eddyramrod Posted May 2, 2011 Posted May 2, 2011 Now that I have the photos kind-of organised, have a few spots from sunny Paphos. We'll open with what I first thought was a homebrew, but apparently not; I googled it and it seems to be some kind of low-volume thingy produced in the far east.It's called a Marvia, and seems to be a Suzuki SJ chassis. Bloody lovely, I want one! Next up, and staying with Suzuki...You might recognise the setting! This is my next-door-neighbour's Mighty Boy, 543cc of stump-bothering torque. He brought it round for a little bodywork (everything's little on it, lol). This is the neighbour who is the previous owner of my A40...Staying in my village, and only a dog-walk away (she's only a chihuahua, so not far at all!)...A Mazda from about 1972. I think in those days it would be called 616, but I haven't gone round the back to check. It looks like it's been laid up some time.Lots of OJC action over here, as I'm sure you know...I spotted this lush Prelude in traffic, and when I finally got a parking slot, found he had too, so I went back for my camera, obviously. It's even an auto. Gorgeous.Staying with the Japanese theme...How often do you see two Toyota Crowns together? The yellow one is 1970, the white one is 1971, and yes, they are in the same place; the same garage many of my spots come from. He also has this...Crusty Alfetta, but the interior is rather nice in a 70s stylee.Elsewhere...I pass this Jag a lot, never seen it move. I think it's been abandoned.Now I know these have a following here in Vauxhall flavour...This is of course the Opel, as Vauxhalls were restricted to home-market only by the time these came along. I was walking back to the Granada having photographed the Prelude, and just thought this would go down well. See how I think of you guys? Who doesn't love a Farina?That badge on the bootlid does say what you think it says, yes, this is the MG. First one I've seen here, although there do seem to be a few Oxfords and Wolseleys about. It's in a back street in the centre of Paphos.Meanwhile, in a back street in a nearby suburb...One-eyed Beetle is for sale. Savour...
eddyramrod Posted May 2, 2011 Author Posted May 2, 2011 Having made a promise, here are some pics from the Other Side... the Turkish bit.There y'go! Need any captions?
CreepingJesus Posted May 2, 2011 Posted May 2, 2011 It's called a Marvia, and seems to be a Suzuki SJ chassis. Sounds a daft question, but it is RWD right? Just that I'm thinking of the hilarity of a 4x4 version...
CreepingJesus Posted May 3, 2011 Posted May 3, 2011 Interesting. Presumably, with it coming from the Far East, and being seen in Cyprus, there's plenty of SJ's to cannibalise. Never considered that sturdy little chassis as the basis for a special, other than rallying or jacking up.
eddyramrod Posted May 3, 2011 Author Posted May 3, 2011 As you can see, we're not exactly short of an SJ or two here. And we can do LWB! So yes, the Marvia will be mostly-RWD (I admit to not checking underneath to see if it had a front diff too). I've been thinking for some time that the chassis must be gr888 for special-building, in any form, but this proves it. I actually like the proportions of the Marvia. Cheap to run, easy to get service items, and go-anywhere ability too, what's not to like?
eddyramrod Posted May 4, 2011 Author Posted May 4, 2011 Clearly not! It's obviously that well-known McThesp, John Gordon Sinclair, or possibly his twin brother Gordon John Sinclair... Thanks GTD
eddyramrod Posted May 17, 2011 Author Posted May 17, 2011 Got a few more for you, some of them not from the Paphos area. Eagle-eyed readers will know I had a trip to Larnaca today, so it's a bit of a mixture. We'll start in Paphos......with a Merc W123. I'm no fan of these, but someone must be, in fact a lot of someones as they are on every corner. Most are diesel, which points to a long hard life as a taxi. You do see a lot of limo versions, some even still in taxi service!The ol' Mitsubishi L200 is still very popular round here too, even this older style. Sadly I think this one's been hauled away for crushing as it's no longer on the corner site shown.Mk3 Tina anyone? This one belongs to my buddy Ian, I think I've posted it before. He now has bigger tyres on it (65% profile instead of 50%) which make a heck of a difference. He's deliberately going after a late-70s streetracer look for it, with strong hints of Chevy Chevelle, and I think he's got it pretty damn close. He's 24... His Cortina "GTO" started life as a 2000 GXL, but by the time he found it, it had been sorely neglected, so whatever form he saves it in, is good. So coming back from Larnaca this morning I decided to skip off the motorway and prowl some of the back roads, which resulted in a few nifty turns, some exciting reversing and rather a lot of maximum zoom! First "spot" is this beauty...I had the Spot-On model when I was a kid! Humber Super Snipe estate, about 1965. I would!Now there's a story to the next lot... In January 2009 we came over to look at rental properties in the Paphos area, and stayed (logically) on the far side of the island, at Protaras. So of course we're rushing back and forth in the rental Jimny, and one time I decided to use the back roads. I spotted not one but two PA Crestas in a field, and never found them again. Until today! I think it might be a different field, but there are certainly two Crestas in it! That makes 4 I've found sitting around in Cyprus, in a little over two years. But wait, these two have gained some companions...Yes, an A40! I don't think there's much on it I could use though...Not sure if you can make them all out, but the lineup includes an A30 or 35 van (couldn't tell from the roadside) and three Morris Minors! I can feel a return visit coming on...So, a bit nearer to home, and the mean streets of Limassol yield more treasures...The car on the street is a Toyota, fair enough, but I don't recognise the white bum sticking out. Mr Bickle, can you help?This could be my house... As well as the Toyota and the white thing, we have a JU van, a Mk1 Transit LWB and an FD Victor. Behind them, something large, blue, and Coke-bottle era. Think it might be something GM, but whether it's American, Australian, or what... I couldn't get close enough to tell. So that'll be another return visit then! Actually, there's a 1978 Buick Electra in a yard* nearby, so yes, definitely another visit!I know we have bike types here, so this is for you. I think it is/was a Yamaha R1, but I know as much about bikes as I do about football, and in both cases that's more than I'll ever need or want. Feel free to contribute facts about it. The bike, that is, not football. *That's a yard littered with aircooled VWs, which appears to be part of a truck garage across the road, but there was nobody to ask.
Guest Leonard Hatred Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 I like the Cresta field, and all of the spots really.
CreepingJesus Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Again, quality spots, sir. I recognised the front of the Mk2 Ashtray/Belmondo in front of the Snipe estate (don't think I've ever seen one for real, incidentally); but what's the yellow thing facing it? I immediately thought Mitsu GTO/3000GT, but now I'm not so sure.The bike is a drag replica/street racer kinda thing. Very tasty, but the swing arm isn't actually extended, as they would be. It appears to be mounted on some sort of boxed-in subframe, with an output (or repeater) shaft + sprocket at the inner end of the arm, where it ought to be! It's either someone's very odd attempt to keep some sort of cornering ability, while getting the look: or there's been some serious shenanigans under that fairing!
Barrett.in.the.USA Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 The car on the street is a Toyota, fair enough, but I don't recognise the white bum sticking out. Mr Bickle, can you help? I think I know what it is but I'll hold off and see what others think. I have a feeling you may have inadvertently stumbled on perhaps the rarest car in Europe.... I suggest you return and get some more conclusive photos post haste!
CreepingJesus Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 The car on the street is a Toyota, fair enough, but I don't recognise the white bum sticking out. Mr Bickle, can you help? I think I know what it is but I'll hold off and see what others think. I have a feeling you may have inadvertently stumbled on perhaps the rarest car in Europe.... I suggest you return and get some more conclusive photos post haste! Would I be right in thinking that 'BMW 2002 of some sort', was far too obvious an answer. And so far wrong, that I was right not to say it in the first place?
Guest Leonard Hatred Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Definitely not a 2002. I might be well off the mark here, but is it an early Mazda Familia?
Barrett.in.the.USA Posted May 18, 2011 Posted May 18, 2011 Definitely not a 2002. I might be well off the mark here, but is it an early Mazda Familia? I reckon you're right! Which means I was way, way, way off the mark with what I thought it was! Still pretty rare though it has to be said...
gtd2000 Posted May 18, 2011 Posted May 18, 2011 The car on the street is a Toyota, fair enough, but I don't recognise the white bum sticking out. Mr Bickle, can you help? I think I know what it is but I'll hold off and see what others think. I have a feeling you may have inadvertently stumbled on perhaps the rarest car in Europe.... I suggest you return and get some more conclusive photos post haste! Mazda Familia 800/1000? The example further up maybe the earlier variant - the later one has the rectangular shaped lights like above
nigel bickle Posted May 18, 2011 Posted May 18, 2011 Good spot. i was initially thinking ealry Fiat 1300/1500 -but i think you're prb correct. Luvverlie
michiel Posted May 18, 2011 Posted May 18, 2011 W O W ! ! ! Want. Would go nicely with the brochure I have...
seth Posted May 18, 2011 Posted May 18, 2011 Was that second one a brochure shot Michiel? Lorra love for the Cresta field too. Is that A40 a countryman if the bottom half folds down like that? Look forward to your return visit.
michiel Posted May 18, 2011 Posted May 18, 2011 'Great car for drying sheets on' Neither of them are actually... more non-brochure shots: Apologies to mr ramrod for polluting his topic (I'll remove them if you want me to!).
Guest Leonard Hatred Posted May 18, 2011 Posted May 18, 2011 What did you think it was Barrett? I'm enjoying the Familia snaps, they're quite neat/awkward/neat looking things.
Spottedlaurel Posted May 18, 2011 Posted May 18, 2011 Some excellent stuff, how amazing that you can see this out and about! I didn't twig what seems to be a Familia was anything Japanese. Just assumed some low-volume European oddity, an Autobianchi or something. They did have help/inspiration from European designers back then though, so they're not always easy to work out. For extra images/info on the Mazda 1800 search under Luce, its Japanese name. A very attractive car I think, last UK ones I saw were in a Norfolk scrapyard in 1996/97. It became the 929.
eddyramrod Posted May 18, 2011 Author Posted May 18, 2011 Apologies to mr ramrod for polluting his topic (I'll remove them if you want me to!). Don't be daft, I'm glad of the input! I guessed it was Japanese, but didn't know exactly what; it certainly wasn't a Fiat (Nigel, I'm ashamed of you, knowing I have access to one of those!). Seth, the A40 is a Countryman, yes; same as mine. Most of the A40s I've seen here are. The saloon bootlid was bottom-hinged too but didn't wrap over the bustle, like it does on the Countryman. (My first one was a saloon) SL, thank you sir. I have looked (though not closely, I don't want a Cypriot steaming out shouting at me to get off his land!) at the badge on the rear quarter, and I'm pretty sure it says Mazda 1500. Given their tax brackets, I would expect the Cypriots to order low-spec versions where possible, why pay for an 1800 when a 1500 will get you there not much later? Better find some comfy seats, guys, the return visit might be a while away yet. But I do so luuuuuuuuurve those Vauxhalls...
Guest Leonard Hatred Posted May 19, 2011 Posted May 19, 2011 I was quite brazen with my spotting in Cyprus and wasn't chased away by indignant Cypriots. Maybe just lucky. I was chased away by a Romanian sheep farmer at a disused copper mine though.
eddyramrod Posted May 19, 2011 Author Posted May 19, 2011 I'm not bold by nature, Len, so perhaps you have a head start on me there. Even so, there's quite a lot you can see from the roadside, and for return visits I do know one or two native Cypriots I could take with me...
gtd2000 Posted May 21, 2011 Posted May 21, 2011 I'm not bold by nature, Len, so perhaps you have a head start on me there. Even so, there's quite a lot you can see from the roadside, and for return visits I do know one or two native Cypriots I could take with me... Not like me then? When I was on the Cyprus tour, two of us were laid up in no-mans-land in an OP. To the North were the Turks and to the South the Greeks. The Greek contingent that night must have been having a party as there was Greek music blaring out at full volume. We managed to tolerate this for hours but finally I decided enough was enough. I got out of the OP and headed over to the Greek outpost - with full gear and camo face paint etc. Battered on the front door - an astonished looking Lieutenant opens the door with a look of utter shock on his face - just in time to hear my dulcit Scottish tones shout "turn that fucking music down now!" He complies immediately and I walk back over to the OP to enjoy a peaceful Cypriot evening gazing at the stars As far as I can tell, no diplomatic incident followed
gtd2000 Posted May 21, 2011 Posted May 21, 2011 Actually, on the flip side, the Greek Cypriots scared the crap out of me on a regular basis up in the Troodos mountains We were up at the British base for ski training and at the end of each day we'd head down the mountain to one of the local pubs for a drink. How those chaps managed to pilot those Merc taxis round the snow covered mountain roads without going off the edge I'll never know.... I always slid down the back seat so I couldn't see what was actually happening - I'm sure some of them would have done very well in the WRC!!!
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