My holiday SPOTS

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Alright shiters

 

A few weeks ago I went on holiday for a fortnight, to France (bo11ox museum) and italy (Turin). I've always got the camera on standby but the spottings were disappointing if i'm honest. Here is what I did manage to bag;

 

This toyota Tercel was actually spotted my Ms_Bol's young lad, who reckoned as it looked utter crap I would probably love it. Too right, I almost dropped my bacon sarnie when I saw it, good job I was not there or it would have been getting the inevitable note under the windscreen wiper. I remember some American lad on R-R calling these a 'car for homeless people' which sounds right up my street!!!

 

 

A great looking car these, FWD with a longitudinal engine I believe. No doubt if I got one the gearbox would expire after 20 miles and be made exclusively of OMGWTFium.

 

This was a proper minter, these subarus are supa rare in france buit theres a few in Switzerland, the bol museum is not a million miles from the border so I bet thats where this one came from. 1.6 FWD misery spec!!!

 

This dog-eared yank looked great outside the equally dog-eared house, I later kicked myself for not getting the house in the pic too but the car disappeared shortly afterwards.

 

Hang on i'm just gonna re-start my computer as its playing up.

[trigger]

That Subaru contains a truck load of ZOMG! I love the styling of those!

[Mr Lobster]

'MA TOYOTA EST FANTASTIQUE'

 

 

Damn right it is.

[Station]

I love the styling of Japanese cars from that era with the little rear lights and square front lights. That Tercel is a little later, but it's almost identical to Sc100's and 100a's. I think they all used the same front lights, they are identical in size to the 90's Jeep Cherokees.

[michiel]

Hang on i'm just gonna re-start my computer as its playing up.

 

Hurry up! That Tercel made me hungry for more.

[seth]

Hang on i'm just gonna re-start my computer as its playing up.

 

Hurry up! That Tercel made me hungry for more.

 

I'm literally chomping at the bit!

[eddyramrod]

Me too, if there's more like that 61 Chevy!

[KruJoe]

That Tercel is very cute. And a new one on me.

It looks like a truncated Corolla E70 (rwd)- was this even smaller than that?

[Station]

I'm literally chomping at the bit!

 

I am also beading with anticipation!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I love the styling of Japanese cars from that era with the little rear lights and square front lights. That Tercel is a little later, but it's almost identical to Sc100's and 100a's. I think they all used the same front lights, they are identical in size to the 90's Jeep Cherokees.

 

I think you're right, i need a set of those funny little rectangular lights for my 929.

 

This fiesta was MEGA MINT, only 18,000 miles on and looked 100% untouched. I was already to quiz the garage owner about it but he pre-empted me with 'C'est déja vendu', GOOD

 

I spied this excellent 'panneau' directing me to the local Morris Ital outlet, it brought a tear to my glass eye thats for sure.

 

I was surprised to see this UK-plated 420 S-class abandoned in Epinal, not least because you never see UK-regd stuff there (since I left). It had a big splat of oil under the transmission which probably explained a lot.

 

Thats about it for french spots! A pretty dismal showing. On to turin, The holiday had a shite element to it straight out the box as we stayed in a pretty swish hotel, where Ms_B had found mega weekend deal bargainy thing, that is a former Fiat factory.

 

 

Its called Lingotto and has been converted into a hotel, shopping complex, mega cinema, the usual shite. Its pretty class though and still has two big spiral ramps at each end of the building where the cars used to go form floor to floor, and it has a test track on the roof still!

 

 

You can have a jog round it and they use it for classic car gatherings and whatnot, still accessible by vehicle. Theres an art gallery on the top as well with a portion of Gianni Agnelli's art collection and various big prints of 'days of old' with fiats being nailed together and blezzing round the roof etc.

 

As for shite, there were a few 500's, saw 10 parked up for every one driving around though.

 

As this guy accelerated his 600 awy from the lights, a tidal wave of PWN flooded over the bonnet of the Audi beside it. Unlucky!

 

I accidentally took a wrong turn, turned out to be a RIGHT TURN when i clocked this brunette beauty!!! YUMZ

 

'OM' NOM NOM

 

Few of these Lancias knocking around, I love them, I bet they could kick a renault's ass in a 'lousy electronics' competition.

 

These old Fiat ambulances were about a mile away so I nailed em with my 'long range lens', I think the small one is a 900? If so I have never seen one with that face on it before.

 

Hey this Autobianchi was on the Italian Riviera, fairly certain I woldnt have been able to afford it but it looked cool enough.

 

Ms_Bol's Astra looking chic there, again on the Italian riviera, gotta be honest it along with the cote d'azur were pretty grim places I found. Too many fuggin people + too much concrete!!!

 

and not enough SHITE. This delightful 128 coupe was awaiting some fettling at a garage however which was pleasing.

 

1500 euros would buy this slightly shabby but seemingly 100% unwelded beta HPE, its near digne-les-bains if anyone fancies mincing along to check it out. 1500 seems a lot to me, i'd be expecting pumped-up tyres at least for that price.

 

Quick snap from the BM:

 

And finally back in france I clocked this Passat waiting for a set of cheap coilies and what have you:

Such a dour colur that one, is ir red or brown? I remember when there were loads of polo and golf 'C's in this dismal hue.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Oh and while digging in an italian bookshop I found a class book on these big old 1800 saloons, this one:

 

 

Its in italian like but is readable if youre mega patient. Theres some top level shite in here inc the usual oddball coachbuilt italian specials, sadly I dont have a scanner so i cant post it up at the moment, leave it with me though!!!

[seth]

Factory/Hotel is mega! I didn't know it was being redeveloped. Might be just the rain but it looks like a pretty dismal place that has been rather badly tarted up. Must have been an amazing sight when it opened though.

 

[Station]

I notice they've put concrete blobs on the test track as well! I think the red/brown colour is maroon, probably the 90's beige, and the 00's metallic forest green/autumn red.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Admittedly that photo of mine is pretty crap, it was a lousy morning and its also the 'back side' of the factroy that i've snapped there.The place was quite impressive. the 'hollow' in the middle of the building is now full of palm trees and has a restaurant garden in it!!

[Pete-M]

You didn't see any Minis on the roof of Lingotto did ya? Any cheeky Cockney wide boys shoutin' "Get in the Dormobile"?

[barrett]

Good one Bollz.

 

I'm trying to figure out the Fiat 900 van, I'm sure I know what the deal is but it's not happening at the moment. That bigger one is 238 right?

 

Is that Fiat book by Alberto Sannia? He's a top bloke, and has done a shedload of books on utterly obscure coachbult variations of 60s Fiats.

[pogweasel]

Hmm, I think I will add the lingotto hotel to the list of 'places i would like to go but will never actually visit'

Excellent commentary as usual.

[Split_Pin]

Great spots and I love the Toyota Tercel. I've never seen one before.

 

I can vaguely recall that there was an article in PC some time ago with a Fiat camper similar to the one in your photo. I'm sure it was some sort of 'Camper Test' article, also featuruing a J4. I could be wrong though.

[seth]

I can vaguely recall that there was an article in PC some time ago with a Fiat camper similar to the one in your photo. I'm sure it was some sort of 'Camper Test' article, also featuruing a J4. I could be wrong though.

 

That was just a few issues ago. This is the van as seen at the Ace Classics meet in April

 

 

[Vin]

Good one Bollz.

 

I'm trying to figure out the Fiat 900 van, I'm sure I know what the deal is but it's not happening at the moment. That bigger one is 238 right?

 

Is that Fiat book by Alberto Sannia? He's a top bloke, and has done a shedload of books on utterly obscure coachbult variations of 60s Fiats.

 

The 900 Van Mr. B has captured for posterity is an 850 'Familiare' hence the different front end to the bog standard 850T van.

 

I've just had a look at my copy of Alessandro Sannia's (I agree Barrett, he is a top bloke and has gone to a lot of effort in his research...) book on the 600/850/900T coachbuilders, and the only Familiare based ambulance in it is a dead ringer for the one in Bol's piccie. Made by a company called 'Grazia' of Bologna. From the pictures in the book they seemed to specialise in Ambulances and Hearses.....

 

Great Pics.

[barrett]

Vin, you'll be pleased to know Mr.Sannia is currently working on a book about special 124s and their Lada offspring. I'd love it if someone would translate his books into English, although the pictures themselves are probably worth the entrance fee...

[VWPowered]

awesome spots bol especially the leyland plaque

[scruff]

Fantastic, I deffo have to stay at the Lingotto when I eventually make it to Italy. LJK Setright did a fantastic article on the place back in the 80s, I can't remember if it was Car or Supercar Classics but its well worth searching out.

 

Nice shite spots too Mr B