COOL CLASSIC CAR SPOTTERS POST! (Vol 3)

[TarquinMX5]

That's not the standard exhaust, but only the first couple of years had the 4-outlet fantail as they changed to a twin- outlet in approx '73.

[Error_404_Username_not_found]

nicanary said:

That v12 Lagonda is I'm sure a Bentley.

I was misled into thinking it was one of the several Lagondas prepared for racing by Bentley, but after a bit of time wandering in some of the dustier corners of the internet I have changed my mind.
I think you're right and it's one of the many Bentleys prepared and raced by a certain Dr JD Benjafield.
I hadn't heard about this before and I've had an interesting hour reading about him.
Doctoring seems to have been a lucrative trade then. There were a goodly number of Bentleys involved.
Thanks for the redirection

BTW I posted a picture of a visually similar Lagonda I spotted at a small show in 2024, but I can't find it now.
I love the patina of this car though.

[DickyC]

Error_404_Username_not_found said:

nicanary said:

That v12 Lagonda is I'm sure a Bentley.

I was misled into thinking it was one of the several Lagondas prepared for racing by Bentley, but after a bit of time wandering in some of the dustier corners of the internet I have changed my mind.
I think you're right and it's one of the many Bentleys prepared and raced by a certain Dr JD Benjafield.
I hadn't heard about this before and I've had an interesting hour reading about him.
Doctoring seems to have been a lucrative trade then. There were a goodly number of Bentleys involved.
Thanks for the redirection

BTW I posted a picture of a visually similar Lagonda I spotted at a small show in 2024, but I can't find it now.
I love the patina of this car though.

W.O. went to Lagonda after Rolls Royce bought Bentley. He was Chief Designer (or Chief Engineer, I forget which) overseeing the Lagonda straight six which was acquired by Aston Martin for the DB2 when David Brown bought the company. He bought both companies in 1947.

[4rephill]

TR4man said:

This afternoon s dog walk was enlightened by seeing this lovely E Type. I m assuming that it has some form of modified exhaust as I have always thought that the V12s have the slightly fanned four pipes.

Nice use of Halfords wheel chocks rather than trusting the handbrake

[Simmos]

4rephill said:

Nice use of Halfords wheel chocks rather than trusting the handbrake

I thought they were Tesco meal deal sandwiches

[Doofus]

Simmos said:

4rephill said:

Nice use of Halfords wheel chocks rather than trusting the handbrake

I thought they were Tesco meal deal sandwiches

I was just thinking about how the car made them look pretty.

[Simmos]

Doofus said:

Simmos said:

4rephill said:

Nice use of Halfords wheel chocks rather than trusting the handbrake

I thought they were Tesco meal deal sandwiches

I was just thinking about how the car made them look pretty.

I know what you mean Doofus, I grew up with E-Types - The pretty-ness ended at 1.5. (Unless it had a chrome strip at the top of the doors - that goes in the ugly pile )

After that, I'd rather have a Tesco sandwich

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[slicknic]

Away for New Year in Agadir, Morocco.
Walked past these three on the way to the local Souk.



I’m sure this old Merc once had a glamorous history even with its white vinyl/plastic/leather upholstery.



This was my favourite though. I think this is an old Peugeot pickup.

[Mr Tidy]

Simmos said:

4rephill said:

Nice use of Halfords wheel chocks rather than trusting the handbrake

I thought they were Tesco meal deal sandwiches

How flash - I just use a brick for my car! (It has a sticky handbrake).

I went for a walk through the village and saw a Firenza Droopsnoot drive past, but sadly wasn't quick enough to get a photo.

[TCEvo]

Aldeburgh, Suffolk yesterday morning:

[droopsnoot]

Mr Tidy said:

I went for a walk through the village and saw a Firenza Droopsnoot drive past, but sadly wasn't quick enough to get a photo.

Are you anywhere near Brooklands? There was one at the NYD meeting there.

[dbdb]

Error_404_Username_not_found said:

Okay, the Renault is fairly interesting, especially as it's a diesel.
But what about the V12 Lagonda, another Lagonda (or is it an Alvis?) and red- badge Royce (40-50hp 'Ghost?)?

I saw the estate version of the Frégate in Nantes a few years ago. Can't remember what they were called. Rather "well used" it was, and all the better for it IMO.

ETA: Wiki says the estate was a "Domaine". I liked it.

Edited by Error_404_Username_not_found on Thursday 1st January 15:40

The Silver Ghost looks to be a parallel bonnet bonnet one too so likely to be pre-war.

[DickyC]

TCEvo said:

Aldeburgh, Suffolk yesterday morning:

[moffspeed]

Certainly my most unusual/unique spot of a classic car in everyday use.

Travelling into Rye (Sussex) this morning I spotted a Roller coming the other way. Unusual I thought, looks too lowline to be a Shadow - maybe a Camargue ? I then realised that it was the "Beast" motoring sedately and anonymously out towards Peasmarsh.

No time to take my own photo - but for those not in the know the "Beast" is the ex late John Dodd 27 Litre V12 engined RR special. Subject of much hyperbole and even legal action over the years. I think it was up for auction recently but didn't sell.

Now that it has been repainted (originally it was in nappy yellow) and generally cleaned up/toned down it looks almost elegant…

[NomduJour]

It’s a wrap, I think.

[moffspeed]

4rephill said:

TR4man said:

This afternoon s dog walk was enlightened by seeing this lovely E Type. I m assuming that it has some form of modified exhaust as I have always thought that the V12s have the slightly fanned four pipes.

Nice use of Halfords wheel chocks rather than trusting the handbrake

How the Jaguar design department managed to turn a design icon into the younger sister of an early 1950's Bristol 403.

[Watcher of the skies]

moffspeed said:

4rephill said:

TR4man said:

This afternoon s dog walk was enlightened by seeing this lovely E Type. I m assuming that it has some form of modified exhaust as I have always thought that the V12s have the slightly fanned four pipes.

Nice use of Halfords wheel chocks rather than trusting the handbrake

How the Jaguar design department managed to turn a design icon into the younger sister of an early 1950's Bristol 403.

I'd never thought of that before.
It just highlights how far car design has regressed in recent years.

[Castrol for a knave]

sortedcossie said:

That looks a good turnout, where was that meet? The Audi 80 (or 100) looks period.

That looks like the Combermere meet, just outside Whitchurch. The XK120 is a regular.

[Penny Whistle]

Watcher of the skies said:

I'd never thought of that before.
It just highlights how far car design has regressed in recent years.

Not sure what you mean by "recent years" ? The design of the E-type V12 is now 55 or more years old. The 403's design was a mere 20 years or so before that.

[moffspeed]

Penny Whistle said:

Watcher of the skies said:

I'd never thought of that before.
It just highlights how far car design has regressed in recent years.

Not sure what you mean by "recent years" ? The design of the E-type V12 is now 55 or more years old. The 403's design was a mere 20 years or so before that.

Agree - but the design team at Toyota have clearly regressed half a century or so with the design of the latest Yaris Cross :




I guess one of the design team must have been a fan of Amienois Robert Opron who designed many exquisite Citroens (including the SM) over half a century ago. One of his less lauded designs was the Ami 8 but seemingly it now lives on :