The First Year in the Life of a Philippines Car Spotter

[davocano]

The dullest of months that is January finally limps to an end. A Corsa B parked with some aplomb*.

A couple from Brooklands: rip the seats out of a smiley face Transit minibus and voila, a race car transporter.

CX GTi about to trailer away a Morris Minor.

Out in the visitor's car park, a Carina that looks much worse* than any photograph could possibly convey.

[davocano]

February kicks off with a Ford fivesome.

2-litre GLS with less than 50K on the clock; owned by a committed Sierra enthusiast who intends to keep it forever.

Mk1 Trannys are rarely seen in van form these days but camper conversions can still be found (apparently, this is a Jennings Roadranger).

So it's got rimz but I still love it. '59 Country Sedan.

Early Consul Mk2 minus engine and O/S front wing (and several other bits I'll wager).

Mk1 Galaxys are not a common sight round my way and yet, another one drove past just after I took this pic and I found yet another one about twenty yards away from this (couldn't get a decent shot of it so didn't bother).

[davocano]

JDM Land Cruiser Prado EX Limited

Not sure the rimz are helping much.

Unpainted bumpers and white says mingebag; 1.6 says very nearly.

A chap spotted me taking this photo and he enquired as to my interest; a nice discussion took place. He told me that the elderly owner passed away and his grand-daughter inherited it. She keeps it road legal but doesn't use it.

Autoshite Memorial.

[vulgalour]

I saw this spot of yours...

 

... and very nearly mistook it for a spot of my own earlier the same year!

[Laseraligningfoofooflanges]

Cracking spots goose cheers! 

[davocano]

I've had zero opportunities for spotting on the streets recently; here's a selection from the Brooklands Winter Classic Breakfast.

PLAH

They never released a Vanden Plas Marina.... hmmm. <musing>

[davocano]

Suzuki Teapot; the Gixxer's sensible uncle.

626 with additional steering at the back.

OMGRHDR4

Lovely Australian muscle, in beige.

*sigh* 

Just lovely.

[stonedagain]

3-wheel steer Pug!

[davocano]

Walton Bridge Breakfast Club: Wolseley 6/90

Debadged 3-litre.

Always good to see a '60s Japanese, even when they've been modified a bit.

Nike have their "Swoosh"; AS might have the "peeling gaffa chevron".

Appears to be a well cared for example with the mudflaps and headlamp protectors.

Very likeable.

[davocano]

February concludes with a couple of "in the wild" spots.

Early Mk6 with shiny Ghia trim.

EDIT: Just read the awful news. This one's dedicated to Hendry.

244 DL of 1981.

Not sure if this is genuine Alpina but it's definitely very brown.

[davocano]

Inside the south-western end of the M25 perimeter, this is OMGSNOKAOS. Pathetic, isn't it? Nice Rover though.

[davocano]

Slim pickings on my local streets recently; a late Mk3 Fiesta being the highlight.

Little Boat.

[davocano]

Fortunately I can always fall back on the honey trap that is Brooklands Museum.

I'm told that the Standard Atlas was underpowered and shit. My levels of want are quite high.

1500 TC in beige.

'70s Maxi 1750 with '80s patina and roof rack.

Ah, I now see that mktng mthrfckrs made the link between "rover" and "tourer".

Blummen gorgeous 827 Sterling.

Maestro in sweet, sweet brown.

Highlight of the visitor's carpark? GS X1.

[davocano]

This is a Local taxi, for Local people!

[davocano]

Just before I popped into central London, I found this Polo Coupe Boulevard.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

....626 with hinges at the back.

 

feb012.jpg...

...with added V6 and 4-wheel-steer. Very rare.

[davocano]

And I popped into central London; it was quite good.

A tidy Space Cruiser.

A lightly battered Prairie.

3-spoke alloys do look good sometimes; Vote Sweden.

I heart teh Morris Minor.

CD Cav

LX Sierra

[davocano]

Then there was a couple of coupes...

[Tadhg Tiogar]

...Not sure if this is genuine Alpina but it's definitely very brown.

 

feb043.jpg

Not genuine. Should have Alpina airdam in front and elevated tail spoiler at rear.

 

Rear bumper falling off too; very poor.

[davocano]

... and the day ended with Vive la France and sacré bleu.

 

 

 

[davocano]

Three cars from the 1990s in one 2018 shot; there's a very partial glimpse of T-plate Suzuki Swift on the extreme left.

Ignoring the fact that the first fairly competent electric vehicles were built in the late 19th Century, electricity is the present future source of automotive power. This one was built and registered in 2009.

This unpainted-bumper VW Fox grabbed my eye. Shoulda taken a good look inside to see if it had the keep-fit windows.

[davocano]

Photo From Years Ago #1

In 1984, subject is DC-10

In 2018, subject is Peugeot 604

[RobT]

Ah, those Southwark Citroëns. Lovely.

[SierraMikeHotel]

I've seen the BX14 before but didn't notice the 'Ring sticker!

[davocano]

OMGSNOKAOS 2018 Pt.2: yet another damp squib for us lucky* Londoners.

One of my nearby regular spots that I like to keep an eye on; this 1971 Mini has been here for at least 20 years.

What's left of the floor is on the floor, as seen in 2015.

It's been submerged in flood water on at least two occasions; this was 2014.

The first photograph I took was in 2012; front bumper has since gone AWOL

[davocano]

Here's an important tip for anyone planning a spotting trip in London: bring an A-Z if you're a Luddite like me, or install a map app (is that even a thing?) on your smartiephone if you're 21st Century Compliant. I parked on a main road, made a note of the name, the "A" number and just for good measure, the name of an adjacent car repair facility. After two hours of street wandering, I'm ready to head homewards and can I find my car? Well, of course not. Do I know where I am? Ummm... the buses are still red? I stumbled upon a busy High Street so I popped into the library (WHSmith) and consulted the aforementioned A-Z; turns out I was within 200 yards of my motor, a mile and a half back. On the plus side, I found a couple of worthy spots that I would have missed had I been in possession of a functioning sense of direction.

My feet hurt.

Resale silver doesn't help much but an early Civic CRX tickles my worthiness meter.

Minors for all occasions: a van for work and a saloon for the weekend.

Adjacently, a Spanish-flavoured Polo estate.

I was elated to find an Elantra...

... and I nearly spontaneously combusted when I caught a glimpse of this old beauty.

[davocano]

More electrickery from the Aixam factory; this one appears to be a bit abandoned.

Basealicious-ish AX Debut with 954cc and a manual choke (thankz Bramz).

1043cc Polo breadvan; a fairly late one.

No longer an Executive* conveyance; my Corolla-infused heart wants to rescue it.

Honda 2-door bigness

[davocano]

So it's being raced* up but OMGRUSHN (a recent import, UK registered in November 2017)

Holding on for tomorrow, holding on for dear life

[davocano]

I'm trying to take more notice of the Mk1 Ford Focus as I know they'll be vanishing fast very soon. One of my flickr contacts has drawn my attention to the different front bumper that is worn by the "Collection" model; I'm certain that the Doovla Boot is not a factory option.

There's a Fiat Stilo MultiWagon that I see almost every day and this isn't it.

Camper vans; I do enjoy seeing them, particularly when their van equivalents are practically extinct. Also, when scoping the streets they are quite easy to spot from a distance with their high rooves and (almost always) mouldiness. This one is beige and I've been reading that Trafic thread so it gets posted here.

A non-scene Beetle is always a nice thing to see on the street and that shade of green? Mmmm, nostalgia....

Astra of CD-ness

The Spotter has been Spotted! I'm always wary of taking pictures right outside someone's house; I wouldn't want to be set upon by a banned breed, shortly followed by its big angry geezer owner. Fortunately, nearly everyone in the world is amiable and this lady was no exception.

Lovely '80s patina

[davocano]

Boot sale season commences but the pickens are slim this early on; best find was this JDM Estima Lucida 4WD

Metro parked in a hospital car park

Golf dumped in a Tesco car park

Every woman every man, join the Nissan Caravan of love

BL Minis used to look a bit like this