Cars you didn't know existed until very recently.

[MiniMinorMk3]

16 hours ago, Shep Shepherd said:

 

The world needs more car companies like Mitsuoka.

Some of Mitsuokas other attempts at making retro cars from mundane Japanese tat

The Viewt, based on a Micra

WTF is this

This'll get the heads turning at the golf club, the Mitsuoka Ryugi Hybrid Wagon

The world does not need anymore companies like Mitsuoka

 

 

PS the Mitsuoka Orochi Final Edition, thankfully

[Shep Shepherd]

I think that Mitsuoka's cars are pretty horrible (I've seen a couple of Viewts on the road here, and they really are nasty), but the M55 is in a different league. I hope that it doesn't remain a concept.

[catsinthewelder]

Is the M55 supposed to look like anything in particular or just a generic 70s muscle car?

[Remspoor]

On 09/12/2023 at 20:39, martc said:

The new 2CV Fourgonnette. There's a Berlingo under here, designed and made under licence by the Italian coachbuilder Caselani.

More details here - https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/citroen/berlingo/358880/citroen-berlingo-2cv-fourgonnette-revives-classic-2cv-van-style

Same "kit" manufacture  as these. 

 

[egg]

I didn't know there was a turbo Ferrari 208, and that it was in fact the first turbo engined Ferrari. Thanks Harry M. About 400 built.

[martc]

The GAZ 22F, an insulated van for carrying perishable goods (medicines etc).

[vulgalour]

The Daihatsu Compagno, in any of its guises, most especially the floppytop version.

[martc]

The Rayton Fissore Taxi Torino taxi, for use in Turin (unsurprisingly). There's a FIAT Ritmo underneath.

https://www.automobile-catalog.com/make/rayton_fissore/taxi_torino/taxi_torino_prototype/1983.html#gsc.tab=0

[martc]

2 minutes ago, vulgalour said:

The Daihatsu Compagno, in any of its guises, most especially the floppytop version.

Phun Phact - the Compagno was the first Japanese car sold in the UK, in 1965.

sad face - hopefully it's off the road for restoration.

[Metal Guru]

24 minutes ago, martc said:

Phun Phact - the Compagno was the first Japanese car sold in the UK, in 1965.

sad face - hopefully it's off the road for restoration.

I remember that Daihatsu from the Ladybird Book of cars I had aged about 6or 7. Pretty sure it was that colour too.

[MiniMinorMk3]

On 12/12/2023 at 12:54, egg said:

I didn't know there was a turbo Ferrari 208, and that it was in fact the first turbo engined Ferrari. Thanks Harry M. About 400 built.

They were built to get below the Italian 2-litre tax threshold.

[quicksilver]

Jowett CD, in development when Jowett pulled the plug on car production in 1954. A chap on a model railway forum has just made a 3D printed model of it working entirely from photos as no plans exist.

Somewhere between 15 and 18 prototypes are said to have been built, a mixture of estates, vans, pickups and one saloon. Some went to New Zealand but others were used as Jowett factory transport, with one surviving until the firm closed down in 1963.

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, martc said:

Phun Phact - the Compagno was the first Japanese car sold in the UK, in 1965.

Thank you. I had a discussion just the other day with a guy who KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT CARS but didn't know that. I knew it was a Daihatsu, but couldn't remember which model.

[garethj]

2 hours ago, martc said:

Phun Phact - the Compagno was the first Japanese car sold in the UK, in 1965.

Wowzers, it couldn’t be closer to a VW Notchback!

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, garethj said:

Wowzers, it couldn’t be closer to a VW Notchback!

Similar for sure, VW bigger though.

[Richard_FM]

2 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Thank you. I had a discussion just the other day with a guy who KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT CARS but didn't know that. I knew it was a Daihatsu, but couldn't remember which model.

I've known about them for years, but their UK sales didn't last for long, & it was the late 1970s before they tried again.

[MiniMinorMk3]

18 hours ago, martc said:

Phun Phact - the Compagno was the first Japanese car sold in the UK, in 1965.

 

 

15 hours ago, garethj said:

Wowzers, it couldn’t be closer to a VW Notchback!

And VW borrowed the rear end from the 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Pinninfarina Coupe

[MiniMinorMk3]

1965 Opel Kadett Vignale Convertible shown at 1965 Geneva Show.

Later in the year it was built in to a coupe and shown at Turin.

[garethj]

32 minutes ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

 

And VW borrowed the rear end from the 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Pinninfarina Coupe

Agree that the cropped rear fins were used on many other cars, but the shape of the C pillar, the rear window, waistline chrome strip and the height of the boot lid shut line with numberplate below is a lot more VW.

[Rust Collector]

On 09/12/2023 at 09:59, quicksilver said:

According to Wikipedia the company HQ is in Sleepy Hollow,  just to make the whole thing sound even more like a fairytale.

I found out something disappointing but suitably American about Sleepy Hollow recently: up until 1996 It was called North Tarrytown. It just doesn't have the same ring, does it?

North Tarrytown had a GM plant there, so vehicle manufacturing has been a part of the town's past along with pumpkin wielding headless horsemen. The APV / Dustbuster was built there.

[Remspoor]

Another if only it had made it into production.

1964 Ford Aurora.

[lesapandre]

Is that a 'sat-nav'?

Here is funky Reyner Banham with his version...*

*Warning this video contains 70's content.

[lesapandre]

7 hours ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

 

And VW borrowed the rear end from the 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Pinninfarina Coupe

So did Austin for the 3-Litre...

[wuvvum]

On 05/12/2023 at 22:32, LightBulbFun said:

That must be the only time in history that the words "maximum performance" and "4.236 Perkins Diesel" have been used in the same sentence.

[martc]

Right, I'm sure we're all familiar with various unpalatable Muscovites swanning around in ZIL limousines. But this one is slightly different - note the grab handles and (not so clear) footboards? This is a ZIL-41072 'Scorpion' an escort and security car. The first four were built in 1984-1985 then another 3 in 1999, they are based on the ZIL 41045.

[lesapandre]

On 13/12/2023 at 19:12, quicksilver said:

Jowett CD, in development when Jowett pulled the plug on car production in 1954. A chap on a model railway forum has just made a 3D printed model of it working entirely from photos as no plans exist.

Somewhere between 15 and 18 prototypes are said to have been built, a mixture of estates, vans, pickups and one saloon. Some went to New Zealand but others were used as Jowett factory transport, with one surviving until the firm closed down in 1963.

I think these bodies were fibreglass - Jowett had lost their body maker Briggs to a Ford buy-out and we're looking at this 'new' material I think.

The Jupiter R2 prototype was the same material.

It would be possible to make a full-size one if someone was keen enough.

Chassis was possibly a development of what they were already making.

[lesapandre]

The Jowett resembles the Standard 10 'Companion' estate - another rare as moonshine car.

[RayMK]

27 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

The Jowett resembles the Standard 10 'Companion' estate - another rare as moonshine car.

Yes, rare. I've only seen a handful of those over the years.  The Jowett prototype reminded me of a Goliath Estate.  I only saw two or three of them when living in Germany in 1966-69. Photo By JOHN LLOYD from Concrete, Washington, United States - 1959 Goliath, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21251322 

[lesapandre]

Stutz Bearcat - modern version. 

This one belonged to Elvis Presley  - who had he lived wd be 88 now.

https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/1971-stutz-blackhawk-owned-elvis-presley-mecum-auction-1234763954/

More cars should have 2-piece windscreens.

[martc]

 

The 1925 Elge coupe, this marque was founded in Bordeaux by Roger Louis Maleyre. He also produced similar coachwork for Bugatti chassis, see below -