Cars you didn't know existed until very recently.

[Rust Collector]

I had the misfortune of spotting one of these in my rear view mirror whilst driving through Bratislava.

I nearly had to pull over and be sick, it's absolutely gopping in the metal.

I swear the one I saw had W211 headlights though. It looked so awful that my first thought was that somebody out of their mind on home distilled Slivovica had somehow managed to mount a Lancia grille onto a W211 by cutting and patching the surrounding panels. I'm not sure if it's more or less disturbing to know that it was potentially a production car.

[JMotor]

Toyota Altezza Gita AS300. So an IS300 Sportcross here.

But this is one of the rarer JDM AWD ones. 

[Richard_FM]

9 hours ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

1958 Simca Fulgur

Was Gerry Anderson a design consultant!?

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, JMotor said:

Toyota Altezza Gita AS300. So an IS300 Sportcross here.

But this is one of the rarer JDM AWD ones. 

I'd have it for £8.

[jmsguzzi]

22 hours ago, Rust Collector said:

I had the misfortune of spotting one of these in my rear view mirror whilst driving through Bratislava.

I nearly had to pull over and be sick, it's absolutely gopping in the metal.

I swear the one I saw had W211 headlights though. It looked so awful that my first thought was that somebody out of their mind on home distilled Slivovica had somehow managed to mount a Lancia grille onto a W211 by cutting and patching the surrounding panels. I'm not sure if it's more or less disturbing to know that it was potentially a production car.

Was it perhaps a Lybra that you saw?

Almost as ugly:

 

[Rust Collector]

5 minutes ago, jmsguzzi said:

Was it perhaps a Lybra that you saw?

Almost as ugly:

 

Possibly, however the grille was definitely the narrow but really tall one as I remember thinking how fucked the proportions were to the rest of the car. Those lights look bang on though.

[jmsguzzi]

1 hour ago, Rust Collector said:

Possibly, however the grille was definitely the narrow but really tall one as I remember thinking how fucked the proportions were to the rest of the car. Those lights look bang on though.

Kia also made a similarly horrible abomination 🤢

[Rust Collector]

Just now, jmsguzzi said:

Kia also made a similarly horrible abomination 🤢

That's the one!!!

Those lights are the spitting image of W211 lights, I wonder if they raided the same parts bin?

Absolutely gopping at any rate.

[Dyslexic Viking]

Citroen LN

[quicksilver]

Just stumbled across the Jensen P66.

Designed in-house and two prototypes built (one convertible, one coupe) but they decided to put the Italian-designed Interceptor into production instead. The convertible was broken up but the coupe survives.

[High Jetter]

Wolverhampton reg.

[GeordieInExile]

2 hours ago, Dyslexic Viking said:

Citroen LN

LNA and LNE, making two French ladies' names. Cute. 

[bunglebus]

Don't think I've ever seen an estate conversion before 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256165409765?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=dK2tyTpvQea&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=X5RtjeAxSP-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[Dyslexic Viking]

6 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Don't think I've ever seen an estate conversion before 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256165409765?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=dK2tyTpvQea&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=X5RtjeAxSP-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

There are a number of these but this one looks  poorly done.

This below is like most of the ones I've seen and looks factory.

[artdjones]

10 hours ago, quicksilver said:

Just stumbled across the Jensen P66.

Designed in-house and two prototypes built (one convertible, one coupe) but they decided to put the Italian-designed Interceptor into production instead. The convertible was broken up but the coupe survives.

Hindsight reveals a wise decision.

The P66 looked already 5 years out of date. 

[artdjones]

55 minutes ago, Dyslexic Viking said:

There are a number of these but this one looks  poorly done.

This below is like most of the ones I've seen and looks factory.

They were called the Universal and could be ordered through a Mercedes dealer. I think the conversion was done in Belgium.

[barrett]

12 hours ago, quicksilver said:

Just stumbled across the Jensen P66.

Designed in-house and two prototypes built (one convertible, one coupe) but they decided to put the Italian-designed Interceptor into production instead. The convertible was broken up but the coupe survives.

A very detailed retelling here: https://www.jensenmuseum.org/jensen-p66-jensens-forgotten-interceptor/

[adw1977]

13 hours ago, Dyslexic Viking said:

Citroen LN

A Peugeot 104 with a 2CV engine, launched shortly after Peugeot bought Citroën.  The Citroën purists were not happy!

[Muniphobia]

14 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Wolverhampton reg.

No it's not.  My Mum worked in the motor tax in West Bromwich town hall before I was born and EA is a West Bromwich registration, she may have actually dealt with that car when it was registered.

[bunglebus]

Cor, Toyota Sienna. Excitement 

[sheffcortinacentre]

11 hours ago, Dyslexic Viking said:

There are a number of these but this one looks  poorly done.

This below is like most of the ones I've seen and looks factory.

Crayford developed one ( was the only factory approved conversion).

[High Jetter]

Really, Crayford for Merc? Never knew that.

[sheffcortinacentre]

Yes they did various types of conversions to mercs hatchback, cabriolet, convertible, bullet proofing!

Again factory approved/ warranted. Apparently very hard to get back then.

[High Jetter]

I only knew their Ford & BL stuff. They clearly knew their craft.

[sheffcortinacentre]

They did the centaur development  audi100 convertible 's in the early 70's  , hatchback 1100 & 1800's amongst many.

[artdjones]

11 hours ago, sheffcortinacentre said:

Crayford developed one ( was the only factory approved conversion).

I think Crayford only started with the W108, which was factory approved for warranty purposes. 

The W110 Fintails ( also factory approved) were done in Belgium. The cars would be supplied incomplete:-

Then built up into this.

[High Jetter]

18 hours ago, Muniphobia said:

No it's not.  My Mum worked in the motor tax in West Bromwich town hall before I was born and EA is a West Bromwich registration, she may have actually dealt with that car when it was registered.

I sit corrected, you are absoluteky right. I have no idea why that particular piece of misinformation has been lodged in my head for some years.

[Pieman]

Talking of obscure Merc conversions, I've just followed one of these and was confused by the badges on the back of what appeared to be an ordinary V300 - https://www.drivenlandjets.co.uk/

Erm...no thanks.

[bunglebus]

"It's a lifestyle"

Hmm yes not one I'd chose thanks

[sheffcortinacentre]

13 hours ago, artdjones said:

I think Crayford only started with the W108, which was factory approved for warranty purposes. 

The W110 Fintails ( also factory approved) were done in Belgium. The cars would be supplied incomplete:-

Then built up into this.

I believe crayford developed this one too.

They tende to do all the leg work build the first one the sell one the whole kit & caboodle.

The developed the marina ( bought by Mumford, the cavaliers/manta that became the centaur , MK2 fiesta, etc.