Cars you didn't know existed until very recently.

[Richard_FM]

The Gols had a Beetle engine from what I remember.

[Madman Of The People]

16 minutes ago, Richard_FM said:

The Gols had a Beetle engine from what I remember.

US models had a 1.8 inline four, mounted longitudinally ahead of the front axle, similar to the then-current Passat.  You could only get them with manual gearboxes.  According to another VW salesman I spoke to, VW didn’t want to offer an automatic because, if they did, they would never be able to sell any Golfs!

 

[skoda_fan]

When I worked for an international company way back when, part of my job was maintaining records of the worldwide car fleet. Most of the staff in Brazil had Gols. I assumed this was an error and added an f to every record. I got told off for wasting time. Luckily I didn't change the many Ambassadors in India to Austins.

[Metal Guru]

16 hours ago, bunglebus said:

VWs lacklustre Fox got replaced by the Up! on the UK market, but it wasn't canned - restyled much like a Golf. Don't think we got a 5 door version here either but I could be wrong

So it was basically what the Polo was before it became as big as the original Golf and the Golf GTi became the Golf (fat) GiT.

[Missy Charm]

On 06/11/2022 at 08:35, bunglebus said:

VWs lacklustre Fox got replaced by the Up! on the UK market, but it wasn't canned - restyled much like a Golf. Don't think we got a 5 door version here either but I could be wrong

The VW Fox, the old British market one, would be an ideal candidate for 'cars you were aware of at one point but have now totally forgotten'.  You used to see a few of them round Essex when new, on the basis that we'll drive any old rubbish as long as it's got a German badge, but they all seem to have disappeared.  What happened to them?  Perhaps the leases ran out and they were exported to other counties?

[GeordieInExile]

1 hour ago, Missy Charm said:

The VW Fox, the old British market one, would be an ideal candidate for 'cars you were aware of at one point but have now totally forgotten'.  You used to see a few of them round Essex when new, on the basis that we'll drive any old rubbish as long as it's got a German badge, but they all seem to have disappeared.  What happened to them?  Perhaps the leases ran out and they were exported to other counties?

I saw a bright yellow poverty spec one the other day. Mmmm, unpainted bumpers. 

[Missy Charm]

1998 Josse Car Indigo 3000

A Swedish designed and manufactured drophead that was supposed to be a low-cost TVR alternative.  It had the usual composite plastic body and spaceframe one associates with this sort of thing, but used Volvo running gear.  The engine was the 3.0 litre straight six from the later 960, driving a Volvo manual gearbox.  Not many were made, as is often the case.  

There are, of course, echoes of Marcos about it, given their earlier experiments with Volvo power.  

[Austat]

Rambler Marlin:

[bunglebus]

7 hours ago, Missy Charm said:

The VW Fox, the old British market one, would be an ideal candidate for 'cars you were aware of at one point but have now totally forgotten'.  You used to see a few of them round Essex when new, on the basis that we'll drive any old rubbish as long as it's got a German badge, but they all seem to have disappeared.  What happened to them?  Perhaps the leases ran out and they were exported to other counties?

When I worked at VW in Chelmsford, all staff were asked to take one home overnight so we'd have a better knowledge of the car I suppose. They were underwhelming at best.

[chaseracer]

8 hours ago, Missy Charm said:

The VW Fox, the old British market one, would be an ideal candidate for 'cars you were aware of at one point but have now totally forgotten'.  You used to see a few of them round Essex when new, on the basis that we'll drive any old rubbish as long as it's got a German badge, but they all seem to have disappeared.  What happened to them?  Perhaps the leases ran out and they were exported to other counties?

Suffolk...? 😉

[Austat]

Ramses, a car brand from 1960's Egypt.

A lot of their stuff was NSU based.

https://egyptianstreets.com/2022/10/05/ramses-the-car-that-symbolized-egypts-industrial-revolution/

[Austat]

Haiyan CK 730, built in Shanghai.

[Leyland Worldmaster]

https://driventowrite.com/2022/10/05/wrong-number-porsche-911-marvia-graha/#more-87777

Never heard of it. I reckon pure AS 'Porsche' material... 

[MiniMinorMk3]

Onyx Firecat. Based on Fiat Uno bits.

Up for auction now. Lot 1103 - 1987 Onyx Firecat (handh.co.uk)

[artdjones]

On 10/22/2022 at 7:22 AM, bunglebus said:

Obviously I've seen the van before, but not the escape hatch

It seems to be an option on a lot of French vans, but not one that's specified much in the UK.

[artdjones]

On 11/2/2022 at 3:25 PM, MiniMinorMk3 said:

One off Zephyr Woody made for use at Sandringham

Probably to replace the Pilot woody George Vl had.

[bunglebus]

41 minutes ago, artdjones said:

It seems to be an option on a lot of French vans, but not one that's specified much in the UK.

Probably because the ladders would go missing 30 seconds after you left the van

[Austat]

Opperman Unicar & Stirling:

 

[Austat]

J&S Hunter

[Metal Guru]

16 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Probably because the ladders would go missing 30 seconds after you left the van

Deja vu, anyone?

[Bfg]

17 hours ago, artdjones said:

Probably to replace the Pilot woody George Vl had.

I remember seeing a b&w photo of the Zephyr being used as mentioned, ie., as a shooting brake for pheasants .. whereas the Pilot woody was I believed used for shooting parties with select guests and the King's favourite gun dogs.  I missed the Sandringham Motoring Pageant this year (June 5th) but hope to attend the next.  

[artdjones]

2 hours ago, Bfg said:

I remember seeing a b&w photo of the Zephyr being used as mentioned, ie., as a shooting brake for pheasants .. whereas the Pilot woody was I believed used for shooting parties with select guests and the King's favourite gun dogs.  I missed the Sandringham Motoring Pageant this year (June 5th) but hope to attend the next.  

It is a 9 seater, though, so probably used for members of the shooting party as well.

[stendec]

A new one for me, Teijo, Finnish on a VW Transporter EA489 base.  150 to 200 made by the official VW importer, Wihuri, in collaboration with VW apparently.  On the bay for £10k.

[sierraman]

On 11/7/2022 at 9:52 AM, Missy Charm said:

The VW Fox, the old British market one, would be an ideal candidate for 'cars you were aware of at one point but have now totally forgotten'.  You used to see a few of them round Essex when new, on the basis that we'll drive any old rubbish as long as it's got a German badge, but they all seem to have disappeared.  What happened to them?  Perhaps the leases ran out and they were exported to other counties?

Probably bollocksed engines which seems quite a thing with them.

[Missy Charm]

5 hours ago, Bfg said:

I remember seeing a b&w photo of the Zephyr being used as mentioned, ie., as a shooting brake for pheasants .. whereas the Pilot woody was I believed used for shooting parties with select guests and the King's favourite gun dogs.  I missed the Sandringham Motoring Pageant this year (June 5th) but hope to attend the next.  

There's an 'h' in that comment that shouldn't be there...

[SteersWithThrottle]

7 hours ago, Austat said:

J&S Hunter

Great looking things, but why is the green one being driven round a track by a Lego man?

[stendec]

1 hour ago, Missy Charm said:

There's an 'h' in that comment that shouldn't be there...

Not much point in having subjects if one can’t t have a bit of sport!

[Bfg]

8 hours ago, artdjones said:

It is a 9 seater, though, so probably used for members of the shooting party as well.

nine people in a Zephyr MkII estate car would be very cosy indeed .. nevertheless helpful for spotlighting the birds in flight with the car's headlamps. 

[High Jetter]

I think you need to consult Farnham. TV Vet, aussi.

[MiniMort]

Not sure if I’ve posted this before but if not… say hello to the Sungri Paektusan - potentially the only car uniquely designed in North Korea:

Manufactured for a short while between 1978 and 1982, there’s pretty much no technical information about it - but it’s generally believed that it’s a rebodied GAZ 24 Volga. What’s more, none have been spotted since the mid 80s - so it’s very likely extinct too.