Spotter's Log: Harpenden Classics On The Common

1.8k · August 27, 2009

The Guilietta, Alfetta & Alfa 6 oddly all have the same wheelbase (& possibly doors too) but differing front & rear ends. Cost cutting within Alfa Romeo I suspect.
A schoolboy error, if I may say so, Mr Sceptre. The Alfa 6's wheelbase is a whole 90mm greater than the Alfetta and Giulietta's. The Alfa 75 and 90 both share the wheelbase of the Alfetta/Giulietta, though, being essentially updates of the earlier cars. I have read that the Giulietta and 75 doors are the same, and the Alfetta/Alfa 6's.You have no idea how long I've waited to deploy that information: I was beginning to think I'd have to take it to the grave with me.
Absolutely PMSL at that. Just about sums up this forum. Brilliant.It's back to Alfa School for us Mr. HS!

And whats equally as sad is I then spent some considerable time on the net/head buried in books to verify this.

November 15, 2009

'Bout time for an update I think.

No theme here at all, just random shots from the past 3 months. Hope you enjoy...

YES. Honda Jazz.

NO. Mitsuoka Viewt. FOUL.

Lovely Capri

Strange to see one that's not black. Citroen Traction Avant

Gorgeous Mustang

A Tesco carpark Stevenage spot, 1100

Meanwhile in the 6th form college nearby, beyong the ocean of Corsas some lucky student has this as his wheels

Whereas another even luckier student, until their daddy takes it away, is having fun fun fun in this T-bird.

Around the corner, two commuting workhorses nose to nose

Cool and tiny Fiat 500

A sit in the sun outside the front of a patisserie close to home churned up these beauts.

Ford Transit Mk 1, keep seeing this one everytime I leave the flat...

Rolls Phantom III I think

OK it's new but I can't resist them..

more to follow...

November 15, 2009

A brief Biggleswade encounter at the dentists results in this nearby Maestro.

And a roadtrip from Toronto to Detroit for work, this couple. No time to stop for the numerous abandoned yank tanks throughout the countryside though, the Satnav bringing us literally hours off course, but great memories.

What is it?

34 Ford I reckon, very Eliminatoresque.

Sussex countryside find, Datsun E20 camper

early Lotus Esprit

And more local spots. Seen this loads

Skoda Favorit estate

The most WTF car of recent times. Ferrari 360 Modena limo

This Granny had a rust colour boot, looked very cool

Jackpot! Cav mk 1

Y Reg Escort

Daimler Sov coupe

Wowsers FSO

Think this belonged to the mad 80s freak

November 15, 2009

Nice to see something this age being used as a runabout

..and trying to catch up with it, a Ford GT40.. What a glorious racket...

Self indulgent snap one lunchtime

Lovely Escort Mk II

Adorable Renault 4

Marcos

Banksy grim reaper pic that was piloting the GT6 had been removed, now boarded up. Shame.

Love the early Shadows

Gratuitous moneyshots!

more to follow...

3,630 · November 15, 2009

That looks like a Halfords stick-on reflector on the side of the RR (on the sill)!

The Ferrari limo is utterly butterly numpticiously skill.

http://www.ferrari-limos.co.uk/

November 15, 2009

Outta the way! P5

Stacklight Merc

Cit CX Safari

ACENESS

Repeat of a previous Fiesta find

Odd Box

Hidden down an alleyway, RR Cloud

Supercarz abound. Yawn.

Now that's more like it. Tatty triumph Acclaim

What's this, a Willys probably looking at the reg plate

2,351 · November 15, 2009

I'm 99% sure I parked up that road opposite your cafe a couple of years ago when visiting Spitalfields Market.

Jag coupe shot is almost timeless...

Your "34 Ford" is not a Ford. Chevy I think. Also the "What is it" is a 80's/90's Thunderbird with a '49 Ford bodykit.

November 15, 2009

Mmmmm 2 tone with brown.

Honda S-MX futureshite

This garage near my hometown of Leek, Staffs, has some very interesting artifacts out front.

Mainly Rover P6's

But this one really takes the biscuit. Only a Gordon Keeble! Only 99 were ever made.

Back to London now and another fcuking Viewt. Convertible. oooh.

Just round the corner from Lords, this old duffer was 0.1 seconds away from major damage, the classic turning right into road only just braked in time. I only clocked the fella the moment I clicked the camera! He remained gracefully unruffled and continued across the road.

Obscure photo warping early Mk III Escort

Now that's just too ostentatious

But then so was this back in the 70s, and how ace does it look now? Would never have one though

over and out for now.

November 15, 2009

I'm 99% sure I parked up that road opposite your cafe a couple of years ago when visiting Spitalfields Market.

Jag coupe shot is almost timeless...

Your "34 Ford" is not a Ford. Chevy I think. Also the "What is it" is a 80's/90's Thunderbird with a '49 Ford bodykit.

Probably would have been, Spitonyourfields is moments away from there.

I'm pretty hopeless on American cars!

2,351 · November 15, 2009

Examples of the gorgeous Ford.....

2.5k · November 15, 2009

Some top spotting as per EL, London is clearly a good place for spotting!The only car i have seen recently on a trip there is a MKII granada estate somewhere sort of near victoria coach station.

November 15, 2009

Those done-up Thunderbirds are horrible! I really like the original ones too.

4.8k · November 15, 2009

nice merc in the background of this shot...

12,190 · November 16, 2009

Only 99 made and some vandal has put a pop up sunroof in it.

5k · November 16, 2009

great spots loving the gordon keble Ferrari Limo, defo a WTF, looks nasty i think

17,487 · November 16, 2009

Oooh Galaxie 500. Good band, good car.

Without bothering to go and check, i'm pretty sure that is Julian Balme's one.

Agree about the band, cover of 'Submission' ftw.

this is the best 'spotted' thread ever i reckon...

4.1k · November 16, 2009

Superb update!

Marcos on a pallet? Eh?

1.5k · November 16, 2009

Wow, too much to mention. Very much appreciate the effort. I am going to London for the first time in 18months or so, will have to try and dedicate some time to spottage.FSO is great. That student Mk2 Escort looks like my dream car of 5-6 years ago. Jazz as well, I feel embarassed to say that 3-4 years ago I didnt know of their existence.Judging by the plate, that RR Phantom Cab (cant remember the proper name) is owned by a 'tbops' character on Pistonheads. He has stunning collection of 'supercars', even if they are a bit OTT.

I'm 99% sure I parked up that road opposite your cafe a couple of years ago when visiting Spitalfields Market.

Which cafe is that?

November 16, 2009

I'm surprised about that American Ford being a 90s Thunderbird variant. It did look too modern from the front to be a classic, I thought it was somebody's extravanant special or something. Certainly looks better with one of those kits on it.Glad the pics have brought enjoyment. That Gordon Keeble is one of quite a few I've seen in the flesh, I reckon over the years about 15-20 of the 99 made. Yet to this date, since being too young to remember, I've yet to see a Lancia Gamma saloon in the flesh, and they made 15,000 of them.

Which cafe is that?

It's called Apostrope and is on Great Eastern Street

32,235 · November 16, 2009

Great update, topped by the FSO and the Gordon Keeble. I wonder which is actually rarer though

23,272 · November 16, 2009

Is someone trying to get out from behind the seat here!

The Lagonda is my ULTIMATE car. As a child my mate and me set up an imaginary company called 'Cobra Cars' with massive bonnets and space age angular bodies. The Lagonda was our flagship model.

Ours had better electrics though.

January 6, 2010

Hello shiters,

Been on a relaxing break over Xmas/NY in the Loire valley region of France, staying in a very remote cottage and ferrying the other half and baby around in a Citroen Nemo. That thing is an entire story in itself. But had fun visiting lots of chateaux for her whilst I spotted'n'drove. As a result I wasn't able to get out of the car for some shots, so apologies in advance for some below par photography in parts. Was hoping for some epic VW Powered level spottage of derelict kit and buildings, sadly wasnt the case, but overall some good sightings...

First catch of the trip, a Renault 11 Turbo

First sight of the first morning out of the window, this Cit cruising the fields

Cit Visa hiding in undergrowth

Renault 9

Both previous cars being in the grounds of this fancy country pile

Citroen Dyane

Quite old Honda Prelude

Pug 104, I really dig these now esp since seeing Wuvvum bag the MOT'ed ebay one for muchos cheapness.

(that Cit Nemo I had in background here)

Treble Late-80s-tastic

Driven by sexy French MILF, pouting in confusion at my choice of photographic subject

Plus apres cette.

4,444 · January 6, 2010

Excellent! 5dr R11 Turbo FTW! Looking forward to the rest

January 6, 2010

Loving the earliness of this Renault 11. 1984 maybe?

Were tyres really that narrow back then?

Pug 505

And a 305 Estate

Drive by shooting of very early looking Polo

Another drive by, SD1

Got out to get this Lancia Beta HPE

2 in 1

Saw dozens of 25s on the trip, still very common on the roads

Shabby 21

And some choice market day mobile shops

I would love one of these to cruise about in, probably selling old car mags or something equally unprofitable but enjoyable.

Quality cab

more coming....

January 6, 2010

Next up, a Cit CX Safari

And saw quite a few R18 Estates knocking about too, displaying impressively cavalier attitude to parking within the box.

Gritty Granny

Pug 309 and Chanteau Montpoupon

Breeeeak! Reverse. What a front garden.

Lined up outside a garage ....

Renault 4CVs...

There goes another 104 ...

Massive XM estate

Well early BX, pinky grey bumpers FTW

more approaching...

2.5k · January 6, 2010

Nice work EL, some really good spots!Im yet to have a holiday where I can really get down to some serious spottage.

January 6, 2010

Dinner for me each night often consisted of some refreshing 4.6% French lagers at Ã¢â€šÂ¬2.20 a box of 10 from Aldi (yes that's right, 10 for the price of a half of lager in a pub back home) and a fresh French stick with various cheeses and pates. Yum.

Couple of resulting supermarket carpark spots: