Al's spotting thread

[Talbot]

On 29/05/2025 at 00:11, adw1977 said:

Stanwell is also north of the Thames.

Then it isn't in Surrey.  One or other of those locations is wrong.

[adw1977]

6 hours ago, Talbot said:

Then it isn't in Surrey.  One or other of those locations is wrong.

Stanwell is in Surrey. Historically part of Middlesex, but that county was abolished 60 years ago and Surrey was expanded to include an area north of the Thames that now forms the borough of Spelthorne, including Stanwell.

[Talbot]

So how is stanwell in north london then?  Surrey is very much south london. I R confuse.

[adw1977]

Stanwell is not in London at all, but it is north of the Thames, which runs significantly further south at that point that it does in central London.

[Metal Guru]

5 hours ago, Talbot said:

So how is stanwell in north london then?  Surrey is very much south london. I R confuse.

North of the Thames is not the same as North London. Places like Chelsea, Kensington and Wimbledon , all with SW postcodes , are north of the Thames.   The further west you go the more it heads SW until it turns NW towards Oxford.

[danthecapriman]

I’ve always considered it to be London anywhere inside the M25!😄 a ‘no go’ area for me!

[adw1977]

There's quite a lot of places inside the M25 but outside Greater London.

There's also a small area of Greater London outside the M25:

(Greater London boundary shown in red)

[adw1977]

I could rename this thread to "Al's home counties geography discussion thread" but instead I'll go back to posting some pictures of cars!

659. 1982 VW Polo

Seen in Outwood, Surrey. Lack of MOT history suggests it's been off the road since at least 2007.

JLG 716Y
✓ SORN
MOT - No results returned

Vehicle make VOLKSWAGEN
Date of first registration 1 August 1982
Year of manufacture 1982
Cylinder capacity 1050 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status SORN
Vehicle colour YELLOW

Number of keepers: 3
No MOT history

 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

16 minutes ago, adw1977 said:

I could rename this thread to "Al's home counties geography discussion thread" but instead I'll go back to posting some pictures of cars!

659. 1982 VW Polo

Seen in Outwood, Surrey. Lack of MOT history suggests it's been off the road since at least 2007.

JLG 716Y
✓ SORN
MOT - No results returned

Vehicle make VOLKSWAGEN
Date of first registration 1 August 1982
Year of manufacture 1982
Cylinder capacity 1050 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status SORN
Vehicle colour YELLOW

Number of keepers: 3
No MOT history

 

That's a really early Breadvan. Colour looks to be the same yellow used on the mk1 Polo hatch, too - not sure I've ever seen a breadvan in that shade. 

I try not to say it too often, but it needs saving...

[danthecapriman]

7 minutes ago, Dick Cheeseburger said:

That's a really early Breadvan. Colour looks to be the same yellow used on the mk1 Polo hatch, too - not sure I've ever seen a breadvan in that shade. 

I try not to say it too often, but it needs saving...

It actually looks pretty tidy too. Sills look ok and still body coloured etc.

Werent the first Breadvan Polo’s on X plates? I’m sure I remember a pale green one around yonks ago on an X. It stood out because it looked weird with such an old plate on.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

5 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

It actually looks pretty tidy too. Sills look ok and still body coloured etc.

Werent the first Breadvan Polo’s on X plates? I’m sure I remember a pale green one around yonks ago on an X. It stood out because it looked weird with such an old plate on.

Not sure... my old mk1 hatch was an 81 on a W - there were plenty of W plates around back in the day. I remember a Y plate breadvan used to live up the hill from my parents place back in the 80s. 

[adw1977]

There are a few X reg Mark 2 Polos, it was launched in October 1981.

This one did look pretty clean, although I could only see it from a distance.  It's on a farm so possibly still in use around the farm.

[danthecapriman]

Just found this road test article featuring an X plated mk2.

The green one I mentioned above was this colour green but heavily faded.

 

[adw1977]

This one?

MOB708X on Flickr

Colour is Lido Green, apparently.

[danthecapriman]

19 minutes ago, adw1977 said:

This one?

MOB708X on Flickr

Colour is Lido Green, apparently.

It could very well be that one I used to see. The photographer I definitely know for sure was around in the area I used to live as he spotted one of my cars once!

[adw1977]

660. 1950s Mercedes Ponton

Seen in Morden, south London.  Apparently registered in Victoria, Australia with number GBO157.

I think this is one of the long wheelbase six-cylinder W180 or W128 models, the largest of the Ponton types.

I don't think it's moved for a few years now. Previously appeared as photo 478 in this thread.

[Dyslexic Viking]

6 minutes ago, adw1977 said:

660. 1950s Mercedes Ponton

Seen in Morden, south London.  Apparently registered in Victoria, Australia with number GBO157.

I think this is one of the long wheelbase six-cylinder W180 or W128 models, the largest of the Ponton types.

I don't think it's moved for a few years now.

I'm guessing it's a seriously valuable car and the owner is deliberately destroying it.

I can't understand people.

[danthecapriman]

15 hours ago, adw1977 said:

660. 1950s Mercedes Ponton

Seen in Morden, south London.  Apparently registered in Victoria, Australia with number GBO157.

I think this is one of the long wheelbase six-cylinder W180 or W128 models, the largest of the Ponton types.

I don't think it's moved for a few years now. Previously appeared as photo 478 in this thread.

All the way from the lovely climate of Oz to the shit hole UK to be left rotting in the open. I wonder why? 
I know people sometimes have the best intentions with cars like that but makes you wonder what happened. Lost their job? Illness? Such a shame for it to have lasted so long so well in Oz then come here to sit rotting away.

[adw1977]

It is hard to understand.  Someone must have paid a decent amount of money to buy that and have it shipped over to the UK.  Perhaps they died and their relatives are unwilling to part with it but also don't know how to look after it.

[adw1977]

Next door to the Mercedes...

661. 1949 Buick Super 4-Door

Seen in Morden, south London on 30th April.  The newer American car at the same house is one I thought I had photographed before, but apparently not!

445 XUA
✓ SORN
MOT Exempt

Vehicle make BUICK
Date of first registration January 1949
Date of first registration with DVLA November 2006
Year of manufacture 1949
Cylinder capacity 3999 cc
Fuel typePETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status SORN
Vehicle colour TURQUOISE

Mileage at last MOT (2012): 91,793

[adw1977]

662. 1962 Sunbeam Alpine Series II

Seen in Redhill, Surrey on 4th May.

239 CCE
✓ Taxed - Tax due: 1 September 2025
MOT Exempt

Vehicle make SUNBEAM
Date of first registration 27 November 1962
Year of manufacture 1962
Cylinder capacity 1725 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Taxed and due
Vehicle colour RED

Mileage at last MOT (2017): 58,882

[adw1977]

663. 1959 MG Magnette ZB Varitone

Seen in Banstead, Surrey on 15th May.

Quite a late ZB, registered only two weeks before the launch of the replacement "Farina" model.  Oddly, the two-tone "Varitone" versions came with a larger rear window than cars painted in a single colour.

WKV 687
✓ Taxed - Tax due: 1 July 2026
MOT Exempt

Vehicle make MG
Date of first registration 21 January 1959
Year of manufacture 1959
Cylinder capacity 1622 cc
Fuel typePETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Taxed
Vehicle colour MAROON

Mileage at last MOT (2013): 26,433

[Richard_FM]

37 minutes ago, adw1977 said:

663. 1959 MG Magnette ZB Varitone

Seen in Banstead, Surrey on 15th May.

Quite a late ZB, registered only two weeks before the launch of the replacement "Farina" model.  Oddly, the two-tone "Varitone" versions came with a larger rear window than cars painted in a single colour.

WKV 687
✓ Taxed - Tax due: 1 July 2026
MOT Exempt

Vehicle make MG
Date of first registration 21 January 1959
Year of manufacture 1959
Cylinder capacity 1622 cc
Fuel typePETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Taxed
Vehicle colour MAROON

Mileage at last MOT (2013): 26,433

Dr Turner in the earlier series of Call The Midwife had a Magnette, my Mum remarked that back then doctors usually had impressive cars.

[adw1977]

664. 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL

Seen in south London on 10th June.  This car has been photographed several times at Mercedes Benz World at Brooklands.

311 JGU
✓ Taxed - Tax due: 1 May 2026
✓ MOT Expires: 21 May 2026

Vehicle make MERCEDES
Date of first registration 3 November 1960
Year of manufacture 1960
Cylinder capacity 1897 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Taxed
Vehicle colour GREY

Mileage at last MOT: 48,618
Mileage since previous MOT: 122

[adw1977]

665. 1991 Golf Driver

Seen in Horley, Surrey on 11th June.

H604 KPL
✓ Taxed - Tax due: 1 December 2025
✓ MOT Expires: 11 August 2026

Vehicle make VOLKSWAGEN
Date of first registration 23 May 1991
Year of manufacture 1991
Cylinder capacity 1595 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Taxed
Vehicle colour BLUE

Mileage at last MOT: 172,277
Mileage since previous MOT: 1,494

[adw1977]

666. 1953 Triumph Renown MkII

Seen on a motorway somewhere in England, I can't remember where!

OKD 695
Not taxed for on road use
MOT Exempt

Vehicle make TRIUMPH
Date of first registration 23 June 1953
Year of manufacture 1953
Cylinder capacity 2088 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Not taxed for on road use
Vehicle colour BLACK

Last V5 issued in 1989

[adw1977]

667. 1995 Citroen XM VSX Turbo Diesel

Seen in Horley, Surrey in June.

M274 DFG
✓ SORN
✗ MOT Expired: 15 March 2023

Vehicle make CITROEN
Date of first registration 6 March 1995
Year of manufacture 1995
Cylinder capacity 2445 cc
Fuel type DIESEL
Export markerNo
Vehicle status SORN
Vehicle colour BLUE

Mileage at last MOT (2022): 159,736
MOT expired without being retested.

[adw1977]

668. 1972 Triumph Stag

Seen in Reigate, Surrey on 17th June.

PTF 46L
✓ Taxed - Tax due: 1 September 2026
✓ MOT Expires: 15 September 2026

Vehicle make TRIUMPH
Date of first registration 1 August 1972
Year of manufacture 1972
Cylinder capacity 2997 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Taxed
Vehicle colour WHITE

Mileage at last MOT: 51,622
Mileage since previous MOT: 1,071

[adw1977]

669. 1994 Ford Fiesta 1.3 LX 5 door

Seen in Heaton's Bridge, Lancashire on 25th June.  Quicks Bury dealer number plate

L548 GJA
✓ SORN
✓ MOT Expires: 7 September 2026

Vehicle make FORD
Date of first registration 14 March 1994
Year of manufacture 1994
Cylinder capacity 1299 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status SORN
Vehicle colour SILVER

Mileage at last MOT: 55,811
Mileage since previous MOT: 811

[adw1977]

670. 1986 Ford Escort 1.6 GL five door hatch and 1989 Ford Fiesta 1.0

Seen in Heaton's Bridge, Lancashire on 25th June.  Despite appearances, the Fiesta is actually a lowly 1.0.

C674 LGO
✓ SORN
✗ MOT Expired: 13 September 2024
Vehicle make FORD
Date of first registration 14 May 1986
Year of manufacture 1986
Cylinder capacity 1597 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status SORN
Vehicle colour RED

Mileage at last MOT (2023): 73,209
Previous MOT pass was in 2012.
_________________________________

G646 YAN
✓ SORN
✗ MOT Expired: 5 April 2017
Vehicle make FORD
Date of first registration 31 October 1989
Year of manufacture 1989
Cylinder capacity 999 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status SORN
Vehicle colour BLUE

Mileage at last MOT (2016): 103,433*
Previous MOT was a fail in 2005.

*5 digit odometer, could be 203,433 etc.