Cars you didn't know existed until very recently.

[bunglebus]

This

[cort1977]

On 9/24/2023 at 7:39 PM, Dyslexic Viking said:

Ford Econovan a Mazda van camouflaged as a Ford. Don't understand why Ford sold these next to the Transit.

 

Think those econovans were Australia/NZ and selected lucky* markets only.  Transit not sold in Australia at that time so not sold next to them.

Not sure why Ford didn't sell transits, might be not to compete with Falcon utes and also some import tariff reasons.

 

[Richard_FM]

Australia used to be very protectionist towards imported vehicles, so even CKD Transits would incur a high tariff unless there was a lot of local content. 

I've seen the odd Transit camper on Australian TV, possibly a personal second hand import.

Ford Australia rebadged Mazda 323 in the 1980s rather than open a production line for Mk3 Escorts.

[sheffcortinacentre]

To best of my knowledge mk1-2 -3 transits where sold there Inc S6 versions same as the Bedford CF was.

[Metal Guru]

9 hours ago, quicksilver said:

You'd need a lot of self-confidence to drive around in a fibreglass cheese wedge with a numberplate that almost says GAY FOOL.

 

15 hours ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

I saw that Peel Viking back in 2015. Based on bits of rusty Mini.

Here it is again parked next to a Tici Citi Car, another use for rusty Mini parts.

The Viking bears a slight resemblance to a Mini Marcos. Any connection? ( other than Mini based).

[jonny69]

On 9/24/2023 at 7:39 PM, Dyslexic Viking said:

Ford Econovan a Mazda van camouflaged as a Ford. Don't understand why Ford sold these next to the Transit.

I actually saw one of these a couple of months ago. It was a bit more jacked up than that and I think it was a camper conversion. I did a double take, of course, but assumed the owner had just swapped badges for a bit of hilarity. Didn’t know they actually existed. 

[MiniMinorMk3]

14 hours ago, Metal Guru said:

 

The Viking bears a slight resemblance to a Mini Marcos. Any connection? ( other than Mini based).

Not that I am aware of.

[ProgRocker]

1950s Gaylord Gladiator (tee hee! ). A nice bit of  engineering. I quite like the look of the original prototype (in the thumbnail) . 

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

1956 Troll from Norway

[Spottedlaurel]

For "very recently", take that as being a couple of months ago in this case:

Heuliez coupe version of the 1968 Simca 1501, as seen at Mulhouse. Something a little odd about that rear pillar, but otherwise an attractive thing. More about it here: https://en.amklassiek.nl/simca-1501-speciale-een-fraai-en-eenmalig-concept-van-heuliez/2023/03/10/

[timolloyd]

@MiniMinorMk3 I’ve actually seen one of these, on display in the small town of Lunde, Norway

 

[martc]

Troll's were made by Troll Plastik & Bilindustri  in Lunde....

The most interesting* fact was that they were only allowed to sell 15 Trolls in Norway. Why? Not for homologation or C&U regs or anything like that, no, it was because Norway had a trade deal with the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact to exchange fish for cars. They thought that if they started producing a plastic bodied 2 stroke car in Norway  they may lose both the export market for fish and an endless supply of the errr plastic bodied two stroke cars from the DDR. 

It does explain why Norway was riddled with Volga taxis...

More interesting* facts here - https://automobile.fandom.com/wiki/Troll

[Bear]

On 9/25/2023 at 1:00 AM, Austat said:

1952 Volkswagen 1100 Stoll Coupé:

 

Ooh, a new one I've not seen before!

[Bear]

On 9/25/2023 at 8:45 AM, bunglebus said:

Microlino

Vehicles like this would solve so much.

And nae bugger in Britain would entertain the idea. Just moan about all the cars blocking the road so they can't park...

[bunglebus]

Toyota Sienta. Exciting!

[TataBobu]

Bit of a cheat, because I knew they existed, but I've cought one in the wild. NAMCO Pony (a Mehari made in Greece):

[bunglebus]

[MiniMinorMk3]

1976 Alfa Romeo New Yoik Taxi Concept by Ital Design

Looks like a cross between an Espace and a Toyota Space Cruiser, probably influenced both.

[MiniMinorMk3]

Heuliez Fuego Cabrio

[MorrisItalSLX]

2 hours ago, TataBobu said:

Bit of a cheat, because I knew they existed, but I've cought one in the wild. NAMCO Pony (a Mehari made in Greece):

 

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

Not to be confused with:

[GeordieInExile]

6 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Toyota Sienta. Exciting!

I'm getting strong Panda vibes.

[DavieW]

I saw one of these this morning. Not sure I've seen one before. Jeep Commander. 

 

[quicksilver]

18 hours ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

1976 Alfa Romeo New Yoik Taxi Concept by Ital Design

Looks like a cross between an Espace and a Toyota Space Cruiser, probably influenced both.

Looks even more like a cross between a Nissan Vanette and a Prairie to me.

[MiniMinorMk3]

VW Schiwago

[Metal Guru]

3 minutes ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

VW Schiwago

Should be a Scirolo.

[MiniMinorMk3]

Lamborghini Flying Star by Touring of Milan. Based on a Lambo 400 GT

Same name was later used when Touring was revived on a Bentley

[sdkrc]

58 minutes ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

I'm only seeing 'Hung Stan' 

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, sdkrc said:

I'm only seeing 'Hung Stan' 

They say that you see what you want to see!

[GeordieInExile]

On 10/7/2023 at 12:13 PM, Metal Guru said:

Should be a Scirolo.

Looks like the sort of thing you'd have been able to buy in Argentina or Brazil.

[Richard_FM]

8 hours ago, GeordieInExile said:

Looks like the sort of thing you'd have been able to buy in Argentina or Brazil.

The Latin American divisions of the big manufacturers seemed to have all sorts of odd models, especially when they bought up another makers operations & kept the models in production but rebadged.  The Brazilian made Avenger was sold with VW badges from what I remember.