Have You Seen Any Interesting Cars On The Road Lately?

[Bobby Dazzler]

Nice back drop, Giant milk bottles, we used to call them as kids.

Thank you, I thought it made a good backdrop too. Sadly no longer there, so no longer available for photo shoots!

 

[BTB 500]

Nice back drop, Giant milk bottles, we used to call them as kids.

There was a set of those cooling towers close to the M1 when we went to Nottingham to stay with my grandparents (this was a full day's drive from Middlesex in our Austin A40 Farina - often with a breakdown on the way!) - we always knew we were getting close when we saw them

 

[Darrell]

There was a set of those cooling towers close to the M1 when we went to Nottingham to stay with my grandparents (this was a full day's drive from Middlesex in our Austin A40 Farina - often with a breakdown on the way!) - we always knew we were getting close when we saw them

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Is that a Roland Rat car? A family in our road had one in the 70’s.

 

[BTB 500]

Is that a Roland Rat car? A family in our road had one in the 70’s.

I think he drove a Ford Anglia.

My parents' A40 was in the '60s, and it rusted away like most British cars of the era. Looking back now the number plate "719 GRR" might have been worth something ... possibly more than the car!

 

[BTB 500]

Just to show how much small family cars have changed ... the A40 had 40 bhp (hence the name), but only did 38 mpg. It couldn't reach 70 mph (top speed was around 66), which is why it took so long to get to Nottingham and acceleration was given for 0-50 mph, taking almost 20 seconds!

 

[Darrell]

Just to show how much small family cars have changed ... the A40 had 40 bhp (hence the name), but only did 38 mpg. It couldn't reach 70 mph (top speed was around 66), which is why it took so long to get to Nottingham and acceleration was given for 0-50 mph, taking almost 20 seconds!

I’ve just been reading reading it on Wikki. Scary to think how slow it was and don’t forget, it’s predecessor was the A35!

 

[BTB 500]

I’ve just been reading reading it on Wikki. Scary to think how slow it was and don’t forget, it’s predecessor was the A35!

Although shaped like a modern hatchback it had a fixed rear window and a drop-down bootlid - this came undone once on the M1 while my sister was travelling in there, behind the back seats

With 40 bhp it's not surprising it struggled on long runs 5-up plus luggage, but bizarrely they are quite popular as historic racing cars now:

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[Bobby Dazzler]

There was a set of those cooling towers close to the M1 when we went to Nottingham

That’ll be Ratcliffe on Soar. For now at least, they’re still there.

 

[BTB 500]

That’ll be Ratcliffe on Soar. For now at least, they’re still there.

That's the place!

 

[davymead]

Although shaped like a modern hatchback it had a fixed rear window and a drop-down bootlid - this came undone once on the M1 while my sister was travelling in there, behind the back seats

With 40 bhp it's not surprising it struggled on long runs 5-up plus luggage, but bizarrely they are quite popular as historic racing cars now:

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I always remember them as the first British built car that had a ‘modern’ appearance.

 

[Dippo]

I had the later version when I was a student - it had the 1098 cc engine, and could manage 70 mph.

"A Mark II was tested by The Motor in 1962. The updated version had a higher top speed of 75.2 mph (121.0 km/h) and faster acceleration from 0–50 mph (80 km/h) of 17.4 seconds."

It was two tone - medium blue with a black roof. It took me on a tour round France and Germany in the mid 70s.

 

[nyssa7]

Saw a BTL XJ13 replica yesterday complete with nearly right reg XJ13JAC. Sounded lovely, a quick look at their web site suggests they can supply a 4 cam V12 engine this more closely mirroring what went into the actual XJ13 rather than the simpler 2 cam V12 that Jaguar used in their production cars

 

[markjay]

Not on the road, but saw this:

230+ Car Barn Find Discovered In Europe – And They're Now For Sale

The Palmen Collection has been called "one of the greatest barn finds ever," as it contains over 230 cars that were collected over a period of 40+

silodrome.com

 

[ToeKnee]

I followed a lotus Elan the other day, the old original one. Looked in great condition and although I tried to get a picture I failed miserably.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Saw these two.....not that "unexpected" as they live in the next road. They are used as dailies by him and his wife.....and because of that they have a certain "patina" about them! He's a real fan though....when his garage doors are open its just rammed full of 205 parts including wings and alloys stacked to the ceiling! The green 1.9 is a rare colour now apparently. The red one is a 1.6. The 1.9s were rather faster but i always found the 1.6 a better balanced car. Quite a rare motor these days.

 

[BTB 500]

Quite a rare motor these days.

Tolman Engineering sell a 'modernised' 205 GTi for around £65k now:

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First customer Tolman Edition 205 GTI revealed – Tolman Engineering

tolmanengineering.co.uk

 

[SpikyMikey]

Saw these two.....not that "unexpected" as they live in the next road. They are used as dailies by him and his wife.....and because of that they have a certain "patina" about them! He's a real fan though....when his garage doors are open its just rammed full of 205 parts including wings and alloys stacked to the ceiling! The green 1.9 is a rare colour now apparently. The red one is a 1.6. The 1.9s were rather faster but i always found the 1.6 a better balanced car. Quite a rare motor these days.
View attachment 140107
View attachment 140108

Seem to make good money these days...
Used 1992 Peugeot 205 1.9 GTI 3d 130 BHP APPRECIATING CLASSIC For Sale (U3163) | Twelve London Road

 

[Darrell]

Near Berkeley Square.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Spotted a white Subaru SVX today. No photo but it was just like this one. I can’t remember the last time I saw one.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

We were the only Brits amongst great herds of Europeans doing Portobello Road this morning

A V12 that looks nothing like the V12’s of my youth

Spotted a white Subaru SVX today. No photo but it was just like this one. I can’t remember the last time I saw one.

View attachment 140135

One of the 32 currently on the road (taxed) in the UK.