Older cars you have seen

[KT550]

Dec 1972 Bedford camper and an Oct 1977
Reliant Scimitar GTE
seen off road in Warwickshire today.

 

[DelW]

Earlier this afternoon, saw a lovely looking dark blue Lancia Fulvia coupe, probably late '60s or early '70s but I couldn't tell exactly as it was on an Italian registration (rear plate only too). It was running smoothly enough, but it left a strong smell of petrol in the air. Did all cars really smell like that back then? Maybe they did, and we've just got used to cleaner air since fuel injection and catalytic converters arrived in the early '90s.

 

[Bald Rick]

Did all cars really smell like that back then? Maybe they did, and we've just got used to cleaner air since fuel injection and catalytic converters arrived in the early '90s.

Most of them yes! The Marina I saw last week smelt like it was probably only burning half the petrol that went through its cylinders !

 

[Sun Chariot]

Leaded fuel had a distinct "heady-nauseous" smell + effect. I still recall the not-pleasant sensation whilst walking under a railway bridge, to school in the early 1980s: the fumes from vehicles queuing under the bridge, made me feel positively queasy.

Anyway - today's "find" is a car I wish I had owned (I sold my Rover SD1 2600 before a move to central London for twelve years). This Saab 9000CD put a smile on my face.

 

[Cowley]

Leaded fuel had a distinct "heady-nauseous" smell + effect. I still recall the not-pleasant sensation whilst walking under a railway bridge, to school in the early 1980s: the fumes from vehicles queuing under the bridge, made me feel positively queasy.

It’s easy to forget these things because cars are so clean running these days!

Anyway - today's "find" is a car I wish I had owned (I sold my Rover SD1 2600 before a move to central London for twelve years). This Saab 9000CS put a smile on my face.

That is a nice car.

Another garage spot for me this afternoon. An old N reg 405 estate.


A pretty decent car in its day. Especially the 1.9tdi version.

 

[Sun Chariot]

A local MOT garage produces a couple of head-turners this morning:

A 1984/A Ford Sierra in seemingly good condition.

Not the "A-Team" classic 1983 GMC Vandura. The owner of this 2001/51 VW T4 van has a lot to answer for...

 

[birchesgreen]

A nice selection of cars at the Brum Transport Festival thats being held today. Some Wolseleys, Bentleys, Morris Minors et cetera. But my favourite is this MG Maestro!

 

[DelW]

A nice selection of cars at the Brum Transport Festival thats being held today. Some Wolseleys, Bentleys, Morris Minors et cetera. But my favourite is this MG Maestro!
View attachment 211803

Some nice classic buses in the background as well. I used to travel to and from school on the likes of those! (Both Midland Red and Birmingham Corporation.)

 

[telstarbox]

It’s easy to forget these things because cars are so clean running these days!


That is a nice car.

Another garage spot for me this afternoon. An old N reg 405 estate.
View attachment 211784

A pretty decent car in its day. Especially the 1.9tdi version.

What a shed!

 

[thejuggler]

Not seen one of these for decades (a family friend had a saloon in the 70s) and an estate version is even rarer.

 

[dgl]

Dec 1972 Bedford camper and an Oct 1977
Reliant Scimitar GTE
seen off road in Warwickshire today.

Since nobody else did...

Princess Anne had a Reliand Scimitar don't you know.

 

[gpmartin]

But my favourite is this MG Maestro!

"Faster than a Ferrari, a Porsche, a Lamborghini, a Lotus, an Aston Martin..."

 

[telstarbox]

Slightly rusty Triumph Dolomite. W suffix.

 

[DelW]

Slightly rusty Triumph Dolomite. W suffix.

My parents had one of those (also W suffix) from about a year old until about 4 years old. It looked about that rusty at four years! It was their third Triumph (after a 1300 and a 1500TC) but after it they went on to a Volvo which lasted them 14 years.

 

[birchesgreen]

Heading down the Aston Expressway just now, in front of me, G reg Ford Escort RS in dark blue

 

[TheSel]

This glorious Rover 90 (P4) - new in May 1955 according to the DVSA - in Southport this afternoon.

 

[Cowley]

I managed to get a Bedford CF, red letter box, red phone box and disused level crossing at North Elmham into this photo.


Outside Number 9…

 

[GusB]

I managed to get a Bedford CF, red letter box, red phone box and disused level crossing at North Elmham into this photo.
View attachment 211969

Outside Number 9…
View attachment 211970

All it needs to complete the picture is a red Bedford HA (or a yellow one sporting a big "T" on the side).

 

[KT550]

Today in Winchester

1983 VW Transporter
Aug 1987 VW Golf GTI
May 1999 Mazda Bongo Friendee

 

[Cowley]

All it needs to complete the picture is a red Bedford HA (or a yellow one sporting a big "T" on the side).

Oh yes!

Today in Winchester

1983 VW Transporter
Aug 1987 VW Golf GTI
May 1999 Mazda Bongo Friendee

I’ve driven a version of all three types of those.

 

[DelW]

Earlier this afternoon, saw a lovely looking dark blue Lancia Fulvia coupe, probably late '60s or early '70s but I couldn't tell exactly as it was on an Italian registration (rear plate only too). It was running smoothly enough, but it left a strong smell of petrol in the air. Did all cars really smell like that back then? Maybe they did, and we've just got used to cleaner air since fuel injection and catalytic converters arrived in the early '90s.

Bizarrely, just four days later I saw another one this afternoon. This time bright red and on a UK J-suffix registration. I wasn't close enough to smell its exhaust on this occasion though.

 

[ExRes]

Seen this morning KXF 501 a superb looking 1949 Daimler DB18 convertible in cream and green

 

[Stathern Jc]

Reliant Robin seen in Sandgate, Berwick-upon-Tweed this morning.

Looking in tidy condition for its age.
Someone may be able to advise when this later version with the rectangular headlights was in production.

 

[Sun Chariot]

I passed a truly immaculate 1977/R plate white Ford Cortina Mk4 1.3. Twice, within an hour.
No photo, however, because it was broken-down at roadside with bonmet up and very miffed looking owners.
Fortunately, for my second sighting, a breakdown crew was in attendance

 

[GusB]

Reliant Robin seen in Sandgate, Berwick-upon-Tweed this morning.
View attachment 212040
Looking in tidy condition for its age.
Someone may be able to advise when this later version with the rectangular headlights was in production.

From 1989, according to the Wikipedia page (usual caveats apply about accuracy, etc). The Robin name was revived after a few years of the car being known as the Rialto. I assume that Reliant had raided the Ford parts bin for the new Robin - those headlights scream "Fiesta" to me.

 

[birchesgreen]

S reg Transit this morning, good old warrior. Looked in decent nick apart from quite a few dents along the side as you'd expect.

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

Reliant Robin seen in Sandgate, Berwick-upon-Tweed this morning.
View attachment 212040
Looking in tidy condition for its age.
Someone may be able to advise when this later version with the rectangular headlights was in production.

Nice!

From 1989, according to the Wikipedia page (usual caveats apply about accuracy, etc). The Robin name was revived after a few years of the car being known as the Rialto. I assume that Reliant had raided the Ford parts bin for the new Robin - those headlights scream "Fiesta" to me.

Never a truer word said in jest... the headlight design was "borrowed" from the Fiesta MK2.
The Robin MK2 was indeed introduced in 1989 and was produced in fits and starts until early-2000 (the owning companies of Reliant kept going bust).
It replaced the Rialto, which had begun production in 1982 and replaced the original Robin; the Rialto "borrowed" its headlights from the Austin Minimetro.
And the Robin MK2 was replaced by the MK3 in 2000, this time with headlights "inspired" by the Vauxhall Corsa.

(Source "The Reliant Robin, Britain's Most Bizarre Car" by Giles Chapman).

 

[D6130]

Nice!

Never a truer word said in jest... the headlight design was "borrowed" from the Fiesta MK2.
The Robin MK2 was indeed introduced in 1989 and was produced in fits and starts until early-2000 (the owning companies of Reliant kept going bust).
It replaced the Rialto, which had begun production in 1982 and replaced the original Robin; the Rialto "borrowed" its headlights from the Austin Minimetro.
And the Robin MK2 was replaced by the MK3 in 2000, this time with headlights "inspired" by the Vauxhall Corsa.

(Source "The Reliant Robin, Britain's Most Bizarre Car" by Giles Chapman).

Which model was Del Boy's in the TV series?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Yesterday evening, as I came down the slip road from the rotary section of Lofthouse Interchange (from M1 northbound onto M62 westbound) I passed a "well used" Volvo 240 Estate in pale blue, on an L suffix plate. Unfortunately at no point was it within the scope of my dashcam in order to capture it.

 

[dgl]

Which model was Del Boy's in the TV series?

A Reliant Regal Supervan.