I always thought I had a well fitting anorak when it comes to odd cars, but one has got me stumped. A friend mentioned a car he saw yesterday, and I can't think for the life of me what it might be.
Small, boxy little rag top which he reckoned looked 60's but was on a '91 'H' plate (possible late import?). Shape reminded him slightly of the Daf variomatic, but he's convinced it was either a Pug or a Renault? Also had a 'sport' badge on it somewhere apparently
Any ideas guys?
Our best guess so far is a Talbot Samba convertible which took the dealers 6 years to shift?
Gareth
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Nissan Figaro?
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Don't think it's a Figaro. The guy drives a Morris Minor and claims to recognise old metal when he sees it. The only other clue I've had from him is that the car was tan & brown.
How about a Peugeot 304 cabrio.....
Gareth
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The seldom-seen Trabant Cabrio??
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Reanult 9?
tinpan.fortunecity.com/jive/242/Images/r9-2.jpg
I'm not sure they made a rag-top version though....
CF
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Doesn't sound like the description but here's a (US spec) Renault 9 convertible: www.outreach.psu.edu/users/res122/renault/
Only ever sold in the US but I reckon a few must have made it over here with service personnel and the like.
The last would be 88 so E, possibly F reg.
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How about a Skoda 136 Rapid convertible; potentially new enough, not a factory conversion as such but backed by the importer, and rare enough not obviously to be a Skoda any more. Maybe?
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Not a Renault 9, and my guess of a Pug 304 is wrong too, apparently it was smaller than that. No fins at the rear so not a Trabbie either.
Latest point to add is that the bonnet and boot were of similar dimensions so the Skoda is out too I think.
Any more ideas? I hate to think we've been beaten!
Gareth
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one off conversion of a Nova Saloon?
or a kit car?
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Aprilia's suggestion could be a good one then: www.classiccars.de/Oldyrent/plz0/images/06849.jpg
Seldom-seen, admittedly, but not actually non-existent.
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I'm going with GS's first sugestion
Nissan Figaro, only imported '90 to '91 IIRC
The only slight dought is that the Figaro is very rounded.
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90's import of one of the Italian mini derivatives such as Autobianchi or Innocenti ?
hth
I have to grow old - but I don't have to grow up
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It's not a Nissan Figaro, surely they were never available in tan & brown? Definately rounded too, not boxy.
The Trabant 601 has tiny tail fins so it's not that, the ones before were very curvey so not that either.
Autobianchi / Innocenti sounds promising!
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Don't forget that anything with a suffix registration can be yaers older than the age plate; but by 91 cars that were reregistered in this country were either given a Q plate or the plate that was current when they were originally registered, in the UK or elsewhere.
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Don't think the Italian Minis were really three box though... and some kind of weird Wolesley Hornet/Riley Elf reshell convertible Mini would be well, too odd to contemplate, even if it could carry a H plate.
Here's a beige Figaro though; never actually noticed them in that colour myself, just pale green or baby blue.
tinyurl.com/llpr
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I still think its a figaro, look at the above and below pictures, some people may describe them as boxy.
Here's another link, show the photo to your friend.
www.figarocars.com/3200/frames.asp
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Reliant Scimitar SS1?
Produced round about that time and fairly boxy.
www.scimweb.com/ss1/index.html
Paul
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I seem to recall there was once, briefly, a Yugo cabriolet...or did I dream it?
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This one has been heavily modified but it's still a Yugo Cabrio.
www.mirafiori.com/~courtney/128/corral/ranney/rann...l
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After careful consideration over the weekend a Nissan Figaro was favourite. We printed off a picture and showed it to him this morning. Surprise surprise, it looked rather familiar! Our spotter also proved his keen eye after he told his missus about the search and she told him it was pale blue, not brown!
Apologies for wasting your time chaps, turned out to be the first thing you suggested. He was just so insistent that it was a brown boxy Pug.
With observation like that he must be a used car salesman's dream :-)
Gareth
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