Shite from Sri Lanka

[angle]

Yo AS, I've just come back from holiday in Sri Lanka. Unfortunately a lot of the best spots were when I was on a bus, or a train, or when my girlfriend was giving one of those looks, so these photos don't really do it justice but it's absolute chod mecca out there. I'm guessing its a combination of RHD, not as rich as Aus / NZ / Thailand and no import restrictions like India but in amongst a surprising number of Priuses and Leaves there was loads of shoddy 70s and 80s Japanese tat, as well as some ancient commercial vehicles. I even saw Mk1 Hyundai Ponys, FFS.

 

[Pillock]

The owner of that green Datsun has just won Autoshite, BarryBoys and Retro Rides, most likely without knowing that any of them even exist.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

That second-to-last one is an odd one, whats that then?

[angle]

That second-to-last one is an odd one, whats that then?

 

It was badged up as a Corona, although it doesn't look like any I've seen before.

[mk2_craig]

I wonder if the operator of that Routemaster double decker has any idea how much those fucking things are apparently worth back in the UK.

[DodgeRover]

I wonder if the operator of that Routemaster double decker has any idea how much those fucking things are apparently worth back in the UK.

I was wondering if it was the one that got stolen and vanished without a trace....

[Inspector Morose]

They exported a shit load back in the days when they were everywhere (oh, hang on they still are). There's a few that have been resurrected recently. More importantly the very last MCW Metrobus is over there and sources tell me that it too has been resurrected and still lives.

Must get over there....

[ChinaTom]

That second-to-last one is an odd one, whats that then?

Looks like a Corona Avante. Had one as a taxi in Indonesia once. Pretty sure anyway.

[wuvvum]

Tata Nano taxis - brilliant!

 

I like the way that Routemaster has been given extra ventilation to cope with its new climate.

[Ghosty]

Niiiice.

 

Old Man used to have to go to SL for work now and then, and he always said it was full of chod.

 

There's a '50 or '51 Studebaker Champion over there somewhere.

[Bren]

The owner of that green Datsun has just won Autoshite, BarryBoys and Retro Rides, most likely without knowing that any of them even exist.

The bastard child of a ford mustang anddodge challenger. If it was in the UK on the spoiler would have survived as it would be the only thing that did'nt dissolve.

[LC Torana]

That second-to-last one is an odd one, whats that then?

 

ST142 Corona, one of these:

 

[sierraman]

Looked like a Cressida to me.

[KruJoe]

Nah, Cressidas of that age have little skinny quarter lights in the pillar.

 

 

I'm not convinced it's a ST142 Corona Avante either - here's one of many I spotted in Thailand:

 

 

The angle of the back lights is wrong. Look, vertical:

 

 

A bit more digging comes up trumps:

 

 

It's the taxi version:

 

 

The special-bodied taxi version was a spinoff of the T140, used specially as taxicabs in Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Panama and Singapore. It was first introduced with the 1.8-litre 1C diesel engine in January 1982 (CT140).[29] In September an 1.8-litre LPG version (YT140) was added to the lineup. In addition to getting a new rear end and a taller, more upright roof line for a more comfortable rear seat, alterations were also made to the headlights and grille. While based on the T140, the front and rear sections took their design cues from the A60 Carina.[30] In December 1986 the car underwent a light facelift, and the diesel option was upgraded to the 2-litre 2C version (CT141).

 

The car was not generally sold for private use. After November 1991, the diesel option was no longer available for the Japanese market but was still available for export (e.g. Macau). Production only came to an end in April 1998,[29] generally being replaced by the S150-series Crown (later renamed Comfort). This marked the end of the Corona taxi line.[30] Most countries have since replaced the 140/141-series taxis with newer vehicles – Macau and Pakistan are among the few countries still using it on a regular basis.

 

Bingo! 

Bloody Wikipedia!

[LC Torana]

^ well done, that man!

[KruJoe]

...and well done Toyota for churning out seemingly endless varieties of pointlessly similar mid-sized four door saloons (and other body styles). Mad buggers. Don't you just love 'em?

[richardmorris]

Tata Nano taxis - brilliant!

 

I like the way that Routemaster has been given extra ventilation to cope with its new climate.

 

Looks like it keeps hitting low bridges too.