Classics left to die/rotting pics - Vol 2

[Missy Charm]

Dapster said:

If the panel at 45 deg to the front of the car is the bonnet, then it looks like some kind of clamshell like design which would rule out the Audi - that bonnet sits between the wing tops. I though that it was something like a mid 70s Toyota Corona but the details don't match around the headlights and grill. The proportions make it look like a smaller car - the headlights are large compared to the rest of the remains - the Audi headlights are much smaller relative to the windscreen.

It's a difficult one to identify, given the lack of clear features and headlight with auxiliary main beam arrangement that belonged to so much upper middle market stuff in the seventies. All we do know is that the car seems to have a radiator grille and plastic headlight nacelles that fix together, and that the whole arrangement has a continuous chrome outer finishing strip. That discounts both the Audi and the Lancia already mentioned, as their front ends are of different design. They have chrome finishers, but on both the chrome is attached to the front wings and not the headlight surrounds; the front wing on the mystery car has rotted away, but the chrome is still present. That wouldn't be possible on either suggested car.

A closer but not definitive match is the Sunbeam Rapier. Something about the styling and shape of the car suggests Rootes group to me, but I don't quite know why.

[Turbobanana]

Missy Charm said:

It's a difficult one to identify, given the lack of clear features and headlight with auxiliary main beam arrangement that belonged to so much upper middle market stuff in the seventies. All we do know is that the car seems to have a radiator grille and plastic headlight nacelles that fix together, and that the whole arrangement has a continuous chrome outer finishing strip. That discounts both the Audi and the Lancia already mentioned, as their front ends are of different design. They have chrome finishers, but on both the chrome is attached to the front wings and not the headlight surrounds; the front wing on the mystery car has rotted away, but the chrome is still present. That wouldn't be possible on either suggested car.

A closer but not definitive match is the Sunbeam Rapier. Something about the styling and shape of the car suggests Rootes group to me, but I don't quite know why.

Sorry Missy, but I stand by my assertion that this is an Audi 100 C1.

The composite image below has been tightly cropped, thus losing some resolution, but also lightened to reveal the pattern of the mesh in the grille. I know it's missing its chrome flash and 4 rings, but I'm now certain that this is what we're looking at. Sadly the best C1 pic I could find, showing the grille, was a US-spec car with a big overrider.

[Missy Charm]

Turbobanana said:

Missy Charm said:

It's a difficult one to identify, given the lack of clear features and headlight with auxiliary main beam arrangement that belonged to so much upper middle market stuff in the seventies. All we do know is that the car seems to have a radiator grille and plastic headlight nacelles that fix together, and that the whole arrangement has a continuous chrome outer finishing strip. That discounts both the Audi and the Lancia already mentioned, as their front ends are of different design. They have chrome finishers, but on both the chrome is attached to the front wings and not the headlight surrounds; the front wing on the mystery car has rotted away, but the chrome is still present. That wouldn't be possible on either suggested car.

A closer but not definitive match is the Sunbeam Rapier. Something about the styling and shape of the car suggests Rootes group to me, but I don't quite know why.

Sorry Missy, but I stand by my assertion that this is an Audi 100 C1.

The composite image below has been tightly cropped, thus losing some resolution, but also lightened to reveal the pattern of the mesh in the grille. I know it's missing its chrome flash and 4 rings, but I'm now certain that this is what we're looking at. Sadly the best C1 pic I could find, showing the grille, was a US-spec car with a big overrider.

We shall probably have to respectfully agree to disagree, then. Here's a picture of an Audi 100 C1 radiator grille only:



And here's one of a similar Audi with the plastic grille removed:



In my opinion, it doesn't match the mystery car.

[Milkyway]

Rootes, got me thinking, it’s a long shot... Hillman Hunter.
( I can’t decide if that is the grill mesh or the radiator cores)
https://www.classiccars4sale.net/classic-car-revie...

Edited by Milkyway on Tuesday 14th March 12:27

[larrylamb11]

It's an Audi - early '70s 100 saloon. Look carefully at the original picture. The wing you see on the driver's side on top of the bonnet is the passenger's wing, not the drivers - the drivers wing is upside down on top of the bonnet behind it. Note the shape of the swage line coming to the front of the wing (the bit that's highest up in the air).
Compare that shape to the Audi.
The mesh of the grille is also a match for the early Audi - it's just missing the roundels and chrome strip which was all one piece.
Final confirmation is the indicators - look at the bumper in the foreground of the photo. It has the indicators wrapping round the corners of the bumper, as they do on the Audi. Also note the bumper has rotted out along it's entire length in a strip through the middle, which is where the rubber trip strip would have been....

https://flic.kr/p/8u9E8x

[v8250]

Lordy Larry, you sure do have the magnified inspection spectacles on today. But...you've missed the one defining difference between the Audi and the Rapier. It's the M13 nut & bolt lying to the left of the bumper. No Rapier had metric fasteners, they were all UNF/UNC

[shakotan]

Missy Charm said:

Turbobanana said:

Missy Charm said:

It's a difficult one to identify, given the lack of clear features and headlight with auxiliary main beam arrangement that belonged to so much upper middle market stuff in the seventies. All we do know is that the car seems to have a radiator grille and plastic headlight nacelles that fix together, and that the whole arrangement has a continuous chrome outer finishing strip. That discounts both the Audi and the Lancia already mentioned, as their front ends are of different design. They have chrome finishers, but on both the chrome is attached to the front wings and not the headlight surrounds; the front wing on the mystery car has rotted away, but the chrome is still present. That wouldn't be possible on either suggested car.

A closer but not definitive match is the Sunbeam Rapier. Something about the styling and shape of the car suggests Rootes group to me, but I don't quite know why.

Sorry Missy, but I stand by my assertion that this is an Audi 100 C1.

The composite image below has been tightly cropped, thus losing some resolution, but also lightened to reveal the pattern of the mesh in the grille. I know it's missing its chrome flash and 4 rings, but I'm now certain that this is what we're looking at. Sadly the best C1 pic I could find, showing the grille, was a US-spec car with a big overrider.

We shall probably have to respectfully agree to disagree, then. Here's a picture of an Audi 100 C1 radiator grille only:



And here's one of a similar Audi with the plastic grille removed:



In my opinion, it doesn't match the mystery car.

No, it's definitely an Audi.

[Milkyway]

shakotan said:

No, it's definitely an Audi.

But it doesn’t have blue headlights.

[Turbobanana]

shakotan said:

No, it's definitely an Audi.

Glad you said it, not me. Somewhat self-incriminating evidence, no?

[GTRene]

Turbobanana said:

You may be right, in which case it's the more common (although less so with twin headlights) Saloon:

Tha could be it indeed, also look at the bumper in front of the car, same place side blinkers and those holes could be for the rubber strip to fit?



the Audi gril sign was 'stolen' I guess, or became a souvenir .

[5 In a Row]

The thickness of the chrome trim appears to support the Audi argument , particularly when compared with the thin strip on the Sunbeam.

[Yertis]

Turbobanana said:

Yertis said:

Only rich people had them where I grew up.

Same, and I always thought they had a simple, elegant lean-ness to them. I was given a lift in one once, as a youngster, and was struck how smooth and refined it felt (the bar was low: my dad had a Marina at the time...).

Likewise had a Viva SL hatchback, which had a tiny 1200 engine. However, my ‘uncle’ (actually Dad’s mate) had a blue 100S Coupé. This was 1973 and Audis were very new and unusual (in Wimborne at any rate). I got to ride in it a few times and TBH it’s probably what got me into this whole car nonsense. I’ve been more or less loyal to Audi ever since.

[bumskins]

Yertis said:

I’ve been more or less loyal to Audi ever since.

Oh dear, you have my sympathies.

[Yertis]

bumskins said:

Yertis said:

I’ve been more or less loyal to Audi ever since.

Oh dear, you have my sympathies.

Thanks

Still love the old thing though



As you were

[Mikebentley]

Bottom of Cape Hill , Bham in the car park of the housing association flats built on the old brewery site.

[catso]

I bought this last year;



Previous owner lost interest and drove it into a field where it sat for the last 5-6 years.

Brakes and steering were seized, there was moss growing in the footwells and it was a mixture of (brush painted) black over green with a layer of mould on top, giving it a 'camo' look, though most of that (including the black paint) came off with a jetwash.

Currently stripped down to component form for a rebuild with upgrades...

[Skyedriver]

Mikebentley said:

Bottom of Cape Hill , Bham in the car park of the housing association flats built on the old brewery site.

One for the bad parking thread too

[Escort3500]

Yertis said:

bumskins said:

Yertis said:

I’ve been more or less loyal to Audi ever since.

Oh dear, you have my sympathies.

Thanks

Still love the old thing though



As you were

Nice response

[uk66fastback]

Take your pick with this one. Someone’s house out in the Fens. The white American-shaped thing had a door and rear lights missing. There was also an old white 80s Range Rover covered in moss just out of shot.

For the Fens, this property looks immaculate!

[Turbobanana]

uk66fastback said:

Take your pick with this one. Someone’s house out in the Fens. The white American-shaped thing had a door and rear lights missing. There was also an old white 80s Range Rover covered in moss just out of shot.

For the Fens, this property looks immaculate!

What do we think: 74-81 Firebird with flares?