I-Spy Classic Cars/Bikes-What have you spotted?

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Zelandeth
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Re: Classic car summer season 2015-C'est finis

Post by Zelandeth »

Lancia Delta, one of the relatively few cars (up to 2006 when I moved jobs and stopped meeting up with a rather rich petrolhead on a regular basis - the need to own a Rolls Silver Spirit is his fault), that I'd be interested in but never managed to get a shot of.

The "never drive your heros" advice isn't always valid...but sometimes is! Countach definitely falls into that category...it's nigh on undriveable. DeLorean on the other hand (greedy sod has two - even if one is essentially a parts car as it's so far gone), was a very pleasant surprise, especially given the "poor" performance that's often quoted...felt plenty quick for me in the real world. It is a fantastic parts bin special inside though...good few hours of fun for anyone who knows 70s/early 80s car interiors there spotting all the bits. Comfy too, and I didn't want to give it back. Even if it has probably done me permenant brain damage as he still hasn't fixed the dodgy gas strut on the driver's door which means that if you don't give it a helpful shove when opening it stops at juuuust the right place so the corner of the door gets you on the side of the head. Has got me a bunch of times, and it really hurts!

Rolls was one I was apprehensive about too, a car I'd always loved the look and principle of, but was worried it wouldn't really deliver. Those worries lasted about 200 yards out of the gate, and it ended up being the car I regretted having to give back more than any other - not that I didn't borrow it dozens of times again anyway.

Was a fun time back then, especially as his approach was very much that the whole idea of having those sorts of cars was to let people see and experience them. He truested my driving, therefore anything in his fleet he was happy for me to have a shot of or even borrow. Caused a bit of a stir one week when my car was off the road (Skoda Estelle 130GL at the time, which decided to eat its clutch release bearing), and I asked him if I could borrow something. I arrived home to find a Ferrari Testarossa parked outside the house...my chariot for the week. Caused a bit of a stir in the college car park...the Max Power crowd there always loved taking the micky out of my Ladas/Skodas etc...the look on their faces when I walked up to them peering through the window of it, then got in and drove off was absolutely priceless. Funnily enough, the ribbing of my chosen cars stopped about then too.

There were only two cars he owned that nobody else was allowed to drive. A Ferrari Daytona (fair enough!), and his everyday runaround (i.e. when the Daytona was misbehaving again). An A plate Ford Escort 1.3 Ghia 2-door estate, in orange. First car he ever bought new, and probably the most pampered daily driver in the world.
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Re: Classic car summer season 2015-C'est finis

Post by CitroJim »

:-D Love it Zel... Let's you drive all the supercars but not his orange 'Scort... You know, I can understand that!
Zelandeth wrote: The "never drive your heros" advice isn't always valid...but sometimes is!
Yes, back in my biker days I always wanted to ride a Harley and one day I finally did... What a total disappointment...

Like the Countach, practically unridable :( Riding a road drill would have been smoother... :twisted:
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Post by addo »

Chicks love Harleys!
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Post by CitroJim »

addo wrote:Chicks love Harleys!
I can understand that :wink:
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Re: Classic car summer season 2015-C'est finis

Post by Zelandeth »

Yep...he's a bit eccentric to say the least, but in the best way possible. I shudder to think what some of the cars I've been out in were worth! Countach was probably the most terrifying though, combination of a car you can't see out of that's as wide as a bus, 500+ bhp and a very heavy throttle pedal that only has two settings (off and warp 9) makes for rather a terrifying drive...especially on country lanes.

TVRs were slightly scary too, but at least you knew where you stood with them and simply treated them with complete suspicion at all times. Think it was the Chimera which you could get wheelspin in top gear on a bone dry road at 70mph if you even thought about using more than about 30% throttle. Always fancied getting one of them on a track though as I reckon it would have been hilarious good fun. You'd need new tyres after 10 minutes but that's not the point...

He also has an evil sense of humour - see also parking a Ford Model T in front of the office and then challenging anyone to move it (without any instruction). I actually managed after a few minutes thanks to reading an article on them somewhere. That is officially the car with the worst brakes I have ever encountered!
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Re: Classic car summer season 2015-C'est finis

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

My collection of memorable drives seem a bit....ordinary...in comparison Zel but some were forbidden fruit....underage farm track first-time driving vehicles!

Image

Regards Neil

For Lancia enthusiasts National Geographic Channel is airing Series 3 of Car SOS featuring a Lancia Flavia Coupe tonight at 6pm.
Last edited by NewcastleFalcon on 12 Oct 2015, 21:34, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Classic car summer season 2015-C'est finis

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

I saw two Moggie Minors today, one in dark green, the other, a soft-top, in that deep blue they are famous for. No photos, as I was driving.
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Re: Classic car summer season 2015-C'est finis

Post by CitroJim »

I saw some bloody expensive and exotic motors outside of a hotel in Regent Street this morning :)

No photos as I was in a minibus on the way to start my bike ride...
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Re: Classic car summer season 2015-C'est finis

Post by xantia_v6 »

On Thursday I visited the "British Car Museum" in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. http://www.britishcarmuseum.co.nz
The website does not really capture the spirit of the place. It is more like a 1970s breakers yard where they have not yet got around to removing any parts from the cars.

The scale of the place is impressive, as is the comprehensive nature of the collection, there are very few family cars of the 50s, 60s or 70s that are not represented (usually with mutiple duplicates). There are also a few more exotic examples.

There were lots of cars that I have not seen anywhere for 30 years, Vauxhall Viscounts, Jowett Javelins, 1940s Morris Commercial vans, Triumph 1500 FWD, and an Austin Metropolitan!

I took some photos, but the lighting conditions are not good, and I only had my phone. I may post some if there is interest.
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Re: Classic car summer season 2015-C'est finis

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

xantia_v6 wrote:On Thursday I visited the "British Car Museum" in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. http://www.britishcarmuseum.co.nz
The website does not really capture the spirit of the place. It is more like a 1970s breakers yard where they have not yet got around to removing any parts from the cars.
I took some photos, but the lighting conditions are not good, and I only had my phone. I may post some if there is interest.
Plenty of interest from me, here's evidence of one of Jim's more endearing terms for cars made down the road. I do prefer "Luton's Finest" to "Poxhall"

Image

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Zelandeth
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Re: Classic car summer season 2015-C'est finis

Post by Zelandeth »

Saw something yesterday that is currently driving me mad trying to work out what it was.

Caught a very brief glance as we went around opposite sides of the Neath Hill roundabout.

It was long, low and violently red. Styling I can only describe as a cross between a Lamborghini Diablo and a Lotus Esprit (especially from the back) with a hint of Dodge Viper thrown in. I didn't get a proper look at it, but I'd swear it had an MG badge on the bonnet. I think it was wearing an M plate, but goodness only knows if that's a private plate or not. Could even be a kit car for all I know.

I'm at a complete loss as to what the heck it was and really don't know how to even start tracking it down. ...Hoping that I stumble across it again at some point so that I can at the very least throw the reg number at Google and see what happens...It's really bothering me...not often I come across a car that I flat out can't identify.

Also yesterday this Mustang Mach-1 co-operatively slowed right down so I was able to get a photo before it burbled off out of view.

Image

Thought it would have been rude not to share that one...Yes, that's totally the colour scheme I'd have on my one too.
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Re: Classic car summer season 2015-C'est finis

Post by CitroJim »

Spotted a nice E-Type going into Newport Pagnell this afternoon.. on an E plate...

Later in the same bike ride along a very quiet country lane I happened across a group of Falconers with their raptors (Harris Hawks I believe)... Very lovely :)

I love a bit of falconry... Made for a very pleasant interlude during the ride...
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Re: Classic car summer season 2015-C'est finis

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

Zelandeth wrote:Saw something yesterday that is currently driving me mad trying to work out what it was.

Caught a very brief glance as we went around opposite sides of the Neath Hill roundabout.

It was long, low and violently red. Styling I can only describe as a cross between a Lamborghini Diablo and a Lotus Esprit (especially from the back) with a hint of Dodge Viper thrown in. I didn't get a proper look at it, but I'd swear it had an MG badge on the bonnet. I think it was wearing an M plate, but goodness only knows if that's a private plate or not. Could even be a kit car for all I know......It's really bothering me...not often I come across a car that I flat out can't identify.
Its probably not this but its the only thing with an MG badge which could come anywhere close to your description Zel.

Image

Image

And I suppose it is "M" reg


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Re: Classic car summer season 2015-C'est finis

Post by myglaren »

I think I may have seen one of these somewhere but don't recall the circumstances.

According to Wikipedia it is an offshoot of MG now banned from using the MG logo and is a warmed up Qvale Mangusta
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Re: Classic car summer season 2015-C'est finis

Post by Zelandeth »

Good thoughts there, but it wasn't either of them (though I have now added another obscure car maker I know of).

Just going to have to keep my eyes open to see if it appears again...
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