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

[The Vanishing Boy]

^ No names? For the unaware readers here.

 

[Turbo]

Just learned of Carrozzeria Watanabe, a small Japanese coachbuilder that existed in the 1970s. Here are the cars they made:

1970 Carrozzeria Watanabe Griffon, basically a Honda S600 with a custom fiberglass body. Only five of these were made.

1970 Carrozzeria Watanabe Lycaon. This mid-engined race car (though it never raced) displayed at the 1970 Tokyo Auto Show and was inspired by the 1968 Ferrari 250 P5 Berlinetta Speciale. It wasn't as fast as it looks; the Lycaon was powered by a 1.5L Nissan four-cylinder making 150hp.

1970 Carrozzeria Watanabe Flying Pegasus- this was the predecessor to the Griffon, but was based off a Nissan Fairlady Roadster instead.

1976 Carrozzeria Watanabe Basilic- this was the final, and ugliest creation of Watanabe. It was also based off of a Fairlady Roadster.

 

[TexRex]

Bold to call something ugly after that "Flying Pegasus," which looks like a bad copycat of an LMX Sirex with bad copycat Cortina taillights.

For those unaware, the Sirex was an obscure Italian fiberglass sports car with a fantastic backbone chassis structure and unfortunate choice of engine--a Ford Cologne V6.

 

[Turbo]

2000 Innotech Mysterro

Yep, that's right. A czech, mid-engined C4 Corvette. Created by Czech designer Vaclav Kral, the Mysterro was essentially a restyled C4 Corvette. The project was started in 1993 and the Mysterro finally came to life in 2000; 25 of these were planned to be made, yet only one was. It was powered by a 5.7L V8 from the C5 Corvette making 345hp, and had a 5-speed manual. The weirdest aspect of this car was the interior; a concoction of Momo, Recaro, and hot pink leather seats.

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[ZGBox]

2000 Innotech Mysterro
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That's honestly the most '90s car I've ever seen.

 

[Turbo]

Apparently this is a thing. Just when I thought of I knew of every NISMO model out there, I stumble upon a brochure of a Nismo Gloria S-Tune. Could find no other pictures or information other than this:

Maybe @SVX knows more?

 

[Volksauto]

1908-12 Sears Motor Buggy
Although I knew Sears had made a car in the 1950's known as the Allstate. It was basically a rebadged Kaiser Henry J but I never knew they made cars prior. The Sears Buggy was a high wheeler automobile that was available in nine different models. They were built from Lincoln Motor Car Works (Not Lincoln Motor Co.) and sold as Sears. The cars had an air cooled two cylinder engine that originally produced 10 HP but later models produced 14 HP. However, by the time these cars were built the styling was obsolete. It was similar to the cars around 1900 - 05 and even some cars cars built in the 1890's. The Sear's competitors were way ahead of its time like Franklins, Buicks, and even the Ford Model T. The Model T was much more stylish, modern, practical, and faster. The Model T could travel up to 45 MPH whereas the Sears can only reach about 25 MPH. The Model T along with many other cars had inflatable tires that cars would use forever. The sears still had solid rubber tires like on a horse drawn carriage. Although the Ford T was a better car, it cost more too. A 1909 Ford runabout cost about $590 whereas a 1909 Sears Runabout cost only $395.

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[SVX]

Apparently this is a thing. Just when I thought of I knew of every NISMO model out there, I stumble upon a brochure of a Nismo Gloria S-Tune. Could find no other pictures or information other than this:

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Maybe @SVX knows more?

I believe that is in my brochure actually! Make sure to remind me and I can get some photos.

 

[homeforsummer]

This one was completely new to me until about five minutes ago: the Autozam Clef.

Based on the same platform as the 626 and MX-6, it was built only between 1992-1994. Front-engined, front-wheel drive, and powered by a 2.5-litre V6 - it seems to have been basically a range-topper for the Autozam brand. Excuse the wonky pics - very difficult indeed to find decent images of it.

 

[Turbo]

This one was completely new to me until about five minutes ago: the Autozam Clef.

Based on the same platform as the 626 and MX-6, it was built only between 1992-1994. Front-engined, front-wheel drive, and powered by a 2.5-litre V6 - it seems to have been basically a range-topper for the Autozam brand. Excuse the wonky pics - very difficult indeed to find decent images of it.

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You did not indicate that the Clef was available in base spec with a 2.0L inline-four, and could be optioned with AWD.

 

[SVX]

You did not indicate that the Clef was available in base spec with a 2.0L inline-four, and could be optioned with AWD.

View attachment 753335

Was he obligated to?

 

[Turbo]

Was he obligated to?

No, I brought it up though because I perceived he thought the Clef was a high-trim V6 model that was FWD only. My purpose was to educate.

 

[TexRex]

My purpose was to educate.

Starting a comment intended to be educational with "You did not indicate..." comes off as condescending and is likely to be met with hostility, as it was. Consider an alternative in the form of "It's worth noting..." as implemented here.

Just to demonstrate how that might look:

It's worth noting that the Clef was available in base spec with a 2.0L inline-four, and could be optioned with AWD.

 

[Turbo]

Starting a comment intended to be educational with "You did not indicate..." comes off as condescending and is likely to be met with hostility, as it was. Consider an alternative in the form of "It's worth noting..." as implemented here.

Just to demonstrate how that might look:

Yea you're right, my original comment sounds a bit rude in retrospect, albeit I did not mean to sound that way.

 

[TexRex]

Yea you're right, my original comment sounds a bit rude in retrospect, albeit I did not mean to sound that way.

Fair enough, and I'm glad that you appear to have taken the response to be an opportunity to impart wisdom, because that's what it was and all it was. Take it from someone who has a tendency to be condescending and not merely come off that way.

 

[TheNuvolari]

2008 Sbarro Alcador GTB

• 394hp
• 0-60: 4 seconds
• 2403lbs
• Price 320 000$

Yeah, looks like a car from...

 

[ScottPuss20]

This one was completely new to me until about five minutes ago: the Autozam Clef.

Based on the same platform as the 626 and MX-6, it was built only between 1992-1994. Front-engined, front-wheel drive, and powered by a 2.5-litre V6 - it seems to have been basically a range-topper for the Autozam brand. Excuse the wonky pics - very difficult indeed to find decent images of it.

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It is just like the current Mazda 6. Oh wait...

 

[TexRex]

Yeah, looks like a car from...

Sbarro.

 

[Turbo]

I've heard of the Autech Stelvio Zagato, but here are a few Nissans done up by Zagato I've just discovered now:

1992 Nissan 300ZX Bambu

1992 Nissan 300ZX Seta

1993 Nissan APX

 

[SVX]

Maybe @SVX knows more?

Unfortunately it wasn't, but while I had the brochure open:

 

[Turbo]

Unfortunately it wasn't, but while I had the brochure open:

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That post is all kind of awesome. Other than the Stagea, it's impossible to find any pictures of the other NISMO cars in those brochures on Google. Too bad JDM brochures like those aren't very accessible here in the US.

 

[Turbo]

Thanks to the Wayback Machine I learnt about a handful of Tommykaira models I never knew existed!

Tommykaira M13c, a Nissan Cube.

Tommykaira Baby Gang, a Toyota Vitz Turbo.

Tommykaira Z, a 350Z.

Tommykaira Ist, a Toyota Ist.

Although not a full model, Tommykaira also made aero parts for the E36 3-Series.

 

[INEEDNAWZZZ]

I love the jump in names Tommykaira go from. From ones that make sense (Z, M13C, etc.) to... Baby Gang.

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

The Sterling 825 sedan, basically a rebadged Rover. I wasn't aware that the US got Rovers before, just with a different badge.

 

[RocZX]

The Sterling 825 sedan, basically a rebadged Rover. I wasn't aware that the US got Rovers before, just with a different badge.

Which was a rebadged 1st gen. Acura Legend with nicer interior and without Honda engine. The later 827 had an Honda engine.

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

And it was a rebadged 1st gen. Acura Legend with nicer interior and without Honda engine. The later 827 had an Honda engine.

Oh yeah, I think I remember someone in this thread or somewhere else talking about how some rovers shared platforms with Hondas.

 

[Centroid]

Which was a rebadged 1st gen. Acura Legend with nicer interior and without Honda engine. The later 827 had an Honda engine.

The 1st gen 825 was also a Honda Engine (shared with the Legend) but they increased the capacity after only about 18 months because the original engine lacked torque.

 

[Silver Arrows]

The Stutz Blackhawk from the 1970's to 1987.

Other than the name it bears no resemblance to the original Blackhawk (1929-1930). The Stutz Motor Company was revived in August 1968 by New York banker James O'Donnell. He joined forces with retired Chrysler stylist Virgil Exner who designed the new Blackhawk. Exner's design included a spare tire that protruded through the trunklid, a massive 'kidney' grille, and freestanding headlamps. The new Blackhawk was prototyped by Ghia in Italy at a cost of over US$300,000. To offer exclusivity and still allow easy servicing in the US a custom built Italian body was added to a GM platform and engine. The Blackhawk debuted in January 1970 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Prices ranged from US$22,500 to US$75,000. All early Blackhawks were coupes, but rare sedans were produced later. Convertible versions were called D'Italia and Bearcat. Stutz Blackhawks became the car of choice among elite entertainers of the day. By 1976 Stutz had sold 205 Blackhawks and about six a month were handbuilt in Italy and shipped to the US. By April 1980 350 Blackhawks had been sold and by the time production ended in 1987 approximately 500 to 600 cars had been manufactured.

Thanks to this little photoset:

 

[Volksauto]

The Stutz Blackhawk from the 1970's to 1987.

Thanks to this little photoset:

Always thought Blackhawks were pretty cool.

 

[Silver Arrows]

Always thought Blackhawks were pretty cool.

When I first saw it, I was definitely saw a bodystyle that almost seems like it was using the second gen Camaro as a base.