Cars you didn't know existed until very recently.

[motorpunk]

On 09/08/2023 at 12:52, bunglebus said:

Dutton Surf. Perfect for rising sea levels

This was massive fun, we had such a laugh in it. 

ETA - Dutton is the oldest car company still operated by the founder that is still in business, apparently. It's also up for sale. I love the rotting workshops on the quayside and sometimes pop in for a nosey. When we filmed the above, Tim Dutton was wearing Vauxhall branded overalls. I joked that he shouldn't be advertising the competition when we were filming. He took this seriously and, in the next shot, he had scribbled over the Vauxhall logo in black marker pen.

[barrett]

2 hours ago, motorpunk said:

ETA - Dutton is the oldest car company still operated by the founder that is still in business, apparently. It's also up for sale. I love the rotting workshops on the quayside and sometimes pop in for a nosey. When we filmed the above, Tim Dutton was wearing Vauxhall branded overalls. I joked that he shouldn't be advertising the competition when we were filming. He took this seriously and, in the next shot, he had scribbled over the Vauxhall logo in black marker pen.

Let's be real - whatever company Tim Dutton runs now is nothing to do with the company he founded in the 70s. He's been bankrupt multiple times, and all his previous companies have gone bust. He just starts a new one with a slightly different name and cracks on. Let's also try and remember that his amphibious cars were described as 'floating coffins' by the judge who was sentancing him for supplying 'amphibious' vehicles which were nothing of the sort, and were judged unsafe and unsuitable for use on water. The bloke is a grifter and a charlatan. I'm also pretty sure he was involved with UKIP at one point, but I can't find any evidence of that online today, but I'm pretty sure he's a nasty old racist as well as being shit at building cars.

[motorpunk]

1 hour ago, barrett said:

bankrupt multiple times, previous companies have gone bust, 'floating coffins' , unsafe, grifter, charlatan, UKIP , nasty old racist, shit at building cars.

I knew there was a reason I liked him. 

[quicksilver]

Just seen this. From a distance I thought it was a common-or-garden VW Type 2, then when it got closer maybe a Barkas, but no, it's a Skoda 1203. There can't be many of these over here.

[somewhatfoolish]

A fair bit of wob keeping that Skoda going.

[motorpunk]

3 hours ago, quicksilver said:

Just seen this. From a distance I thought it was a common-or-garden VW Type 2, then when it got closer maybe a Barkas, but no, it's a Skoda 1203. There can't be many of these over here.

I thought that was a RAF (the company, not the airforce) van, made in Latvia. Model of this on my bedside table for reasons I don;t remember..

 

[motorpunk]

On the subject of obscure vans... have we had a SuperJolly yet?

[bunglebus]

7 hours ago, quicksilver said:

Just seen this. From a distance I thought it was a common-or-garden VW Type 2, then when it got closer maybe a Barkas, but no, it's a Skoda 1203. There can't be many of these over here.

I see that one occasionally at VW shows

[martc]

Wartburg 355 Coupe - between 5 and 8 were made. Looks ace, the exhaust gives away the engine type - ring ding ding!!

[artdjones]

On 8/16/2023 at 8:04 PM, Yoss said:

Have they? Our office is still mostly ten year old Pugs, Partners and Experts. And some Vauxhall Combos, a couple of which are 08 reg. With the state the company keeps telling us they are in I was under impression they are never going to buy any new vans ever again but I suppose they will have to eventually. 

Electric vans will be interesting at our office as only about half of them can fit in the yard at any one time so getting the right ones inside the yard for charging would need some sort of rota system. 

It shows how much better vans have got, back in the 80s vans only lasted the Post Office about 7 years and the 7 year old ones were totally hanging.

[artdjones]

20 hours ago, barrett said:

Let's be real - whatever company Tim Dutton runs now is nothing to do with the company he founded in the 70s. He's been bankrupt multiple times, and all his previous companies have gone bust. He just starts a new one with a slightly different name and cracks on. Let's also try and remember that his amphibious cars were described as 'floating coffins' by the judge who was sentancing him for supplying 'amphibious' vehicles which were nothing of the sort, and were judged unsafe and unsuitable for use on water. The bloke is a grifter and a charlatan. I'm also pretty sure he was involved with UKIP at one point, but I can't find any evidence of that online today, but I'm pretty sure he's a nasty old racist as well as being shit at building cars.

Great smear job.

[Metal Guru]

1 hour ago, artdjones said:

It shows how much better vans have got, back in the 80s vans only lasted the Post Office about 7 years and the 7 year old ones were totally hanging.

Our local Asda’s Mercedes were fucked at 4 years old. Back in 2020,  Twice in a month they asked me to collect my delivery because of breakdowns . They replaced them with Transits. They must be approaching 3 years now.

[TheOtherStu]

1 hour ago, Metal Guru said:

Our local Asda’s Mercedes were fucked at 4 years old. Back in 2020,  Twice in a month they asked me to collect my delivery because of breakdowns . They replaced them with Transits. They must be approaching 3 years now.

I know this has gone a bit OT, but have you seen the way that Asda delivery drivers (in particular) throw their vans about? I'm surprised they lasted 4 years.

[Yoss]

4 hours ago, artdjones said:

It shows how much better vans have got, back in the 80s vans only lasted the Post Office about 7 years and the 7 year old ones were totally hanging.

I think you're probably right. When I started we only kept vans for five years before they were auctioned off. Although a lot of it is down to them now wanting to sweat  the assets, I can't see Sherpas, much as I like them, lasting fifteen years. They could probably keep them going mechanically but they would have dissolved long before then.

[artdjones]

17 minutes ago, Yoss said:

I think you're probably right. When I started we only kept vans for five years before they were auctioned off. Although a lot of it is down to them now wanting to sweat  the assets, I can't see Sherpas, much as I like them, lasting fifteen years. They could probably keep them going mechanically but they would have dissolved long before then.

Back in 88, the oldest Sherpa was almost impossible to start without the garage coming out to boost it. Tbf, the way a few drivers treated the vans would ensure an early demise. I broke down on the way to work once, phoned in and they sent a van out. Admittedly it was before six in the morning, but we drove across the city at 70mph in roads that all had a 30 or 40 limit.

[Remspoor]

Citroen faf. Seems to  come in many body shapes

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

https://rodasdeviriato.blogspot.com/2016/09/citroen-faf-do-emgfa-rmn-24-automobilia.html

[Remspoor]

Back to the Future with the Delorean Lancia Mizar.

 

And if you cant handle four gull wing doors Michelotti has a two door car for you. A Hillman Hunter Paykan.

[quicksilver]

Anyone ever heard of a 126-inch Land Rover? Yes, I do mean 126 and not 127.

This might be the only one. It's a leaf-sprung Series III V8 built alongside early coil-sprung 110s so putting the standard 17-inch extensions in a 109 chassis meant it ended up an inch shorter than the 127. The Hi-Cap body and Hiab aren't original and it was new to Avon & Somerset Police with a Harvey-Frost crane for winching paramedics over cliffs to tend to the unfortunates who fell off.

[egg]

Indian market Suzuki, the Dzire..... (a bit of Swift in it)

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

[Metal Guru]

4 hours ago, egg said:

Indian market Suzuki, the Dzire..... (a bit of Swift in it)

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

I presume the Z is silent.

[chaseracer]

On 17/08/2023 at 14:55, quicksilver said:

Just seen this. From a distance I thought it was a common-or-garden VW Type 2, then when it got closer maybe a Barkas, but no, it's a Skoda 1203. There can't be many of these over here.

 

On 17/08/2023 at 22:27, bunglebus said:

I see that one occasionally at VW shows

Looks like the SHADO jeep from UFO...

[DavieW]

[sheffcortinacentre]

Think that still exists.

Love this sorta thing some have fascinating back stories, check out the 71 boss 302 Mustang & the boss bronco.

[bunglebus]

Kleinschnittger F125

[MiniMinorMk3]

Intermeccanica Italia IMX

[High Jetter]

Saw a RHD Nissan Lafesta on the road today, never even heard of it that I can recall. Like this:

[Timewaster]

Honda Freed

(Stock photo)

 

Never seen or heard of them until this week, and now I've seen two.

[martc]

No it's not a Talbot Horizon. It's a coach built Dodge Omni Limousine (the Omni (and Plymouth Horizon) are US made Talbot Horizons....)

[bunglebus]

Epic. Is it available for proms/weddings/bar mitzvahs etc?

[MiniMinorMk3]

Corvair Super Spider