#davidsdailycar

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David WilkinsToday, another random white car I came across while working back through my photo roll. Meet the Austin Healey ‘Frogeye’ Sprite. The colour is actually Old English White, a slightly ‘warmer’ parchment/cream shade traditionally seen on British cars over the years. An option of this name appeared on the Rover 75 paint chart, for example. The Frogeye spawned, if you’ll forgive the pun, a couple of spin-offs, of which more in the next two posts.<a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/davidsdailycar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#davidsdailycar</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/AustinHealey" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#AustinHealey</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/WeirdCarMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WeirdCarMastodon</a>

David WilkinsToday, from 1975, the last ever Wolseley, seen here at the British Motor Museum a couple of weeks ago. For a few months, the car that later became the Leyland Princess, was sold in separate Austin and Morris versions, with the top models being Wolseleys. Among the refinements were Hydragas suspension, a vinyl roof and a very smooth, although not especially quick, transversely mounted 2.2-litre straight six engine. (1/2)<a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/davidsdailycar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#davidsdailycar</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Wolseley" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Wolseley</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/WeirdCarMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WeirdCarMastodon</a>

David WilkinsYesterday’s post about the original Renault Twingo provoked some discussion of the merits or otherwise of white paintwork. Today, I decided to scroll back through my photo roll and post the first white car I came to, which turned out to be this marvellous base model Leyland Princess 1800, seen at the recent Practical Classics resto show. The Princess was launched fifty years ago and was initially sold briefly under Austin, Morris and Wolseley badges.<a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/davidsdailycar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#davidsdailycar</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Leyland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Leyland</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/WeirdCarMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WeirdCarMastodon</a>

David WilkinsSince we’re on the subject of Renault, I thought I’d randomly throw in one of my favourite modern cars, the first-generation 1990s Renault Twingo. A great design, although I think it works better in the brighter colours rather than the white worn by this example at <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/FOTU" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#FOTU</a> 2024. These were only made with LHD, although some, like this one, made it to the UK anyway.<a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/davidsdailycar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#davidsdailycar</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Renault" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Renault</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/WeirdCarMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WeirdCarMastodon</a>

David WilkinsYesterday, I posted a picture of the Quatrelle, one of several Renaults that had an asymmetric wheelbase, thanks to the design of their torsion bar independent rear suspension. As well as the 4, I think, from memory, these included the 5, 7, 14 and 16. Meanwhile, this trait was not shared with the big-selling 12, seen here in later facelifted form at <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/FOTU" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#FOTU</a> 2024, or the 15, 17, 18 and Fuego, which were evolved from it. These had a simple beam rear axle.<a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/davidsdailycar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#davidsdailycar</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Renault" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Renault</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/WeirdCarMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WeirdCarMastodon</a>

David WilkinsYesterday, <a href="https://mastodon.online/@clanger9" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@clanger9</a> raised the question of asymmetry in Renaults. By coincidence, the very next car I snapped at the 2014 Bremen Classic Motor Show after yesterday’s AMC Pacer, this nice red Renault 4, is a perfect example. Like several older Renaults, the Quatrelle had a slightly longer wheelbase on one side than the other thanks to the design of its torsion bar rear suspension, which placed one torsion bar across the car in front of the other.<a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/davidsdailycar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#davidsdailycar</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Renault" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Renault</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/WeirdCarMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WeirdCarMastodon</a>

David WilkinsToday, another asymmetric American car, the AMC Pacer, which I saw at the Bremen Classic Motor Show in 2014. The compact Pacer, introduced in 1975, had unusual proportions that contributed to its unusual looks. It was much shorter than typical American cars of the time, but remained ‘full size’ in terms of its width. The passenger-side door was four inches longer than that on the driver’s side.<a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/davidsdailycar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#davidsdailycar</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/AMC" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#AMC</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/WeirdCarMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WeirdCarMastodon</a>

David WilkinsYesterday <a href="https://mastodon.au/@literatesavant" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@literatesavant</a> mentioned that the now-defunct US GM brand Saturn had also done an asymmetric car - and here it is, the second-generation SC coupé, which gained a second, rear-hinged driver’s side door in 1999. The shut-line is just visible in the first photo here. I saw this one in 2023 in the Sainsbury’s car park in Mildenhall in the UK. This is near two big US Air Force bases, which presumably explains how the car ended up in England.<a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/davidsdailycar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#davidsdailycar</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Saturn" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Saturn</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/WeirdCarMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WeirdCarMastodon</a>

David WilkinsToday, one of my favourite modern unusual cars - the now rarely seen (in the UK at least) Hyundai Veloster, which was introduced in 2011. The main distinctive feature of the Veloster was its asymmetric bodywork, which had a single door on the driver’s side and two doors on the other. There were therefore two different body shells for right-hand and left-hand drive models. Seen locally a few weeks ago.<a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/davidsdailycar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#davidsdailycar</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Hyundai" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Hyundai</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/WeirdCarMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WeirdCarMastodon</a>

David WilkinsA few days back, I posted some photos of a 1980s Rolls Royce Silver Spirit that had been converted into an up-market pick-up. This is what the Silver Spirit looks like in standard unmodified form. Snapped by my brother in Doha in Qatar last year.<a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/davidsdailycar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#davidsdailycar</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/RollsRoyce" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#RollsRoyce</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/WeirdCarMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WeirdCarMastodon</a>

David WilkinsA cop car at a McDonald’s drive-thru. A scene from gritty New York, New York? Well no. I captured this Ford Crown Victoria with (I’m not sure how authentic) NYPD livery at the McD’s at Long Sutton, west of King’s Lynn in Norfolk in the UK. AIUI the Crown Vic was very popular with US law enforcement but I don’t know whether this is a genuine Police Interceptor spec model or just a dressed up standard car. Not sure how it ended up in rural England…<a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/davidsdailycar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#davidsdailycar</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Ford" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Ford</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/WeirdCarMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WeirdCarMastodon</a>

David WilkinsYesterday, <a href="https://expressional.social/@lionelb" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@lionelb</a> was commenting on how the long rear deck of the original Mazda Cosmo gave it rather pick-up-like proportions. Here’s a real pick-up, albeit rather an exotic one, a Chevy El Camino style conversion of a 1980s Rolls Royce Silver Spirit. Snapped at the recent Practical Classics resto show.<a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/davidsdailycar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#davidsdailycar</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/RollsRoyce" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#RollsRoyce</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/WeirdCarMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WeirdCarMastodon</a>

David WilkinsToday, something pretty special. I saw this example of the original 1967-1972 Mazda Cosmo at the recent Practical Classics restoration show at the NEC. Only about 1,200 of these were built and apparently there are only two in the UK. Alongside the NSU Ro80, this was the first car to have a twin-rotor Wankel engine. This car is in the middle of a restoration project by Yorkshire Car Restoration. (1/2)<a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/davidsdailycar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#davidsdailycar</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Mazda" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Mazda</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/WeirdCarMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WeirdCarMastodon</a>

David WilkinsSaw this one a few weeks ago, coming back from a visit to Felixstowe, which, while better known as a big container port, is also quite a nice British ‘day trip’ seaside resort. This lovely old Dutch-registered Peugeot 403 was heading inland on the A14, the main road from the East Coast ports to the Midlands, having presumably entered the UK via the Harwich ferry. Great to see it in everyday use. Taken by my brother through a rain-spotted windscreen.<a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/davidsdailycar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#davidsdailycar</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Peugeot" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Peugeot</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/WeirdCarMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WeirdCarMastodon</a>

David WilkinsToday, we’re coming right up to date with the big Kia EV9 electric SUV, seen here at the SMMT Northern test day for journalists last year. The EV9 has this rather interesting ‘crystal ball’ style gear selector (first photo). I peered into it, looking for guidance on the future of the EV market, but came away none the wiser. Incidentally, the crystal ball flips over to reveal a more conventional rotary gear selection knob when you turn the car on.<a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/davidsdailycar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#davidsdailycar</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Kia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Kia</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/WeirdCarMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WeirdCarMastodon</a>

David WilkinsA few days ago, I posted about the rather pricey 2001 Renault Avantime (blue car). For anyone who liked the Avantime’s unusual derrière, the same look was also available on the smaller Mégane for a lot less money. I saw this one (red car) in Downham Market, a small town in Norfolk, a few days ago. (1/2)<a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/davidsdailycar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#davidsdailycar</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Renault" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Renault</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/WeirdCarMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WeirdCarMastodon</a>

David WilkinsA few days ago, when I posted some cars from Matra, <a href="https://cupoftea.social/@robtherunt" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@robtherunt</a> asked about the company’s Murena sports car. I managed to dig up these photos of a vivid orange example from Techno Classica 2013. The Murena, like the Bagheera before it, was famous for its three-abreast seating. Matra stopped selling the Murena in 1984 when it started making the Espace for Renault. This was good business but left Matra more reliant on its relationship with Renault.<a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/davidsdailycar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#davidsdailycar</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Matra" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Matra</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/WeirdCarMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WeirdCarMastodon</a>

David WilkinsOne for <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/FensterFreitag" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#FensterFreitag</a> today. A few weeks ago, I kicked off a long sequence on small Triumph/Rover/MG saloons with the 1949 Triumph Mayflower. Here’s another 1949 Triumph, the much fancier 2000 Roadster, with a rear ‘dickie seat’. The unusual thing here is that the rear passengers using the dickie seat get their own split windscreen, which must have made things a lot less blustery for them. Snapped at the recent NEC Practical Classics resto show.<a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/davidsdailycar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#davidsdailycar</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Triumph" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Triumph</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/WeirdCarMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WeirdCarMastodon</a>

David WilkinsIn 2001, Renault launched not just one, but two, weird big cars. As well as yesterday’s Matra-built two-door hatch/coupé Avantime, there was this, the four-door hatch Vel Satis, made in-house by Renault, a successor to the R30/R25/Safrane line. The similarities between the two probably made things harder for the Avantime, although the Vel Satis was a low seller too. Snapped at the recent Practical Classics resto show.<a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/davidsdailycar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#davidsdailycar</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Matra" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Matra</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Renault" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Renault</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/WeirdCarMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WeirdCarMastodon</a>

David WilkinsToday we jump forward in the Matra story to the 2001 Renault Avantime, seen here at the recent Practical Classics resto show. This was a sort of two-door coupé/hatch grand tourer which was in retrospect aimed at the same ‘French luxury’ niche as today’s DS models. It was quite unlike anything else, and car buyers didn’t really get it. Sales were low. Which of course means that it was loved - even revered - by later generations of car geeks (1/3)<a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/davidsdailycar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#davidsdailycar</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Renault" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Renault</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/Matra" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Matra</a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/WeirdCarMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#WeirdCarMastodon</a>

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