Forgotten Cars

[martc]

Remember the Toyota Picnic?

No, neither do I*.

(*obs I do remember them otherwise how would I be able to write this post?)

[AnthonyG]

3 hours ago, MantaGTE85 said:

Didn't Crusaders have chrome bumpers? I thought only base Cortinas had black.

Crusaders did have stainless steel bumpers, although I imagine by now it’s a case of what can be found in good condition that fits.

Crusaders were pretty popular, I think Ford were slightly taken aback by the demand for them over the summer of ‘82. 

There was even one sitting on the stand at the 1982 Motor Show, which should have been all about the new ‘jelly mould’ replacement. Maybe someone at Ford HQ was feeling nostalgic. 

Carousel’s are much rarer, there were a sort of glorified ‘L’ spec whereas Crusaders were fully loaded, velour, wood veneer on the door tops, pile carpet, radio cassette, pure hedonism 😀

[chaseracer]

On 16/03/2023 at 16:40, Soundwave said:

Exhibit B: The Amica

One of our team drivers did his ARDS test for his racing licence in an Amica.  At Donington.  On a live circuit.

I wish I'd been there to see the instructor's face... 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Datsun Cedric 200 wagon. 

😕

[tul66]

On 3/13/2023 at 10:26 PM, Soundwave said:

Hey, remember when Proton did a rakish*, sporty* coupe? No? Neither does anyone else.

Here's a picture of the one a mate had when were at LeMans in 2008.

[EyesWeldedShut]

1 minute ago, tul66 said:

Here's a picture of the one a mate had when were at LeMans in 2008.

The teddy in the motorhome is bigger than your tent?

[tul66]

On 3/13/2023 at 11:18 PM, ruffgeezer said:

Mine is an Italian badged car, made in Hungary, with switchable 4wd and came with either 1.6 petrol or I belive 1.9 diesel engine.

Fixed that for you. I've a diesel one.

[tul66]

3 minutes ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

The teddy in the motorhome is bigger than your tent?

I had the one behind the car.

 

[EyesWeldedShut]

On 3/17/2023 at 10:22 AM, lesapandre said:

Always amusing how manufacturers seem to shamelessly copy each other - I think the Vel Satis came first?

Add Vel Satis to this list of disappeared cars - very very few in UK in first place.

Funnily enough - just got the glossy brochure through the door for 'Classic Car Auctions' and there's one in their upcoming list
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1558661
Better pictured on the Interweb but there's just a 'something' about glossy brochures on decent paper.... (gifferdom has arrived)

[grogee]

On 3/17/2023 at 11:01 PM, AnthonyG said:

Not sure if these were ever ‘on sale’ to the public here, I think fleets could have some if they were really interested.

I mean, if you asked hard enough I’m sure Toyota G.B. would have taken your money, at least on a lease, but unlike the Insight they weren’t actively retailed to private customers. 

The above probably also applied to the hydrogen powered Mirai(?), ostensibly available for a few years in the 2010s, at around £50k for a weirdly styled car the size of a Corolla, and which you could only refuel in 6 places in the country or suchlike - well demand was pretty minuscule I imagine. 

Mk1 Prius was definitely sold to UK general public, I drove a press car in 2000ish.

It shat its power steering in Leicester but all was well after a CTRL+ALT+DEL restart.

[RayMK]

On 3/18/2023 at 8:35 AM, Dyslexic Viking said:

I think you are right about that. But think all sold in Norway was petrol.

When dad got in contact with his WW2 Belgian friends in 1966 - we were at RAF Bruggen at the time - they replied and urged us to visit them at La Hulpe in the outskirts of Bruxelles.  We drove there (not far) in dad's Victor FB estate.  After lunch, the friends took us to the Atomium, which was interesting, but far more interesting was the car, a Volga (petrol) like the one pictured.  It was comfortable and solid in a brutish, archaic way and remains as the the only Russian car I've been in. 

[lesapandre]

1 hour ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

Funnily enough - just got the glossy brochure through the door for 'Classic Car Auctions' and there's one in their upcoming list
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1558661
Better pictured on the Interweb but there's just a 'something' about glossy brochures on decent paper.... (gifferdom has arrived)

"The name Vel Satis is a composite of elements of the words Velocity and Satisfaction"...really?

Loads for sale in France from 500€ upwards...

[MiniMinorMk3]

Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin

 

and on the same theme, but probably not a UK model, the Pajero EVO

[Skut]

98-01 Suzuki Alto.  I had one off Mr Shitpeas for quite a bit.  I only saw one other in the entire time we had it.   Quite a likeable little car but rust was getting a hold in a big way. Clutch, CV joint woes and a break in sealed it's fate.  

[Metal Guru]

41 minutes ago, Skut said:

98-01 Suzuki Alto.  I had one off Mr Shitpeas for quite a bit.  I only saw one other in the entire time we had it.   Quite a likeable little car but rust was getting a hold in a big way. Clutch, CV joint woes and a break in sealed it's fate.  

I got one as a hire car in1999. (Fiesta or similar , yeh right). Drove it round the block and demanded something better.

[Leyland Worldmaster]

On 3/14/2023 at 7:38 AM, GrumpiusMaximus said:

The MK1 Mitsubishi Space Wagon, whereby the styling department looked at a brick and collectively passed that over as the clay model:

When I was at Primary School, our neighbour two down had one and used to take me to school in it a couple of times a week.  My memories are vague but also that it was grim.  This same neighbour also ended going to study to be a Vicar.  Last I heard of her, she'd had an affair with the more senior Vicar...

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/no-regrets-say-married-priests-a48477/

You've reminded me of the Datsun Prarie; local newsagents owned one. Blue with a blue interior too... 

https://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/nissan/prairie-m10/

 

[Jim Bergerac]

Seat Cordoba...

Also available as a Vario (Estate):

Or the really fetchin SX Coupe:

[RoverFolkUs]

On 3/16/2023 at 4:40 PM, Soundwave said:

Exhibit B: The Amica

To this day I've never sat in a car with seats as uncomfortable as the Amica. Best comparison would be if one were to fold an ironing board in half and call it a car seat! 

[NorfolkNWeigh]

On 3/18/2023 at 4:06 PM, MantaGTE85 said:

Didn't Crusaders have chrome bumpers? I thought only base Cortinas had black.

Single colour Crusaders had chrome bumpers and black grille, two tone had body colour grille and black bumpers. I’ve never owned a Crusader but drove quite a few as hire cars, I actually preferred them to the fancy new Sierras that were on the rental fleets at the same time. Much plusher inside than a 1.6 L dangly mirrored 4 speed and drove identically on the motorway.

[MiniMinorMk3]

On 3/18/2023 at 7:26 PM, martc said:

Remember the Toyota Picnic?

No, neither do I*.

(*obs I do remember them otherwise how would I be able to write this post?)

I reminded of it every time I look at this

[High Jetter]

In a 'basket'! 🤣

[Stanky]

37 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

In a 'basket'! 🤣

Not just a basket, a 'Basket Case' indeed!

[AnthonyG]

On 3/18/2023 at 8:57 PM, Dick Longbridge said:

Datsun Cedric 200 wagon. 

😕

Is that picture in a breakers’ yard? Surprised it wasn’t sold on for salvage, although I suppose that does look like a total loss. 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

38 minutes ago, AnthonyG said:

Is that picture in a breakers’ yard? Surprised it wasn’t sold on for salvage, although I suppose that does look like a total loss. 

Yup. Still such a shame it wasn't given another chance. I don't know how stripped the shell is  by now. Engine's for sale here:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165652649574?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=OFRhPSGuQ2S&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=FV05_6LQQo2&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[High Jetter]

It was known on here, IIRC

[Crackers]

On 20/03/2023 at 22:26, High Jetter said:

It was known on here, IIRC

It was indeed, involving one of the most epic collection capers ever to feature on the site followed by a sudden and only-partially-unexpected high-profile exit by the owner which roughly coincided with the car headbutting a lamppost (iirc) and losing, thus sealing its fate.

[MiniMinorMk3]

VW XL1

Looks like the owner is hoping a couple of people remember it.

Lot 50: Classic Motoring Lot Bidding Ends: Wednesday 29th March 2023 at 7:40PM £68,000-74,000 - Brightwells

[bunglebus]

I have seen one of those on the road - in Birmingham. 

Yesterday I saw a Chevy Tacuma!

Another forgettable people carrier. It is of course actually a Daewoo - a whole company who we didn't know existed, then did, now we've forgotten again

[quicksilver]

Not a car I forgot but one I refused to believe ever existed. When I was at primary school, my mum's Metro got hit by what she insisted was an Allegro convertible and the owner said was the only one on the road. In those pre-internet days I had never heard of such a thing and mum not being a car person I assumed she was mistaken. Fast forward many many years and this appeared at the BL Autumn Rally.

She was right all along!

[loserone]

Did you go and ask to see the crash repair?