RWUK's Roadside Rammle: Cadillac STS in the wild

[RoadworkUK]

I kinda dig these little 323s, but absolutely know that I shouldn't. I'd like a Ford Aspire for extra shite credentials.

 

 

The Ford Aspire is not the same car as the 3-dr 323. It's a Kia Avella, essentially a rebodied Pride (121). In case you were wondering!

 

Goodness me! Every day's a school day etc. Makes me want an Aspire even more.

[outlaw118]

bump

[michael t]

lovely pics, it looks similair to the place that the wheeler dealers BMW Isetta was bought by

[RoadworkUK]

Rightoh. It could reasonably be argued that my recent submissions have been slightly lacking in shiteisciticism.

 

Allow me to redress the balance.

 

 

I'll begin with this fabulous* Corolla with invisible DIY wheelarch repair.

 

 

 

Then a twofer Pogweasel Favorit and Microcar combo. Incidentally this car must be the only attempt at emulating Audi TT styling that was more feeble than the Banham Bat.

 

 

More Pogweasel, In Tin Snail flava.

 

 

This would have been infintely more splendid if he had kept it as a 3000GSI rather than condemning it to life as a hopeless Lotus replica.

 

 

Seen in the car park of B&Q. Where else? Presumably driven there by somebodys butler.

 

 

928 S2 just around the corner from me and heart-stoppingly cool. I'll be keeping my eye on this one.

 

 

This, at the end of a driveway in rather genteel area, is an object lesson in "two-fingers at the neighbours".

 

But I leave you with possibly the best shite I've ever captured:

 

A Luton council estate circa 1982 called etc. etc. etc. etc. Behold:

 

 

 

 

I apologise that I can't offer you any imported pharmaceuticals, golf bats or premium MDF kitchens.

[Spiny Norman]

That Cresta is ace!

[Rocket88]

spam bump

[RoadworkUK]

 

Remember when these bastards were absolutely everywhere? Flight special edition with sub-zero cool "Flight" graphics and the XR2i alloys that I thought were terrific. My old geography teacher had one of these and a mk3 Granada Ghia. He was a winner.

 

Went to the local garder centre today because I'm a grown up. We bought a christmas tree which we've named Chris Thomas Tree.

 

Anyway, we parked next to a really quite well preserved Rover 623 which, ten years ago, would have had me energetically shrugging my shoulders.

 

 

There was also this Volvo and perma-parked W123:

 

 

The Benz has sustained a fairly terminal goosing to the nose; can't have been going all that quickly when the impact occured though being as it is slower than a motherfucker.

 

On Friday I had cause to visit Silverstone for a bit more corporate brainwashing and an introduction to the new A-Class, and it grumped me out:

 

 

I mean; the new A is all spangly and lustrous and will sell like pleasant cakes to status-hungry fashion victims with a fetish for being tied to crippling finance agreements, but.... Where's the innovation? I'm by no means a W168 apologist, but there was never anything else quite like it, then or now. The W169 was normalised a bit but still had the sandwich floor and high driving position. The new A, though, is just a normal, follow-the-herd, FWD hatchback. I know the old one was attrociously unfashionable and handled like the front wheels were on strike, but at least it was unique. And, assuming the CVT gearbox doesn't go twang or fizz, damned reliable too.

 

Anyway; cheering me up on the way home was this tantalisingly blurry Mini Marcos.

 

 

....and everything was alright.

[RoadworkUK]

I was enjoying* a McDonalds poundsaver Double Cheeseburger (as if one wasn't bad enough) and just about to nip over the road and buy a carpet; when this issued from the drive-thru.

 

 

A low fidelity shot but the best my portaphone could muster from fifty feet away. The gold wheels and tan roof look disgraceful.

 

Not to worry. En Route to the carpet people I chanced upon an XR2i that hasn't been ruined:

 

 

And then, just outside the World Of Floor Coverings sat this (which I've actually caught on camera before, but it seems to be following me around).

 

If you took a mirror and gave it a good coat of wax, before frenziedly buffing it down ad infinitum you might one day end up with something as shiny as this:

 

 

It's astonishing. EDIT: It's not actually the one I've seen before at all! Same age, same colour, same postcode, different car!

 

Finally, I recently had an opportunity to play with a 1998 Suzuki Swift with a dent in it that came in for virtually no money as a part exchange.

 

I liberally sprayed my camera over it:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It proved to be the most interesting car I had driven for a while (for positive and negative reasons) and I wrote about it here.

[trigger]

That Acclaim is a excellent spot!, I've seen a few interesting cars in Tollgate car park over the years including a giffer owned Mk5 Cortina.

[RoadworkUK]

I genuinely can't remember whether we decided that spotted threads are good or bad, or whatever. But I'm going to continue until the horse hits the train and I'm told to foxtrot the hell oscar.

 

So, I went to the Co-Op today for a break during decorating. I bought a bacon and cheese turnover, and some crisps. And outside the shop were these.

 

 

It certainly is special. Barely a mark on it. Is this too late to still have System Porsche logos embarrasingly stamped in various places?

 

 

Here is a breadvan. The poor old "experienced" driver who giffers around in it was making a right old pigs ear of maneouvering it just before this pic was snapped, the car's mint but I doubt it has a lot of clutch left.

 

 

There was also this appeallingly beige Trafic.

 

Anyway. Twixt my manor and Colchester there's a fair bit of tragic old tin I've been meaning to snap for a long while, so a quick trip to B&Q FOR SOME GROUT! was taken as an opportunity to go snooping.

 

 

First stop this bloke who clearly absolutely despises P6s.

 

 

Then this Capri 2.8 and 924 combo, the Capri looks reasonably solid from a distance but I should imagine that that long, damp grass has NOM NOM NOMmed through much of the undercroft.

 

 

Nearby is this 100e Thames Van, which is splendid.

 

 

But finally, what's this, then? It must be from mainland Europe somewhere, but my powers to spot foreign cars from 20 years before my time are fading fast.

[Angrydicky]

I believe the mystery car is a Syrena.

 

[RoadworkUK]

I believe the mystery may have lasted all of several seconds!

 

Cap doffed.

[Clevtrev]

It's an FSO Syrena. Built between 1957 and 1983 according to wiki. I have it in my 1967 World Cars book sandwiched between the Suzuki Fronte 800 De Luxe Sedan and the Thunderbird (at a time when they obviously weren't badged as Fords).

 

 

Damn! Beaten to it.

[barrett]

I genuinely can't remember whether we decided that spotted threads are good or bad, or whatever.

 

They are the only threads I bother reading on here anymore (except the ebay tat, obviously) so please keep it up. You've seen some great stuff recently too. How good do those P6 estates look? I would love one

[trigger]

Great stuff yet again Earl, That Rover P6 Estate is a spot I've been meaning to get for a long while as well as the Porsche/Capri combo, they have been parked in that garden for years, The only way to get a photo was to park up so It's good to see you made more of a effort then me.

 

That Thames van has been popping up a few times on my trips to Colchester, it's complete with a chimney sweeps brush on the top and looks ace!

[Skizzer]

Cracking spots Earl.

 

I guess I missed the discussion about whether spotting threads are good or bad, which is just as well or I might have lost the will to live. Gardens full of P6 Estouras and pogweasel pink 924s are what AS is all about.

[trigger]

I think he's referring to the fact that these kind of threads hardly ever get any comments (especially considering the effort it takes to photograph and then upload the photos) where as a thread about shit like Christmas trees gets lots of comments.

 

It's no wonder people get fucked off on here.

[HillmanImp]

There used to be a Blue P6 estate in Tarring in Worthing for several years. I always thought it was a one off and a cracking one at that until the invention of t'interweb.

[dollywobbler]

I have to say, I'm historically a bit of a Spotted Thread H8R, but I make an exception for this one, because the shite quality is high and the words make me giggle. Enjoy your blog too Roadwork.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

HEY EARL! YA DUN SOME FREAKIN NICE WORK THERE BUDDY, GRAB YASELF A BEER OUTTA MY OFFICE FRIDGE.

 

WOAH!!! DONT TOUCH THE GODDAM 'MULLER LIGHT' YA SON OF A GUN!!!! GIT OUTTA THERE!

[Cavcraft]

The P6 estate, in fact the whole house and car collection is class. Check out his (house) windows, if that doesn't scream eccentric old car nut, nothing does.

[RoadworkUK]

Man, he's always worryin' about me takin his Miller Light. You'da thought he'd have more to worry about, what with me and the guys from Goodwrench seing him getting down and dirty with Bertha from the trailerpark. Yeah, whatever ya do, don't go sniffing his torque wrench...

[Split_Pin]

 

 

Should have updated your thread title with 'PUT SEATBELTS ON YOUR EYES'. What a car, just look at how clean it is even the wheels!!

 

Spotted threads are what originally attracted me to AS several years ago and keep me coming back. Keep up the good work.

[Black_GT]

Nice spots! Impressed by a car that's obscure even for an FSO! The Corolla on the previous page is spectacularly shite

[rml2345]

That FSO is superb! Hope it goes back on the road...

Spotted threads are great things, it's nice to see all the great tat others have found about he place.

[gtd2000]

I kinda dig these little 323s, but absolutely know that I shouldn't. I'd like a Ford Aspire for extra shite credentials.

 

 

The Ford Aspire is not the same car as the 3-dr 323. It's a Kia Avella, essentially a rebodied Pride (121). In case you were wondering!

 

I'd have thought the KIA Avella - AKA Ford Aspire was really more of a hatchback version of the Mazda 121 DB (the bubble shape), not 121 DA as in KIA Pride?

 

I actually sourced some parts (front struts) for my mums old 121 DB from a Ford Festiva (KIA Pride) in Florida.

[RoadworkUK]

I've been pretty terrible at keeping this thread up to date, I have no excuse and prostrate myself at your feet for forgiveness.

 

To begin to reboot this formerly great series, have a photo of a MKII Transit that was photographed by somebody else while I was driving, because taking photos while you drive is dangerous, kids; irrespective of the relative erocity of whatever Transit you're overtaking.

 

 

Next up was this miniMetro, which was so incredible it made me literally stop and take photographs of it.

 

 

I was on my way towards eating a curry. Seeing this Metro held up my Bombay Aloo, Lamb Shashilk and Pilau Rice washed down with a few pints of Cobra for, like, two minutes or something. Here it is again!

 

 

My parents live in the genteel resort that time forgot:- Frinton-On-Sea. They have a little Ford dealership, an actual franchised one, all proper and kosher like. And their parts delivery van is this:

 

 

Good, innit? Rusty wheels and everything. The private plate means Substantial Pride Is Had In This Vehicle.

 

[RoadworkUK]

Visited MUTHA RoadworkUK on Friday night because Nicola is away on a hen weekend and I couldn't be bothered to cook for myself.

 

It's not that I'm bone idle or anything, it's just that I find the whole process so boring. I mean, putting something in the oven is liveable, but then having to set up separate saucepans for vegetables, and having to cook things for different lengths of time, and then having to wash everything all up again at the end; it's not so bad cooking for two, but to do all that shit just to feed myself doesn't even bear thinking about.

 

So I woke up on Saturday morning and drove into Frinton with a view to picking up a bargain in one of the many chiaridee shops thereabouts. I absolutely failed to find anything that was interesting or that wasn't self-evident as to why it was given away to chiaridee in the first place. However:

 

 

This assemblage of well-turned-out giffers all concentrated into one single place meant that something must have been going on, so I investigated further.

 

Turns out to be a chiaridee (Frinton folk do a lot of work for chiaridee, but they don't like to talk about it) summer fete thing, in fact the same sort that I noticed a few years back. In fact, I know it was the very same one because I recognised some of the tat which was for sale and they're still using the same bunting they had last time around.

 

Check this out!

 

 

This stuff must be from, what, 1992? Amazing. Just like last time I saw it I toyed with the idea of asking to buy it; it would look amazing hanging around my garage (I doubt Nicola will let us use it at the wedding) but I didn't know who to ask and, well, it's putting in good service and I can't imagine them wanting to upgrade any time soon.

 

Sadly, my £1 investment on entry did not lead to the snaffling of bargains, on account of everything being rubbish.

 

So, some cars, then.

 

 

This is a trio of E34 Tourings which have either been dumped behind an industrial unit or they actually grow there naturally, if the latter is true then these will be ripe for harvesting any day now. The freshest is a K Reg.

 

 

And finally a bit of vintage lorry action. Lovely old Volvo and a seriously ancient Dodge; BARN FIND RAT L@@K omg.

[Lord Sterling]

....and I couldn't be bothered to cook for myself.

 

It's not that I'm bone idle or anything, it's just that I find the whole process so boring. I mean, putting something in the oven is liveable, but then having to set up separate saucepans for vegetables, and having to cook things for different lengths of time, and then having to wash everything all up again at the end; it's not so bad cooking for two, but to do all that shit just to feed myself doesn't even bear thinking about.

You sound like me. I've an idea how to cook but I just find the process long winded.

 

Great pics, I might have been tempted by that bunting, but it's Ford and I'm not that much of a fan, now if it were a Rover one.......

[RoadworkUK]

I've been distinctly amateur when it comes to spotting of late, this thread has dropped right to the bottom of the Autoshite swamp, but here it comes, bobbing violently to the surface as if propelled by some kind of really panicky dolphin.

 

I've been to Iceland, you see, and it's absolutely full to the rafters with 100%, 86 Carat shite. You must all go there immediately.

 

We even flew out on Aero-shite:

 

 

1991 Boeing 767-200 with lovely RB-211 noises. Old, but immaculately presented.

 

Anyway, on arrival we rapidly determined that shite was not exactly spread thinly. Here's an initial selection.

 

 

I was quite impressed by how shabby the Icelandic are capable of keeping their cars looking.

 

 

This Sunny was still being driven around enthusiastically, despite Bismarck levels of rot.

 

 

Corrosion seems to start at the rear sills and then work its way forward. Some of the tinworm was so advanced I was concerned I might catch it myself and see it spread into the fibre of my own house and possessions like some awful Ferric reverse-Midas touch.

 

 

Thing is, though, Icelanders don't really like roads, they think they're for wimps and most real men only drive on tarmac under cover of darkness, while wearing balaclavas.

 

They drive stuff like this:

 

 

Of course, if you really want to stand out in life you need a machine combining unassailable off-road capability, with a design elegance that only Ken Greenley has mastered. Behold:

 

 

I'll give it a rest for a moment to leave a bit of space on the internet for something else.