Saw one of these this morning on Euston Road and it was the first one I've seen here - they have been selling them for about12 months but most are in the very centre London I suppose.
There is a clue to it's identity in the registration number.
Since and rambler. Somebody really knew how to pick em.
Looks like two different franchise owners. Since (sic) Simca is part of a Dodge-Plymouth dealer they were likely trying to cash in on the late-'50s import boom, especially in a university town like Berkeley. Back then the intelligentsia were early adopters of those funny furrin cars.
Funny that the Simca dealer's name is "French". Interesting that the Rambler trade in lot has a Volvo 544 (or maybe 444 but looks like a one piece windshield), Hillman Minx, MGA. The shoebox Ford to the left of the MGA looks like a teenager's hot rod. There's a prewar car at the Rambler dealer just to the right of the little building, a light colored 1939-40 intermediate GM sedan.
Very interesting, at the Simca dealer, the two cars near the building, both with kind of a two level grille, are Skodas, sold in the USDM for a brief second as the "Skoda America".
Thanks for the link to that review especially as it shows the Lane motor museum in Tennessee
There were a few interesting cars in the background there as well.
The Amount os probably the cheapest car inBritain at the moment but that is only because it is really a French Voiturrette which is legally not a car in France and to appease the green lobby here it is allowed to be used as a car although I don't know if its moderate speed means it can't go on Motorways
It sells currently for £6950 - £8690 although the price difference is only for the larger battery giving a more practical range.
It is made of the sort of plastic that trash bins and buggies are moulded in but it can't be denied that it is very practical providing there is somewhere to charge it - typically they are probably used by people who have access to parking with a charging point I suppose.
I think this was one of the development models made by Reliant, but I always thought Reliant could have taken this to market here as a sort of economy car in parallel with the Scimitar.
The engine at this stage was a Ford Kent 1300 unit I think.
Probably they didn't have the capacity to produce it and it would have impacted their core business as they really did make a lot of three-wheelers in that period. Also Ford might have vetoed letting them have engines.
They did propose to assemble the same car in New Zealand under the name Anziel Nova, but this came to nothing although a few prototypes went there and I think one still remains.
I also saw some proposal to assemble it in South Africa but that was probably not considered politically advisable as time went on.
Reliant, of course, were also involved in Israeli efforts to establish a car industry including the Sabra Sports car and The Autocar Sussita
Mt. Washington Cog RR? A few years ago, I hiked to the summit of Mt. Washington. Got quite upset when I realized we could have driven or taken the Cog! Yet, we still hiked back down.
And, all that smoke, is that from exploding Corvairs behind the train?
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64 black Ford Galaxie on the left. Kind of reminds me of the Essex Steam Train, except more hilly. We've taken the kids/grandkids a few times. Looks like a good opportunity for one Corvair to crash into another.
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At the cog railway, looks like a 57 Pontiac 4 door HT beside the hubcapless white Corvair.
At Darlington looking like a Matchbox or Dinky playset, Triumph Mayflower to the R of the Land Rover, BMC Farina to the L. MSG 351 looks like a Vauxhall Velox.
The Logo on the side of the Land Rover is for our then Nationalised British Railways, and in fact Darlington still had a major railway works at that time building rolling stock and locomotives.
One car Dinky didn't model though
The car in front of the Mini is an Austin A40 Somerset and they made those of course.
Behind the Somerset is a similar car - but it is the larger version, the A70 Hereford.
Behind the Somerset is a similar car - but it is the larger version, the A70 Hereford.
@magnette, around the Hereford are 3 vans which are unknown to most of us North Americans. Can you ID them? Bedford, Commer, ???
To the right of the Austin, I think the van at L is a Commer, right is a Ford/Thames, and the small car-based van beside it might be an Anglia-based Thames (?). I think I see a couple other Ford/Thames larger vans in the background, too. Having old Matchbox cars helped me learn these back in the day.
I am not sure about the taller van at left of the Austin.
Late C1 Corvettes are tricky because detail changes after quad headlights were introduced in 1958 were minor from year to year. The key to getting the model year of this one is the louvers in the center of the hood. College buddy of mine used to own one like this.
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At a quick glance on my phone I thought it was Chrysler 200
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I had always thought the Erie canal went directly into the Atlantic - not the lake..!
There is a clue to it's identity in the registration number.
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2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
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Since and rambler. Somebody really knew how to pick em.
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Looks like a light blue MGA front left. And back right an orange Dodge PU.
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Very interesting, at the Simca dealer, the two cars near the building, both with kind of a two level grille, are Skodas, sold in the USDM for a brief second as the "Skoda America".
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I see a 1958 Ford wagon on the left.
Is that the newest vehicle in the lots>
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
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2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
1953 chev at the rear.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Yes it's the Citroen Ami
Thanks for the link to that review especially as it shows the Lane motor museum in Tennessee
There were a few interesting cars in the background there as well.
The Amount os probably the cheapest car inBritain at the moment but that is only because it is really a French Voiturrette which is legally not a car in France and to appease the green lobby here it is allowed to be used as a car although I don't know if its moderate speed means it can't go on Motorways
It sells currently for £6950 - £8690 although the price difference is only for the larger battery giving a more practical range.
It is made of the sort of plastic that trash bins and buggies are moulded in but it can't be denied that it is very practical providing there is somewhere to charge it - typically they are probably used by people who have access to parking with a charging point I suppose.
At Berkeley in the lower right corner of the picture is a bluish and white Fiat - I think an 1100
Strangely I can't see any Simca's - perhaps they had sold them all, or this was a new sign?
The registration is British, issued in 1968 but this car was not actually sold in the UK although it was designed here.
I think this was one of the development models made by Reliant, but I always thought Reliant could have taken this to market here as a sort of economy car in parallel with the Scimitar.
The engine at this stage was a Ford Kent 1300 unit I think.
Probably they didn't have the capacity to produce it and it would have impacted their core business as they really did make a lot of three-wheelers in that period. Also Ford might have vetoed letting them have engines.
They did propose to assemble the same car in New Zealand under the name Anziel Nova, but this came to nothing although a few prototypes went there and I think one still remains.
I also saw some proposal to assemble it in South Africa but that was probably not considered politically advisable as time went on.
Reliant, of course, were also involved in Israeli efforts to establish a car industry including the Sabra Sports car and The Autocar Sussita
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
A few years ago, I hiked to the summit of Mt. Washington. Got quite upset when I realized we could have driven or taken the Cog!
Yet, we still hiked back down.
And, all that smoke, is that from exploding Corvairs behind the train?
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Kind of reminds me of the Essex Steam Train, except more hilly.
We've taken the kids/grandkids a few times.
Looks like a good opportunity for one Corvair to crash into another.
Valiant in front of the middle corvair.
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61 Oldsmobile
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
At that wonderful cog railway I think the red car to the right -obscured by the bush - is a Renault R8 or possibly an R8-1100.
I'm not clear about the nomenclature of Renaults in N America.
This car park was in Darlington.
I guess the Mini dates the picture to about 1962
At Darlington looking like a Matchbox or Dinky playset, Triumph Mayflower to the R of the Land Rover, BMC Farina to the L. MSG 351 looks like a Vauxhall Velox.
The Logo on the side of the Land Rover is for our then Nationalised British Railways, and in fact Darlington still had a major railway works at that time building rolling stock and locomotives.
One car Dinky didn't model though
The car in front of the Mini is an Austin A40 Somerset and they made those of course.
Behind the Somerset is a similar car - but it is the larger version, the A70 Hereford.
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The VW 412 had the malaise regardless of when it was built.
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My time frame at least!
412 was the most evil car I ever drove. Took my road test in one.
Base 2 door Datsun B210 in front of a Granada. And top right, rear end of an OmniRizon TC3 3 door
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That’s a rallye sport. A guy in my neighborhood had a 2 time brown and tan one of those.
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I am not sure about the taller van at left of the Austin.
Late run nova in the center
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Late C1 Corvettes are tricky because detail changes after quad headlights were introduced in 1958
were minor from year to year. The key to getting the model year of this one is the louvers in the center of the hood. College buddy of mine used to own one like this.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93