Cars you didn't know existed until very recently.

[kinkersaab]

19 hours ago, angle said:

While searching for something else, I found a copy of a press release Toyota put out ahead of the 1977 Tokyo motor show. They displayed:

The Toyota F110, 'a luxury vehicle for the 1980s'. To maximise interior space it was designed with a short nose and long body, with asymmetrical sliding doors and no b-pillars. Allegedly a six seater with a hatchback, although I can't find a decent interior picture. 

They also had the CAL-1, a 'utility sports coupe', a bit like a Celica-based El Camino with some speedboat mixed in. It had a teak paneled rear deck with a rumble seat, and the panels were removable to turn it into a pickup. Obviously. 

And lastly, the 'all-aluminium body experimental vehicle'. I mean obviously it looks terrible, but it weighed 450kg and had a 547cc twin. 

 

[martc]

Shamelessly copied from my reply to a query in the B&W topic. It's a new one to me; the Sandal Auto 360 kei car from the mid to late 50's. Details are difficult to find, in fact there seems to be variations of the name - Japan Auto Sandal 360 seems to be it's 'Sunday' name.

Auto Sandal. But there's also this -

This is the same photo, in original B&W, but labelled 'Jama NJ' details of which are even harder to find.

'Sandal' here - https://jacques-leretrait.blogspot.com/2013/01/voitures-du-japon-aichi-machine.html

'Jama' here - http://theamazoeffect.blogspot.com/2012/01/kei-nation-introduction-history.html

[barrett]

I've consulted the 'bible' on these things (Jeremy Risdon's Pomchi Press series, volume 4) and here's the answer: It's not an Auto Sandal, it's an NJ 54 (no mention of the 'Jama' name) with a 358cc rear-mounted air-cooled vee twin. Built by Nippon Jidosha Kogyo in 1953-54. approx 85 built, three survive. The chrome 'moustache' on the front was one of various different options you could buy to 'personalise' the car a little.

 

edit: just noticed the number plate is the make and model!

[bunglebus]

Saw a Pug 2008 yesterday, new one on me

 

[martc]

13 hours ago, barrett said:

I've consulted the 'bible' on these things (Jeremy Risdon's Pomchi Press series, volume 4) and here's the answer: It's not an Auto Sandal, it's an NJ 54 (no mention of the 'Jama' name) with a 358cc rear-mounted air-cooled vee twin. Built by Nippon Jidosha Kogyo in 1953-54. approx 85 built, three survive. The chrome 'moustache' on the front was one of various different options you could buy to 'personalise' the car a little.

 

edit: just noticed the number plate is the make and model!

Thanks, it's a shame it's not called an Auto Sandal - it's such a Japanese name, implying it's use as a mechanised alternative to walking.

Looks like our friend ticked the moustache box but skipped the bright windscreen surround; which would just be a tad to gaudy (particularly if that green was a genuine representation of it's colour).

[barrett]

Auto Sandal is a thing though, it's just a different thing. If anything, they're a bit less flashy. These really early Kei cars are fascinating!

[Volksy]

What a great photo!

[High Jetter]

6 hours ago, barrett said:

These really early Kei cars are fascinating!

They really are, but every time I hear of them I'm reminded of Manuel from Flowery Twats Fawlty Towers!

[bunglebus]

[motorpunk]

11 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Saw a Pug 2008 yesterday, new one on me

 

That can FRO.

[egg]

Macchi MB1 also known as the Motocarro Bremach (built by two companies)

[egg]

Did not know there was a 4 door RS2000 down under

Quote

The Australian RS2000 was built for two years only (1979/1980) at the Homebush plant in Sydney
Around 880 4-door cars were built with less than a dozen believed to be in the UK

https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/events/2020-auctions/race-retro-classic-competition-car-sale-2020/race-retro-classic-competition-car-sale-2020/classic-cars-saturday-22nd-february-2020/1979-ford-escort-rs2000-four-door

[sierraman]

Wonder why they never marketed the 4 door in the U.K., would have competed with the Dolomite Sprint. 

[Timewaster]

3 hours ago, sierraman said:

Wonder why they never marketed the 4 door in the U.K., would have competed with the Dolomite Sprint. 

And made the 4 doors worth the same as the 2 doors?

[17-Coffees]

Not a car, but a bike (well, scooter) I found out about last night thanks to the eBay BARGANS thread! 

The Honda Helix...

Its a 250cc, but I love the looks of it! 

[Remspoor]

PAL-V Liberty  possibly coming near you. Road worthiness has been approved.

[sdkrc]

A concept car but still worth sharing, the Volvo 540

[bunglebus]

On 11/2/2020 at 11:47 AM, Remspoor said:

PAL-V Liberty  possibly coming near you. Road worthiness has been approved.

 

I wonder how long the age-old flying car idea will drag on for? Been tried so many times

 

[sdkrc]

On 11/2/2020 at 11:47 AM, Remspoor said:

PAL-V Liberty  possibly coming near you. Road worthiness has been approved.

 

 

[wuvvum]

On 11/1/2020 at 7:21 PM, 17-Coffees said:

Not a car, but a bike (well, scooter) I found out about last night thanks to the eBay BARGANS thread! 

The Honda Helix...

Its a 250cc, but I love the looks of it! 

Also available as a Chinese knock-off made until quite recently.

[wuvvum]

This was a new one on me - estate version of the Mk2 Saab 9-5.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

6 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

This was a new one on me - estate version of the Mk2 Saab 9-5.

I think some have been finished and registered since Saab went Tits up, even though they were never launched.

[tul66]

4 hours ago, sdkrc said:

A concept car but still worth sharing, the Volvo 540

 

[Landy Mann]

2 hours ago, NorfolkNWeigh said:

I think some have been finished and registered since Saab went Tits up, even though they were never launched.

I can't find the link but I'm sure there was an article or Saab forum thread detailing the effort to road register and TuV the escaped estates. It wasn't easy lots of paperwork involved.

[bunglebus]

Came across a site with loads of Jap car brochures. Got to be tons of tat we either didn't get to see or dissolved before they became etched in our memories. Serious rabbit hole warning.

http://www.en.japanclassic.ru/booklets

Daihatsu Naked anyone?

How about a Honda N-Box

Honda Quint?

Toyota Allex

There are loads. I'll leave you to explore

 

 

 

[High Jetter]

12 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Came across a site with loads of Jap car brochures. Got to be tons of tat we either didn't get to see or dissolved before they became etched in our memories. Serious rabbit hole warning.

http://www.en.japanclassic.ru/booklets

Honda Quint?

We got that in the UK, as the Honda Quintet. Also badged Rover Quintet in some markets, the first Ronda.

[Richard_FM]

15 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

We got that in the UK, as the Honda Quintet. Also badged Rover Quintet in some markets, the first Ronda.

I think it was Rover badged in New Zealand.

[Adrian_pt]

On 11/7/2020 at 11:40 PM, bunglebus said:

Came across a site with loads of Jap car brochures. Got to be tons of tat we either didn't get to see or dissolved before they became etched in our memories. Serious rabbit hole warning.

http://www.en.japanclassic.ru/booklets

Looks suspiciously like Sid James and Charles Hawtrey advertising the Suzuki Mighty Boy - which, to be fair, does have a bit of a Carry On ring to it. 

[bunglebus]

Another from that site, Toyota Briska is a cool little truck

 

 

[bunglebus]

Pass the eye bleach, it's the Toyota Classic