Have you ever seen a prototype on the roads?
Discussion
BMW X5 in death valley, closely flanked by two seven series. Was a good few years before they came out
Would think it would be a good place to spot cars being hot weather tested, the bar we drank in had an SLK nose on the wall (when they were very new cars) which had been given to the bar owner by the Merc engineers when staying nearby.
Ben
Would think it would be a good place to spot cars being hot weather tested, the bar we drank in had an SLK nose on the wall (when they were very new cars) which had been given to the bar owner by the Merc engineers when staying nearby.
Ben
j500ant said:
Just wondered if anyone here had seen a prototype car on the roads?
i remember following XP3 (Mclaren F1) on the M25 before the F1 came out. didn't know what the F1 it was, but it sounded mighty fine.
we were deep in traffic and I ensured that i was the guy right behind him. its strange but you knew you were in the presence of something very very special.
he peeled off at Chertsey, and booted it on the long slip road lane. he had an S500 or 600 chasing him at the time, and the XP3 left him for dead. it was a sight to see.
frazer guest said:
Alfahorn said:
About 2 years ago i saw a prototype of the XK8 on the M69.
When I visited Maranello i saw 3 F430's out being tested. Not prototypes I grant yoy, however it was cool.
When I visited Maranello i saw 3 F430's out being tested. Not prototypes I grant yoy, however it was cool.
i went out there in november.
whilst heading out of maranello, up into the hills towards pavullo, i came across jean todts black enzo being given a final shakedown before he took delivery. my god, it sounded amazing! i tried my absolute hardest to keep up with it, but failed. in my defence, even though i was in a rental, it was only a fiesta.
That is impressive.
Did you go to Galleria Ferrari?
Seen a few. Used to live in B'ham so saw a few Rover mules and prototypes trundling about, seen a few jags and land Rovers covered in black tape and the like on the M40 and I once had a go of a Fiat Seicento prototype in Turin. Wow!!! A mate was working for Fiat and was doing some work on it.
My best prototype story wasn't on the road but at Thruxton. I grew up down the road from there and you could often hear what was going on at the circuit. One Monday afternoon I was bored on holiday from school and could hear something up there so decided to go and havea look.
I got there and there were a load of racing minis buzzing round on a test day. Odd I thought as the sounds I had heard didn't sound like wrung out A series. Then I spotted it a 'big' black beast lumbering round the chicane and then blasting down the straight with a wonderous V8 howl. It was the prototype Virage Vantage that Clarkson drove a while later on Top gear when they didn't have a finished one ready for him. It would do a few laps then come in and be fettled, then go out again. It was hilarious watching it amongst the minis as they would outbrake it into the chicane if they were anywhere near swarming round it like those fish that follow big whales before the Aston got onto the straight and ate them up again.
My best prototype story wasn't on the road but at Thruxton. I grew up down the road from there and you could often hear what was going on at the circuit. One Monday afternoon I was bored on holiday from school and could hear something up there so decided to go and havea look.
I got there and there were a load of racing minis buzzing round on a test day. Odd I thought as the sounds I had heard didn't sound like wrung out A series. Then I spotted it a 'big' black beast lumbering round the chicane and then blasting down the straight with a wonderous V8 howl. It was the prototype Virage Vantage that Clarkson drove a while later on Top gear when they didn't have a finished one ready for him. It would do a few laps then come in and be fettled, then go out again. It was hilarious watching it amongst the minis as they would outbrake it into the chicane if they were anywhere near swarming round it like those fish that follow big whales before the Aston got onto the straight and ate them up again.
I have seen the following disguised and on on test before they came out:
- Austin Montego (somewhere near Wales I recall)
- BMW Mini Cooper S (M1)
- Disco 3 (near Gaydon)
- Bentley Arnage (near Crewe)
- What might have been the Transit Connect (in Essex)
- MG SV (M42)
- Nissan Pathfinder (in Windsor)
- New BMW 3-series Coupe (in Windsor)
During the ARG/MG Rover days you see loads of kit up and down the A45, A46 and M42.
Leamington Spa and Warwick used to be very popular in the 1960s with Rover and Alvis.
If you sit down and watched the world go by around Solihull, you'd probably see at least one a day. Last one for me was a matt black, black tint DB9 trundling around Solihull on my way to our Solihull office.
Leamington Spa and Warwick used to be very popular in the 1960s with Rover and Alvis.
If you sit down and watched the world go by around Solihull, you'd probably see at least one a day. Last one for me was a matt black, black tint DB9 trundling around Solihull on my way to our Solihull office.
As part of the daily commute i drive past MIRA's front gates so loads of opportunity for the eagle eyed.
Plenty of spots of the Discovery and the new Freelander prior to launch. AMV8 was also seen (and heard) on numerous occassions prior to launch.
Always amazed how few "add-ons" they were running near the launch dates and that they were driving on the public roads during the morning / evening rush hour. Anyone know why out of interest?
Best spot had to be a prototype Merc SLR just round the corner from MIRA one night. Matt black and totally undisguised. Wish i had my camera for that one.
Although not prototypes a couple of years back regulalry used to see the Subaru and Mitsubishi WRC's driving along the A5 to MIRA for a days testing, which was nice......
Plenty of spots of the Discovery and the new Freelander prior to launch. AMV8 was also seen (and heard) on numerous occassions prior to launch.
Always amazed how few "add-ons" they were running near the launch dates and that they were driving on the public roads during the morning / evening rush hour. Anyone know why out of interest?
Best spot had to be a prototype Merc SLR just round the corner from MIRA one night. Matt black and totally undisguised. Wish i had my camera for that one.
Although not prototypes a couple of years back regulalry used to see the Subaru and Mitsubishi WRC's driving along the A5 to MIRA for a days testing, which was nice......
Back at Christmas 97 I saw 2 Audi TT's hot weather testing outside Windhoek in Namibia, unfortunately they were going in the other direction and I was in a very slow Toyota 4x4 pick up. It was quite a while before any real shots were released of them. Subsequently heard that quite a bit of testing goes on there as there are Fck all people around and it is bloody hot
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