Cars you didn't know existed until very recently.

[STUNO]

^^2.0 v6 FTW!!

 

All the ones here are 3 litre

[bub2006]

They did do a 2.0 v6 though? Im hoping I'm right and don't look a fool! Chap was selling one many moons ago and I think his was a 2.0

[Cheggers]

Doesn't R9UKE own a Maxima??

[Lacquer Peel]

They did do a 2.0 v6 though? Im hoping I'm right and don't look a fool! Chap was selling one many moons ago and I think his was a 2.0

Correct.

[Guest bangerfan101]

 

 

corsa b estate

[carlo]

They did do a 2.0 v6 though? Im hoping I'm right and don't look a fool! Chap was selling one many moons ago and I think his was a 2.0

 

Only on the QX in this country, not the Maxima which preceded it.

[kinkersaab]

^{^ correct, I was going to be nerd, but Carlo beat me to it!}

[carlo]

They do not a bad collection thread too over on RR!

[Junkman]

Looks like a few people didn't know the Hommell Berlinette.
 

 

 

 
The company was started in 1990 by Michel Hommell, a former racing driver and the owner of Échappement, a French car magazine,
and lasted until 2003.

A prototype was shown at the 1990 Paris Salon. The production version was made from 1994, it is powered by a mid-mounted 2.0lt Peugeot engine
and it has a 6 speed gearbox in a tubular steel chassis with all round independent suspension.

In 1998, the Barquette, an open-top version was announced, and at the same time the Berlinette RS, as the original model was now called,
got a more powerful Citroën engine.

The brand has produced three models under the direction of Gilles Dupré:

In 1994
Berlinette Échappement

Engine: 1998 cc in-line 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve
Power: 155 bhp (116 kW; 157 PS) @ 6500 rpm
Torque: 137 lb·ft (186 N·m) @ 3500 rpm
Weight: 980 kg (2,161 lb)
Top Speed: 138 mph (222 km/h)

Barquette

Engine: 1998 cc in-line 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve
Power: 155 bhp (116 kW; 157 PS) @ 6500 rpm
Torque: 145 lb·ft (197 N·m) @ 5500 rpm
Weight: 940 kg (2,072 lb)
Top Speed: 130 mph (210 km/h)

In 1999
Berlinette RS coupé

Engine: 1998 cc in-line 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve
Power: 167 bhp (125 kW; 169 PS) @ 6500 rpm
Torque: 147 lb·ft (199 N·m) @ 5500 rpm
Weight: 950 kg (2,094 lb)
Top Speed: 143 mph (230 km/h)

In 2001
Berlinette RS2

Engine: 1998 cc in-line 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve
Power: 195 bhp (145 kW; 198 PS) @ 6750 rpm
Torque: 159 lb·ft (216 N·m) @ 5500 rpm
Weight: 950 kg (2,094 lb)
Top Speed: 143 mph (230 km/h)

[STUNO]

They did do a 2.0 v6 though? Im hoping I'm right and don't look a fool! Chap was selling one many moons ago and I think his was a 2.0

I can only speak of the Maximas sold far away

 

3litre

 

2.0, 2.5 or 3 litre

 

3.5 litre

[quicksilver]

The folks are watching 'Father Brown' or some other detective show set in the fifties and one character is driving a right-hand drive BMW 503 coupe. I did know these exist but wasn't aware they were built in RHD and all the pictures on Google are of LHD versions so it must be a rarity. There's been some obscure stuff in period cop shows lately as a recent episode of 'Endeavour' featured a Lagonda 3-litre.

[wuvvum]

I seem to remember those Hommells being ludicrously expensive for what they (objectively) were.  You'd have to be a serious motorsport / track day nut with deep pockets to have bought one new.  But then I don't think M. Hommell was ever expecting them to be a big seller.

 

Another French "speciality" car which came out around the same time was the Mega Track.  Looked a bit similar to the Mk1 Hommell from the front, but was about 3 times the size.

 

 

 

 

Here's one in OLLI mode.

 

 

The company's other products at the time included this.

 

[Junkman]

The folks are watching 'Father Brown' or some other detective show set in the fifties and one character is driving a right-hand drive BMW 503 coupe. I did know these exist but wasn't aware they were built in RHD and all the pictures on Google are of LHD versions so it must be a rarity. There's been some obscure stuff in period cop shows lately as a recent episode of 'Endeavour' featured a Lagonda 3-litre.

 

413 503s were built, of which 139 were cabriolets. All 503s were designed for LHD and column shift, since - like in the Baroque-Angel saloons, with which they share the oily bits - they have the gearbox not mounted to the engine, but underneath the front seat. 2 coupes and 3 cabriolets were built with RHD ex works strictly to special order, since this necessitated to install a custom made floor mounted gearshift lever and linkage. Ironically the steering boxes are RHD Jeep (Saginaw) units, probably procured from Steyr Puch in Austria.

Only one original RHD cabriolet is known to exist, guess who once owned it.

If the coupe in the telly series is indeed one of the factory RHDs, it might well be the only one as well.

[Junkman]

I seem to remember those Hommells being ludicrously expensive for what they (objectively) were.  You'd have to be a serious motorsport / track day nut with deep pockets to have bought one new.  But then I don't think M. Hommell was ever expecting them to be a big seller.

 

 

It was always intended to be a very limited edition toy for the connoisseur.

You have to consider, that the most powerful car France had to offer at the time, had something like 160 PS.

I don't think they make anything remotely as powerful nowadays.

[Alan_Green]

The RAF "Latvia" (Latvija), Rafik, 2203:

[NorfolkNWeigh]

If I can work out why my iPad won't download my pictures from the feckin cloud , I've got photos of 4 or 5 different Hommels taken in the summer at a museum in Brittany. Thinking about it M.Hommel probably owns the museum.

[twosmoke300]

No pics but im sure i saw a 4dr saloon Audi a3 yesterday . Whats the point of that when the a4 is all but the same size

[Zantimisfit]

No pics but im sure i saw a 4dr saloon Audi a3 yesterday . Whats the point of that when the a4 is all but the same size

You are correct, there is an A3 saloon. Its for those people who want something exactly the same as an A4 saloon but, crucially, it's two centimetres shorter. Its very exciting. I would love to work in marketing, it must be a very fulfilling way to pass the day.

[twosmoke300]

And I assume , the engine the other way round to the a4 ?

[skattrd]

Yes but isn't an A3 saloon a Jetta, when the A4 is a Passat? or Octavia/Superb etc etc.

[twosmoke300]

Octavia is a golf underneath isn't it ?

[Alusilber]

You are correct, there is an A3 saloon. Its for those people who want something exactly the same as an A4 saloon but, crucially, it's two centimetres shorter. Its very exciting. I would love to work in marketing, it must be a very fulfilling way to pass the day.

 

Actually, the A4 has grown so much, the A3 saloon is almost A FOOT shorter! (according to Wikipedia)

[stormee]

The RAF "Latvia" (Latvija), Rafik, 2203:

I had a 40km ride in one of that, it is real shite!

[cros]

Why?

[Slappy]

Developing markets?

 

Never knew there was a Wankel engine Lada!

[vulgalour]

The Singer SM1500, or Hunter, or just SM depending where you look.  Discovered when browsing eBay and this particular example I find very appealing.

 

 

 

This one appears to be a pre-facelift jobby so must be one of the very last, in 1952 (relying on Wikipedia here, sorry) the headlights were lifted outside the line of that clumsy front panel.  I like the awkward styling of it with the too-high cabin and that very kit-car-esque front panel.  It looks sturdy and sensible, the sort of thing you'd expect a British company to be producing post-war.

 

This one is the facelift, you can see the grille is wider and the headlights pushed up and outwards.  It helps a bit, but not a lot, it needs the later facelift of the Hunter (seen in black behind the SM in the first picture) to really start looking like a properly styled car rather than one made to perform a task.

[Kiltox]

Had no idea the Proton Jumbuck existed until I saw the one that is currently for sale - so much want

[cros]

Someone I know works on a fruit farm that has Jumbucks for running around. They work, are cheap, and I can't think of anything else similar at the price but apparently people complain that they are too basic. Presumably they mean it doesn't have a heated cock-rest or something. In my day basic meant no passenger seat.

[SiC]

Renault Fluence

(at least in RHD form)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201501110084608

 

Not exactly the most pretty Renault ever

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Renault Effluence(at least in RHD form)

I can see see why, but am not sure the name will help sell it...