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

[NotThePrez]

Lindner Coupe, basically a sort-of knock-off East German Porsche 356

I just found yesterday a Hungarian article/blog post about the story of these cars, found it very interesting. Admittedly I haven't looked hard for sources in English too hard, so I post here the Google-translated version of the Hungarian article. I skimmed through it and it seems to be a decent translation, however some measurements are incorrectly translated:
- when the article talks about the Kübelwagen’s chassis longer than the 356's, it should say 30 cm, NOT 30 inches
- later they talk about having acquired a 30 sq ft plate from the Czech Republic: it's not 30 sq ft but 30 sq meters, big difference. Also, and this is wrong in the original article, too: there was no Czech Republic at that time, the country was called Czechoslovakia (it existed from 1918 to the very end of 1992, well, apart from the time between 1939 and 1945 when it didn't basically).

Google-translated article: https://translate.google.com/transl...9/a_keletnemet_porschek_hihetetlen_tortenete/

Porsche press release about the topic: https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/his...alexander-fritz-restoration-engine-14700.html

EDIT: just read the letter from Ferry Porsche. The original parts they supplied were used parts, something that neither the Hungarian article, nor the Porsche press release mentions explicitly.

That honestly looks gorgeous as hell imo, especially with the rally lights up front.

Also, I came across an EV variant on the Kia Soul while grocery shopping today, a variant that I have never even seen on the road, let alone heard of. I'd have a picture of it if my phone didn't have a stupid delay between the camera shutter and actually taking the photo.

 

[MedigoFlame]

Lutteral Comahue: an Argentinian coupe that's based on the Rambler American.

Before The Imports, The Argentinian-Made Lutteral Comahue Was The Coolest Car Money Could Buy In South America

Before The Imports, The Argentinian-Made Lutteral Comahue Was The Coolest Car Money Could Buy In South America

petrolicious.com

 

[TexRex]

The earlier IKA Torino was a much prettier thing.

 

[Nowax]

The earlier IKA Torino was a much prettier thing.

As an argentinian: i've never seen one of those on streets, but I heard wonders about it lol

Lutteral Comahue: an Argentinian coupe that's based on the Rambler American.

Before The Imports, The Argentinian-Made Lutteral Comahue Was The Coolest Car Money Could Buy In South America

Before The Imports, The Argentinian-Made Lutteral Comahue Was The Coolest Car Money Could Buy In South America

petrolicious.com

It's my first time seeing that car! Interesting design, nonetheless.

 

[TexRex]

As an argentinian: i've never seen one of those on streets, but I heard wonders about it lol

I only know of it because of my fondness for the American line, the Rogue in particular. The Torino's Pininfarina-penned front end sheetmetal is gorgeous.

 

[kikie]

Beautiful cars those IKEA IKA-Renault cars.

 

[ScottPuss20]

 

[MedigoFlame]

VAM Lerma. Mexican built vehicle that's based on the AMC Concord.

 

[TexRex]

based on the AMC Concord

You really can't tell.

...

 

[GranTurNismo]

1979 Chrysler 300. From 1971 to 1998, the 300 nameplate was dead, except for one year only (1979) when Chrysler brought it back; it was an upmarket version of the slow-selling Cordoba, priced at $2040 more, and wore the 300 name instead of Cordoba. It was available in one color configuration (Spinnaker White with red, white, and blue trim), and featured a red leather interior. Powertrain was a 5.9L V8 making 195hp, and was mated to a 3-speed automatic. Approximately 2,900 were produced.

 

[kikie]

This car.

Car Association

www.gtplanet.net

 

[TheHun99]

This car.

Car Association

www.gtplanet.net

Not sure what to think of that tbh. Now, the car in the post directly after this (by you), that's something - but that one doesn't fit into this topic

 

[GranTurNismo]

Not sure what to think of that tbh. Now, the car in the post directly after this (by you), that's something - but that one doesn't fit into this topic 🙂

Well, it is an obscure experimental design of a hatchback 190E from 40 years ago… I can easily see it being a vehicle that most around here would not have known existed. The 190E Evo, especially being in many Gran Turismo games, would not apply.

 

[kikie]

Not sure what to think of that tbh. Now, the car in the post directly after this (by you), that's something - but that one doesn't fit into this topic 🙂

Mercedes-Benz 190 E Compact Car (W201) '1981 posted by @Kona nee.

 

[05XR8]

I was looking up Saab 900 race cars and had no idea this 9000 existed. Especially at Bathurst. Brings a year to my eye, with my very first car being a 9000T.

 

[kikie]

MPM Erelis 1.2T

 

[GranTurNismo]

1964 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL Coupe by Pininfarina, more specifically Tom Tjaarda. Designed as a non-convertible alternative to the regular SL; over 30 orders were placed by prospective customers when the car was shown at the Geneva auto show, though none were ever produced other than the prototype.

 

[TheHun99]

none were ever produced other than the prototype.

Too bad, looks really good!!

 

[RJS]

An 1983 Opel (Vauhxall) Corsa Spyder. This is a supermini sold mostly in europe but some comany converted to a spyder and gave it a midengine with around 170hp

This is a stock one (Showing because it could be unknown to some people in the US)

This is the spyder

 

[Liquid]

Corsa Spider

How to turn rubbish into garbage.

 

[MedigoFlame]

The Lombardi Grand Prix, also known as the OTAS Grand Prix in other markets (like the US). Saw this at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum lawn event for Italian cars. (Not my best photo taken of it) Based off the Fiat 850.

Lombardi Grand Prix Wiki Page

 

[TexRex]

The Lombardi Grand Prix, also known as the OTAS Grand Prix in other markets (like the US). Saw this at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum lawn event for Italian cars. (Not my best photo taken of it) Based off the Fiat 850.

Lombardi Grand Prix Wiki Page

There was a classic European import service shop near a place I worked ages ago that had the gutted shell of one of these which was getting a tube and box chassis with an air-cooled Volkswagen motor in place of the Fiat four. It was to be a drag car, but it never had running gear in the time I was aware of it and that shop has been gone for years. Wonder if anything came of the shell--could be it got snatched up as a donor for a resto job.

 

[05XR8]

The Corona GT-T in the video below. Had no idea. Miss my ‘83

 

[MedigoFlame]

Kaiser Darrin, never heard of the Darrin (knew of Kaiser) until I saw one for sale at the "local" Massachusetts Ferrari/Maserati dealership's used inventory section. Probably the most interesting feature is the doors that slide into the fenders.

Used 1954 Kaiser Darrin Listing

 

[VulcanSpirit]

Today, I found out that there exists a prototype for a Ford Mondeo Mk3 DTM car. And no, I'm not talking about the Mondeos that eventually appeared in V8Stars.



An actual, manufacturer-supported DTM car built by the Team RS division to the 2001 regulations:

The one-off car remains in existence today as part of the Ford Cologne Collection alongside the Broadspeed/Zakspeed Capris and Eggenberger Sierra. A digital excerpt from Fast Ford magazine suggests this Mondeo had a V8 derived from the Mustang (quoted at either 4.0l from the magazine or 4.6l from the Cologne Collection information board) and showed 'very competitive' pace in testing before Ford canned the project.

 

[-Fred-]

De Tomaso Deauville, only 244 made. Found one for sale while browsing Classic Driver and I definitely never heard of it before today.

 

[TexRex]

There was also a reboot concept of it maybe a decade ago.

Edit:

It was...awkward.

 

[-Fred-]

It's like someone took the worst parts of a Fusion and a Regal/Insignia and blended them together. Ugh.

 

[TexRex]

It's like someone took the worst parts of a Fusion and a Regal/Insignia and blended them together. Ugh.

Yeah, no...it wasn't good. Love the original, though.

First, it was a Tom Tjaarda design and that's very nearly always a plus in my book. But it also had a Cleveland under the hood. What's more, it and other De Tomasos used the Cleveland long after Ford ceased production in 1974 and was replaced with the tall deck 351M. The 335-series V8s (351C, 351M, 400) actually crapped out in 1982 and De Tomaso kept chugging along until the Deauville and Longchamp ended their runs in 1985 and 1989 respectively, and if memory serves, the Pantera switched to Windsors (302, 351W) in 1990.

Of course, low production volume and high cost for these cars means they're not exactly engine donors, plus you can build a big cube Clevor (big bore Windsor block with Cleveland-style canted valve heads) entirely aftermarket now.

 

[Sum1s2pid]

Caught this the other night: Canadian Bricklin SV-1, eh.