Cars you didn't know existed until very recently.

[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.

[Sir Snipes]

The dimensions are just all wrong. It almost looks like it could be a 4 door. 

[Ghosty]

21 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

 

 

 

 

  That's a 1990s interior refit though?

 

 

Volvo 240 dash. 

[Austat]

Lonsdale Saloon & Estate, just a rebadged Mitsubishi Sigma:

[bunglebus]

The unicorn of Autoshite

[Austat]

Nissan Auster A10, I know them as Violets but I wasn't aware of them being called Austers in Japan:

[FakeConcern]

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...

Like the background in this...

 

 

[Aston Martin]

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...

Like the background in this...

 

 

 

 

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

[FakeConcern]

1 minute ago, Aston Martin said:

 

 

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

They probably mean the car isn't big enough for the UK these days haha...

[Timewaster]

That looks like a Beat on steroids. 

Want. 

[somewhatfoolish]

17 hours ago, Austat said:

Lonsdale Saloon & Estate, just a rebadged Mitsubishi Sigma:

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

[MorrisItalSLX]

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).