Cars you didn't know existed until very recently.

[17-Coffees]

9 hours ago, Supernaut said:

 

Oh really?

https://www.arnoldclark.com/nearly-new-cars/fiat/tipo/1-4-easy-4dr/2019/ref/arnbp-n-19636

 

This knowledge only comes from a conversation with @17-Coffees and @rantingYoof recently. We found out there were several Tipo saloons for sale at the Aberdeen branch of Arnold Shark, all pre-reg, but not registered in this area, or even Scotland!

 

Fuck off with reminding me they exist!  You know how tempting they are to me! ?

 A Smoll saloon with an okay engine. More economic and comfy than the Abarth is! As Supernaut said, Aberdeen was showing as having a few pre-reg ones in stock on both AS and AutoTrader! I'm keeping an eye on them as in a years time I would be bloody tempted if new/approved used prices are what I think they will be! (Low as fuck)

With regard to them being Irish imports being flogged by AS? Fiat list it on there UK website! Yes, they actually though there's a market for a small, Fiat saloon in the UK... ?

[Snipes]

Those Tipo saloons don't look too bad for a modern. Finding one in an colour (or even just not white) looks like it could be tricky though....

[GeordieInExile]

I kinda like it in poverty spec white. Would be better with bare steelies though.

[egg]

I've clicked on that Arnie Shark link 3 times, what's wrong with me. Anyway, it's no Dacia Sandero...(or Iranian built Peugeot!)

[martc]

The Robin Reliant does exist! (courtesy of LightBulbFans post in the NI ramp thread).

[martc]

I formerly rescind my 'Tipo Sedans Saloons are not sold in the UK' statement.

[Yoss]

Those wheels on the DAWB 6 are very Fiat of the era.

Done some googling and couldn't find an exact match but these from a Fiat 124 Spider are quite similar. 

 

Or from the Dino, a five stud version of the same thing. 

Though it wouldn't surprise me if he had them specially made after looking at that engine. 

[Timewaster]

Not our sort of thing, but I discovered these things are built just down the road from me in Newmarket. 

Arash AF8

 

Cost as much as a house though. 

 

[somewhatfoolish]

2 hours ago, Yoss said:

Stuff about Italian alloys

Cromodoras shirley? They made alloys for most latin exotica.

[JeeExEll]

They do look similar to Cromodoras from the 60s and 70s.

These above are JA Pearce 'Magnas', a wider version, and available in different sizes from Mini upwards.  Am not sure but they may have been made from actual magnesium. Very lightweight (and expensive) but the alloy used to go porous and brittle over time.  Made in England, popular in the 60s.  Maybe they were also made in aluminium alloy, don't know for sure.  

[Datsuncog]

The wheels on the DAWB 6 may well be more recent mass-produced items - the mag article from 1988 (if you squint a bit) says the original alloys were pinched by some ne'er-do-wells, and had to be replaced.

Doesn't say when this happened, though - and maybe yer man just knocked himself up a new set...

[AnthonyG]

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?

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. 

[flat4alfa]

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?

Much detail on ARonline

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

Quote

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

Quote

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

##

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

[RoadworkUK]

Those XX Cabrio rear lights are extraordinarily Preludesque.

[sierraman]

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

[Lord Sterling]

Opel Prado:

Not a real production car, its just a lifted Opel Omega with a Landcruiser front end. Looks cool though. 

[bramz7]

Peugeot 106 Griffe.

 

The money shot

[egg]

Nice, seems to come in other flavas like 306...

https://www.reezocar.com/en/voiture-occasion/peugeot-306-RZCCSTPT30883337.html

And 607

https://www.reezocar.com/en/voiture-occasion/peugeot-607-RZCATRFR16299653.html

[Supernaut]

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

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

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.

[flat4alfa]

Quote

[Supernaut]

I give you the Argyll Turbo GT.

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.

 

[flat4alfa]

Quote

[17-Coffees]

There is at least 1 still alive, currently(Or at least was last year) at the Graimpian Transport Museum...

After digging threw my phone, I found that I did take some photos of it the best I could...

 

[Mr_Bo11ox]

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! 

[sierraman]

What are the back lights off? 

[bramz7]

Datsun 120A Coupe.

[Supernaut]

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.

[flat4alfa]

4 hours ago, sierraman said:

What are the back lights off? 

[flat4alfa]

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

 

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

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

 

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

A751 KSB was last on the road 1993

[flat4alfa]

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.

It also survives

[adw1977]

Repainting the bumpers gold has made it look twice as shit.

[flat4alfa]

I think there were in fact two red ones.

Black painted bumpers one without the black accents, never registered

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.