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Other than the usual models of car in the last 24 hours I have seen a number of unusual cars around Oxford.
2 Vauxhall Chevettes, both in immaculate condition, havent seen any of these for years, let alone rust free!
Austin Maestro,
Honda Insight, I have seen articles on these, but this is the first in the metal despite being available for some years.
Any other unusual cars out there?
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Was the Maestro also in immaculate condition?!?!
I see a resonable number of poor ones around - including the one sat on my driveway.
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OP, yes the Maestro was immaculate, bright red and unfaded, didnt manage to get the registration letter so dont know how old. I havent seen any for many years. The metallic green one that my father had as a company car back in 82/83 rusted very quickly.
Stargazer
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Last week was partucularly good:
Ford RS200 (genuine, not replica)
Vauxhall VX4/90
2 Triumph TR4
VW Phaeton
Aston Martin V8
Andy
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Today a Vauxhall Signum 3.0 DTI.
2nd one I have seen on the road since they were launched. Had Vauhall Logo only on plates so probably was a Luton car.
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A few weeks ago.
Nissan Skyline - sounded great.
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Just seen an Allegro Vanden Plas, in Brown of course and it was for sale!!
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Earlier this week, Mk 1 Cortina. Far from immaculate and in use it looked like it was the drivers daily transport.
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Earlier this week, Mk 1 Cortina. Far from immaculate and in use it looked like it was the drivers daily transport.
There's a Mk 1 Cortina which passes my house every weekday, when I'm walking my son to school.
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Just seen an Allegro Vanden Plas, in Brown of course and it was for sale!!
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I saw one in St Helier, Jersey a couple of weeks ago but in regular use.
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Saw a motorcycle and sidecar last weekend: they seem pretty rare nowdays - around Essex anyway.
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Was in Manchester with my mate yesterday and walked past a newish Volvo T5 and commented about how they were pretty quick. Mate points to the car next to it and said yeah, but I bet that's quicker...
what was it?
a 575M Maranello...I think.
I'm not the biggest Ferrari fan (even though I wouldn't say no to one) but I'm pretty sure it was a Maranello. Very very nice...
Rather have the T5 though ;-)
Cheers
Adam
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Renault Velsatis
yeughhhhhhh!
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Today : Aston Martin Vanquish, Toyota Prius
Yesterday : Vauxhall Victor
Both in Leicestershire.
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Just saw one of those new 4-seater Smart cars go past. It looked like a Punto.
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How can a Maestro be in immaculate condition. It was designed secondhand...
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I saw a Volvo T5 estate fully marked up in Police markings. Now that is a rare sight indeed. In fact I was talking to the local Traffic Inspector in Court the other week, his view was that you'd have to be pretty unlucky to be booked for anything by an old style traffic man these days.
Saw a white MKIII Cortina for sale - the old coke bottle design.
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Can I put my Hummer [or is it a Humvee??] down again please?
Saw about 4RX8s [different colours] in one day in aAberdeen, plus the usual Vanquishes.
Could Aberdeen have more Audi TTs per 1000 people than any other city??
Kev
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A blue Tatra in the Esher Surrey area.
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XK 150 Jaguar, in red, in Hull, yesterday.
Shame it was going down a back road, so the driver wasn't able to accelarate away from the junction....
Tim{P}
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Austin Maxi - same one ("V" reg., brown) spotted twice this week. Can't be that many of those still going, but it looked in fairly good nick at a glance
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I saw a car last week that I did not recognise, which is unusual for me!
It was a small estate car with a full length fabric sun roof. RHD. G reg. (1989) but looked older, and in v. good condition. Dashboard looked like 50s/60s design.
Name on the back was 'Hustler'. Had a colonial look about it.
Any ideas?
Regards
DougB.
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I know Hillman did make a Hustler, but I don't know much about it. I did track down a reference to a beastie made by Arawak Motors of Antigua based around the Hillman Imp though - that's certainly colonial looking and has a fabric top :)
www.imps4ever.info/specials/hustler.html
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Were you in Surrey on 29th May Kev?
Hummer spotted in Virginia Water.
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Alas no, Sheffield train station, slightly difference. Let's hope the 2 don't meet on anything but a dual carridgeway!
Kev
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Alas no, Sheffield train station, slightly difference. Let's hope the 2 don't meet on anything but a dual carridgeway!
Kev
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One of those Aquada Sports Amphibian things costing £150,000 in Leamington Spa this morning.
Not far really from where they are made in Nuneaton.
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mark 2 escort rs2000 is it?
white and blue, rally design. looked really great. very good condition, i always wanted one of those.
were they rear wheel drive, i seem 2 remember they were.
just wondered wot sort of car produced now, can come close to one of those? scooby doo? yes i know 4wd but for the fun factor
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I saw a Saxo VTR the other day, and it DIDN'T have M3 style wing mirrors, OR a 3" exhaust.
Now THAT is unusual!
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Seen today: Toyota Crown and Volvo Amazon.
Despite being made in millions, I never seem to see any Minis on the road (old type)
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Just saw canary yellow Murcielago in Lancaster. Serious machine.
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Seen today: Toyota Crown
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the talking Toyota crown, the car that the Vanden Plas Maestro copied.
fantastic! haven't seen one for years.
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I love Toyota saloons of that era - they had a sort of miniature american cruiser look :) There's an absolutely mint old Crown in Leicester, sky blue and looking like it just rolled off the factory floor. Did anyone ever see the race modded Corolla saloons? They looked remarkably like Mk1 Escorts..
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Saw my first Vauxhall Monaro on the road yesterday (in Weybridge). Even better in the flesh than I was expecting, and the only car I've ever seen in vivid yellow that I have liked.
I need one...
V
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Triumph Herald (1250?)
and an opentop E-Type 4.2 - lurvely.
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Sat in one at the motorshow, and also at my cousins place in Australia. You need the left leg of hurcules to operate the clutch!
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At the same roundabout on Wednesday, SL55 AMG and 360 Challenge Stradale, complete with the white stripe!
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I owned a Toyota Crown for three years - bit of a tank in some respects but I loved it and wish I still had it.
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Rover Streetwise and a CityRover today...
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I find that hard to believe
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We still have few Crowns running around where I live. I ran one for 2 years in Hong Kong and loved it. Whisper quiet interior (if you didn't mind the velvety upholstery)
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Yes they are rear wheel drive. Its basically an Escort with a 2litre Cortina GT engine fitted. I had a friend who used one for road rallies years ago. He replaced with a 205GTi.
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mark 2 escort rs2000 is it? white and blue, rally design. looked really great. very good condition, i always wanted one of those. were they rear wheel drive, i seem 2 remember they were. just wondered wot sort of car produced now, can come close to one of those? scooby doo? yes i know 4wd but for the fun factor
Yes they are rear wheel drive. Its basically an Escort with a 2litre Cortina GT engine fitted. I had a friend who used one for road rallies years ago. He replaced with a 205GTi.
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Mercedes McLaren SLR yesterday on the M40 near west wycombe ;)
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Cracking day today fellas [and fairerfellas!]
Ok in about 10minutes of driving the new Bentley [looks rather awkward], that Maserati with boomerang lights, Porche Turbo, Porche Carrera 4S, something else I can't remember think it was a fast Merc, they all look the chuffing same anyway, then a Citroen C3 with lots of black plastic on it [the off-road version perhaps?], then the Citroen Pluriel. Not bad really.
Kev
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Mercedes McLaren SLR yesterday on the M40 near west wycombe ;)
I'm fairly certain we were overtaken by one of those on the A41 heading North towards Solihull some days ago (around the beginning of the Motor show) - the noise was unlike anything else I've ever heard as road going transport, apart from the Mercedes McLaren SLR insert on "Top gear"...
It's a shame we couldn't keep up with it to find out for sure, but the old Panda was a bit outclassed :-)
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Best I can offer...
Last night in Sainsburys car park, Letchworth, we parked next to a nice, top down, XK8. Came ot & it had transformed itself into a (tatty)TR7,rag top.
Much improved sighting today, in Hitchin, white TR4, chrome wires sparkling in the sun!!
VB
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Last night in Sainsburys car park, Letchworth, we parked next to a nice, top down, XK8. Came ot & it had transformed itself into a (tatty)TR7,rag top.
Much improved sighting today, in Hitchin, white TR4, chrome wires sparkling in the sun!!
VB
Had the time just struck midnight?
I saw an Ariel Angel (I think), a lovely light blue streamlined thing in B and Q car park in Northallerton, and then saw an Ariel Atom driving down the high street, ugly, unstreamlined thing.
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One of those Aquada Sports Amphibian things costing £150,000 in Leamington Spa this morning. Not far really from where they are made in Nuneaton.
Two sightings today in the Windsor area but possibly the same vehicle. They now cost only £75,000 so there should be a lot more sightings.
There was one sighted IN the Thames at guess where - Henly this week. Oh dear!!
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City Rover??
I'm not knocking it at all but I cannot say I have ever seen one on the road.
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I have, just the one. Looks best from book, echos of the Punto Mk 2. Utter trollop though, don't think you'll see that many
Kev
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Saw a Cadillac STS yesterday - as mentioned on Top Gear on Sunday.
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6 weeks ago on the A34, a McClaren Merc SLR in a fetching combination of black and silver, complete with "prototype" stickers all over it. Had a small spoiler popping up on the rear from time to time where the airbrake is on the current production version.
Being the safe driver I am I used my cameraphone to get a snap. Got a lovely shot of the front of it, reflected in my door mirror :o)
Or it would be if the definition were any good....
Also, each morning on the walk from Waterloo to Southwark Street I walk past a Citroen DS Estate. Seems to be used as a daily runner. Could really do with a bit of polish, the presentation is, er, a little lacking. That aside, 's luvverly.
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Yesterday afternoon my daughter and I were just leaving our road on foot when a very loud rumble drew up behind us and the driver got out to check the wheels. Car was a black Bentley, pre war with bicycle style wheels, big silver grill, two small fold down windscreens. Beautiful sound from the engine.
When asked what sort of car it was, she pronounced that it was a wedding car and can she have one (she is four!). After a very good look and commenting on the Bentley badge she decided that it was 'quite' a nice car.
cheers
StarGazer
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Sunday afternoon on A23 (or was it M23/M25?).
Mk1 Ford Capri convertible. Perfect nick - looked the dogs wotsits (still).
--
Terry
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Sunday afternoon on A23 (or was it M23/M25?). Mk1 Ford Capri convertible. Perfect nick - looked the dogs wotsits (still). -- Terry
I dodn't know Ford made one! Is this a specialist conversion, possibly Crayford? Anybody know?
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Crayford did make a MkI Capri converible. It was luvverly.
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Time = Mid morning, today.
Place = Netto car park Blackburn Lancs.
Car = Ford Consul Mk ll (1956 to 1962)
Clour = Black
Condition = good for age, but not up to show or concourse standard. It looked like it was actually used every day.
Hope my Matiz looks as good at that age...
John R
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Got a random one today, now I can normally name most cars i see, however today I saw what could only be described as a badly copied merc. It looked similar to an E-class but like the boot had been trodden on by a giant.
Could be possibly Korean, Hyundi thingy perhaps?
Hope someone knows!
Kev
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must have been a Daewoo Chairman - rehashed merc w124 which is made to look like a w140
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Marina Coupes.
They seem to be breeding in RLBS. Seen one then two rust free immaculate examples parked outside a house on the way (A445)into the town.
Maybe they have escaped from the Heritage Motor Museum up the road?
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Saw a new merc SLR? in Guildford, still had the black shape stickers on it to disguise the shape..... on its way back to Woking I guess.
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If exotica does it for you, got to the Le Mans 24h next year.
I watched "burn outs" last Friday on the public road outside the track, and millions of £££s of metal (or fibreglass?) passed me by in about 30 minutes. Including 3 Marcos's in a line...how rare are they?
And many of these guys were prepared to ruin a set of very expensive tyres to please the gathered crowd...(and some little horror in that crowd was using a super soaker at everything - including a brand new convertible Aston with cream leather interior...when remonstrated with, his dad couldn't see the problem!!!)
We were camped just along from 8 TVRs, most with personal number plates. The Caterham Club arrived in a 100+ car convoy. There were old classics which people had driven down, so old I don't know them (probably Bentleys from the twenties). Ferraris and Porsches were not even head turning, there were so many of them.
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Saw a 1912 Rolls in the rush hour traffic this morning near Bracknell. It was keeping up well with the traffic, even on the dual carriageway section.
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Haven't seen an example of this car for as long as i can remember (many many years) but incredibly saw 2 today, a red T reg and a blue W reg. i thought they'd rusted away a long time ago, It was two Talbot Horizons.
But the car of the day that stood out and made me smile was a biege X reg Austin Ambassador doing at least 70 in the third lane on the M25. Bless its little cotton socks..
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A SAAB 96, estate version of the 95, has been parked in the road behind us for some days. Repainted, but quite nicely done. We used to know one of these years ago in Barra, where its narrow track was an asset, belonging to the local GP.
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I had been intending to add pictures to the honestjohn site but I can't get it to work for me at all, so:-
See Alexsmotors@groups.msn.com
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Seems that should have been
groups.msn.com/Alexsmotors
Sorry, new to this and unsolicited change from Freeserve to Wanadoo does not help!
Will try to get more.
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I really should post this on the hj pix site but down my street is a spotless metallic green shovel-front 1966 Toyota Corona.
The driver is in his 80's and let me assure you dates from an era when no Filipino forgot the Japanese occupation of this country. A relatively primitive car by today's standards perhaps but I have seen these things running utterly reliably on the red dirt roads of outback Australia to this day. There is also a pickup version which my local garage uses as a runabout. Must try and get pix of both.
This dates from the days when a toolkit and a radio as standard were really something. I used to sell 'em. New buyers even got a baseball cap! As with Honda bikes, how easy it was for the Japanese to penetrate a complacent and incompetent British market purveying low quality junk from union-ridden factories.
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Made by Robots.....Fiat Strada, very rusty but still running.
Ian L.
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N plate (1975?) Lancia Beta saloon on the A4 just west of Reading this morning. Paintwork was flatter than the fens. May have been vaguely bluish once.
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Hi
Not that recent a siting this one, but I saw a mid 60s Riley Elf (Mini with a boot) the other week on the dual carriage way. Not that rusty for a Mini, and it was giving a fair turn of pace. My 1993 Polo dwafed it somewhat!
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Saw a Meastro today.
Whats unusual about that, I hear you ask?
It was on an R plate!
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Spotted one of those Mercedes Maybach the other day. Well, I say "spotted", you couldn't exactly miss the damned thing!
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Seen in Brighton over the weekend:
Mk1 Lotus Cortina, looked the business. Haven't seen a Mk2 Cortina Lotus for years.
Metallic limey green Citroen CX. Not bad nick, but looked a bit odd as the suspension was set quite high. Car was parked.
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Spotted one of those Mercedes Maybach the other day. Well, I say "spotted", you couldn't exactly miss the damned thing!
Saw one on Saturday (damn they seem to be common; think I'll cancel my order).
Didn't seem to be that big so think probably that it was the "small" one.
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This lunchtime, Guildford area. "T" reg (suffix) Austin Allegro, royal blue, perfect nick.
Yes, really.
--
Terry
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Yesterday evening in Bournemouth; a Daimler Dart.
Ugly stick, get out of the way and make room for the Ugly Hammer.
www.jdch.nl/nl/alge/model/gr_daim-sp250.jpg
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Today in West Lothian. Bright Orange Supercar that seemed to be about one foot high!
Having checked the registration on the RAC website, it was a
Lamborghini Diablo VT!!
Very impressive.
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This is cheating i know but my partner (business not pleasure) has a Citroen SM in black. Brought it to the office car park a few weeks back - first outing this year.
Sheer class.
--
Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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my partner (business not pleasure) has a Citroen SM in black. >> Sheer class.
There is one in a street between Charing Cross Hospital and Barons Court tube station. Agree with sheer class.
A friends father owned an almost new one and it was even more impressive then.
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Where I live there is lady with Chevy Camaro Iroc-Z. It looks a bit neglected for my taste but it's still glorious parked between our humble, small European cars...
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This morning, spotless Saab 900 GLs green, on a Y plate, and that was the last letter. Regards Peter
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New Lambo Gallardo on the Stanningley bypass in Leeds on Sunday night. I followed it out of my way just to listen to it in the hope that the driver would give it some stick, but he didn't, he just pootled at 65 - thats speed cameras for you!
Then at the other end of the scale a Nissan Figaro on the M1 last night!
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As Porsche is selling too many Cayennes, the Ferrari and Maserati dealers in Wilmslow has moved to Manchester City Centre to give more space for porky porkers. Loads of Italian metal now, but not enough 3200GTs with boomerang rear lights. Why oh why did they listen to the Yanks.
--
Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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Ferrari Dino on A272 just outside Haywards Heath yesterday afternoon. Also get to see many Lambos of all kinds here as Lambo specialist Carrera Sport is on Sussex Road. And no, I don't know why they call themselves Carrera.
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City Rover!!!
Haywards Heath,yesterday
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Maestros were still being sold a couple of years ago I think - somebody bought the presses and made a few with the leftover bits! I'm sure I saw and article in the press saying they were available for around 5 grand.
And the MOD released a load of them with late registration plates on a few years back as well.
Not that I'm sticking up for Maestros you understand - I had one 10 years ago and it disintegrated before my very eyes.
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You know, I saw my first one of those the other day too, on Queens Road in Leicester! I was just discussing these with my better half ( a confirmed metro fan and 111SLi owner) a few days back, and we both wondered what must have happened to Rover's stock of these - I imagine there's a field somewhere stacked three-high with them ;)
Impressions? A visually dull little box with apparently chronic bodyroll. I really wasn't impressed and would walk straight past one on the forecourt, especially now Dahaitsu, Hyundai and Daewoo are making such storming little citycars for pennies.
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My first sighting of a Hummer today. What a vile thing! Who, apart from a drug runner, needs such a thing with blacked out windows too. A sure fire "stop & search" opportunity for the Green Police (Guarda Civil)
Roger in Spain
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Silver Bentley Conti. Coupe in Wilmslow this morning.
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Seen today: Humber Hawk (immaculate), Ford Corsair, Porsche 356(1957?)
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For some reason a fleet of Hillman Imps has recently appeared on Congleton, all souped up, all sounding like flatulence on wheels. Can only imagine that they're all owned by one person.
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Vin said:
>Saw my first Vauxhall Monaro on the road yesterday (in Weybridge). Even better in the >flesh than I was expecting, and the only car I've ever seen in vivid yellow that I have >liked.
>I need one...
Me too...
In a years time, when depreciation has taken it's toll, I'll definitely be looking for one.
Kevin...
PS, did you get the LS?
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Saw a lovely concours condition 'G' reg, red mk1 Capri today, obviously much cherished by it's owner. Couldn't see a mark on it.
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Saw a raod legal F1 car replica in Ferrari livery today, the owner built it himself, from scratch, basically starting with an Alfa Boxer engine (for the low centre of gravity) and building the car around it. Took him ten years.
I am cheating slightly here, since I was an the National Alfa Day at the time :D
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I've seen about 10 City Rovers (Don't live to far from Longbridge) but hadn't seen a Daihatsu Charade until a few days, they are amazingly thin but it looked great in Blue.
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Dyane 6 in rust-red colour, with extra rust (!) in Covent Garden this morning. The congestion charge must have been more than the car is worth...
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Saw a BMW 1 Series yesterday in silver. Still lightly disguised even though press photos have already been released. Looks much better in real life than in the photos and was fitted with a set of really stunning alloys which, knowing BMW, will probably be extra cost options.
Just checked the BMW web site, wow 19,800 Euros for a 1.6 litre hatchback. Oh yes, the alloys do cost extra.
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Was in my local gym yesterday and spotted a nice looking sports job that I did not recognise - looked like a Mazda badge and model name 'efemi' ,possibly an import. Come on you guys - tell me all about it ?
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Austin Seven Ruby, this morning keeping up with the traffic quite easily on the way into Oxford.
cheers
Ian L.
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Not for long, Austin 7's only had a 2 main bearing engine as I recall, which eventually went into the dreaded plastic fantastic Reliant.
Not to be outdone, I have observed a 195? Hillman Husky parked in the local mall carpark. Original Rootes beige so far as I can tell and column gearshift. Crossply tyres and no apparent structural rust to speak of. How such a vehicle got here and its history would be a story in itself.
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Thats a Mazda RX7,rotary and twin turbos.
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newish BM 3 series, with youngish guy at wheel, being driven carefully and considerately on A24 today ...
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He'd probably nicked it ;)
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parked on the side of the A217 this morning was a Pagani Zonda.
Must say that it looks naff and not sexy at all. Therefore I think that I'll save up for something else
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I agree - the back of the car lets it down somewhat - looks a bit boxy.
Still wouldn't say no
Adam
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1960 or 62 red Alfa Guiletta Spider going through village the other day. Then, 5 minutes later a 1949ish Sunbeam Talbot Alpine convertible. Both with roof down, both drivers with huge grin on faces!
Ferraris too numerous to mention I'm afraid because a Ferrari dealer is just down the road and we must be on their test drive course!
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Thankyou all, I didnt expect a thread starting about a sighting of 2 Chevettes to keep going, let alone to over 100 posts! Perhaps there is a use for a thread just to pass comment on some of the more unusual cars seen on the roads.
cheers
Ian L
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Well if you'd called the thread 'I've seen a Chevette' then you'd probably not have sparked such a long list!
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Not seen her in my local gym, we need more sporty looking jobs here in weybridge.
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Most unusual never seen in the last 8 years i,ve been with SWMBO
A indicated full tank !!!!!!!!!
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Most unusual never seen in the last 8 years i,ve been with SWMBO A indicated full tank !!!!!!!!!
Better check it's the right fuel!
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