Whatsthisthen?.the impossible one

[Gibbo2286]

In some of the reports it's described as a 're-bodied BMW'

[van ordinaire]

Hmmmmm! Not my choice for Vietnam. I still have vivid recollection of a 5-series in India just getting in the way because it wasn't suited to local conditions (& that was in the main road through a sizable village!) - unlike the old Hindustan Ambassador taxi I'd got hold of.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Go on, I should know instantly what this is but don't.

Someone tell me what it is please....it comes from the OSO Coffee and Cake (Cranfield) Facebook Page. Very topical for today seeing as CitroJim posted up a nice pic of his coffee and cake and is a regular visitor to the Cafe

Whatsthisthen?

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Looks quite similar to this little gem , very rare if its one of those in the UK

Regards Neil

[CitroJim]

That's an interesting car Neil Must admit I've not seen out outside the OSO... If I had I may well have fallen off my bike in surprise!

My thoughts is that it's a pre-war German?

[Gibbo2286]

It's a Lancia Aprilia.

[NewcastleFalcon]

It's a Lancia Aprilia.

Well Done Gibbo you are right.

This was the wrong tree I was barking up, very similar but a nagging doubt it wasn't quite as big as the car in front of Jim's Cafe. Still found a couple of nice pics so I'll give the Ardea its moment in the sun even though it was wrong

Yes it does look a bit old Volkswagen-ey.

One of its distinguishing features is its four doors and how they open, and also its trafficator for want of a better word angled in the panel behind the rear door. The one closest to those features I have come across is the Lancia Ardea. the coachlining "moulding" front to back and the vent slots in the bonnet are also close.

Look at this for ease of getting in and out! This one was sold at Historics at Brooklands on 27/09/2017 for a mere £12,320. Its gorgeous to my taste but I do have a soft spot for the marque.



regards Neil

[xantia_v6]

I have seen a (rare) convertible version of these under restoration for a European owner in New Zealand. That particular car was bought in the 'states with a botched half-finished conversion to American V8 running gear. The original running-gear and complete rear suspension had been lost, along with the firewall and a good portion of the floor-pan (not good for a chassis-less convertible). It was painstakingly rebuilt with the missing parts donated by a tatty saloon, also imported from the 'states I believe that the shells are alloy and mostly riveted together. The remains of the saloon body shell were shipped to the UK for someone who was restoring a saloon with bad corrosion.

[CitroJim]

That door arrangement is jolly practical and makes it so easy to get in and out of...

Is is my bad memory or did the Mazda RX-8 have a similar sort of door arrangement to allow relatively easy access to the back seats - such as they were? I seem to remember the RX-8 rear doors were somewhat vestigial and not truly doors in the strictest sense...

[Hell Razor5543]

Yes, the RX-8 does have the rear doors.

http://www.dieselstation.com/wallpapers ... een-06.jpg

[CitroJim]

Yes, the RX-8 does have the rear doors.

http://www.dieselstation.com/wallpapers ... een-06.jpg

Thanks James Good to know my memory is not a total failure - just yet...

But give it time

[van ordinaire]

I knew instantly it was an Aprilia but at the time of posting was engrossed on eBay watching the fortunes of a Xantia estate, once the price, suddenly, got too rich for me - & only now catching up.
Never knew there was convertible though, always believed the clapdoor Lincolns of the early/mid '60's were unique. To think Rolls-Royce said a 4 door convertible couldn't be built (allegedly) - nevermind a pillarless one!

[Gibbo2286]

I knew instantly it was an Aprilia but at the time of posting was engrossed on eBay watching the fortunes of a Xantia estate, once the price, suddenly, got too rich for me - & only now catching up.
Never knew there was convertible though, always believed the clapdoor Lincolns of the early/mid '60's were unique. To think Rolls-Royce said a 4 door convertible couldn't be built (allegedly) - nevermind a pillarless one!

There were always the Rolls myths, one heard back in the 40s/50s was:

A wealthy gent bought a Rolls and took it up the Alps on holiday, it broke down with a broken leaf spring, he contacted Rolls and they flew out an engineer with a new spring and he fitted it, sending the owner happily on his way.

Later the guy asked Rolls for the bill, Rolls replied they knew nothing about it and "Our springs don't break."

[Hell Razor5543]

I heard a similar story, but it was a Rolls owner driving through Egypt when a half shaft failed. When he later chased up the bill he got a similar response.

I also heard that Rolls Royce had done a deal with Pickfords, to allow RR to have car collection lorries done up in the Pickfords livery (as it would not do to have a Rolls on the back of a flatbed recovery lorry).

[NewcastleFalcon]

This one isn't out of the top drawer of whatsthisthens?

But it is a badge I came across on Sunday which I didn't know what it was.

whatbadgeisthisthen?

Regards Neil