Funny cars you see in London
Thursday, September 29, 2005
  Volkswagen T1


Beautiful, joyful, a myth. The first Transporter, not to confuse with either the Typ 1 (Beetle) or the Transporter T2, maybe the most popular one. This is the Transporter T1, the original one from the fifties. It´s easy to tell because of the split windscreen. I am unable, anyway, to determine the age fo this vehicule. But the colours and the form are just lovely.

I already posted a picture of the Typ 3 and this would be the Typ 2, so I am just missing the Beetle, Typ 1.
 
Sunday, September 25, 2005
  VW Karmann Ghia 1955


Pure beauty, somehow the MB SL of the poor, and one of my favourites cars, not difficult to be spotted in London.
The funny thing is that yesterday I posted a Volvo P1800 and said that I expected to post the VW Karmann soon, but I didn´t have any picture of it. Today, amazingly, like summoned by a strange force, I discovered this car on a back alley. What an incredible coincidence!
 
Saturday, September 24, 2005
  Volvo P1800


And to think people believe Volvos are boring. This incredible model dates back to the early 60's. Reminds me quite a lot of the VW Karmann Ghia (designed some years before), one of the cars that I hope to be posting soon.
 
Friday, September 23, 2005
  MG Midget


A beautiful Midget in front of a wedding-dressed Bangladeshi home in the East London night. Quite a peculiar sight.
It's hard to tell (well, at least for me) but I reckon this Midget (frogeye as it was sometimes called) dates back to the early 70's.
 
Saturday, September 17, 2005
  1950's Chevrolet Pick-up


Amazing car on the streets of London...I think it probably misses the open spaces and ranchs of the US. Although the custom look makes me think of something fiery hidden under the bonnet.

By the way, it has a most hilarious speedometer.
 
Friday, September 16, 2005
  Scimitar GTE


One of those truly British, strange creatures from the late seventies. A nice silhouette, though. Unlike nowadays, those days many cars would have a very personal shape that made them unmistakable.
 
Thursday, September 15, 2005
  1967 Mercedes-Benz SL 250 Automatic


Lovely car, lovely colour. Doesn´t reach the beauty of the 50's SL (one of my favourite cars ever) but it´s so nice.
 
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
  Reliant Rialto


No, this vehicle is not missing any wheel. It´s a three-wheeler!!
Although incredible...the Rialto was introduced in 1981 in 3 different types: saloon, state and van. Can you believe that?
This is one the funniest vehicles you can see in London. Actually, I had just seen it before on the Mr Bean Show.
 
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
  Austin A40 Farina


This little car is a true gem. It was designed by Pininfarina (the classical Ferrari designer) and was the first mass produced hatchback car ever.
And everything back in 1958!
 
Monday, September 12, 2005
  My birthday - '74 Corvette
Today it´s my birthday. I´ve been thinking quite a lot about getting older lately.
And just the day before yesterday I was riding by a scrapyard in Southeast London and had to stop because I had one of those magical encouters you just have once in a while.


Click on the image for a full size picture

I was taking this picture for my car-blog, strangely attracted by this "American icon" car, when the owner came out and looked at me quite suspicious.
- Nice car, I said.
- Yes, he answered.
- How old is it? I asked, hopping to get some conversation with that strange man at that strange place.
- 1974, he said.
- Oh!!, Just like me!!, I shouted full of excitement.
Then the man made a small pause to stare at me carefully and said:
- Yes, but you don´t look as good as my car.
 
Sunday, September 11, 2005
  English Land Rover
The Land Rover is not a particularly weird or scarce vehicle, specially here in the UK.
I found this one in Outer Hope, a nice village in the Southern Devon coast. I couldn't help taking the picture and processing it emphazising the bumper sticker.

 
Saturday, September 10, 2005
  Unknown german van


Although bearing a Berlin registration number, this creature inhabits the streets of London.
I don´t have any idea of the marque...just something ressembling an L on the badge.
Any idea?
Anyway, I think it has a certain beauty.
Click here for a side view of the van.
 
Friday, September 09, 2005
  Triumph Herald 13/60 - Vitesse 2 L
Look alike...



But they were not. Although both from the late 60's they had absolutely different motors and aspirations.
It's so nice to discover the vast heritage of British cars almost unknown to continental people
 
Thursday, September 08, 2005
  Morris Minor Traveller
This "woodie" has a lovely shape and the wooden parts give it a special charm that metallic cars lack.
By the way, it´s a funny mix of two cars we´ve already seen in this blog, this and this.
What do you reckon?



There are more coincidences between these cars, just look at the reardoor hinges. I think they´re the same.
 
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
  Fiat 500
This is an icon.
"Il Cinquino", 1957

 
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
  Nissan Figaro
This car is not what it seems.



When I moved to London it was one of the first vehicles (together with Bus 38) that catched my eye. I´d never seen it before...what was it???
Actually is a car from the 90's but with all the attractive of the convertibles from the 60's and a peculiar look. It was created like a sort of cult/fashion object, they just produced 20.000, and the demand was so high that they had to do a lottery to see who was going to have it!!
It has a tiny 1.0 motor and anyway you look at it is just gorgeous

The good thing for the British is that in Japan they also drive on the left, so there are so many people importing this little gem to the UK.
 
Monday, September 05, 2005
  Aston Martin DB6
The following version to the car driven by 007 James Bond!
A beautiful car...



Click here for an impressive view of the front.
 
Sunday, September 04, 2005
  70´s Ford Escort


Although first launched in 1968, I think this verion dates back to the (late?) seventies. Then it was a sales wonder, but few of these cars have survived to our days.
I spotted this one in London Fields
I know the picture is a bit crappy, mainly because of the overwhelming noon light. Well, I think it gives it a slight 70's taste (I was tempted of touching the colours with PhotoShop to make it really look 70's).
 
Saturday, September 03, 2005
  Lancia Fulvia
Something very special for the weekend...the astonishing Lancia Fulvia



Obvioulsy I didn´t take this picture in London, but in Dartmoor. I think the beauty of the car makes it worth it to post it. In the afternoon light of Dartmoor the "rosso corsa" colour shines wonderfully.
I reckon it´s the 1974? version, but I´m not quite sure. So, as always, comments and help are welcome.
 
Friday, September 02, 2005
  VolksWagen Typ 3 Fastback


The typ 3, the car with the first mass-produced fuel injection motor.
 
Thursday, September 01, 2005
  Sunbeam Rapier Series IV


Another British classic, quite weird to the eyes of a continental born long after the time of this car. I think it´s a Sunbeam Series IV because of the amber turn indicators
Nice silhouette anyway. And to think it was first built just two years after the Cadillac from 2 days ago.
 
THE IDEA: After some months living in London and seeing some of the most unbelievable cars and bizarre things-on-wheels, I have finally decided to keep track of this unique heritage. Don't forget to check the archive for surprises.

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But what´s going on in London?


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August 2005 / September 2005 / October 2005 / November 2005 / December 2005 / January 2006 / February 2006 / April 2006 / April 2007 / May 2007 /


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