The First Year in the Life of a Philippines Car Spotter

[davocano]

Four E30s within a metaphorical spitting distance of each other? Why yes.

323i with 'dub kompanion

316i with original wheel covers

318i x 2 (one pogweasel-ed and both banger-nomicked)

A couple of Fords to finish off on; stumpy nose Econoline

Sierra of Ghia-ness

[Split_Pin]

Loving your work as always. Interesting that the J reg Mini only show on DVLA MOT records as far back as 2016 so its been hiding somewhere!

[davocano]

'Tis the season for April showers (AKA the pissing rain); during a very brief interlude, I took the lens cap off for this sweet Sovereign.

Later in the drying day, there was this pogweaseled Prairie; an early contender for my SotY.

[davocano]

So it's MOT time for my Almera. Rather than sitting around in the waiting room, feigning interest in dog-eared old magazines, I took a wander around the locale.

A bicycle with an engine but no petrol tank. 

Citroën Visa van

There are a few Figaros around these parts and I point a camera at them when the opportunity arises.

Fairly early Previa

1954 Buick wearing Australian plates. "Will this winter never end?" both of us are thinking.

In other news, the Almera passed with no advisories. W00T!

[davocano]

No mate, it's not a "Bergerac".

Mouldering Scorpio 24V

For Sale notices appeared shortly after I took this shot; £795 askings.

Mouldering Citroën Visa van with bonus clean Citroën Visa van in background.

[davocano]

This old crane is a Coles Illustrious; it still gets used occasionally. The world would be a better place if more vehicles were given magnificent names such as "Illustrious".

Speaking of great names, this is known as a Thor Residency.

Yet another great* name.

Yet another motor home; this one is very blue.

45 saloon looking well.

It's a bit modern for my spotting radar so I don't recall seeing many early C5s.

ZX wearing a Dirty Sanchez; it also has TANK badged onto the back (see AYITLOACS September 2017). Each to his own I guess...

Early 306 looking well.

Ooof.

[davocano]

I really can't believe that someone would intentionally park in the middle of a thoroughfare; it's gotta be electronic handbrake failure yeah? Or, Skynet is taking baby steps. Has the 2016 VW Golf even got an electronic handbrake? I R LUDDITE (maybe owner also Luddite and couldn't figure out handbrake switch)

Not electrickle but a gasolineum 659cc I3 DOHC Turbo. VOTE KEI CAR

I heart Corollas but I'm not keen on the incongruous plate here.

Another 45 saloon.

A couple of estates; one from the Czech Republic and the other from Korea.

A couple of rear ends; Japanese and British.

The glorious patina on this Australian is not that visible in these pics. What a truly fabulous rarity to see on these shores.

[danthecapriman]

Love the old crane. Lovely old thing!

 

The Holden Kingswood is an absolutely cracking spot though, what an unusual thing to see here.

[quicksilver]

+1 on the Holden, what an unexpected thing to see in the UK. What's that just in front of the Golf though? It appears to be an Aston Martin DB2 just casually parked in a public car park

[barrett]

It's an AC Greyhound, and that's Brooklands, so old cars in the car park are expected

[MorrisItalSLX]

The glorious patina on this Australian is not that visible in these pics. What a truly fabulous rarity to see on these shores.

 

apr022.jpg

apr023.jpg

 

Holy Moly!

 

What a find, you would be hard pressed to find such an original HQ Kingswood here in Oz!

 

And it's a 202, none of this V8 rubbish thank you very much!

[davocano]

I'd like to meet the owner of the HQ, there has got to be an interesting story as to how it ended up in the UK. With such a lowly spec and unrestored condition, there must be some massive sentimental attachment. Or, he's just mental. Either way, BRAVO!!!

[davocano]

It's an AC Greyhound, and that's Brooklands, so old cars in the car park are expected

 

Indeed; not pictured is a second Greyhound parked in front of the first.

[davocano]

So once again, I donned my pith helmet and safari suit for a session of pavement pounding; first find was another example of what must be the most common variant of old Merc to be found in London. By some amazing* coincidence, this lives (or used to live) in the Welsh village where I take my family for the summer hols.

Pogweaseled MR2

The Ford Focus is now 20 years old and I came across an S-plater. An early one and looks to be in VGC too.... but that front end looks a bit......?

Oh dear 

[davocano]

As Noel Coward once* sang, only mad dogs and English car spotters go out in the midday sun.

The Mk1 Capri is rarely spotted outside of a show/meet environ, although they can be seen adjacent to rubbish bins in such places.

Are metric tyres hard to find nowadays? This has them.

Another question: would this have been the bASe Metro in 1989?

Same owner also has luxury* alternative conveyance.

I haven't seen one of these since 2013; currently pondering on the notion that if this car was a balloon, it would be somewhat over-inflated [/tripping]

[MorrisItalSLX]

I'd like to meet the owner of the HQ, there has got to be an interesting story as to how it ended up in the UK. With such a lowly spec and unrestored condition, there must be some massive sentimental attachment. Or, he's just mental. Either way, BRAVO!!!

 

Going off the rear number plate, the owner possibly came from Victoria as it says VIC on the top like a number plate from that state.

 

 

The spec is not that low, Kingswood was the middle spec between the Belmont and the Premier and the 202 straight 6 was the most popular engine, V8s were mostly found in Premiers. A 202 Kingswood would be the average every man's Holden, and this one has the optional vinyl roof.

 

I would imagine the owner bought that Holden new, emergrated to the UK, took his car with him and hung on to it all this time. Massive sentimental attatchment I would think.

[davocano]

Thanks for educating my ignorance with regards to Holden specs 

I saw the same car in 2016 wearing it's original* VIC plate.

[MorrisItalSLX]

Ahh, it's only a recent import, I had it in my head that it went to the UK in the 70s.

 

That number plate is a modern one (2000s), it's like seeing a perspex plate on a Morris Minor - Wrong.

[davocano]

Diggin' the blues, man. Cavalier coupé Calibra 16v

W123 coupé

W126 coupé

Escort coupé 3-door

One year later almost to the very day, I find another Chairman with Italian genes (last year's were a SEAT Terra).

[davocano]

Phwoar, look at the arse on that.

(Yeah, another Prairie. Amazed I was)

[davocano]

A nearly red Visa van.

A very red W201.

It's Corolla time, yet again.

Oooh, this was nice. I had a chat with the owner, it's his daily driver.

[davocano]

Earlier in the month, I spotted a white Mk1 with a vinyl roof; if I can find a white Mk3 with a vinyl roof before next Tuesday, I shall embark on a new career "playing" the National Lottery rather than just "doing" it.

Whilst walking the dog I came across this 1990s timewarp; fortunately it was still there after I'd parked said dog and returned with camera.

Neither white nor vinyl'd but Capri so because.

Sierra looking like the aging daily it quite likely is.

[davocano]

Honda Accord with LHD, presumably a US import.

Figaro fitted with a Parking Stick. Looks less stoopid than those sproingy kerb finders I've seen screwed onto other cars

Just as I suspected it might be, a bASe Corsa (1.0 Envoy). When in doubt, take a photo anyway.

Kensington makes this a posh one, yeah? Well no, it doesn't. Knightsbridge was the posh* one.

Mk3 Astra: top spec (2.0 GSi 16V) in 1991, now demoted to "It's Fucked, Mate" spec.

1.8 L in white with unpainted bumpers, nice... hmmm, that spolier tho. Still, looks like some young buck is enjoying it.

[davocano]

Occasionally, the hard-working and aspirational car spotter will find summat a bit specialer.

I caught a glimpse of the sloping rear end from a distance and wondered what it might be... goodness gracious me, it's a 96!

A quote from Skizzer on page 3 of this thread made me chuckle, with regards to the notion of owning an old Citroën;

"something would go wrong with the engine or suspension and it would just end up sunk to the floor like a 2-ton deflated limpet that can only be shifted with a HIAB, or maybe dynamite."

[RobT]

Two cracking spots right there. The SM looks forgotten about seeing as the cover is mostly off. How can you forget you've got an SM?

 

Further up the page that Sierra owner needs a lesson in gaffer tape application!

[davocano]

April 30th? More like January 30th. FUK DIS WETHEAR

Seen yesterday in only slightly less Baltic conditions, a Honda Stepwgn. Why their mrktng mthrfckrs didn't call it the Honda Stpwgn or even the HndStpwgn is a mystery to me; surely everyone suffering from vowelophobia would have Qd 2 by 1.

Audi Coupé quattro.

A vandalised Focus. Unimaginative graffiti on bonnet made slightly imaginative due to extra licks on the K.

Looks a bit DRIFTYO or RATLUKYO rather than ROLLINGRESTORATIONYO. The stripped out interior supports my conclusions yo.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

....Oooh, this was nice. I had a chat with the owner, it's his daily driver.

 

apr062.jpg

apr063.jpg

If Toyota had made it smaller, they could have had a "kei Sera" Sera.

[davocano]

If Toyota had made it smaller, they could have had a "kei Sera" Sera.

 

I'm laughing on the outside and groaning on the inside. Well played though

[davocano]

It's the first day of May and I'm lucky enough to be roaming around Central London with a few hours to spare. First off, a selection of Mercs with W123 dominance because London.

W124

W126

W113. It's vulgar to talk money and value but Pagodas can sell for high 5-figure sums when restored; and yet, they are still only worth the grand total of One Car. The patina on this one is priceless to my not wallet obsessed eyes.

[davocano]

A couple of red coupes.

Hiding in the corner of some housing estate, a 200ci Mustang which probably makes it bASe.

Shabby and chic 318i

CityRovers are vanishing fast. Catch'em while you can.

106 Rallye looking rather smart.