Rare and interesting car sightings

Somewhere to discuss things that don't fit into other categories.

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boronia
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by boronia »

Nugget wrote:
Swift wrote:An early 70s Volvo with 5 speed manual.
A 5 speed is already an upgrade, I think they were standard with 4 speeds in the early 70s.
Even well into the 70s, a 4 speed was fitted, although there was a tack-on overdrive unit available. I was going to put one on my 242 at one stage.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by huppypuppy »

Swift wrote: Good eye for detail. Good find with the coach as well. You could really post that as a stand-alone topic under Sydney NSW photos. I haven't seen that style front in ages and it's nice to see Deluxe back.
The Minimaster is basically a midi version of the three axle Tourmaster!

Deluxe will not be back as a standalone company though - it'll be as a "division" of Orana Coaches Pty. Ltd. t/as Langley's Coaches..... :D :D :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by Swift »

Holden Holden go Holden!! Even though I 'generally' favour Ford.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by scott »

Seen today in Melbourne CBD was a BA or BF Falcon MK I (2002-06) cab in it's factory silver paint job with cab decals added. Since the Victorian government removed the maximum age limit from cabs in the last year or two many older cabs have been reinstated, or well kept older cars like these have joined the fleet.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by Swift »

Nothing wrong with it. That age limit actually encouraged owners to run them into the ground before replacing them at high cost. This relaxation of age limit rules allows then to once again replace the cab with an older but still modern and sound car that hasn't been flogged around as a taxi thus far...like the good old days.
A way I tell a BA from a first series BF are the lower front bumper vents are in three sections on the BF and one continuous piece on the BA. Other than that, it would be very difficult to discern the two models.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by scott »

Uber only allow vehicles up to 10 years old, this is rather stupid as there some nice as you say older, but still quite modern vehicles that can do the job.

I still like seeing nice AU II, AU III and BA-BF and VY and VZ( ones that has not done in the timing chain) still doing the rounds. Also some nice Camrys of that era. These could still make good ride share cars.

Not yet seen AU's back as taxis, but I am sure there is one floating about somewhere, maybe in the bush.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by Merc1107 »

I'm sure fuel costs will only rise again in the coming years - offering yet another lease on life for the significant fleet of Falcons converted to run on LPG. Today in Perth 91RON is $1.569/L, and LPG hovering in the usual $0.86-91/L range.
So anyone running gas will certainly be realising savings over 91, and certainly on higher-octane offerings. If only I could get a secondhand LPG-injection setup for the old BMW cheap, its pretty efficient for a 25y/o car, but LPG would be icing on the cake versus filling up with 98!
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by Swift »

Believe me, even after forking out the conversion cost, it feels much better paying significantly less to fill up at the bowser each time, over petroleum. You don't feel like you have blown the budget.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by Nugget »

scott wrote:Seen today in Melbourne CBD was a BA or BF Falcon MK I (2002-06) cab in it's factory silver paint job with cab decals added. Since the Victorian government removed the maximum age limit from cabs in the last year or two many older cabs have been reinstated, or well kept older cars like these have joined the fleet.
I remember into the 90s you'd occasionally have a 20 year old Kingswood or Falcon turn up as the taxi.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by Swift »

Interesting car and truck sightings.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

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What is rare or unusual about the Avalon? Still see a lot of them around.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by Swift »

The condition of it. No marks, dents or scratches. That model is over 15 years old.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

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Avalons are mainly owned by "cardigan class" drivers, who don't actually drive them very far or often.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by Swift »

boronia wrote:Avalons are mainly owned by "cardigan class" drivers, who don't actually drive them very far or often.
Which is a waste, as they keep up with the Commodores and Falcons -but with more refinement, handle well, very roomy, ride very well and make a great long distance tourer. Most of the ones I see have scrapes somewhere these days.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by huppypuppy »

Swift wrote:Interesting car and truck sightings.
That little Isuzu NLR 45 150 Traypack is not as rare as you think - they are the most common truck out there in the small narrow cab 4500kg GVM truck market! This one is equipped with the new Torque Converter Automated Manual Transmission or TC AMT - the old AMT used a wet clutch to allow the transmission to shift. The new TC AMT uses a torque converter like a full fluid automatic transmission to do the shifting....

Isuzu have been the market leader across all classes of truck for 3 decades - not surprising as they make some great trucks!
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by Swift »

huppypuppy wrote:
Swift wrote:Interesting car and truck sightings.
That little Isuzu NLR 45 150 Traypack is not as rare as you think - they are the most common truck out there in the small narrow cab 4500kg GVM truck market! This one is equipped with the new Torque Converter Automated Manual Transmission or TC AMT - the old AMT used a wet clutch to allow the transmission to shift. The new TC AMT uses a torque converter like a full fluid automatic transmission to do the shifting....

Isuzu have been the market leader across all classes of truck for 3 decades - not surprising as they make some great trucks!
The interior looked nice and the truck was so new looking.
Not a common colour either. That is an interesting gearbox you describe. I wonder why they don't offer them in cars? Yep, Japanese truck manufacturers like Isuzu, Hino, Mitsubishi Fuso and UD make mighty machines that perform their assigned task without fuss and great comfort! Glad you appreciated the pic.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by huppypuppy »

Swift wrote: Not a common colour either. That is an interesting gearbox you describe. I wonder why they don't offer them in cars? Yep, Japanese truck manufacturers like Isuzu, Hino, Mitsubishi Fuso and UD make mighty machines that perform their assigned task without fuss and great comfort! Glad you appreciated the pic.
I remember when the first gen Isuzu AMT's came out in the last of the lift handle N-Series - they were rather bad at shifting gears and often needed operator intervention to shift.... the next gen N and F Series with the AMT were a lot better but still had problems. The fluid coupling was a bad idea - now the TC AMT is out, they've got the formula just right. Now Hino has come up with a AMT called the Proshift and it's directly competing with the Isuzu AMT.... but Hino's only offering for the AMT is the 500 Series. The smaller 300 Series (which is the direct competition for the N-Series) is full fluid automatic, not a AMT!

Fuso also have their Duonic dual clutch AMT - the Duonic AMT is the first dual clutch AMT to be offered in a light duty truck. Fuso only offer the Duonic in the light duty Canter series as they have a full fluid auto option for the Fighter and Heavy (the Heavy uses a INOMAT-II AMT which is based on the Mercedes-Benz G230-12 as used in the Actros as standard).

Here's a video from Mitsubishi Motors Ireland showing how the Duonic DC AMT works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUH7L-KclaE
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by Swift »

huppypuppy wrote:
Here's a video from Mitsubishi Motors Ireland showing how the Duonic DC AMT works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUH7L-KclaE
The comments below suggest this is another disastrous dual clutch transmission ala Ford Focus and VW, only worse because it's in a truck application. It seems very computer dependent-aka unreliable and erratic. They seem to pick the wrong gear at the wrong time in some situations They are obviously chasing an automatic with the efficiency of a manual and have had to compromise with a torque convertor like a traditional automatic. I take it this convertor has lockup function. It wold certainly solve low speed manoeuvres, which is a DCT's archilles heel.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by Swift »

Time to bump up this stale thread with a well cared for Mercedes at Bondi Beach. Hard to believe these were introduced in 1972. Note the Mercedes embossed rear seat cover.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by Reo »

Don't think the 450SLC was ever sold new in Australia, so probably a Jap import.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by Swift »

Reo wrote:Don't think the 450SLC was ever sold new in Australia, so probably a Jap import.
England? Wherever it was sold new, it was faultless looking on the outside at least.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by Reo »

Yes...some came in from U.K., usually pretty rusty from the salt on their roads. Always very popular here on the Gold Coast with all the " would be if they could be's " wanting to be seen in one ! Looked good but heaps cheaper than any Merc that was Australian delivered. Still a lot up here even now.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

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Seen yesterday was an nice old Valiant, still on what seems to be it's original Victorian rego (JNZ-xxx), checked the number plate guide on the VicRoads website https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/registr ... ber-plates and that rego seems to be a 1966 issue. Old guy driving it, was raining lightly and the vacuum operated wipers were doing their thing. Among the flood of modern SUVs it stood out like a sore thumb.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by scott »

Seen today was a 1988 VN Calais, still on orginal late 1988 issue plates, with a factory manual transmission, very rare. It had no cruise control, as if you ordered the Calais in manual, the cruise control was deleted.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings

Post by captainch »

LPG GAS is great if you can get it ,Would you believe in TOWNSVILLE
TH QLD it only has 2 LPG gas stations since the taxi company went to toyota also west of dalby near toowoomba LPG gas is non exestint So its not around much in a lot of places you have to go to the phone app to find servos! :shock:
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