Cars you didn't know existed until very recently.

[chaseracer]

 

MG Midget tail lights?

[Datsuncog]

 

 

Sorry if it's already been picked up on, but a new one on me is Alfa Romeo commercials. Alfasud van was apparently a dealer-only factory variant not offered for general sale; though the AR6 was a rebadged Fiat Ducato sold in Italy only (while earlier ones were based on the Iveco Daily). Seems a touch incongruous that luxo-sport brand Alfa flogged vans at one point, but there you go.

Some dispute over whether they still knock out a few vans from time to time, or whether some Fiat Scudo owners are just handy with a glue gun.

 

[vulgalour]

I learned through this very forum that Alfa Romeo commercials are an oddity but not a new thing, they've been at it for years (fnar).

 

 

 

 

[Negative Creep]

Think this sort of counts, I was in that France last week and saw one of these that I'd completely forgotten about. Couldn't get a photos this is a google search one. I remember seeing loads in Holland, France and Switzerland a long time ago. I don't think we got them here but they're a sort of 3 door version with normal headlights of the 323f we got as a 5 door with pop up headlights.

I think.

 

mazda.jpeg

 

 

We definitely got those coupes in the UK, used to see a few knocking around but can't image they sold well

[Datsuncog]

We definitely got those coupes in the UK, used to see a few knocking around but can't image they sold well

Yeah, they were sold in the UK as the 323C. I'd imagine that with the MX3 still in the line-up at the time, there wasn't much point in another small 3-door Mazda hanging around the showrooms.

[Aston Martin]

Alfa made a knockoff Mustang... in Brazil.

[Supernaut]

Alfa made a knockoff Mustang... in Brazil.

WTAF.

[Aston Martin]

WTAF.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fábrica_Nacional_de_Motores

[vulgalour]

*closes Autoshite*  That's it.  We're done.

[LC Torana]

*closes Autoshite*  That's it.  We're done.

 

[Ghosty]

Judging from the wonderful sound blasting past me at work, you could get a five-cylinder Volvo C30!

[paulplom]

You can get a C30 in t-5 flavour. 250hp iirc. The best engine ever made.

[Junkman]

You can get a C30 in t-5 flavour. 250hp iirc. The best 5/8th of an engine ever made.

 

EFA

[philibusmo]

Alfa made a knockoff Mustang... in Brazil.

I amso pleased that I started this thread. This one post has made the cost of my broadband connection this month more than worth while.

[LC Torana]

Is there a single forum member that doesn't now want one?

[vulgalour]

 

 

 

It's a Gurgel BR-800.    Those wheel trims that look a lot like Astra items are, it seems, factory and not from an Astra.

 

Here's a Wiki article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurgel_BR-800

[3VOM]

It's a Gurgel BR-800.    Those wheel trims that look a lot like Astra items are, it seems, factory and not from an Astra.

Peugeot maybe? I think the 205 had some like that.

[Snipes]

The other trims look like mk2 Polo to me

[Timewaster]

Is there a single forum member that doesn't now want one?

If I brought one home I think I would be single soon after.

[Pillock]

Aye, if those trims are factory they simply made a mould of Mk2 Polo and Mk2 Astra trims and banged them out. Absolutely identical even to the point of the Polo ones having a little indent one end for the badge.

 

I'm pretty sure I've seen the back lights on the hatchback somewhere else before, a little 1980s Honda perhaps?

 

It uses half a VW aircooled engine - two cylinders in boxer formation, and is exactly half the capacity of a 1584cc VW unit so I wonder if they just use the same barrels and pistons.

[vulgalour]

The other trims look like mk2 Polo to me

 

They do, now you mention it!  Rear hatch seems familiar, like it's from a Suzuki Alto or something like that, and the door handle/notches are very Renault 5.

[Timewaster]

I'm pretty sure I've seen the back lights on the hatchback somewhere else before, a little 1980s Honda perhaps?

 

Honda Quintet, but not quite.

[Pillock]

Honda Quintet, but not quite.

 

I think you're right on both counts - they're the ones I was thinking of, and no they're not quite right.

[mercrocker]

I know I ignore modern life completely but did I actually see an SUV Maserati the other day? 

 

I am not going to google it because I don't actually need to re-see it.

[Lacquer Peel]

Yes they exist.

[17-Coffees]

Alfa made a knockoff Mustang... in Brazil.

Pass go and collect 200, game over, let a Korean-American nuclear war happen, I don't care anymore...I can die happy know such a thing exists!

[outlaw118]

Dug this little beauty* up on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-PANOZ-AIV-ROADSTER/132306774269?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

It's a Panoz AIV Roadster. I've heard of Panoz, but only watching sportscar racing and stuff, never aware they built "normal" stuff. It's  got a wikipedia page, which as we all know is always* accurate....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panoz_Roadster

[Supernaut]

Dug this little beauty* up on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-PANOZ-AIV-ROADSTER/132306774269?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

It's a Panoz AIV Roadster. I've heard of Panoz, but only watching sportscar racing and stuff, never aware they built "normal" stuff. It's  got a wikipedia page, which as we all know is always* accurate....

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

I knew about those yeeeaaars ago. Because there was one in the original Midtown Madness game.

 

[vulgalour]

Thanks to our very own Barrett I discovered Hupmobile and, by extension, this 1935 number which I really like rather a lot.

 

Some more info here: http://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/curbside-classic-1935-hupmobile-j-521-six-aerodynamic-raymond-loewy-helps-usher-in-the-aerodynamic-era/

[AlabamaShrimp]

This is the bit where I don't understand aerodynamics. It's all curvy and stuff which makes sense but then those flat fronted 70s/80s stuff always got quoted with low drag ratings but they were bricks??