Cars you didn't know existed until very recently.

[grc636]

this looks better

[wuvvum]

Is that Solenza thing not just a hatchback version of the original Logan?

[RichardK]

Is that Solenza thing not just a hatchback version of the original Logan?

 

Google says not and implies it's Dacia's first home-grown design. I thought there had been a Romanian 309 variant (maybe from the ruins of Oltcit) but perhaps that was crossed wires somewhere.

[Adrian_pt]

Long story.

 

Basically Dacia was working on a mid-size saloon since the mid-80s. It finally came out as the Dacia Nova in 1995. A shoddy, hateful thing (therefore I want one). Several facelifts later (via something brilliantly called the SupeRNova) and the Solenza comes out in 2003 - a much better car all round, thanks to some useful Renault knowhow in turd-polishing. 

 

Till 1997 the hatchback had a big wraparound rear windscreen which was very 309-like. Too expensive, though, so it disappeared.

 

The early, flat-front Novas (photo 1) are rare as hens' teeth in Romania. Doesn't help that they were only made for a year, and rotted within three.

 

On another note, the stretched Dacia estate was a factory-made car. About 15 were made in the 80s.

 

Here's another very rare Dacia variant in Syria, of all places. 

[grc636]

might pop to syria to see if i can get me one of those 

at first glimpse i thought that was a dead person in there 

was gna say il have the car if nobody objects 

looks very much the  estate where i live 

just missing a few  groceries  and mens barber shops 

 

have to make one of those extended dacia(r12) things

[Adrian_pt]

There are (were?) quite a lot of Dacias in Syria - pretty unusual models too. More at http://volganeagra.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/daciile-din-siria-dacias-of-syria.html. Also a lot in Algeria - the only country where the early pick-ups survive in any quantities. 

 

Excellent R12 by the way. One of those (or an early Dacia) has been on the bucket list for a long time. 

[grc636]

good link cheers adrian_pt

as a newbyish whats a bucket list 

 

There are (were?) quite a lot of Dacias in Syria - pretty unusual models too. More at http://volganeagra.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/daciile-din-siria-dacias-of-syria.html. Also a lot in Algeria - the only country where the early pick-ups survive in any quantities. 

 

Excellent R12 by the way. One of those (or an early Dacia) has been on the bucket list for a long time. 

[MarvinsMom]

Here's a new one on me, the Santana 350:

 

Obviously a heavily facelifted Suzuki Vitara but these were made til about 2009 and were fitted with 1.6 and 2.0 HDI engines.

 

which is quiet odd as SWMBO's gay little jeep ( a suzi vitara in that shape) was built by santana in spain, i guess when the suzi contract finished they must have bought the rights to it, and just kept on making them.

[flat4alfa]

From the travels of Bo11ox thread

 

AX 4x4

 

 

[Skut]

Quite like obscure pre-war Japanese tat like this.  Very cute.  Found it on a history forum.

[Tayne]

 

as a newbyish whats a bucket list 

 

 

Its a list of buckets you own.

 

My list is :

Mop bucket

Clean car wash bucket

Sponge rinse car wash bucket

 

Never seen the point of it myself.

[Timewaster]

A list of stuff to do before you die (kick the proverbial bucket).

 

As no one knows when they are going to go, it a pretty pointless exercise.

[grc636]

OK thanx penny dropped lol

[cort1977]

RHD Renault Latitude.   I think we have had this on here before but I just discovered that they make a RHD model.   Apparently 39 sold in Australia this year (probably in Sydney where that sort of thing is tolerated).

 

Where else with RHD can they be sold?   Doesn't seem to be available in South Africa or Japan.

 

I find it incredible that they would engineer the car for RHD and only sell it in Australia.   Maybe the engineering was already done before market research showed they would sell three in the UK.   I could have told them that for free.

[catsinthewelder]

Perhaps the Samsung version is popular in Asia.

[philibusmo]

RHD Renault Latitude. I think we have had this on here before but I just discovered that they make a RHD model. Apparently 39 sold in Australia this year (probably in Sydney where that sort of thing is tolerated).

 

Where else with RHD can they be sold? Doesn't seem to be available in South Africa or Japan.

 

I find it incredible that they would engineer the car for RHD and only sell it in Australia. Maybe the engineering was already done before market research showed they would sell three in the UK. I could have told them that for free.

I saw one in Brisbane, took me by surprise that they came in RHD flavour as well.

[cort1977]

Looking in to this a bit further it is related to various Nissans (Nissan D-platform) so RHD engineering was probably already done.   Any Renault specific bits must have cost a fortune in set-up costs.

[flat4alfa]

School day

 

Tata Safari

 

 

Is that good or bad though

[tooSavvy]

A Beemerr i8 swooshed past me on the A1, nr Durham yesterday.

 

I know they exist[ha..pun!] but never seen one........

 

http://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/outdoor/c-665/electric-ride-ons/p-14812/bmw-i8-with-remote-control/

 

 

TS

[wuvvum]

I saw a BMW i8 on the M4 on the way to pick up the Vectra last weekend.  First time I'd seen one in the flesh, although I've seen a few i3s out and about.

 

There's a Tata Safari that quite regularly visits my local Tesco.  They are supposed to be epically shit.

[wuvvum]

Have we had this yet?

 

 

 

The Ford Anglia Torino, as restyled by Michelotti.  Looks like a 105E got involved in an unholy threesome with an HA Viva and a Triumph 1300.

[flat4alfa]

The site search monster says no

 

But it did find a production photo

 

 

[Negative Creep]

I saw a BMW i8 on the M4 on the way to pick up the Vectra last weekend.  First time I'd seen one in the flesh, although I've seen a few i3s out and about.

 

There's a Tata Safari that quite regularly visits my local Tesco.  They are supposed to be epically shit.

 

 

Someone pointed out the rear of an i8 looks like it's shitting out a 911. I will never be able to look at one of them again without thinking that

 

[Jerzy Woking]

This Citroën was parked up near my gaff in Spain this morning. Never seen one before but liked it immensely.

[philibusmo]

The Nissan Cima (with a 4.5 V8)

[STUNO]

The Nissan Cima (with a 4.5 V8)

 

You can buy yourself one when you get here, Should be a good swop for the Fairlane.

[vulgalour]

Austin A70 Hampshire is a new one on me.

 

 

 

 

Seems to sit in the line up halfway between the Somerset and the Princess being bigger than the former and smaller and not quite as plush as the latter.  I doubt I'll ever see one in person.

[vulgalour]

Oh, and I just found the A70 Hereford.  That's another Counties Austin that's completely new to me.

 

[Eddie Honda]

Seems to sit in the line up halfway between the Somerset and the Princess being bigger than the former and smaller and not quite as plush as the latter.  I doubt I'll ever see one in person.

Which Princess.

 

The next one in the queue after the A70, I think was the A90 Atlantic.

 

[Jon]

How about this then?

 

 

An Opel Rekord 380GSI. Nothing too unusual in it being a South African only model, though the 380 bit refers to the 3.8 V6 engine and manual box from a VN Commodore. Even more interesting (to me) is that this particular model wasn't launched until 1992!!

 

Read the road test here:

 

http://www.carmag.co.za/road_test/from-the-archives-opel-rekord-380i-gsi/