

Ford managed to do sharp corners with flange-and-rubber on the Cortina front screen, no reason BL couldn't do the same.  However, cost-cutting may have a part since a round-corner type means you can use a continuous extrusion for the seal and just one joiner for the chrome insert, whereas square corner seals need more bits, which usually means more cost.

[nigel bickle]

I own one, albeit the bigger 1430. Bought in a Belgium & A framed to the uk a few years back - it’s “ time to shine “ has finally arrived...

Actually, my eldest is currently working on it, at home, currently. He freeing off a very stiff engine, sadly neglected since acquisition. 

its an interesting mix of Fiat 128 3 p & Seat inept enthusiasm. Stuff that should be simple, isn’t -& vice versa. Just like the Ronda, frankly. 

its likely the screen will be coming out in the next few weeks, for adjacent rust repairs - so I can update then - if interested. 

[Timewaster]

Don't forget the Marina had stumpy hand me down doors. Not the thing for a sleek coupe. 

[chaseracer]

Are those Tipo saloons RHD Irish Republic cars, dragged over by Arnie Shark like he did the Nissan Tiida for a while around ten years ago?

[17-Coffees]

9 hours ago, Supernaut said:

 

Oh really?

https://www.arnoldclark.com/nearly-new-cars/fiat/tipo/1-4-easy-4dr/2019/ref/arnbp-n-19636

 

This knowledge only comes from a conversation with @17-Coffees and @rantingYoof recently. We found out there were several Tipo saloons for sale at the Aberdeen branch of Arnold Shark, all pre-reg, but not registered in this area, or even Scotland!

 

Fuck off with reminding me they exist!  You know how tempting they are to me! ?

 A Smoll saloon with an okay engine. More economic and comfy than the Abarth is! As Supernaut said, Aberdeen was showing as having a few pre-reg ones in stock on both AS and AutoTrader! I'm keeping an eye on them as in a years time I would be bloody tempted if new/approved used prices are what I think they will be! (Low as fuck)

With regard to them being Irish imports being flogged by AS? Fiat list it on there UK website! Yes, they actually though there's a market for a small, Fiat saloon in the UK... ?

[Snipes]

Those Tipo saloons don't look too bad for a modern. Finding one in an colour (or even just not white) looks like it could be tricky though....

[GeordieInExile]

I kinda like it in poverty spec white. Would be better with bare steelies though.

[egg]

I've clicked on that Arnie Shark link 3 times, what's wrong with me. Anyway, it's no Dacia Sandero...(or Iranian built Peugeot!)

[martc]

The Robin Reliant does exist! (courtesy of LightBulbFans post in the NI ramp thread).

[martc]

I formerly rescind my 'Tipo Sedans Saloons are not sold in the UK' statement.

[Yoss]

Those wheels on the DAWB 6 are very Fiat of the era.

Done some googling and couldn't find an exact match but these from a Fiat 124 Spider are quite similar. 

 

Or from the Dino, a five stud version of the same thing. 

Though it wouldn't surprise me if he had them specially made after looking at that engine. 

[Timewaster]

Not our sort of thing, but I discovered these things are built just down the road from me in Newmarket. 

Arash AF8

 

Cost as much as a house though. 

 

[somewhatfoolish]

2 hours ago, Yoss said:

Stuff about Italian alloys

Cromodoras shirley? They made alloys for most latin exotica.

[JeeExEll]

They do look similar to Cromodoras from the 60s and 70s.

These above are JA Pearce 'Magnas', a wider version, and available in different sizes from Mini upwards.  Am not sure but they may have been made from actual magnesium. Very lightweight (and expensive) but the alloy used to go porous and brittle over time.  Made in England, popular in the 60s.  Maybe they were also made in aluminium alloy, don't know for sure.  

[Datsuncog]

The wheels on the DAWB 6 may well be more recent mass-produced items - the mag article from 1988 (if you squint a bit) says the original alloys were pinched by some ne'er-do-wells, and had to be replaced.

Doesn't say when this happened, though - and maybe yer man just knocked himself up a new set...

[AnthonyG]

On 2/5/2020 at 1:12 AM, vulgalour said:

I'm assuming this is some sort of neverwas concept from 1980s Rover, with more than a hint of Cadillac Allante about it.  Any ideas?

There was a plan to launch the 800 coupe, soon after the saloon in 87/88, possibly initially in the US as part of the ‘Sterling’ range. I suspect the lack of success of the initial cars in the US market put the kibosh on those plans. 

Never seen a convertible version, I suspect AR dreaming. Not shown to the public AFAIK. 

[flat4alfa]

On 2/5/2020 at 1:12 AM, vulgalour said:

I'm assuming this is some sort of neverwas concept from 1980s Rover, with more than a hint of Cadillac Allante about it.  Any ideas?

Much detail on ARonline

https://www.aronline.co.uk/cars/rover/800/coupe/

Quote

Alongside a productionised version of the 800 Coupe by IAD, a convertible version was produced. The car was unashamedly pitched at the American market (as its side running lights indicate), but when ARCONA ran into trouble selling Sterlings over there, the idea was quietly dropped. The pretty car was prepared by The American Sunroof Company, overseen by Adrian Griffiths of Rover. It makes for an interesting comparison with 1986’s Pininfarina-designed Cadillac Allante

Quote

I remember reading at the time that within Rover, Project XX was known as Project Double-Cross!

##

So there were two cars built - one a 2-seater in cream/silver and a 4-seater in black.  Where are they now?

[RoadworkUK]

Those XX Cabrio rear lights are extraordinarily Preludesque.

[sierraman]

The Argyll Turbo GT... looks like something Dick Dastardly would drive. 

[Lord Sterling]

Opel Prado:

Not a real production car, its just a lifted Opel Omega with a Landcruiser front end. Looks cool though. 

[bramz7]

Peugeot 106 Griffe.

 

The money shot

[egg]

Nice, seems to come in other flavas like 306...

https://www.reezocar.com/en/voiture-occasion/peugeot-306-RZCCSTPT30883337.html

And 607

https://www.reezocar.com/en/voiture-occasion/peugeot-607-RZCATRFR16299653.html

[Supernaut]

On 2/7/2020 at 8:56 PM, sierraman said:

The Argyll Turbo GT... looks like something Dick Dastardly would drive. 

There was one of them on display in Grampian transport museum until about a year ago. It was blue and hilariously shonky. I'll see if I can dig out photos when I get home later.

[flat4alfa]

Quote

[Supernaut]

I give you the Argyll Turbo GT.

It has a Rover 3.5 V8 shoved in it, with a turbo bolted on. It also has the suspension from a Triumph 2500 and the dashboard from a Volvo (SVM approved!).

It's also utterly shite. They only made two of them. The one in the photo is just up the road from me, in Alford.

 

[flat4alfa]

Quote

[17-Coffees]

There is at least 1 still alive, currently(Or at least was last year) at the Graimpian Transport Museum...

After digging threw my phone, I found that I did take some photos of it the best I could...

 

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I remember an article on those in Filby's 'Alternative Cars' magazine. Even the 12 yr-old Bo11ox could see that it was an absolute pile of shite! 

[sierraman]

What are the back lights off? 

[bramz7]

Datsun 120A Coupe.

[Supernaut]

3 hours ago, Mr_Bo11ox said:

I remember an article on those in Filby's 'Alternative Cars' magazine. Even the 12 yr-old Bo11ox could see that it was an absolute pile of shite! 

Aye, but seeing it in person really really drove home how shonky it was. Also just how ridiculously long it was, too.