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Cars you didn't know existed until very recently.


philibusmo

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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?

46926d8823aebf4e8c61f979c8bab221--muscle

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. 

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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?

46926d8823aebf4e8c61f979c8bab221--muscle

Much detail on ARonline

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

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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

xxc_11.jpg?resize=650%2C363

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

xxc_09.jpg?resize=650,352xxc_08.jpg?resize=650,351##

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

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

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

image.jpg

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.

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[Supernaut]

I give you the Argyll Turbo GT.

Argyll_turbo_GT.JPG

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. :D

 

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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.

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To be fair, there were three and the blue one is the prototype - which is why there is a double hit of shonk

Argyll_%255B2%255D_Turbo_GT_13.jpg

 

The two -ahem- 'production' cars had a fitted out interior with Volvo bits instead to make it lush.

1984%252520Argyll%252520%25255B2%25255D%

The silver one (#3) lives on today and remains with Bob Henderson at Lochgilphead

 p06ny1jq.jpg

image.thumb.png.2e2a46d744cb1cf4b96bea9715269dcc.png

image.thumb.png.b9f8c49ede0a1524babc5e4ec392adc9.png

Douvrin V6 in this.  That's a 1990s interior refit though?

A751 KSB was last on the road 1993

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The other one (#2) is in red, registered DVC 315T and was also fitted with a PRV and Renault 30 transaxle.  However it was registered as a Lancia...  which makes me think #2 did also get the Lancia twin cam as was muted as an option

It was the Motor September 1984 cover car.

s-l1600.jpg

Image result for argyll turbo gt

It also survives

Untitled.jpgUntited.jpgUntitld.jpggt.bmp

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I think there were in fact two red ones.

Black painted bumpers one without the black accents, never registered

argyll_turbo_gt.jpg

Gold painted bumpers one looking like it has had a grille fitted to its arse, registered, as above

 

So that makes 4 then.  It appears even ex-employees are confused too.

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2 minutes ago, FakeConcern said:

I've just seen this on Volvo forum, never seen one in real life or even heard of it. Honda S660, looks like a cross between an S600 & an FN2R, I rather like it!

Said it made 90bhp...

84398891_2976051929079780_6391528029327196160_o.thumb.jpg.33b1f3d3aa1aa62d0c23a198c33bb125.jpg

Like the background in this...

84092604_2991212554230384_1850377567312281600_o.thumb.jpg.95336dfd93c458be39c18209ac298e18.jpg

 

 

 

 

Honda said the market isn't big enough for the UK...

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6 hours ago, somewhatfoolish said:

Are there any of these even left in Oz, waiting to unearthed from the back of a shearing shed?

Plenty of Mitsubishi Sigmas left in Australia, Lonsdale badges ones on the other hand were UK market only. That being said, I believe there is one in the Birdwood National Motor Museum who have the Mitsubishi Motors Australia heritage collection (Donated when Mitsubishi shut down its Australian operations).

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