Al's spotting thread

[adw1977]

625. 2001 Alfa Romeo Spider twinspark + 1978 Fiat X1/9 + 1994 Rover 216 SLi auto

Seen in Redhill, Surrey on 10th April.  Looks like the Fiat came off the road over 30 years ago.

Y269 OEL (M17 EWH until 2014)
✓ SORN
✗ MOT Expired: 19 July 2021

Vehicle make ALFA ROMEO
Date of first registration 31 May 2001
Year of manufacture 2001
Cylinder capacity 1970 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status SORN
Vehicle colour SILVER

Current owner since Sep 2015 
Mileage at last MOT: 171,047
Last MOT expired without retest.
_____________________________________

VBO 636S
✗ Untaxed - Tax due:  11 June 1991
MOT Exempt

Vehicle make FIAT
Date of first registration 21 April 1978
Year of manufacture 1978
Cylinder capacity 1290 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Untaxed
Vehicle colour RED
_____________________________________

M251 JPK
✓ SORN
✗ MOT Expired:  29 October 2013

Vehicle make ROVER
Date of first registration 4 November 1994
Year of manufacture 1994
Cylinder capacity 1590 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status SORN
Vehicle colour SILVER

Current owner since Dec 2011
Mileage at last MOT: 44,992
Failed its last MOT in 2013.

[adw1977]

626. 1960 Ford Popular

Seen in Rose Hill, south London on 28th April.

KSK 198
✓ Taxed - Tax due:  1 April 2025
MOT Exempt

Vehicle make FORD
Date of first registration 25 April 1960
Year of manufacture 1960
Cylinder capacity 1598 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Taxed
Vehicle colour BLUE

Current owner since Nov 2020
Mileage at last MOT (2015): 14,878

[N19]

On 29/07/2018 at 22:59, adw1977 said:

42. 1989 Austin Maestro 500 City van

 

 

Seen in Barnet, north London, close to the Maestro Clubman in my last picture.

 

Last entered for MOT in Feb 2006, when it failed.

Reason(s) for failure:
Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split (2.5.C.1a)
Nearside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.6.1)
Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)
Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

 

Registration number: F649 PVX
✓ SORN

VVehicle make AUSTIN
Date of first registration 10 February 1989
Year of manufacture 1989
Cylinder capacity (cc) 1275cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status SORN in place
Vehicle colour GREY

 

Number of owners: 3
Current owner since Aug 2002
Mileage at last MOT: 80,750

These are now sadly gone. The LDV pickup next to them now has an abandoned vehicle notice on it...

[adw1977]

2 hours ago, N19 said:

These are now sadly gone. The LDV pickup next to them now has an abandoned vehicle notice on it...

The buildings around them are to be demolished soon, I believe?

[N19]

1 hour ago, adw1977 said:

The buildings around them are to be demolished soon, I believe?

The ones immediately on that part of the estate aren't being demolished. The bigger blocks are progressively going, and replaced by lower density housing, although it seems to have slowed down in the last year or so. But the houses/terraces round there aren't being touched - although there might be a lick of paint and the like.

[adw1977]

627. 1964 Triumph TR4

Seen in Reigate, Surrey on 30th April.

CBU 548B
✓ SORN
MOT Exempt

Vehicle make TRIUMPH
Date of first registration April 1964
Date of first registration with DVLA 20 October 2014
Year of manufacture 1964
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status SORN
Vehicle colour GREEN

Mileage at last MOT (2021): 11,947

[adw1977]

628. 1979 Lotus Elite

Seen in Horley, Surrey on 26th May on the back of a trailer, but I have seen it being driven since then.

BPF 959T
✓ Taxed - Tax due:  1 April 2025
MOT Exempt

Vehicle make LOTUS
Date of first registration 21 March 1979
Year of manufacture 1979
Cylinder capacity 1973 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Taxed
Vehicle colour GOLD

Current owner since Apr 2021
Mileage at last MOT (2019): 50,022

[adw1977]

629. 1977 Land Rover Series III Lightweight

Seen in Copthorne, West Sussex on 20th June.  First registered 1983, presumably when it left military service.

EEH 469Y
✓ SORN 
MOT Exempt

Vehicle make LAND ROVER
Date of first registration 1 April 1983
Year of manufacture 1977
Cylinder capacity 2250 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status SORN
Vehicle colour GREEN

No MOT history.

[adw1977]

630. One owner 1986 Nissan Sunny 1.5 SGL Coupe

Seen in Horley, Surrey on 13th March.

C995 JGN
✓ Taxed - Tax due:  1 February 2025
✓ MOT Expires:  28 September 2025

Vehicle details
Vehicle make NISSAN
Date of first registration 06 February 1986
Year of manufacture 1986
Cylinder capacity (cc) 1488cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Tax not due
Vehicle colour RED

Number of onwers: 1
Current owner since Feb 1986
Mileage at last MOT: 43,919
Mileage since previous MOT: 703

[Dayno]

4 hours ago, adw1977 said:

630. One owner 1986 Nissan Sunny 1.5 SGL Coupe

Seen in Horley, Surrey on 13th March.

C995 JGN
✓ Taxed - Tax due:  1 February 2025
✓ MOT Expires:  28 September 2025

Vehicle details
Vehicle make NISSAN
Date of first registration 06 February 1986
Year of manufacture 1986
Cylinder capacity (cc) 1488cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Tax not due
Vehicle colour RED

Number of onwers: 1
Current owner since Feb 1986
Mileage at last MOT: 43,919
Mileage since previous MOT: 703

Great to see, very rare in coupe form now.

[danthecapriman]

5 hours ago, adw1977 said:

630. One owner 1986 Nissan Sunny 1.5 SGL Coupe

Seen in Horley, Surrey on 13th March.

C995 JGN
✓ Taxed - Tax due:  1 February 2025
✓ MOT Expires:  28 September 2025

Vehicle details
Vehicle make NISSAN
Date of first registration 06 February 1986
Year of manufacture 1986
Cylinder capacity (cc) 1488cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Tax not due
Vehicle colour RED

Number of onwers: 1
Current owner since Feb 1986
Mileage at last MOT: 43,919
Mileage since previous MOT: 703

What a lovely car that is! Looks really well kept.

My parents had one of these for years, it was a metallic blue Y reg (still had the Datsun badges and keys!).

[adw1977]

631. 1985 Jaguar Sovereign 4.2 auto

Seen in Horley, Surrey on 19th June.

B792 VYL
✗ Untaxed - Tax Due: 1 December 2018
✗ MOT Expired: 12 September 2020

Vehicle make JAGUAR
Date of first registration 25 January 1985
Year of manufacture 1985
Cylinder capacity (cc) 4325 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Tax not due
Vehicle colour SILVER

Number of owners: 3
Current owner since June 2000
Mileage at last MOT: 111,481

I also saw the same car in 2016, when it was still in use:

 

[adw1977]

632. 1967 Ford Cortina Lotus Mark II

Seen in Pyecombe, West Sussex on 6th July.

OXE 899F
✓ Taxed - Tax due:  1 November 2024
MOT Exempt

Vehicle make FORD
Date of first registration 1 December 1967
Year of manufacture 1967
Cylinder capacity 1558 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Taxed and due
Vehicle colour WHITE

Current owner since April 2023
Mileage at last MOT (2022): 1,625

[adw1977]

633. 1995 Volvo 440 Si

Seen in Horley, Surrey on 13th March.

M692 UFC
✓ Taxed - Tax due:  1 January 2025
✓ MOT Expires:  10 July 2025

Vehicle make VOLVO
Date of first registration 18 January 1995
Year of manufacture 1995
Cylinder capacity 1596 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Taxed
Vehicle colour WHITE

Current owner since Nov 2023
Mileage at last MOT: 37,952
Mileage since previous MOT: 69
No MOT between 2011 and 2023.

[adw1977]

634. 1974 Peugeot 304 Cabriolet

Seen in Seaford, East Sussex on 19th July.

PKP 727M
✓ Taxed - Tax due: 1 April 2025
✓ MOT Expires: 30 May 2025

Vehicle make PEUGEOT
Date of first registration 1 March 1974
Year of manufacture 1974
Cylinder capacity 1288 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Taxed
Vehicle colour YELLOW

Current owner since Feb 2013
Mileage at last MOT: 51,282
Mileage since previous MOT: 1,268

[adw1977]

635. 1979 Mini 1000

Seen in south London on 29th June.

LGN 959V
✓ Taxed - Tax due: 1 April 2025
MOT Exempt

Vehicle make AUSTIN MORRIS
Date of first registration 1 August 1979
Year of manufacture 1979
Cylinder capacity 998 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Taxed
Vehicle colour BLUE

Current owner since Dec 2003
Mileage at last MOT (2019): 49,606
No MOT history prior to 2017 suggests it had been off the road for a few years.

[adw1977]

636. 1979 Vanden Plas 1500

Seen in Horley, Surrey on 25th May.  Crappy dashcam still picture, but it doesn't seem to be a "known" car so I thought it was worth posting.

BAW 343T
✓ Taxed - Tax due: 1 April 2025
MOT Exempt

Vehicle make VANDEN PLAS (or ROVER ALLEGRO according to the MOT check website!)
Date of first registration 1 March 1979
Year of manufacture 1979
Cylinder capacity 1485 cc
Fuel typePETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Taxed
Vehicle colour BLUE

Current owner since April 2023
Mileage at last MOT (2017): 10,555

[adw1977]

637. 1978 Range Rover convertible

Seen in Golders Green, north London on 24th June.  Possibly a Wood & Pickett conversion?  Untaxed for 27 years!

BLF 797S
✗ Untaxed - Tax due: 1 December 1997
MOT - No results returned

Vehicle make ROVER
Date of first registration 19 August 1988
Year of manufacture 1978
Cylinder capacity 3530 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Untaxed
Vehicle colour RED (!)

[adw1977]

638. 1963 Singer Vogue Series II

Seen in Horley, Surrey on 13th August 2024.

BRU 693A (337 GLL until 2022)

✓ Taxed - Tax due: 1 March 2025

MOT Exempt

Vehicle make SINGER

Date of first registration 21 August 1963

Year of manufacture 1963

Cylinder capacity 1592 cc

Fuel type PETROL

Export marker No

Vehicle status Taxed

Vehicle colour GREEN

Number of owners: 7

Current owner since Jan 2023

Mileage at last MOT (2022): 1,043

[adw1977]

639. 1988 Toyota Carina II GL

Seen in Reigate, Surrey on 5th August 2024.

E928 DNJ
✓ Taxed - Tax due: 1 August 2025
✓ MOT Expires: 1 August 2025

Vehicle make TOYOTA
Date of first registration 14 March 1988
Year of manufacture 1988
Cylinder capacity 1587 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Taxed
Vehicle colour GREY

Current owner since Aug 2022
Mileage at last MOT: 55,003
Mileage since previous MOT: 908

[uk_senator]

4 hours ago, adw1977 said:

639. 1988 Toyota Carina II GL

Seen in Reigate, Surrey on 5th August 2024.

E928 DNJ
✓ Taxed - Tax due: 1 August 2025
✓ MOT Expires: 1 August 2025

Vehicle make TOYOTA
Date of first registration 14 March 1988
Year of manufacture 1988
Cylinder capacity 1587 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Taxed
Vehicle colour GREY

Current owner since Aug 2022
Mileage at last MOT: 55,003
Mileage since previous MOT: 908

To me, this is sad, as soon as they get this kind of wide arch/stanced/hipster treatment, the end is usually not far off. Seen it over & over. Looks like it was a nice, well preserved one as well.. 😑

[uk_senator]

On 24/06/2024 at 10:41, adw1977 said:

619. 1988 Vauxhall Nova 1.2 L 5 door

Seen in Barnet, north London on 12th October 2023.
This car has sat here for years and had almost completely disappeared into the undergrowth but it was cut back not long before I took this photo.

Registration number: F649 RMH
✗ Untaxed Tax due: 01 September 2010
✗ No MOT Expired: 30 June 2010

Vehicle details
Vehicle make VAUXHALL
Date of first registration 24 August 1988
Year of manufacture 1988
Cylinder capacity (cc) 1196 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Not taxed
Vehicle colour SILVER

Number of owners: 5
Current owner since May 2002
Mileage at last MOT: 45,276*
Mileage since previous MOT: 4,516
* 5 digit odometer, could be 145,276.

Knocked about this one (& the now hidden Mk2 Fiesta behind the van) numerous times, never had an answer. 

June 2023:



Oct 23:


 

[adw1977]

That Nova seems to go through a cycle of disappearing into the undergrowth and then reappearing when it's cut back.  I never realised there was a Fiesta there too.

[uk_senator]

56 minutes ago, adw1977 said:

That Nova seems to go through a cycle of disappearing into the undergrowth and then reappearing when it's cut back.  I never realised there was a Fiesta there too.

Yeah, a blue Mk2, just about seen here in 2013.. That little fenced bit went up next to the van some time after, I`m pretty sure that neither the van nor Nova moved, so the Fez should still be there.. Lord knows whats in the garage, & maybe even the back garden..

Mad that two neighbouring million+ plus quid semi`s can fall into this state, but there's examples all over the place.

[uk_senator]

Yeah, something blue still behind the van on satellite view (nothing of note in the back garden):

[N19]

I've seen a skip there a couple of times. Wonder what the story is? Hopefully they don't go for scrap when the time comes.

[adw1977]

640. 1981 Suzuki SC100 GX Whizzkid

 

Seen in Reigate, Surrey on 10th August 2024.

ASC 100V
✓ Taxed - Tax due: 1 January 2026
MOT Exempt

Vehicle make SUZUKI
Date of first registration 17 February 1981
Year of manufacture 1981
Cylinder capacity 970 cc
Fuel typePETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Taxed
Vehicle colour SILVER

Current owner since Oct 2023
Mileage at last MOT (2016): 25,005

[uk_senator]

20 hours ago, N19 said:

I've seen a skip there a couple of times. Wonder what the story is? Hopefully they don't go for scrap when the time comes.

They may well do, this is why I`m trying to stop that happening, same situation with the 2 R25`s in my spotted post, no one living in the house now, & there were people emptying the house about 6 months ago (when knew nothing), yet, the Renners are still sitting there.. 

Seen it loads, but this was probably the most upsetting for me.. Knocked & left notes for years, spoke to neighbours, nada, then all of a sudden, the house was sold & modernised & the cars were all gone.. None had plates, so cant check what happened to them..

[neil72]

6 hours ago, uk_senator said:

They may well do, this is why I`m trying to stop that happening, same situation with the 2 R25`s in my spotted post, no one living in the house now, & there were people emptying the house about 6 months ago (when knew nothing), yet, the Renners are still sitting there.. 

Seen it loads, but this was probably the most upsetting for me.. Knocked & left notes for years, spoke to neighbours, nada, then all of a sudden, the house was sold & modernised & the cars were all gone.. None had plates, so cant check what happened to them..

That was a very weird house, likewise, i never saw anybody there, here's the last pic i took before they went

[uk_senator]

8 minutes ago, neil72 said:

That was a very weird house, likewise, i never saw anybody there, here's the last pic i took before they went

Yeah, as i said, no one ever answered or answered my notes, the neighbour said he hadn't lived there for years, but came back to get post occasionally. Theres quite a few houses round here like that, including the one with the X1/9/Rascal/Micra on the front. Theres other houses where the owners gone into a home & the house has been left as-is, like the one with the white 205 LaCoste, an Austin Metro & a sail boat on the drive. Its crazy really.