Cars you didn't know existed until very recently.

[artdjones]

8 hours ago, Missy Charm said:

Whilst researching something else, I came across the South American Ford Corcel II.  Initially one would describe as looking like a cross between a Mk4 Cortina and a two door Mk2 Escort.  Looking closer, however, one sees a hint of two door VW Passat in the rear section.  There is some VW in the thing, in particular the factory option of the 1.8 VW OHC engine that was everywhere in the eighties.  VW engine usually means front wheel drive and indeed the Corcel II is, bringing us on to the underpinnings, which are a variant of the Renault 12.  

The Corcel II spawned the Ford Del Rey, which the casual observer might take for a subtly altered Cortina

But is still front wheel drive and VW powered.  The Del Rey survived until 1991, astonishingly.  It was replaced with the Passat based Ford Versailles which, in four door form, is simply the VW product with some MKIV Euro Escort bits stuck to it

A Ford Probe steering wheel

And a longitudinal engine, VW derivation being obvious

There is also a two door version, which is even stranger looking

There are definite hints of VW in it, but also some American Ford touches round the front: early Taurus or even Fox body Mustang.  

Is astigmatism endemic in Brazil?

[D.E]

The Tata Indigo XL.

[Metal Guru]

4 hours ago, D.E said:

The Tata Indigo XL.

Looks like that was designed by 3 different people , who did the front , middle and rear, and never met up until the whole car design was finalised without any discussion at all.

[AnnoyingPentium]

2 minutes ago, Metal Guru said:

Looks like that was designed by 3 different people , who did the front , middle and rear, and never met up until the whole car design was finalised without any discussion at all.

And maybe a bit pished whilst designing the car?

[High Jetter]

Looks like a cut-n-shut to me. 

[Dyslexic Viking]

BMW 700

[Missy Charm]

On 12/02/2022 at 19:02, D.E said:

The Tata Indigo XL.

 

And complete with the usual Delhi dents.  Cars are pretty much disposable in India because of the traffic conditions, state of the roads and enormous accident rate.  Nobody really cares what they look like as a result.  India is full of this sort of thing: small cars that need last no more than three or four years, so are made as cheaply as possible out of tinfoil and plastic.  

[Wack]

Tiny lotus , did they do a 5ft girls model 

[Metal Guru]

2 hours ago, Missy Charm said:

And complete with the usual Delhi dents.  Cars are pretty much disposable in India because of the traffic conditions, state of the roads and enormous accident rate.  Nobody really cares what they look like as a result.  India is full of this sort of thing: small cars that need last no more than three or four years, so are made as cheaply as possible out of tinfoil and plastic.  

And a fatalistic attitude to dying.

[Dan the van]

I've ridden a motorcycle in India.Truly terrifying.

[Leyland Worldmaster]

That AMG did work on cars made by manufacturers other than Mercedes Benz... 

https://driventowrite.com/2021/12/02/amg-japanese-mitsubishi-honda/#more-78818

[Supernaut]

On 12/02/2022 at 19:02, D.E said:

The Tata Indigo XL.

That's spectacular. Check out that rear leg room!

Rover should have done this version instead of the City Rover. I'm sure* that would have ensured financial success and complete recovery for them.

[bunglebus]

On 13/02/2022 at 21:15, Wack said:

Tiny lotus , did they do a 5ft girls model 

I used to see a guy communicating in one of those daily among the HGVs etc. Must have some serious coconuts, those things are tiny

[SRi05]

Just seen this park across the road and got excited thinking it was a new Panda 100hp. It's actually a Panda "Sport" googled it and it's only 70hp. Why Fiat why? Looks the part (to me) as well 

[Supernaut]

That looks ace on those wheels.

 

I've always wondered why Fiat don't shove the 1.4 turbo out of the Abarth 500 into the Panda. That would be an instant seller. All the performance of the 500 Abarth in an actually useful body shape! Hell, it would literally be a bolt-in job as they're the same car underneath anyway.

While my imagination is running wild, why not use the AWD system out of a Panda 4x4 too? 140hp+ and AWD in a car that size? Woaft.

[High Jetter]

15 hours ago, bunglebus said:

used to see a guy communicating in one of those daily among the HGVs etc.

What did he have to say? 😄

[17-Coffees]

16 hours ago, bunglebus said:

I used to see a guy communicating in one of those daily among the HGVs etc. Must have some serious coconuts, those things are tiny

I used to use my Suzuki Cappuccino daily...Aberdeen City center to the outskirts in evening rush hour (Night worker, so I was going too work), fuck me that was scary as you were low enough that the average Crossover & SUV likly wouldn't have seen me! Worse in the winter as well as you can imagen. Got to the point that I was driving with my drivers window down so I could shout  and/or give abusive hand gestures! Also the fact everyone would try bully you no matter what...

I got around that issue, by getting the LS400. I became the bully then! 🤣

---

On topic, how about the JDM spec Saturn S-Series?

According to wiki, it sold as well as you'd expect a 90's US 'budget' brand to do...

Of note, RHD wagons were sold in the NA market as postal service cars! Why? RHD means you sit on the same side of the road as the mailbox! (Subaru used to offer this, and Jeep still do to this day!)

 

[bunglebus]

8 hours ago, High Jetter said:

What did he have to say? 😄

He said "bloody autocorrect!"

[AndaBoss]

Morgan +4+ coupe

 

 

Glas 1004/1204/1304

[AndaBoss]

1998-2002 Honda Z

Found out about its existence when looking at the Honda Z (as in the 1970s Z600) Wikipedia page

[AndaBoss]

Autobianchi Primula.

Looks like a more tame Peerless GT and Volvo P1800

[Quintus]

On 2/14/2022 at 11:52 AM, Leyland Worldmaster said:

That AMG did work on cars made by manufacturers other than Mercedes Benz... 

https://driventowrite.com/2021/12/02/amg-japanese-mitsubishi-honda/#more-78818

I remember seeing an AMG badged Mitsubishi Pajero and thinking it was some sort of crap attempt at modding until I Googled it.

In fact, I'm fairly sure that the vehicle shown in this link is the one I saw.

https://picclick.co.uk/1990-Mitsubishi-Pajero-Mk1-G-Wagon-AMG-372310484128.html

[Dabooka]

On 2/15/2022 at 2:35 PM, Supernaut said:

That looks ace on those wheels.

 

I've always wondered why Fiat don't shove the 1.4 turbo out of the Abarth 500 into the Panda. That would be an instant seller. All the performance of the 500 Abarth in an actually useful body shape! Hell, it would literally be a bolt-in job as they're the same car underneath anyway.

While my imagination is running wild, why not use the AWD system out of a Panda 4x4 too? 140hp+ and AWD in a car that size? Woaft.

I wondered this about the Swift, when I got my Sport I took a test drive the AWD verison too and found it 'adequate'. The chap in the dealership said it would need too much reworking of the AWD,  which I assume is a Haldex system, to make it worthwhile.  I also imagine the CO2 readings would be off the chart too?

[garethj]

On 2/18/2022 at 12:53 PM, AndaBoss said:

1998-2002 Honda Z

Found out about its existence when looking at the Honda Z (as in the 1970s Z600) Wikipedia page

I dearly love these, engine under the rear seats is a great idea for packaging, 4WD and optional turbo makes it even better.

It also looks like the smaller brother of a Suzuki Ignis Sport, but with high profile tyres.  What a winner

[bunglebus]

Steady yourselves, it's the Renault Arkana

[Crackers]

9 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Steady yourselves, it's the Renault Arkana

BMW X4, for people with much less money but about the same amount of taste. 

[barrett]

Peugeot 405 panel vans coachbuilt by Pourtout, of all people. Sexy. Wonder if any survive?

 

[somewhatfoolish]

Remarkable they gave it a different roofline to the estate.

  

2 hours ago, HarmonicCheeseburger said:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyeonghwa_Motors

North Korean

Sounds more like a money-laundering gig than a car factory.

[Garythesnail]

On 2/23/2022 at 5:20 PM, barrett said:

Peugeot 405 panel vans coachbuilt by Pourtout, of all people. Sexy. Wonder if any survive?

 

Looks more like a 405 front end grafted on to a 305 van

Maybe not.

[Missy Charm]

On 23/02/2022 at 16:39, HarmonicCheeseburger said:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyeonghwa_Motors

North Korean

Looks like the result of Chris Bangle being asked to restyle a Toyota Avensis on a budget of £2.50.