supercar spotting in the 1980s
Discussion
If you saw a genuine super car in the 1980s, it was a rare sight. If you take yourself off to bits of London ( the Dorchester hotel, and Roads around Harrods particularly) especially in the summer months, you see so many supercars in one place, that it’s just not any type of unusual / special anymore. With the advent of PCP / lease deals, the ‘supercar spotting’ experience is further diluted. A good example ( for me ) was last night as I was out walking, to get some shopping. 2 McLaren ( something or others ) and a Lamborghini ( something or other ) drove past me. The fact I couldn’t even tell you what the models actually were, I think, demonstrates the point. I thought ‘meh, hire car’ rather than ‘wow, that’s a bit special / unusual’. I remember the first time I saw a Countach, I thought it looked like something from about a thousand years in the future.
austinsmirk said:
I think I saw one countach in the 80’s. Even then I think it was a kit car replica.
Super cars, even high end marques stood out. Not like now where it’s a sea of everything, everywhere.
Indeed. I've seen one Countach on the road in my entire 46 years... and a handful of '80s Ferraris. Modern supercars seem to be everywhere and somehow lack the presence.Super cars, even high end marques stood out. Not like now where it’s a sea of everything, everywhere.
Back in the 80s as a kid I was taken to Goodwood, there was some sort of casual supercar track day going on. I was in awe of the supercars there. Countach, testarossa, Astons, 911s. All rare sights. I remember taking a pic of a countach with the badly spaced plate LAM130.
Now days supercar are everywhere. There are so many McLaren's and Lambos around here. The SUV Lexus lookalike Lambos are common too. My kids barely bat an eyelid at yet another Hurracan in the high street. Always nice to have my boy asking what rare but more attainable (and interesting) cars are.
Now days supercar are everywhere. There are so many McLaren's and Lambos around here. The SUV Lexus lookalike Lambos are common too. My kids barely bat an eyelid at yet another Hurracan in the high street. Always nice to have my boy asking what rare but more attainable (and interesting) cars are.
Edited by MiltonBaines on Tuesday 9th March 20:48
LuS1fer said:
The 80s pop band, Five Star, may have been responsible for the white supercars, at one time having a Ferrari or Lamborghini each (one not having even passing his driving test).
I'm fairly sure they were all white on white.
4 mins inI'm fairly sure they were all white on white.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x56SZud1jEw
Maximus_Meridius101 said:
If you saw a genuine super car in the 1980s, it was a rare sight. If you take yourself off to bits of London ( the Dorchester hotel, and Roads around Harrods particularly) especially in the summer months, you see so many supercars in one place, that it’s just not any type of unusual / special anymore. With the advent of PCP / lease deals, the ‘supercar spotting’ experience is further diluted. A good example ( for me ) was last night as I was out walking, to get some shopping. 2 McLaren ( something or others ) and a Lamborghini ( something or other ) drove past me. The fact I couldn’t even tell you what the models actually were, I think, demonstrates the point. I thought ‘meh, hire car’ rather than ‘wow, that’s a bit special / unusual’. I remember the first time I saw a Countach, I thought it looked like something from about a thousand years in the future.
+1. Even a 911 was 'special' and the stuff of dreams in 1980's Hull. Astons and Italian exotica was even further up the 'Top Trumps' list.My parents lived next door to an old house that had been converted to an office for a building firm. The owner/director had a Jensen Interceptor.
Back in 1981 in my town in the North East, that was as exotic as I had seen and had created a lifelong dream of owning one - sadly the time has never been quite right and prices are out of reach now!
A bloke down the road was building a Countach kit towards the end of the 80s but I never saw it even remotely close to being finished.
Back in 1981 in my town in the North East, that was as exotic as I had seen and had created a lifelong dream of owning one - sadly the time has never been quite right and prices are out of reach now!
A bloke down the road was building a Countach kit towards the end of the 80s but I never saw it even remotely close to being finished.
Buster73 said:
Yep......83p/gallon of proper 4 star leaded.....definately dates that photo to that car being pretty much brand new. I think 4 star was about 95-96p per gallon when I started driving in 1980, as I could fill up the 5.5 gallon tank in my Mini from just above the E mark on the gauge for a fiver.MitchT said:
austinsmirk said:
I think I saw one countach in the 80’s. Even then I think it was a kit car replica.
Super cars, even high end marques stood out. Not like now where it’s a sea of everything, everywhere.
Indeed. I've seen one Countach on the road in my entire 46 years... and a handful of '80s Ferraris. Modern supercars seem to be everywhere and somehow lack the presence.Super cars, even high end marques stood out. Not like now where it’s a sea of everything, everywhere.
I started pointing and babbling to my driving instructor who wasn't in the slightest bit interested!
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