I'm nearly 60 and thought I had knowledge of, if not actually seen, most classic cars on the road in my time, but I saw one this morning that I wasn't previously aware of: a Vignale Samantha, based on the Fiat 125 platform. Very pretty car.

I have heard of the Samantha but couldn't picture it in my head.

Anyone else seen a car recently that made you do a double-take?

Yeah, a few months ago at a steam and vintage show I came upon a make I'd never heard of!. It was a Chenard-Walcker, a French maker which made their first car around 1905. After bankruptcy in 1936 they were taken over by a coachbuilder, but were defunct by the mid 1940's. Not 100% sure, but comparing my pics to ones on t'internet, I think the model was an Aigle 4 (or 4s) and a jolly handsome thing it was too.

I'm nearly 60 and thought I had knowledge of, if not actually seen, most classic cars on the road in my time, but I saw one this morning that I wasn't previously aware of: a Vignale Samantha, based on the Fiat 125 platform. Very pretty car.

Anyone else seen a car recently that made you do a double-take?

For a moment, I thought you were describing a posh Ford Ka in pink... :-)

I did spy a gold (actual gold coloured) new-era Bentley (if I recall) near to my old workplace in Stevenage of all places about 6 - 7 years ago. oresumably some richer-than-sense bloke had a custom-made one.

Talking of such things, I was out cycling yesterday, and when passing through some little hamlet, I was overtaken by a near-perfect replica of the 'Delboy' Reliant Robin, Trotters Independent Traders signage, yellow pain job and everything. It certainly put a smile on my face...

Talking of such things, I was out cycling yesterday, and when passing through some little hamlet, I was overtaken by a near-perfect replica of the 'Delboy' Reliant Robin, Trotters Independent Traders signage, yellow pain job and everything. It certainly put a smile on my face...

The trotters van was actually a Reliant Regal....I'll now remove my bobble hat!

Strictly speaking it was a Reliant Regal Supervan 111 :-)

At least Andy did say "Reliant Robin", does my head in when I hear it being described as a "Robin Reliant".

I'm in two minds about replica's though. There are very few 3 wheeled Reliant's of any type left out there, so it seems a shame to me that they are only worth preserving as a replica of the OFAH van rather than as just an example of quirky British design/engineering. Especially so if it is a Reliant model other than the Regal, such as the Robin or the Rialto which, apart from having 3 wheels, don't look very much like a Regal at all.