You learn something new... - Cars you didn't know existed, until now!

[silverman_GT]

@ilikewaffles11 you have been mentioned (he's a 4Runner owner, don't you know). 👍

In the meantime, here's something that has really caught my attention;

The Intermeccanica Murena, a car which appeared in my Twitter feed (a retweet by Classic & Sports Cars, from James Elliot's page), and I discovered its name by a comment about the picture. It was built by a company going by the name of Murena Motors, a New York-based company, from 1969 to 1970. So, as you can guess, it's not a common car; only 11 examples were built, all of them with a 429 cubic inches V8 unit (which according to this, it's a Ford engine taken from the Thunderbird).

It's definitely one of the most unique classic breadvan-style wagons that I've ever seen, it's Ferrari-like from the rear and Monteverdi from the front...

This one was apparently on sale in Inglewood, California a couple of weeks ago.

And holy wow, they only made 11 units of this thing?

 

[Niku Driver HC]

This one was apparently on sale in Inglewood, California a couple of weeks ago.

And holy wow, they only made 11 units of this thing?

"Brick on wheels"? I've seen worse cars for that example, but if that is what the author thinks... Haha.

And yes, only 11 units; no more than 11, and no less than 11. It is a very rare unicorn, so the fact that the eBay biddings for that car only go up to $17,000 is a tad bit shocking...

And apparently, the winning bid was roughly $20,000. Can't say if that's a steal, considering the condition of the car itself, but I was expecting such a rare car to be worth a tad bit more.

 

[INEEDNAWZZZ]

If somebody could be kind enough as to explain to me why this is a thing, I'd still be confused.

It's so... unbelievably generic.

 

[Roger the Horse]

Except it's a three door estate. From the late 80s. Not something I've seen before.

 

[Bo]

It's so... unbelievably generic.

And I want one badly.

 

[INEEDNAWZZZ]

Except it's a three door estate. From the late 80s. Not something I've seen before.

I didn't even realise it was only a 3 door, that is odd indeed. What I meant was the bland shape itself; it's like a traffic car off of an early PS1 game.

And I want one badly.

Its suddenly reminded me of the old Bedford Astravans, which have all just disappeared thanks to either rust or scrap schemes. Weird brand, obvious badge engineering and rare; always liked them for no reason, then again this is the wrong thread for that.

 

[Wiegert]

Except it's a three door estate. From the late 80s. Not something I've seen before.

It was a body style option for estates (especially those based on mid-sized family hatches) which seemed to die out by the end of the 1980s. Or mid-'90s, in the case of GMB models. Usually with models that were also available as a panel van, including the larger Rekord of the early '80s.

The only example I ever noticed growing up was the Mk4 Escort estate. Rarely seen nowadays, but nearly always turns out to be a worn-out everyday runabout whenever I do spot one:

 

[Roger the Horse]

Oh, you certainly see plenty of older 3 door estates (by comparison, mainly because cars used to be smaller, I would think), but that 3 door Astra estate is singularly peculiar with it's C and D pillars. By comparison the Escort slips under the radar as it basically just looks like a hatchback with an extended rear.

 

[Wiegert]

It's more of a throwback to previous Opel vans/3-door estates which used identical C pillars situated halfway between the B and D pillars. Much like the VW Type 3 Squareback. It did help gives vans a slightly (and I mean very slightly) less commercial appearance, plus it helped break up what would have been a vast swathe of glass on the estates. Which should have made for easier and less costly window replacements.

Ford on the other hand stuck to the 3 pillar design from the start with the 3-door Escort estate. And always looked better for it.

 

[Huks]

A thread over on the Suggestions forum brought to my attention this Mazda RX-87 concept from 1967. Very handsome styling.

 

[Niku Driver HC]

It bears quite a lot of similarities to the first-generation Luce, that Mazda concept. And in fact, it may just be that; a concept which preceded the mass-production of the Luce coupe, which is also a very handsome car for sure. The concept does not look over-the-top and can easily pass as a late 1960s sports car, so the shoe fits...

Edit: For the sake of comparison, the Mazda Luce R130;

It is very tricky to not see both cars within the same spectrum, I'd say.

 

[Legro]

Okay, it's not a car that is the most notable new thing I learnt, but rather the engine. And I must say, very interesting engine indeed. A Saab V8, that never reached production due to GM's decision to not produce it after they took over Saab Automobile.

One 9000 with one of the five test engines was made though, before the project was ended.

http://www.saabisti.fi/miscellanea/saab-v8-engine-the-complete-story/#prettyPhoto
http://www.saabplanet.com/saab-9000-with-v8-engine/

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

The Valiant Charger, a rebadged Dodge Demon.
http://www.africanmusclecars.com/index.php/valiant-plymouth/valiant-charger

and another rebadge; the Lancia Voyager

 

[Bo]

The first generation Opel Kapitän.

 

[TexRex]

The first generation Opel Kapitän.

More specifically, the Hebmüller cabriolet variant. While I prefer Hebmüller coachbuilts of a certain other manufacturer, there's no denying this one's appeal.

 

[MedigoFlame]

Just saw The Smoking Tire post up a video about a 1990 Nissan Axxess. I knew of the Nissan Prairie, but didn't realize they sold it here.

 

[kikie]

Hoffmann.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> With all the rage regarding Toyota's new concept car, these guys built an even smaller sports car that is not fall under the Kei-category in the early '90s:


Toyota AXV-IV

Specs & Factoid
- Front-Engine / Rear-Drive (FR)
- 804cc Supercharged Straight-2 engine
- 64hp & n/a lb-ft
- 5-Speed M/T
- 992lbs / 450kg weight
- Fiberglass/FRP body
- 60(!) mpg / 3.9L/100km
- Cd = 0.30
- Debut at the Chicago Auto Show (white paint shown, TAS in orange)

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

The Toyota Curren; which looks to me like a ST200s Celica with a new face and I guess that's what it is. It's meant to take the place of the Corona coupe.

 

[JR98]

I had no idea Tommykaira made an electric ZZ until now

 

[ToyGTone]

-> With all the rage regarding Toyota's new concept car, these guys built an even smaller sports car that is not fall under the Kei-category in the early '90s:


Toyota AXV-IV

Specs & Factoid
- Front-Engine / Rear-Drive (FR)
- 804cc Supercharged Straight-2 engine
- 64hp & n/a lb-ft
- 5-Speed M/T
- 992lbs / 450kg weight
- Fiberglass/FRP body
- 60(!) mpg / 3.9L/100km
- Cd = 0.30
- Debut at the Chicago Auto Show (white paint shown, TAS in orange)

Is it wrong that i quite like this concept Toyota?

------------------------------------------------------

Almost 2 months ago, i was like 64 KM away from my home and while we were going near a mall i spotted a Lexus LX but it's different than the usual one's... at first i thought it was some guy who modified his LX but i got closers and it's actually called the Lexus LX 570 Supercharged so i Google'd it up wondering...and this came up...

"The LX Supercharger is a limited edition exclusively produced for the Middle East market to coincide with Lexus 25th anniversary. "

This one got 450 HP @ 5400 RPM compared to the 362HP @ 5600 RPM (at least based on my local Lexus webpage) and 72.0 kg-m torque compared to 54.0kg-m on the other models. It comes with 6 six speed automatic and paddle shifters...also...uhh... i don't really have anything to say about it....

Anyway, recently i knew about an "Alfa Romeo" car called Arna:

Now i'm pretty sure that a lot of you guys know cars that to this day i've never heard of yet and this is one of them i guess (and that lexus above too).... Based on what i heard, it's an cooperation between Alfa Romeo and Nissan back in and by look at it...uhhh...i love Alfa cars but this one...? i afraid that's REALLY FAR for the case.... it's just screams KILL ME....

 

[Centroid]

Ah yes the ARNA, as Clarkson put it, "the worst of both worlds, Japanese styling and Italian electrics!"

 

[Tornado]

The Toyota Curren; which looks to me like a ST200s Celica with a new face and I guess that's what it is. It's meant to take the place of the Corona coupe.

It is. In the US they even put the Celica nose on it and sold it as the Celica coupe and convertible

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> ...

Is it wrong that i quite like this concept Toyota?

^ I do too like this 'forgotten' Toyota concept. Too bad back then Toyota was so busy with a blander Paseo.

"The LX Supercharger is a limited edition exclusively produced for the Middle East market to coincide with Lexus 25th anniversary. "

This one got 450 HP @ 5400 RPM compared to the 362HP @ 5600 RPM (at least based on my local Lexus webpage) and 72.0 kg-m torque compared to 54.0kg-m on the other models. It comes with 6 six speed automatic and paddle shifters...also...uhh... i don't really have anything to say about it....

^ Too bad this LX-S/C debut too early to compete with this:

 

[Niku Driver HC]

Speaking of brutally rare stuff which I had no clue about, have you ever thought what a car composed of copper-based parts would look like? Well, you're in luck;

The Exemplar 1, designed by Mario Revelli, the man who also brought you the Lancia Augusta Farina Coupé, a car with an extensive use of copper throught both its body and even engine! It's based off a modified Buick Grand Sport chassis, and also maintains the V8 engine, with the whole project being comissioned by the Bridgeport Brass Company and the Copper Development Association (duh).

With an estimated price of over 1 million dollars, the car will be auctioned today, and I wonder just how much will a car like this be truly worth... It is one of a kind, after all.

Here's the whole story about the car, if you're interested: http://www.classicandsportscar.com/...umont-coggiola-and-the-national-copper-associ

 

[homeforsummer]

I am all about this thing.

Also, this:

Daihatsu Opti Beex. I'd vaguely heard of the Opti before, as a close relation of the Mira, but this pseudo-saloon style one is completely new to me. It's even got frameless windows, which makes it a 'hardtop coupe' by Japanese terms, if my knowledge of such things is correct.

 

[Legro]

I am all about this thing.

Also, this:

Daihatsu Opti Beex. I'd vaguely heard of the Opti before, as a close relation of the Mira, but this pseudo-saloon style one is completely new to me. It's even got frameless windows, which makes it a 'hardtop coupe' by Japanese terms, if my knowledge of such things is correct.

Spoiler: Late 90s Japanese driving video game screenshot.

No wonder it sounded so familiar.

 

[INEEDNAWZZZ]

In turbo form, they look like a super deformed Impreza:

 

[homeforsummer]

No wonder it sounded so familiar.

I am now really disappointed that car hasn't made it to subsequent versions of the game...

 

[Wiegert]

Spoiler: Late 90s Japanese driving video game screenshot.

View attachment 463345

No wonder it sounded so familiar.

I can't even count the times I've used that thing to grind the Lightweight K-car Cup on Rome Short course. Always did love that shape on such a small city car.