Cars you didn't know existed until very recently.

[martc]

26 minutes ago, Metal Guru said:

Is the body shell the same as an Impreza wagon?

Good question, and one that's difficult to find an answer for on the internet. They look the same and the dimensions are nearly identical; I guess the dimension differences are due to styling of the bumpers etc. Looking at these pictures I would say a tentative yes. However there are differences - the top of the front wing near the pillar, the recesses for the door handles and a line running through them along the length of the body, the rear light recesses; but these are only the skins, the framework underneath, floorpan etc could be the same.

I'm sure someone can give us a definitive answer.

[Six-cylinder]

What is this?

I screen printed it from a 1963 motoring in London film.

[bunglebus]

I think that was made by Fred in a shed

[bunglebus]

On 22/03/2025 at 19:36, martc said:

Good question, and one that's difficult to find an answer for on the internet. They look the same and the dimensions are nearly identical; I guess the dimension differences are due to styling of the bumpers etc. Looking at these pictures I would say a tentative yes. However there are differences - the top of the front wing near the pillar, the recesses for the door handles and a line running through them along the length of the body, the rear light recesses; but these are only the skins, the framework underneath, floorpan etc could be the same.

I'm sure someone can give us a definitive answer.

So what you're saying is, you could drop Scooby running gear in a Baleno for a nice easy* sleeper build?

[Missy Charm]

On 22/03/2025 at 19:36, martc said:

Good question, and one that's difficult to find an answer for on the internet. They look the same and the dimensions are nearly identical; I guess the dimension differences are due to styling of the bumpers etc. Looking at these pictures I would say a tentative yes. However there are differences - the top of the front wing near the pillar, the recesses for the door handles and a line running through them along the length of the body, the rear light recesses; but these are only the skins, the framework underneath, floorpan etc could be the same.

I'm sure someone can give us a definitive answer.

Sorry, but the answer is no.  

The Baleno is another name for the Suzuki Cultus, which is a medium sized car based on a stretched Suzuki Swift platform.   They are fitted with transverse engines, driving either the front or all four wheels and are an indigenous Suzuki design.  The Subaru Impreza is pure Subaru, and is built on a completely different platform - the usual longitudinal, flat engine driving either front (rarely) or all four wheels.

Underside of 1998 Baleno:

Underside of '98 Impreza:

There are obvious differences in design.  

Do agree that the cars look cosmetically similar, however, especially the estates!  I wonder if one designer had a peek at the other's work?  I suppose it's also possible that a consultancy or similar produced a 'look' for 1998 that both firms copied.  

[Aston Martin]

On 21/03/2025 at 11:48, motorpunk said:

“Wow! What’s that unusual car over there?!” I asked the driver in my best Italian. “About 20 minutes, depending on the traffic” he replied, revealing that my best Italian is still incomprehensible to any real Italians. Anyway, have a Lancia Musa.

 

 

“That’s a rare car!” I continued. “No” he replied “your nipples are of no interest to me”.

 

 

@mk2_craig

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, Six-cylinder said:

What is this?

I screen printed it from a 1963 motoring in London film.

Some sort of a special, Austin 7 or Ford maybe?

[bunglebus]

Saw a Jaecoo on my way to work this morning 

[alcyonecorporation]

On 22/03/2025 at 19:10, Metal Guru said:

Is the body shell the same as an Impreza wagon?

No. They're different cars. 

This is like 'your Baleno has an MX-5 engine because it's 1839cc' all over again...

[alcyonecorporation]

On 16/03/2025 at 06:16, Peter C said:

I spotted a later N1300 variant of these on holiday last year. 
They're mostly DKW, but locally modified, and built by Spanish state owned industries.

 

[Remspoor]

2 hours ago, alcyonecorporation said:

I spotted a later N1300 variant of these on holiday last year. 
They're mostly DKW, but locally modified, and built by Spanish state owned industries.

 

I gave a brief resume here.

 

[D.E]

Quote

2 October 1968 - the latest Bulgarrenault model. 

I assume this didn't make it into production after all? Can't find anything about it online. 

[barrett]

Try searching 'Hebros 1100' and you'll find more pics (and lots of cyrillic)

 

[delux]

On 24/03/2025 at 12:21, alcyonecorporation said:

No. They're different cars. 

This is like 'your Baleno has an MX-5 engine because it's 1839cc' all over again...

Gutted! Thought this might be a cheaper source of parts for my Impreza wagon! 😆

[lesapandre]

1 hour ago, barrett said:

Try searching 'Hebros 1100' and you'll find more pics (and lots of cyrillic)

 

Wheels and hub caps look very Renault - as does the rear window treatment.

[myglaren]

 

[Lord Sterling]

Triumph TR7 pedal cars. I feel like my childhood was robbed now 😤

[Tayne]

15 minutes ago, Lord Sterling said:

 I feel like my childhood was robbed now 😤

 

 

 

 

 

Did you want to spend it on the hard shoulder waiting for the wee lad who's parents got him this?

 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Rare pedal cars, you say? 

 

 

[Lord Sterling]

Waiting for the ferry to arrive, I noticed this thing running up the next lane to me:

A Toyota ProBox? 

Apparently these are built in a Daihatsu factory. This one is equipped with a 1.3 engine and an auto box.

[alcyonecorporation]

The collective noun for the Probox and its relation, the Succeed, is 'ProSucc' .

[Marshall2810]

Just seen this for sale 🤯

[Yoss]

Saw a Dacia Lodgy in Lidl car park. On Romanian plates of course. Looks like all other Dacias really except maybe a bit bigger. 

Couldn't get a picture so I pinched these. 

[myglaren]

It Took 350,000 Lego Bricks To Make This Life-Size Volvo V70

Daughter sent this to my phone last night but couldn't read it on the stupid phone.

 

[bunglebus]

13 hours ago, Marshall2810 said:

Just seen this for sale 🤯

There used to be loads of them around, but then I was working at a Mercedes/Chrysler dealer at the time. Very popular with the Essex lot for a while, plenty with huge chrome wheels and fake Bentley grilles

[Remspoor]

Citroën C10.A 1956 prototype/concept.

https://carstyling.ru/en/car/1956_citroen_c_10_coccinelle/

[carlo]

On 23/03/2025 at 22:00, Aston Martin said:

 

 

@mk2_craig

Fiat Idea badge engineered?

[jon.k]

I saw one of these on British plates this morning (I think this is what it was. It was LHD). Vw Atlas.