Spotter's Log: Harpenden Classics On The Common

[Electric Leyland]

Hello fellow Autoshiters, long time no contact. Hope all's well with one and all in shite hunting cyberspace. I've missed it here.

 

Been abroad for a bit, but had my camera with me. And seeing as I lost my original thread of spottage, I'm starting a new one.

 

So here we go, first stop - Australia. It's a spotters paradise, literally. Melbourne and Byron Bay these are all from, in random order (getting used to a new laptop, a real tall order).

 

Let's go!

 

Lovely crusty old Mercedes stack light fintail:

 

One of many Aussie chariots someone else will have to identify for me, couldn't quite get my nut around the amount of Ozshite I wasn't aware of:

 

As above, also applies to some Japtat (help me please, Daihatsu?)

 

Think this was badged as a Ford Laser or summat. Obv a Mazda or something else in real life

 

I almost passed this one by. Subaru Leone!!

 

 

Looks like a Cavalier, must therefore be a Holden:

 

Looks like a Vauxhall, etc etc...

 

The streets are paved with shite in Australia, and what a shock to find this - badged as a Rover at the back. A Rover Quintet to be more precise...

 

And badged a Honda at the front!?!? What was goin on there? My very patient other half was not quite as excited as I was, can you tell?

 

And there's more, much more....

[MrRegieRitmo]

As above, also applies to some Japtat (help me please, Daihatsu?)

Is it not a Ford Festiva / Mazda 121 / Kia Pride ?

[Electric Leyland]

It's not all shite in Melbourne! Toorak to be precise. Or Prahran, St Kilda, wherever the 'eck I was. Check out this lovely old Bentley:

 

 

And further down the street, what was this??

 

Hahaha, Mazda 626 in fine condition

 

You do see a lot of old Subaru's, I think the 4x4 models are kept going for the off road capabilities you need to have over there sometimes:

 

Lovely old Range Rover, I do love these:

 

And ok we don't normally do scene VW's on here, but I loved the shabby oldness of this one

 

Rare!?! Ford Falcon pick-up

 

Nice condition Merc this time

 

More Oz tat

 

As above

 

Does anyone on here have extensive knowledge of these cars I can't identify? I can think of a couple of regulars who could enlighten us actually....

[Electric Leyland]

VW Type 3 fastback, I'm not ashamed to say I love the Type 3, I know Mr H Sceptre will punch me in the face for saying that.

 

 

I just love this! It is a Daihatsu Ute???

 

Holden style Vauxhall / Opel Senator thingy

 

Another cool Ozmobile

 

Cit BX spotted from afar

 

Type 3 Squareback

 

Colt?

[MrRegieRitmo]

And further down the street, what was this??

Same as whatever the yellow one is in the above section!

 

 

And ok we don't normally do scene VW's on here, but I loved the shabby oldness of this one

I would say that genuinely loved / used / neglected VWs have their place! It depends on the owner!

 

Does anyone on here have extensive knowledge of these cars I can't identify? I can think of a couple of regulars who could enlighten us actually....

 

betaphile, r.welfare, please report to the front desk - the guvnor needs you!

[Electric Leyland]

OK this is only on here 'cos I was allowed to drive it. My mate's 6-Litre petrol alloy V8 6 speed manual Holden Commodore SS and I'm sure I was still wheelspinning the thing in 3rd.....

 

But I digress. This one belonged to my girlfriends's friend, so it was once round the block in between rounds...

 

And here they are discussing kit in front of a Ute, behind the so called "notchback". Great evening that was...

 

Nice Mazda, on a driveway..

 

Big Ford Falcon and even bigger Ford of some sort, Fairline??

 

Now we are seriously talking! Alfa Romeo Alfetta

 

 

Lovely old Datsun 120Y kept in good nick, bar the prang...

 

And not quite as good condition, this...

 

 

BEAUTIFUL!

[Electric Leyland]

 

And further down the street, what was this??

Same as whatever the yellow one is in the above section!

 

 

And ok we don't normally do scene VW's on here, but I loved the shabby oldness of this one

I would say that genuinely loved / used / neglected VWs have their place! It depends on the owner!

 

Does anyone on here have extensive knowledge of these cars I can't identify? I can think of a couple of regulars who could enlighten us actually....

 

betaphile, r.welfare, please report to the front desk - the guvnor needs you!

I did photograph the badge on the back for evidence Regie, but cant find the blumming thing now. Tsk pesky holiday snaps, having to sift through them all to get to the REAL stuff!

 

Agreed re- old VWs / owners. That's why Mr H Sceptre finds them so abhorrent. I'm quite VW scene tolerant, but you have to be esp if youre in Oz, they're 10 a penny. I like them all, and I'm not ashamed. This morning on the way to work in London saw a split screen VW dormobile wth all the little windows along the top all around it, and i bloody well loved it. Despite the arse candle who was driving it.

[Electric Leyland]

No idea what this is, Aussie of course, but makes for a lovely photo esp with that Honda in the backgound...

 

And then stone the crows, this!!! A Mk 1 Escort estate camper van thing

 

My crappy digital camera was too slow off the mark with anything moving, plenty of duff shots like this. Duff moving shot #1...

 

But then suddenly, another!!!

 

Saw 3 of those in the same day, alas rubbish slow digi camera technology meant the 3rd one was out of site before the thing kicked into action. Stupid Nikon crap.

 

But then, woooaahhh, this on Chapel Street! Lancia Beta Coupe in great 70's-coloured nick!

 

 

Fleetwood Mac should have had this as the album cover....

 

Aha, this is the one I snapped that badge on...

 

Behold, the Holden Torana!

 

And a scabby old Jag XJ Series to boot

[Electric Leyland]

OK nearly half way through the set. Here's a rare Honda...

 

Another nice big retromobile

 

Big old Volvo, you see so many old Volvos everywhere...

 

Slow on the mark again with the digi camera technology....

 

But not that slow - look at what else was of the mark at the lights!

 

Another old Subaru

 

And another

 

Loads and loads of old Peugeots everywhere in Australia, big importers of these...

 

Dunno what's best here? Both stunning...

 

But then - my god! Almost had a Queen inspired sheer heart attack..

 

Right I'm off to bed, hope you enjoy these pics, plenty more to come forthwith.

[STUNO]

I can put names to all these faces...when I getaroundtoit :)he he he Bas***d

[Betaphile]

Some great spotting there EL! Let's have a go at the stuff-without-ID:

 

One of many Aussie chariots someone else will have to identify for me, couldn't quite get my nut around the amount of Ozshite I wasn't aware of:

Nothing less than a superb Chrysler Valiant - getting quite rare now, especially in that condition. Nice find.

 

As above, also applies to some Japtat (help me please, Daihatsu?)

That, in fact, is an original Mazda 121 (later Ford Festiva, later Kia Pride).

 

Think this was badged as a Ford Laser or summat. Obv a Mazda or something else in real life

Another car that used to be as common as muck but is now getting decently rare. In the late 1970s Ford decided to dump the Escort and re-body the Mazda 323 for local assembly - the Laser nameplate ran for nearly 20 years, very successfully, before they decided to go all European again and import the Focus.

 

Looks like a Cavalier, must therefore be a Holden:

Nothing less than a JD Camira. The Camira was originally introduced to replace the Torana in 1982, a decision made in Detroit from the penthouse of fuel crisis central in the late '70s. Essentially our own version of the J-Car, but was received quite well at the time - until owners discovered the build quality, which was, not to put too fine a point on it, appalling. It also stole masses of sales from the Commodore so Holden was stuck building two model lines for (less than) the revenue of one, since Camiras were much less profitable than the Commodore. All-in-all, an episode of history Holden would rather forget.

 

As above

A gen-you-whine Holden HK sedan, aka the first Kingswood, and basis for the original Monaro.

 

I just love this! It is a Daihatsu Ute???

Great spot this - it's actually a Suzuki Mighty Boy, a microscopic K-Car ute with a 500cc engine which (from memory), until the introduction of the FSM Niki (Polish Fiat 126), had the distinction of being the cheapest new car on the Australian market. According to wiki (and I didn't know this), it was exported only here and Cyprus (!) - great find. Due to this, it has attained semi-cult status in Australia - a useful comparative object for a metaphor in automotive company.

 

Google turned up this:

 

http://www.icbm.com.au/mightyboy/history.htm

 

Holden style Vauxhall / Opel Senator thingy

Just an old Commodore, VB (the original model) by the looks of it.

 

Another cool Ozmobile

Again, just an old Holden, an HR sedan. These things last, still a decent number around.

 

Colt?

Colt.

 

Big Ford Falcon and even bigger Ford of some sort, Fairline??

Indeed, a Fairlane, mid-90s; Falcon ahead of it is mid-80s.

 

And not quite as good condition, this...

 

 

BEAUTIFUL!

That Pintara is quite spectacular!

 

No idea what this is, Aussie of course, but makes for a lovely photo esp with that Honda in the backgound...

An old Falcon, looks like an XW or XY, the bodystyle popularised by the GTHO's wins at Bathurst.

 

My crappy digital camera was too slow off the mark with anything moving, plenty of duff shots like this. Duff moving shot #1...

Another tidy Valiant, this one a 'Regal'...

 

But then, woooaahhh, this on Chapel Street! Lancia Beta Coupe in great 70's-coloured nick!

 

And to close, no particular reason for including this, except for another lingering look...

[garethj]

But then, woooaahhh, this on Chapel Street! Lancia Beta Coupe in great 70's-coloured nick!

Hactually, that's a Beta HPE, not a coupe. HPE stands for High Performance Estate of course, and once they start having questions like this on University Challenge we'll see how clever the kids of today really are

[michiel]

Jeez, overload! Most ezxcellentst for me:

 

[STUNO]

Came in from work and sat down to show off herebut betaphile beata me. full marks ! and detailed answers too.

[Spottedlaurel]

Wahey, great to see you back on here EL! Hopefully your presence will encourage a few more posts from Mr H_S too?Anyway, that’s a superb batch of stuff there. Difficult to pick a favourite.To elaborate a bit more on the Pintara, it’s essentially a 4-cyl Skyline R31 (which is the sister car to my Laurel C32). Locally assembled, and the 6-pot RB30 engine found in the Skylines out there also got chucked into Holdens of the time. I think the estate version of the Pintara/Skyline is a nice-looking thing.

[Electric Leyland]

Great to be back SL. Majorly impressed Mr Betafile's sillz, thank you!!

 

Ready for some more?

 

This street had a good dozen classics in it, I was amazed. Volvo...

 

Across the road, Alfa and Stag

 

Then this came past, again the camera whimpered into life.....Corolla I think...

 

Not seen a Mazda RX2 since .. must be early to mid 1980s...

 

Or am I wrong? It was badged an 808. Is it the same thing?

 

Then round a corner, saw the roof of something peeping out from a yard, over a fence in the distance. Went in to investigate - and there under a tree - Renault 12!

 

And if that wasn't enough, the far corner of the same yard had this sitting under another tree. Reading Prac Classics current issue on the plane, it stated there's only one left on the road in the UK. I saw two in the same week over there! Datsun 1300 ...

 

Back to basics .. Ford Fairli .. no, Falcon?

 

Nutha old Ovlov

 

Not seen a Datsun 240Z in quite a long time..

 

And yet another Type 3 Volks, think this one was a surfer dude one..

[Electric Leyland]

The final set from Melbourne.

 

They have drive-thru off licences over there. This wasn't one of them, but still an item of interest parked outside...

 

Think this was an Oz version of an American car maybe? Great condition!

 

Back on familiar territory with a Volvo P1800S. Nice, but not that exciting

 

... not as exciting as what was parked 2 cars down, the real reason for stopping the car. Honda Prelude !!

 

Quick drive-by attempt..

 

Kept having to stop the car. Fiat Miriafiori !

 

Missed again! Honda Civic

 

Very old BMW 2002

 

Finally for this section, one of the rarest classics I've ever spotted. A Datsun 2000 !!!

 

Who is John Ould ??

 

Byron Bay next!

[Guest]

[quote="Electric Leyland

Who is John Ould ??

 

From the net......

 

John Ould Motors was a dealership based in Armadale VIC that specialised, over the years, in Datsun, BMW, Fiat, Lancia, Saab, Renault and Peugeot.

He was a bit of a nut for vintage cars with a 1932 Lagonda and a 1925 Invicta.

 

Hope this is informative.

[STUNO]

OOOOOH quite a find

1975 ford (aust)falcon coupe John Goss special 5.8 v8

Goss was/is a well known ford racing pilot

The one below is on e bay Aust for A$26000 reserve not met

Note the plate on the one you found

EDIT..just discovered these were originally 5 litre. the one here was 5.8 so assume a bit of work has been done.

[STUNO]

Mazda 808 is the ordinary version 4 cyl and I think 1600cc

[michiel]

Nice set, that Datsun 2000 is yum.

[Electric Leyland]

Good work Stuno and Rootes Arrow, v informative stuff.

 

Wierd weather today in London, blue sky then hailstorm then blue sky etc. Popped out the the shop to get some Stellas in and spend the afternoon with Geoff Stelling reading the scores out. And in that 5 mins spotted a maroon Jensen CV8 and a mid 70s light met blue Viva. Made my day! Simultaneously thought I'd better get round to posting up my last Aussie pics.

 

Here we go, these are all from Byron Bay.

 

Went to a hippie market, this was the first sight. A Renault 12 again.

 

 

Another Subaru, very popular around Byron Bay

 

Think this was an old Mitsubishi Magna. Loads of these about

 

Snapped out the back of the car, another type 3 squareback

 

And this. I love it, much more interesting that all the Vee Dubs around.

 

And an old Honda Accord coupe

 

And a lovely old Daihatsu Charade

 

Then into town to see whats around. Lots of 60's British classics about, like this Herald convertible

 

But nothing could have prepared me for this! Think its a Datsun Sunny B110 coupe. Hope I've got this right!

[Electric Leyland]

Couple more from back at that market. Mazda 626 - is this called a Montrose as well? How many other cars are named after football teams?

 

 

And another!

 

Big old Pug 505 workhorse

 

And another old Pug

 

And a brace of Pugs

 

 

another VW Type 3 Squareback

 

And another, outside Byron Bay's biggest supermarket. Woolworths. Properold school, with the old 70s logo, wish I'd photographed that too.

 

In the same car park, these three....

 

 

 

[Electric Leyland]

Still in the Woolworth's car park..

 

Great condition Beetle

 

Another old Holden

 

It's quite a carpark isn't it? Mk II Escort

 

Across the road, another 626

 

Yet another squareback

 

Holden

 

 

Long range sniper shot of an old Corolla

 

Final shot, an old Bedford at night

 

I can't take any credit for this photo. It's me, photographing a photograph. Visiting the rellies of my girlfriend, her uncle took this shot circa 1966 when he lived in London, just before it parked up and the crowds surrounded. Take a guess who's driving this Aston DB6?

[Albert Ross]

Is it Macca????That 4 door Mk2 Escort looks tohave a pinto under the bonnet by the position of the air scoop......X-flows have them the other side.....

[Electric Leyland]

Is it Macca????

Yup, sure is.

[Spottedlaurel]

More great cars there EL, thanks!According to an Australian mag I picked up recently, 12 was latterly known as Virage out there.

[Electric Leyland]

Good info nugget SL, I did not know that. Great thing about Down Under is there doesn't seem to be any car snobbery out there, folks will happily drive a 70s/80s motor if it still goes, no pressure to have a modern car. Is that the case Betafile / Stuno / anyone?

[michiel]

Looks definitely like there's no snobbery, makes for excellent pics!

[reallyloud]

Magnificent selection of cars there. The 'Datsun 1300' you mention is actually a 1200 (1300 would be a 510) and the sedan version of the B110. Other than that, a very conclusive report. 134/10. Look forward to seeing more!