Did You See Anything Good Today? [Read First Post]
- Thread starter GilesGuthrie
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I'll be interested to find out. For me, the Bentleys (Continental GT/GTC and Flying Spur) outnumber the Phantom and Quattroporte by a huge margin, but the Quattroporte has become so common I have stopped photographing the "base" model.
- 20,145
- Australia
- VIPERGTS01
Not sure if anyone cares as I didn't get a pic (feel free not to believe me)
I saw the my best ever sighting today, I am really kicking myself I didn't have a camera with me.
So amazing (IMO) for the first time ever I follow the guy to a business he was going to and confronted him to have a chat and look over his car.
It was........a
Toyota.......... 2000GT, the only one in Australia according to the owner. It was red with 22,000 original km's looked just like this
except it was RHD obviously and had cup type mirrors down midway on the front fenders/wings and was not so clean.
I complained to him how I wish I had a camera and he said "Oh well you will probably see it around again soon", I will be taking my camera now and hope to see it again. He also told me that there used to be two in Australia but American collectors are buying them up as much as possible and he would never sell it.
Now another interesting thing he told me is he has a 1978 BMW M1! (only two in Australia according to him), which I also hope to catch.
*Edit* I think these cars are coming out of the woodwork due to a classic rally being held this weekend here in Adelaide.
I saw the my best ever sighting today, I am really kicking myself I didn't have a camera with me.
So amazing (IMO) for the first time ever I follow the guy to a business he was going to and confronted him to have a chat and look over his car.
It was........a
Toyota.......... 2000GT, the only one in Australia according to the owner. It was red with 22,000 original km's looked just like this
except it was RHD obviously and had cup type mirrors down midway on the front fenders/wings and was not so clean.
I complained to him how I wish I had a camera and he said "Oh well you will probably see it around again soon", I will be taking my camera now and hope to see it again. He also told me that there used to be two in Australia but American collectors are buying them up as much as possible and he would never sell it.
Now another interesting thing he told me is he has a 1978 BMW M1! (only two in Australia according to him), which I also hope to catch.
*Edit* I think these cars are coming out of the woodwork due to a classic rally being held this weekend here in Adelaide.
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
This thing...
Can anyone tell what's under there?
Given the "Old Blue" Manufacturer plates, it has to be an American car. From what I can tell, it looks like an Epsilon II Buick LaCrosse:
In that photo the rear window is covered up, but it looks like its the same shape.
===
The only other thing it could be, well, I guess I'm not sure. The only other guess I could have would be an updated Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable, but that may be a stretch...
Classic.
- 12,825
I was driving behind a prestinely looking silver E-Type this morning. An old man was driving it, with a Jack Russel on the passenger seat (paws up on the dash 
). I couldn't help but think this guy probably purchased this car new in 1969 and has kept it clinically since then.
Unfortunately I didn't have a camera on board with me.
The only thing bothering me was the license plate. As some of you know, The Netherlands features some of the most ugly-ass license plates in the world. They have ruined the charm of many a car. Old cars (25+ years I believe) get particularly ugly white on dark blue plates (they're tax exempted). So yeah.
). I couldn't help but think this guy probably purchased this car new in 1969 and has kept it clinically since then.Unfortunately I didn't have a camera on board with me.
The only thing bothering me was the license plate. As some of you know, The Netherlands features some of the most ugly-ass license plates in the world. They have ruined the charm of many a car. Old cars (25+ years I believe) get particularly ugly white on dark blue plates (they're tax exempted). So yeah.
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- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
Correct, and I believe the tabs for those plates should be up fairly soon. That tester Buick clearly had "old blue" there too, but I've seen a lot of promotional photos of cars along with photos of testers that have had both as well (this included Audi, MINI, Saturn, Toyota, Chevrolet, etc), but its a process nevertheless.
I'd suspect that at least by spring, nearly every blue plate should be off just about everything.
I'd suspect that at least by spring, nearly every blue plate should be off just about everything.
I suspect you're wrong about the manufacturer plates.
The standard blue passenger license plates debuted in 1983 and some have been on the road continuously since then, meaning some have been subjected to 25 years of the elements. However, the manufacturer plates, despite sharing the same design as the regular plates, actually didn't debut until 2004. Remember, old manufacturer plates used to be replaced yearly (until 2004). Since that's only three years of the elements, it's probably not worth the replacement cost.
Another for replacement, in addition to the age, is the fact that the white on blue plates were not fully reflective and thus unable to be easily seen at night. Michigan is the last state to use partially-reflective license plates; Colorado was second-to-last, abandoning ours in 1999 (my license plates, which were issued in 1977, are only partially reflective, like Michigan's old plates). However, law enforcement rarely has a problem with vehicles on manufacturer plates causing problems. Another reason not to replace.
Keep looking for old blue on the manufacturer plates for some time to come.
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- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
They're making everyone change, no iffs ands or butts, its the way that they've said it over and over again at the Secretary of State's office. I just sat there for two hours on Wednesday waiting to renew my tabs on 'TOPGEAR' and get my new driver's license as well. There were about five or six folks who actually didn't know the plates were being forcibly changed (odd really, as so many people are upset over it), and they either have to take the free plate (white/blue, no choice on letters), pay extra for the bridge/skyline plate (thats the green and blue one I have, $15), or pay even more for a college or other charity plate (usually $15-25 extra).
You may be right that it doesn't apply to all manufacturer plates right away, but given that they're literally forcing everyone to change right now, I'd suspect that they have to change them all pretty soon... Whenever they have to be renewed.
Its all very strange when you think about it, as the State is completely out of money, and yet we're replacing all of the license plates free of charge and hiring new government workers to decide how to save money and streamline the government further... Yep, I'm whining again, but they're all idiots in Lansing.
You may be right that it doesn't apply to all manufacturer plates right away, but given that they're literally forcing everyone to change right now, I'd suspect that they have to change them all pretty soon... Whenever they have to be renewed.
Its all very strange when you think about it, as the State is completely out of money, and yet we're replacing all of the license plates free of charge and hiring new government workers to decide how to save money and streamline the government further... Yep, I'm whining again, but they're all idiots in Lansing.
- 6,311
- Hong Kong SAR
Here are all my spots form yesterday...
These were shot early yesterday morning in my village before everybody had left for work...
This next set of pics I took yesterday afternoon when I spent an hour and fifteen minutes standing on a bridge on the way to my other office. During this time I did my best to photograph every RR and Bentley as you'll notice. It seems the Quattroporte isn't quite up to the sales figures for the Bentley Flying Spur, which wins 6-4 in this particular match. Ironically, while doing this an older fifth generation Quattroporte made an appearance. Suprisingly, I saw not even one Phantom (?!?)
A mixed bag of Rolls' and Bentleys... (Doug would be able to pick the models better than me)
Maserati scores 4. First time I think I have seen a white one.
5th gen Quattroporte...
Here are some more exotic spots...
Ferraris...
Lambos...
It's well known that the Mercedes-Benz is the most prestigious (realistic) car to own in Hong Kong, so I thought I would see how many different models I could spot in a one hour period - the answer is 30. Next, I think I'll see how many S-Class from the last 3 generations I can spot in one sitting. (Oh, how sad I am!)
The rare car I was talking about is the Hummer H1 (I was told there was only one in Hong Kong by a few sources, but I have seen a yellow one before and now this black one, so there are at least two). Trust me, this is a very rare spot. Amazingly enough as I was on the way home from an office part yesterday night, I saw this Hummer H3 at the lights (see pic later). I have seen one in Macau, but I'd be surprised if this wasn't the only one in Hong Kong.
Phew! What a busy seventy-five minutes!
And finally these were shot yesterday mid-morning from the bus and last night on the way home...
Hope you enjoyed the pics.
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- Hong Kong SAR
May I ask what that black half car half truck thing is, also what is that Merc W124 look alike near the bottom of the page as well? Btw, the hummer you saw at the lights is an H3.
I am not sure. It's horrible isn't it! Ah the Merc W124 lookalike is a Ssangyong Chaiman...
Edited the Hummer error (Thanks!)
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I saw a SEAT Ibiza Cupra R a couple days ago. In Canada. With Mexican plates.
Appeared to be modified as well... Center exhaust, white split-six spoke wheels, few other things that I probably didn't recognise as altered. Very tastefully done. Red with white wheels is a very cool look on that car, especially with tinted windows.
A couple other people were looking at it that knew what it was, as well.
No pics, though.
Appeared to be modified as well... Center exhaust, white split-six spoke wheels, few other things that I probably didn't recognise as altered. Very tastefully done. Red with white wheels is a very cool look on that car, especially with tinted windows.
A couple other people were looking at it that knew what it was, as well.
No pics, though.
It's funny - you don't seem to have a strong affinity for Rolls-Royces and Bentleys, but some of the models you see are extremely uncommon. Some of them - particularly the limos, which almost never get to the States - would make my week.
From the top down, left to right:
Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph / Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit
Bentley Arnage / Bentley Flying Spur
Rolls-Royce Silver Spur III / Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit / Bentley Arnage
Bentley Flying Spur / Bentley Continental GT
Bentley Continental GT / Bentley Arnage RL
Bentley Turbo R / Bentley Turbo R
Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II / Bentley Flying Spur
Bentley Flying Spur / Rolls-Royce Corniche
Bentley Flying Spur / Rolls-Royce Silver Spur III
Bentley Flying Spur / Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit
The ones in bold are particularly ridiculous. You managed two Silver Spur IIIs - only 430 were made (in that case, the rarer version is the short-wheelbase model, known as the Silver Spirit. Only 211 of those were made - I saw one last year). You managed a new Bentley Arnage RL. They're definitely going to be rare, but they're also extremely valuable. I've seen dozens of Arnages and I've never seen an RL. The Silver Spur II wasn't that uncommon (1,152 made) but it's not exactly everywhere - I've never laid eyes on one.
In all, good spots, particularly the 599 and Gallardo SE. The Hummer surprises me, too - I see them very infrequently here in their home environment, so it's surprising to see them out of the country as well, particularly in your part of the world!
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- Hong Kong SAR
Thanks for the IDs, Doug. Yeah you're right in the fact that the Bentleys and Rollers don't excite me too much. Really, they are everywhere here. Bearing in mind those pics are from taking photos for just over an hour during mid afternoon, when everyone is still at the office, you can imagine how common they are here. Now you've enlightened me in the rarity of some of them, I will make sue at some point in the near future I get myself down to the CBD at after work rush hour. I'll have a ton for you to ID then =)
Those 599s are cropping up everywhere now and in all sorts of different colours. From memory, I have now seen white, silver, black, blue, rosso red and metallic red .I have yet to see one in the famous giallo modena yellow (not sure many customers choose that colour though).
Was the silver gallardo an SE
I believe so. It was white.
