***** This thread is now closed, please CLICK HERE to go to Volume 5 *****
Following on from Stargazer's original thread, Vol 2 & Vol 3:-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=23902 (Vol 1)
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=23901 (Vol 2)
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=25308 (Vol 3)
Another thread for commenting on rare, unusual, old or just plain daft cars etc.
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No - not your own ...
Every morning about 8.05 travelling down the M53, seemingly without fail I see a bright yellow Evo 7 travelling up it the other side. Hard to miss. Often see it in the evening doing the return leg.
Anyone else regularly see cars going the other way ?
Steve
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A few years ago, I often saw a violet Diablo going westbound on the M4 in Wilts in the morning. Couldn't see it as it went by, as the crash barrier seemed to be as high as its roof...!
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A black fabia vRS which gets on the M3 at J7 virtually every morning and again the evening when it gets on at J5 with me - if I didn't know better I'd say it was someone who works with me but it isn't.
It just reinforces my desire for a vRS of my own!
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Mayday Holiday weekend, A46 between Kenilworth and Warwick, a 3 wheeler Morgan and a Triumph TR8.
Also lots of replica type kit cars.
StarGazer
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I saw an old car today which had a flying duck/goose/swan on the bonnet. It had its wings in the up position. Any idea what make of car this would be. it was a soft top and didn't look too disimalar to an Aston.
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Alvis Silver Eagle as a wild guess.
Lots of car owners bought individual mascots so not a very good guide to a marque.
--
I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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Seems it could have been an Alvis TD21 (or perhaps TF21). Not sure about it or whether there was a Volante version.
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A hearing rather than a sighting,a car with a custom exhaust going past my drive would set my car alarm off,must have been a punctual person as it was always 7:20 a.m..Managed to see it one day,a black Bora.It does not happen anymore,although I recognise the exhaust note it is quieter.
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A Maserati or a VW?
Just asking...
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Mayday Holiday weekend, A46 between Kenilworth and Warwick, a 3 wheeler Morgan and a Triumph TR8. Also lots of replica type kit cars. StarGazer
That was due to the Kit Car show at the NAC Stoneleigh
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Was it BUL 666?
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Just spotted (Somerset) a green Jensen SV8 (the batmobile 2-seater produced around 2000-2002). A few cars later, saw a Renault Vel Satis.
Cheers, Sofa Spud
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Driving through Houston from the Galleria to Downtown on Westheimer one day (for anyone who knows the area) I happened across this little gem.
I hope for the sake of the people inside it that it has good aircon.
tinyurl.com/dl7at
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>>>Driving through Houston from the Galleria to Downtown on Westheimer one day (for anyone who knows the area) I happened across this little gem.
>>>I hope for the sake of the people inside it that it has good aircon.
I believe it's a prototype SEAT design!
Cheers, SS
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Spotted yesterday in Salford, a 54 reg Infiniti FX45, complete with 'spinners'.
What a bizarre looking car.
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Saw an Ascari last week. Nice looking motor but not on the shopping list for £220k plus. Also saw a lovely BMW M1 not so long back.
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Spotted yesterday in Salford, a 54 reg Infiniti FX45, complete with 'spinners'.
Those wheels or the car probably won't last too long in Salford.
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Jaguar XJ220 at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground last weekend
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A Jowett Jupiter soft top.
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I've just driven home from Uni, and was shocked to pass one of those new Bentley saloons, a left-hooker but UK registered in black. I didn't think they were on sale yet? It was followed by a brand new UK registered Merc CLS in silver aswell, so maybe I stumbled across a road test for Top Gear or Autocar. Actually, that may be right because I only live 10 mins away from the Bentley factory in Crewe and pass it most days.
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a tidy looking Jensen Intercepter in stoke earlier today
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Does this mean development work on the XJ220 still isn't finished? (see above)
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In our street last night a Renault Clio V6 - the one with the engine where the back seats should be.
Cheers, SS
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In our street last night a Renault Clio V6 - the one with the engine where the back seats should be.
You mean the type that some of us were discussing yesterday?
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That is scary. You don't see one for months on end and then everyone's seeing them!
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Adam
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Saw a Mk 1 Hillman Hunter in Manchester City Centre last week. Painted a drab grey/green with what looked like a six inch paint brush!
--
Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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Tonight i've seen two in Stoke - think one was the one i saw the other day but the other one was covered in rally decals including the very big one for Gumball, it definately wasn't standard and it sounded amazing
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I work at Bentley.. it's a factory car... there's loads about now in Crewe! On sale very shortly....
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The other day i saw the new Maserati 4-door saloon (cant remember what its called sorry!)the proud owner was filling up our local shell garage, with what looks like normal 97 ron UL!
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Its not what you drive, its how you drive it! :-)
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The other day i saw the new Maserati 4-door saloon (cant remember what its called sorry!)
You are trying to be funny I take it?
Quattroporte. As in Italian for Fourdoor.
Please tell me you were joking ?
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Saw a B plate Talbot Solara Rapier this evening. Must have been one of the last made.
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Ferrari F50 this morning, just outside Littlehampton. Getting a number of exotics recently, see my prevoius note aof about 2 weeks ago.
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No Do$h i was not joking, its the first one ive seen on the road!
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Its not what you drive, its how you drive it! :-)
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Sorry Fraze. Just had a giggle moment there, what with car having such a literal name.
Jaw-droppingly lovely aren't they :oO
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Yeh i mistook for a Bentley at my first glance, but then i looked at the bootlid & it said Maserati. Big car innit?
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Its not what you drive, its how you drive it! :-)
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Todays unusual sighting was a 2003 model onwards Rolls Royce Phantom with registration mark 'RRR 1'
Not sure what the third R means?
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Could possibly be a relative of Mr Rolls or Mr Royce?
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Its not what you drive, its how you drive it! :-)
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Aston Martin DB2 - like what I suggested was the mystery green car in that painting that was posted on Back Room a week or two ago - except this one was a convertible - light metallic blue.
Cheers, SS
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lengthy post: sorry! report from good friend last night, in Hull, waiting to cross the road, and, hence, watching the traffic... car, car, bus, lorry, car, DALEK? she thought it was based on a Smart chassis or similar. Anyone else seen this? She said it was keeping up with the flow, though. I would have thought it was quite likely to cause an accident. It must cause a lot of double takes... tinyurl.com/aly9v ahhh. Good old Blue Peter..
Tim{P}
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The other day i saw the new Maserati 4-door saloon (cant remember what its called sorry!)the proud owner was filling up our local shell garage, with what looks like normal 97 ron UL! -- Its not what you drive, its how you drive it! :-)
Another of these, dark green on an 05 plate, in Fetter Lane five minutes ago.
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The new tenant beneath our office has a TVR Tuscan.
What's unusual about that, I hear you ask ... well, ..., it's working ;-)
(Where's that coat?)
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Just seen a new Rolls-Royce Phantom in silver in my local Tesco's car park. What a beast! It wasn't anyone famous driving it though, just a middle aged woman. It did take up 4 spaces though.
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i saw a new roller the other day - yes it was massive but also it looked so god damn ugly. Almost like a bangle design.
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You never know, maybe the same one. It was in Newcastle-under- Lyme, Staffs
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nah this one was black and was in sheffield!
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On Monday morning of this week I spotted a yet to be released new Zafira in a village somewhere south of Didcot, just off the A34. Looks nice too. Was a K something 05 reg so must have been a Vauxhall press car.
Tony
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Certainly the daftest car I've seen this week was on the M1 southbound, just south of barnsley. Was a ford fiasco -sorry, fiesta-with a pair of rear wheels that must have been at least 18 inches wide and wouldnt have looked out of place on a drag sprinter. thing is, 1-fiestas are front wheel drive, and 2-this must have had a puncture, as one wide wheel was in the back (seen through the rear glass) and an original sized wheel was in its place.
WTM
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This reminds me of the old Fiesta I saw with huge flared wheelarches but with 4 normal sized wheels!
cheers, SS
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There is red k-reg escort 3-door (base model i presume) with a cosworth body kit, but with standard wheel trim wheels! How daft can you get?
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Its not what you drive, its how you drive it! :-)
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Not something you see everyday
Coming back over the M62 tonight I was viciously tailgated (full BMW-sytle with flashing lights/pointless pointing and duet of him & mrs fat screaming) at 80/85 in busy traffic by a very fat bloke in a red fabia estate, and the rubbishly slow SDi too.
What's the world coming to when chavs are taking up fabias?
tut-tut-tut
-- Lee Having a Fabialous time.
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Saw a nice green Lotus Carlton last night on a H reg. Interesting to note that it was LHD and that it was badged Lotus Omega though. only the second one of these i've seen on the road in 16 years.
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That would be an imported version then - hence left hook and badged as an Omega
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But what a car. Going back to the lottery thread, I think if I won millions, I might also look to buy up some old classics, hust for fun.
Like Lotus Carlton, Lotus Sunbeam, an original Volvo T5, Cossie etc, list is endless! What about the original Granada Coupe 2 door? Or the Granada 2.8i Ghia X as featured in the Professionals, Cowleys last car. Had fogs and driving lamps on front.
Oh and of course, a Capri 2.8i or 3.0 .....
Sorry, I digress.:)
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Yes i too would spend a rather large chunk of my lottery cash on a series of cars, some exotic some not so.
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That Lotus Carlton has really got me thinking.. perhaps the ultimate Q car, certainly worth buying if you can find one and as i'm a fan of saloons i'm sorely tempted (in my dreams). Do a google on 'Lotus Carlton/Omega' plenty to look at and dream..
A great car..
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Following entries about them in another thread, I saw a Renault 16 for the first time in many years in Oxford at the weekend, one of the upmatket TX models I used to crave when I had the standard TL in the 70s.
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Amusing, all this about Lotus Carltons....I saw a Lotus Cortina Mk1 this weekend, still in white with green strip down the side and beautifully polished engine. Still had the original small wheels with high profile tyres.
StarGazer
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A5 Towcester towards Milton keynes Sunday eve. Some sort of Ferrari, inevitably red, with a reg that appeared to read ENZO. Was of a bit faster tha nthe Xant so I could'nt work out how they'd frigged the registration.
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Well, it made me smile.... 1980s mini 850cc resprayed in purple with grill replaced by a early BMW grill (the one that leaned out towards the top).
StarGazer
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Red and black Ariel Atom on A6 this morning. Heading south towards Bakewell. Drivers hair standing on end and teeth well gritted.
--
I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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Stargazer,
Are you sure it was not a Wolseley Hornet or a Riley Elf?
Their grille is similar to the BMW.
--
I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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No, very definitely a bmw grille on an 850mini (saw it tonight as well!). Very nicely blended in. I am old enough to remember the various marque versions of the mini by Wolseley and Riley which also had slightly different back ends and one at least had leather upholstery.
StarGazer
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Saw a Aston Martin V8 4 door this morning at Warwick M40 - how many of those were made (presumably as Lagondas?)?
Also, I reckon I glimpsed on opposite side of the Wilts M4, Bristol bound, last year a) a transporter full of new, original Beetles and b) the Batmobile, on the back of a recovery truck.
Go figure...
JohnM
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I saw one of the Mercedes McLaren SLR's on the Strand (London) last week. Silver, LHD.
Made me laugh as he was sitting in his £300K plus car (or whatever price it is) and I sailed past him on my push bike.
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>>Made me laugh as he was sitting in his £300K plus car (or whatever price it is) and I sailed past him on my push bike.
Really ? I think I'd rather be sitting in my £300k plus car, however long that particular journey took, rather than bumping along on a push bike. Still each to his own, I suppose.
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Went to a new client to day - guy has a second hand garage, but specialises in 'classics' some of which he has restored himself. Quality of workmanship looked good and he had (in no particular order) MG-C, TVR from early 1990s with Ford 2.8i engine, MBG-V8, Alvis TD21, Sprite, and an old Rover from about 1948.
--
Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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Really ? I think I'd rather be sitting in my £300k plus car, however long that particular journey took, rather than bumping along on a push bike. Still each to his own, I suppose.
Dunno about that Mark. Totting up the value of cars passed in London traffic could be a good game. Cars over £250k equal to a six that sails over the pavilion.
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Today in Somerset - a beautiful 3-litre Bentley, circa 1925, dark green with brass radiator. Elderly gentleman driving.
Also saw one of those hideous square Bristol convertibles from the 80's with a big flat bonnet that you could carry a couple of garden fence panels back from Homebase on.
Cheers, Sofa Spud
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Citroen CX estate bombing along up this hill! Apparently these cars had self centering steering (the wheel would self centre even if the car wasn't moving)?? Don't mind these, bit odd ball and innovative like citroens of old were!
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I just find it amusing that in London where the average speed is less than 10 miles an hour, you get all these supercars. Of course if I had the money, who knows, but I still would not get off my bike for my ride into work.
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Oxford city centre this morning, BMW 2002 in silver, on a P suffix so that makes it 1974/5 I guess. Beautiful condition but what struck me was its size....it was tiny compared to the BMW compact 3 series in front and the Skoda Fabia behind.
Mind you I know which I preferred. The 2002 had pressed steel wheels painted silver which looked very nice and a lot more practical than some of the costly alloys you see as standard these days, why isnt this an option any more?
StarGazer
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A classic Citroen 11B Normale on the M11 yesterday, an unusual sight.
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Anyone seen a Maybach on the road??
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Absolutely perfect Austin Healey 100/6 in bluey-grey metallic with leather upholstery in the village garage this morning. Bloke said it was a 1958 model, restored 7 years ago and he had just taken it for MOT - passed! Made a lovely sound also. I want one! Funnily enough, when I had just started work in 1970, a chap offered me a same colour AH 3000 for £200 - so broke I couldn't afford it! Needed a bit of work doing though.
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I had a 3000 MkII in the sixties. A pig of a car, that would not be allowed in production today (crash rating would be minus 10). Don't even think about it.
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Anyone seen a Maybach on the road??
Yup, dropping off someone at Tower 42 in the city. They are HUUUUGGGE
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Honda Insight in Leamington. Would love to own one just for the MPG. Was parked on Victoria Terrace for those who know/care.
--------------
Mike Farrow
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1970s Mercedes SL in the station car park at Virginia Water yesterday with the number ACE 59. Anybody know whose it is?
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Blackpool today. A new Merc A class with window cleaner's ladders on top.
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This afternoon in High Wycombe driving along the A40. The open-top tour bus which Chelsea paraded in after winning the premere league, it was still covered in blue even though its actually one of the old MCW metrobuses from London, but in High Wycombe?
--
Its not what you drive, its how you drive it! :-)
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I regularly see on the way to Bath:
A Mark 1 VW Golf that appears to be covered all over in a flowery, ornate wallpaper - sort of pink and white, in stripes.
It also has various trinkety bits stuck on it.
Cheers, Sofa Spud
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Red Ferrari F40 in Chesterfield Market Place (Low Pavements) yesterday.
The rattling and clattering as it drove over the granite setts was not what you'd expect from such a pedigree machine. The exhaust note was loud & gorgeous!
--
I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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Citroen Ami 8 on the M40 around j9 on Saturday. Brought a lump to my throat; it was the same as the car my Dad had until I was 3, when it was replaced by a Morris 1800. My earliest motoring memory was in that car.
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I regularly see on the way to Bath: A Mark 1 VW Golf that appears to be covered all over in a flowery, ornate wallpaper - sort of pink and white, in stripes. It also has various trinkety bits stuck on it. Cheers, Sofa Spud
Seen it today, unless there's two, it was a MkII, between Combe Down and Odd Down, i guess it's a student!
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A couple of times in the past few weeks I've seen a vauxhall movano van (I think), all white, with old-fashioned blue/white reflective stripe the length on the vehicle.
The roof bar is fitted with a blue light, and there are two blue lights on the radiator grille, but I've not noticed any extra at the rear.
One side of the vehicle appears to have a roll-out awning, and there is a ladder on one of the back doors to access the roof.
No lettering of any sort on the vehicle, and the driver not conspicuously uniformed
any idea who or what ?
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Last night at local sports centre, collecting my daughter from her swimming lesson - a black Picasso with very dark blacked-out privacy glass on all windows except the front screen, and de-chromed too. It looked plain daft.
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but I've not noticed any extra at the rear.
better hand my observers badge back to the Boy Scouts - the rear has 4 blue lights, and red/yellow chevrons about 1m high !
tinyurl.com/8stvo
It is actually a dog van, and looks legit - why no wording or badging ?
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www.allpar.com/cars/lx/magnum-review.html
Just seen this on the M60 in Sale.
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Today at lunchtime joined in traffic by a Noble M12 GTO 3R. Followed it for a couple of miles just because it was a rare sighting. Beautiful shape and beautiful exhaust note.
Interesting Northern Ireland plate mis-spaced to read LAZI ASS.
Want one.....
Leon
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An almost immaculate Montego estate today, pulling out of my road. I'd forgotten what they looked like!
Going up 2 messages to the Chrysler estate - they look very nice. I saw a couple in the states, and they're quite large. Look like the business.
O
--
Jaguar XJS V12 - comes with free personalised oil tanker.
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www.allpar.com/cars/lx/magnum-review.html
Quote from the site 'The Hemi design helped in some ways by avoiding overhead cams and cutting the number of valves in half.'
I thought these were good things?!
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"While the transmission feels ever so slightly less smooth and silky than the Chrysler four-speeds, it makes better use of the engine power and helps to contribute to the Magnum R/T's surprisingly good gas mileage (17 city, 25 highway)."
Hmmmm!
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E Type Jag in pale yellow near Norwich this morning. Lovely car - horrible colour. Sort of sweet'n'sour ..........
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Lotus Elan (one of the original ones) in yellow and white in High Wycombe yesterday. Now remind me, was that a hairdresser car or a macho one? :-)
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Last night past my house drove a (deep breath):
Citroen CX 25 DTR Turbo 2 Safari. F reg, in black, it was absolutely immaculate. Had blackened windows which looked a bit naff, bit like a hearse. But what a car, clearly owned by an enthusiast since most of these CX's have long disintegrated with rust.
I always regret turning down an offer to buy once of these about five years ago, it was an immaculate H reg example, one of the last made.
Never mind, I have my Renault Dauphine to restore instead.
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Saw a Lamborghini Murcielago parked up on the seafron in Weston Super Mare yesterday afternoon.
Also seen a couple of Citroen Traction Avants lately- one in Weston again and the other whilst on holiday in Spain.
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Saw a red series 3 Elan in Wotton under Edge friday night. Looked original, unrestored and a bit "doggy", ie just right. Also seen an Alfa Spyder(1750?) of about the same vintage and condition a few times in the same area. I would have said that the Alfa was more the hairdressers car than the Elan.
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RAF Tornado just flew over me house.
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New model Passat today on trade plates in Southend on sea.. not sure if on sale yet.
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Citroen GSA Special. 'C' reg, in battleship blue, in Bath. Not in particularly good shape but very little rust.
My brother had one of these in the late 1980's and thrashed it to within an inch of its life. It kept going though, tough as old boots despite rusting badly.
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>>Citroen GSA Special. 'C' reg, in battleship blue, in Bath.
This might be the same one I've seen in Bath - I posted on Unusual Sightings ages ago. The one I saw had silver on black number plates - naughty!
Also, today in Bath - a definite sighting of a CityRover! Not sure I want to see another.
Cheers, SS
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A Lada Cossack 4x4 with doors removed! No not in a breakers but being driven on a duel carriageway.
Now i'm sure that's not legal!?
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No idea if it's legal but they're a pretty handy vehicle when used off road.
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I see one of those parked near me which i pass everyday, it always looks pretty filthy though!
--
Its not what you drive, its how you drive it! :-)
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Must be getting near to time for a new thread!
Have just spent a week driving on the smaller roads in Ireland (Eire) just over 1000Km without a single motorway kilometre included. Saw quite a few Skoda Superbs....unusual in that I havent seen a single one in the UK...someone else commented on this a while ago. Apart from the boot badge it could be an Octavia from the front or rear.
Back to normal...Triumph Acclaim in almost mint condition this afternoon around Oxford. Long long time since I saw one at all, let alone without any rust.
StarGazer
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