High class obscure European saloons of the 1970s and '80s

[STUNO]

Here's the Sierra's predecessor.

 

It looks strange side-on, the enormous plane of its boot making it look like a double cab pick-up.

What is it ? I haven't even seen a pic of one before, but instant want even though I will never own one.

[Wight Shite]

Here's the Sierra's predecessor.

 

It looks strange side-on, the enormous plane of its boot making it look like a double cab pick-up.

What is it ? I haven't even seen a pic of one before, but instant want even though I will never own one.

It's a Monteverdi 375/4. I remember first seeing one in a packet of Top Trumps I had as a kid. They have been on my lottery list ever since.

[Tayne]

.

[IanF]

Aston Martin built a four door v8 in the 70s.

Can't find a pic on tinternet though!

You mean one of these

 

 

I think they built seven and I've seen two, one of which was driving down Tottenham Court Road

 

Anyway, does this count?

 

 

 

[Barry Cade]

 

 

 

 

V8 powah

 

[barrett]

Hey I just remembered this! Another 'Opera'....Much as I love the original 130 berlina, this gives me a serious bulge...pity it was just a one-off

 

and another PF saloon prototype:

 

Actually, I think that just might be my ideal two-car garage right there....

 

(the estate versions of both of those are pretty tasty too)

[RedSparrow]

I love the styling of all of these.

 

Here's the Sierra's predecessor.

 

It looks strange side-on, the enormous plane of its boot making it look like a double cab pick-up.

Rather TR7-esque wheels I thought?

[Spottedlaurel]

Aston Martin built a four door v8 in the 70s.Can't find a pic on tinternet though!

Badged Lagonda IIRC. Goosegog off OJC (and RR?) works at an AM specialists and gave me a ride in one of these once. It had a manual 'box and one of the 7-litre conversions BTW, is there a new Lagonda or something of similarly swoopy ilk? I saw something like that on an 09 plate, sounded nice when it turned off and the driver opened it up. Had it been a coupe I wouldn't have been anywhere near as impressed.

[Mr H Sceptre]

This Bitter has been on my 'When i win the lottery' list for a while.

 

 

It was up for sale with someone else who could not sell it and now someone else is. Dont know if they traded it in. I still want it though.

Reminds me of a Ferrari 400/412.

[pandamonium]

[pandamonium]

Aston Martin Rapide.

 

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2009/09/as ... makes.html

[Pete-M]

 

and another PF saloon prototype:

I've driven that!!!! Bauer Millet had it back in '97ish and I had a few grand to spare so I went to have a proper look over it and a drive.

 

Much as I love Lancias I wasn't going to spunk the best part of £10k on a one-off Gamma saloon. No sirree, not me.

[Milford Cubicle]

It doesn't even look that good compared to the proper Berlina.

 

[Pete-M]

I'm a weirdo when it comes to big cars. I love SD1s and Renault 30s, but dislike pretty much every other big hatchback. I just don't get the big hatch thing, I was well peeved when they replaced the Mk2 Granada with a bloody hatchback, but at least Ford realised their mistake. That Gamma saloon looks better from pretty much every angle other than the one that photo is taken at. I'm glad I didn't buy it, as the looks haven't aged well

[Milford Cubicle]

I don't think the Gamma is a hatchback, it's a 4 door like the CX.

[Pete-M]

You may well be right. Maybe I should have said "fastback".I'd forgotten about the CX as well. So, SD1, R30, CX.

[pogweasel]

SD1

[Pete-M]

That's just so wrong Pog. That BMW is a travesty..... You rotter.

[barrett]

I've driven that!!!! Bauer Millet had it back in '97ish and I had a few grand to spare so I went to have a proper look over it and a drive.

 

Much as I love Lancias I wasn't going to spunk the best part of £10k on a one-off Gamma saloon. No sirree, not me.

Lucky bugger! Can't say I blame you for passing it up though, any prototype is gonna have issues but factor in that it's a Lancia*....

Last I heard it went to a 'collector' and is now sitting in a field with a bunch of other Lancias slowly rotting away

 

meanwhile, whilst not form the 70s or 80s, its high class, european and fairly obscure... i'm sure Seth will enjoy it

 

 

*Attitude to Lancias copyright Top Gear 2009

[Pete-M]

Ok, so these aren't saloons, but they're obscure and posh.

 

I love this.

 

 

Quite like this.

 

[barrett]

yup, love that Jag. Is the RR one of the Robert Jankel ones?

[Pete-M]

Probably, although I think there were a few nutters out there doing conversions on 'em.

 

Hooper did a few gorgeous 2 door Turbo Rs.

 

[pogweasel]

I agree with you on the JagWagon, Pete. Why , WHY did they not actually make this (or the coupe, x300 conv et al)???It's the best looking estate of ever.

[garethj]

Estate cars usually work really well in terms of style.

 

Tatra 613

 

Tatra 613 estate

 

ok, so it doesn't work all the time

[pogweasel]

Rear-engined ambulance? GR8 4 LOADIN' CASUALTIEZ IN.

[saabhappy]

Probably, although I think there were a few nutters out there doing conversions on 'em.

 

Hooper did a few gorgeous 2 door Turbo Rs.

 

Yuk - how to make a classy car look naff with the wrong wheels.

[pogweasel]

Has any bentley since circa 1966 actually been capable of being descriped as 'classy'?

[Pete-M]

Quite probably not. The Turbo R is a nice enough thing, but it's severely old technology and truth be told it does look a bit like the Yanks were too involved in styling it. The 2dr one I posted has a nasty bodykit, but the wheels are genuine Bentley ones.The Flying Spur reminds me of a huge Skoda Superb.Not to worry anyway, Poggles, the poster who knows all about class quite probably drives a reskinned Vauxhall Calibra. QED.

[barrett]

I think the T1 was probably classy when it came out, before the wedding-car image hit it. The Pininfarina restyle was super classy too, and thats from '68 I believe.

 

gratuitous Bentley pix:

[pogweasel]

T1/T2 Bentleys are Bernard Manning Motors. UNCLASSY.