Cars you didn't know existed until very recently.

[bunglebus]

Saw a Fabia saloon the other day, don't recall clocking one of these before

 

[Austat]

1970 Nissan 126X concept:

[bunglebus]

A car I only know from the Matchbox version

The Concept car idea really peaked in the 70s/80s, is it seen as unnecessary these days?

[lesapandre]

On 8/22/2021 at 10:09 PM, adw1977 said:

Sunbeam Venezia Superleggera.

According to CarBrochureAddict on Twitter, it was designed and built by Touring in Italy, based on the 1592cc Humber Sceptre and only around 200 were made in 1963 and 1964.

A bit different from the rest of the Rootes range at the time!

Sold in small numbers - because they were expensive. Answering a motoring question that did not really need an answer...bit like large chunks of the Rootes range in the 60's. 

Two types of Hillman Minx - step right this way sir; rear engined car with little real luggage space - we have just the thing; 'upmarket' car that looks virtually identical to a cheap car - yes we do...

What happened - they went bust while Ford continued to churn out the Cortina and make a profit.

[lesapandre]

On 8/26/2021 at 8:29 PM, Rusty Pelican said:

Never knew this was even tried 

Booted cars were very popular in parts of Europe - not having a booted version will have inhibited Metro sales in some markets.

Interesting the Allagro in the background - they went from a booted car with no hatchback version to hatchback car with no booted version...

[Timewaster]

37 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

Booted cars were very popular in parts of Europe - not having a booted version will have inhibited Metro sales in some markets.

Interesting the Allagro in the background - they went from a booted car with no hatchback version to hatchback car with no booted version...

Kind of BLs thinking all through that period though. 

"If people want a hatchback they can buy a maxi" was the reasoning behind the lack of a hatch on the Princess.

[Austat]

Can't tell if this is an Opel prototype or a homemade job, Opel Senator Coupe:

 

[MisterH]

9 hours ago, Austat said:

Can't tell if this is an Opel prototype or a homemade job, Opel Senator Coupe:

 

Looks very similar to a Bitter SC

[bunglebus]

Seen two of the LEVC taxi based vans out and about this week

[Austat]

Amante GT:

[Leyland Worldmaster]

On 8/28/2021 at 8:43 AM, bunglebus said:

Saw a Fabia saloon the other day, don't recall clocking one of these before

 

I've driven one. An eight valve 1.4 MPI. It was a shite drive. I was used to a Rover 75 2.0 V6. This was extremely uncomfortable with shite heating and no ventilation ducts to the rear seat passengers... 

That meant frosty windows- inside and out- in the back where I was a passenger for a while. 

I only agreed to drive it in order to get warm enough to feel comfortable*. 

All this happened in a Czech Specification car in Cz.... 

The only advantage* over the hatchback was that the little amount of heat inside wasn't lost when the massive* boot was opened. 

 

[Remspoor]

19 hours ago, Leyland Worldmaster said:

I've driven one. An eight valve 1.4 MPI. It was a shite drive. I was used to a Rover 75 2.0 V6. This was extremely uncomfortable with shite heating and no ventilation ducts to the rear seat passengers... 

That meant frosty windows- inside and out- in the back where I was a passenger for a while. 

I only agreed to drive it in order to get warm enough to feel comfortable*. 

All this happened in a Czech Specification car in Cz.... 

The only advantage* over the hatchback was that the little amount of heat inside wasn't lost when the massive* boot was opened. 

 

I never knew they existed either. They are here in Spain, but they must be hens teeth.

https://www.coches.net/skoda-fabia-19-tdi-comfort-101-cv-4p-diesel-2002-en-cordoba-49565381-covo.aspx

[sheffcortinacentre]

20 hours ago, Austat said:

Amante GT:

Check out mustie1 on YouTube

[Datsuncog]

I've probably seen plenty before and simply never noticed, but I happened to roll up beside this slightly bland saloon outside a well-known discount retailer earlier, and just couldn't recognise what it was at first...

Bit of Mk1 Focus to the rear, bit of Astra G to the front...

Huh. It's a Corolla E120 saloon, of all things.

Are these unusual, or am I just hideously unobservant?

[Split_Pin]

I'm sure I've seen a few of those before.

It is indeed incredibly bland. I quite like it.

 

[Austat]

1972 Fiat 132 Flares by Michelotti:

1972 Fiat 132 Moretti Coupe:

[artdjones]

On 9/13/2021 at 10:31 PM, Datsuncog said:

I've probably seen plenty before and simply never noticed, but I happened to roll up beside this slightly bland saloon outside a well-known discount retailer earlier, and just couldn't recognise what it was at first...

Bit of Mk1 Focus to the rear, bit of Astra G to the front...

Huh. It's a Corolla E120 saloon, of all things.

Are these unusual, or am I just hideously unobservant

I don't know, but the Republic is stuffed with them. We like our saloons down here.

[D.E]

Found out about this "baby" Sapphire 234/236 when one came up for sale a couple of days ago, lovely thing but they do seem to be rather overlooked and unloved, don't they? Almost no content on youtube, few road tests, seemingly no books available about this specific model...

[somewhatfoolish]

They were only on sale for 3 years and ASM sold a bit less than 2000 of them, alu bodywork is pricy to paint and the 6 cylinder is a bit pedestrian. It's also a bit fugly from the rear, the stylist was outvoted by the MD who wanted to be able to wear a hat in the back seat. The 4 cylinder is a bit of a goer though, being 2/3rds of the big hemi-6; they were a real sleeper and could show a Jag 2.4 a clean pair of heels.

[barrett]

A 234 is pretty near the top of my list of postwar British cars I actually want to own, or at least drive. It's also the only nice car A-S ever built. As above, the six was actually quite a bit less powerful and slower than the four, but I don't think you can be choosey today as there's something like a dozen left of all types. I have a Michelotti sketch of a re-styled proposal which I think did make it to the prototype stage, but the car-building arm of the company collapsed in part due to poor sales of the model and it was never built. I believe the alloy bits are in aircraft-grade Hiduminium, repairs of which would, I'd guess, make welding aluminium look like a piece of piss.

I also love the way they look, but I'm a weirdo

[Austat]

Anadol Böcek (1975-1977):

[Raff]

Astra H BIG BOBBY

[Austat]

Ford Anglia Torino: 

 

[High Jetter]

^^^ Wow, good find. Never, ever seen one of those before that I can remember.

[sheffcortinacentre]

17 hours ago, Austat said:

Ford Anglia Torino: 

 

Thinks there's only one in the UK blue if memory serves.

[Austat]

Prince Skyline Sports, a Japanese Gordon Keeble:

[JeeExEll]

Factory Anglia panel-van but based on the estate.  Lhd.

Never seen one of these on the road.

[JeeExEll]

Never seen one of these either, Anglia Friary Touring saloon.  A bit like an Austin A40 Farina hatch.  Phone Basingstoke 1900 if you want one converted, it'll be 89 pounds twelve shillings and sixpence.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

On 9/16/2021 at 11:13 AM, Austat said:

Anadol Böcek (1975-1977):

Apart from the fact it looks fantastic and barmy in equal measure, I'd buy one just so I could park badly in the local Tesco car park and hear the voice on the tannoy requesting 'would the driver of the orange Anadol Bocek please move their vehicle immediately as it's blocking in the last remaining Sao Penza'... Amazing. 

[bunglebus]

3 hours ago, JeeExEll said:

Must be for a dry climate going by the lack of wipers