ID help please - 1970s sports shooting brake?
ID help please - 1970s sports shooting brake?
Author
Discussion

sprell

Original Poster:

7 posts

86 months

Tuesday 30th July 2019
quotequote all
I saw an unusual old sports-type car over the weekend, possibly from around the 70s (though could have been 80s or late 60s), and would appreciate help identifying it. It was very low to the ground, angular (but not sleek - definitely not a wedge), and wide and long - almost certainly a four seater. Of the cars I'm familiar with, it was most similar style-wise to an old Lotus Esprit or DeLorean. The detail I've used to try to ID it is that there were three windows on each side, the middle one being smaller and ovalish shaped (or rounded rectangle) - similar in configuration to this (though obviously different proportions, etc.)
https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/nRoJm.2GefBl3KcV...

The car was ugly but felt unique - so much so that I considered trying to turn around to follow it so my son could see it (and we had already spotted a Ferrari Dino). There was an openness to it that makes me wonder whether it could have been a shooting brake.

Any ideas?

Taylor James

3,111 posts

90 months

Tuesday 30th July 2019
quotequote all
sprell said:
I saw an unusual old sports-type car over the weekend, possibly from around the 70s (though could have been 80s or late 60s), and would appreciate help identifying it. It was very low to the ground, angular (but not sleek - definitely not a wedge), and wide and long - almost certainly a four seater. Of the cars I'm familiar with, it was most similar style-wise to an old Lotus Esprit or DeLorean. The detail I've used to try to ID it is that there were three windows on each side, the middle one being smaller and ovalish shaped (or rounded rectangle) - similar in configuration to this (though obviously different proportions, etc.)
https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/nRoJm.2GefBl3KcV...

The car was ugly but felt unique - so much so that I considered trying to turn around to follow it so my son could see it (and we had already spotted a Ferrari Dino). There was an openness to it that makes me wonder whether it could have been a shooting brake.

Any ideas?
Yes, post some more pictures of similar cars.

Pericoloso

44,044 posts

192 months

Tuesday 30th July 2019
quotequote all
I was going to say Triumph TR 7 Tracer,an estate conversion but not 3 side windows.

sprell

Original Poster:

7 posts

86 months

Tuesday 30th July 2019
quotequote all
The car was in oncoming traffic (dual carriageway) so I only saw it for a couple of seconds, but it caught my eye immediately as something unique. I consciously looked for a detail I could use to identify it, which is how I am certain about the windows - three on the side, with the middle one being smaller as said. All the other things I'm less sure about, but it had an Espada feel: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thu...

or even the Marzal: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/11j654At9nQ/maxresdefault.j... But what came to mind was the DeLorean: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:AN...

I'm wary of misleading people though as these are impressions rather than concrete details. It felt powerful - almost like a muscle car - though lower than that. I thought I could just google "sports cars with three windows" and figure it out - oh well...

I forgot to mention the colour (though of course it may not have been original). It was a dark bronzy gold.

sprell

Original Poster:

7 posts

86 months

Tuesday 30th July 2019
quotequote all
Sorry - broken link for the Marzal: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:AN...

(also, similarities only from front aspect)

It was not the Triumph.

gforceg

3,525 posts

208 months

Tuesday 30th July 2019
quotequote all
The Espada was the first thing I thought of but as you say, not quite right. Might it have been American? Maybe a modified estate?

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

31,988 posts

264 months

Tuesday 30th July 2019
quotequote all
XJS shooting brake maybe?


2 sMoKiN bArReLs

31,988 posts

264 months

Tuesday 30th July 2019
quotequote all
Only 2 windows though scratchchin

Scrump

23,930 posts

187 months

Tuesday 30th July 2019
quotequote all
Something like this?

Pica-Pica

16,538 posts

113 months

Tuesday 30th July 2019
quotequote all
Pericoloso said:
I was going to say Triumph TR 7 Tracer,an estate conversion but not 3 side windows.
I posted up a Reliant Scimitar GTE, but again, that only has two side windows (ignoring the front opening quarter vent).

sprell

Original Poster:

7 posts

86 months

Tuesday 30th July 2019
quotequote all
Not either of those. That middle window was unmistakable - like here (although somewhat smaller and rounder). It was clearly separated from the other two and may have been a large opera window, but I couldn't say for certain.




sprell

Original Poster:

7 posts

86 months

Tuesday 30th July 2019
quotequote all
Thanks for all the suggestions so far - sorry I don't have anything more concrete to go on. To answer an earlier question, it could have been American.The car really was remarkable head on even - the windows were just the detail I fixed on.

85Carrera

3,503 posts

266 months

Tuesday 30th July 2019
quotequote all

Edmundo2

1,439 posts

239 months

Tuesday 30th July 2019
quotequote all
Piper GTT Not a shooting break but fits the description if consider rear window as visible from side?



Otherwise Jensen Healey shooting brake or Lotus Europa?

Edmundo2

1,439 posts

239 months

Tuesday 30th July 2019
quotequote all
Or if you mean really ugly......a Marco's Mantis


Edmundo2

1,439 posts

239 months

Tuesday 30th July 2019
quotequote all
Or a Charger?


166 MM Barchetta

719 posts

86 months

Wednesday 31st July 2019
quotequote all
On the back of mentioning earlier seeing a Dino......




Ferrari 330 Gt 2+2 Shooting Brake by Vignale...also available in Green on the uk roads as far as I'm aware. Long shot I know!

Scrump

23,930 posts

187 months

Wednesday 31st July 2019
quotequote all
166 MM Barchetta said:
On the back of mentioning earlier seeing a Dino......


Ferrari 330 Gt 2+2 Shooting Brake by Vignale...also available in Green on the uk roads as far as I'm aware. Long shot I know!
Welcome to PH thumbup

166 MM Barchetta

719 posts

86 months

Wednesday 31st July 2019
quotequote all
Scrump said:
166 MM Barchetta said:
On the back of mentioning earlier seeing a Dino......


Ferrari 330 Gt 2+2 Shooting Brake by Vignale...also available in Green on the uk roads as far as I'm aware. Long shot I know!
Welcome to PH thumbup
Thanks. I've lurked on and off for quite some time. Now I've become semi retired I though I'd start to post a bit. I do love a good "what car" question though, it throws up all kinds of random cars.
Of course, my posting name may provide a clue as to a certain bias in some of my replies.