Rare and interesting car sightings
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- Swift
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Here is an unusual looking early Toyota Prius.
NSW, the state that embraces mediocrity.
Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
The first Prius model.
Does anyone know what these early gen hybrid cars are like now and how they are ageing? I remember talk at the time they came out that their batteries would need replacing after about 10 years at a cost of approximately $8k or something.
What about all the Camry hybrid taxis out there, what's their end of life/post taxi-life expectancy like?
Does anyone know what these early gen hybrid cars are like now and how they are ageing? I remember talk at the time they came out that their batteries would need replacing after about 10 years at a cost of approximately $8k or something.
What about all the Camry hybrid taxis out there, what's their end of life/post taxi-life expectancy like?
- Swift
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
I imagine you won't see many ex taxi Camry Hybrids like driving around like you did the Falcons.
They do their job saving wear and fuel whilst doing stop start taxi duties, which is where these types of vehicles are in their absolute element. Once they have racked up gargantuan mileage, and their generator and battery packs are spent, they would make for a poor proposition as personal transport as they will be spent and the generators cost a fortune to replace. The battery packs have come down in price, from $6000 down to about $1500. That is probably why that older model has managed to stay on the road.
They do their job saving wear and fuel whilst doing stop start taxi duties, which is where these types of vehicles are in their absolute element. Once they have racked up gargantuan mileage, and their generator and battery packs are spent, they would make for a poor proposition as personal transport as they will be spent and the generators cost a fortune to replace. The battery packs have come down in price, from $6000 down to about $1500. That is probably why that older model has managed to stay on the road.
NSW, the state that embraces mediocrity.
Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Agree regarding taxis. For ordinary privately owned units, that is a substantial reduction in battery pack cost, which certainly makes them more attractive in the long term and second hand market.Swift wrote:I imagine you won't see many ex taxi Camry Hybrids like driving around like you did the Falcons.
They do their job saving wear and fuel whilst doing stop start taxi duties, which is where these types of vehicles are in their absolute element. Once they have racked up gargantuan mileage, and their generator and battery packs are spent, they would make for a poor proposition as personal transport as they will be spent and the generators cost a fortune to replace. The battery packs have come down in price, from $6000 down to about $1500. That is probably why that older model has managed to stay on the road.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Batteries are quite cheap to replace these days, yes.
I think the larger issue with Hybrids will be engines worn out from excessive stop-start operation and transition straight to "revving its tits off, even when cold" from a cold start. Even regularly serviced Pri-i (and other Japanese makes) are notorious for heavy oil consumption as they age, its a consequence of the low-tension rings used in engines to save minute quantities of fuel.
Whilst on the freeway the other day, a Hybrid Camry taxi passed me making a constant, awful clatter... Pinging. How an engine designed to run on regular unleaded petrol can ping so badly with modern engine management systems, I cannot fathom. Can't be good for the engine's longevity!
I think the larger issue with Hybrids will be engines worn out from excessive stop-start operation and transition straight to "revving its tits off, even when cold" from a cold start. Even regularly serviced Pri-i (and other Japanese makes) are notorious for heavy oil consumption as they age, its a consequence of the low-tension rings used in engines to save minute quantities of fuel.
Whilst on the freeway the other day, a Hybrid Camry taxi passed me making a constant, awful clatter... Pinging. How an engine designed to run on regular unleaded petrol can ping so badly with modern engine management systems, I cannot fathom. Can't be good for the engine's longevity!
Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
I think it was in the third year of the decade, pretty early on. It was before MMAL freely admitted they had a problem but they did acknowledge it once we had it.Swift wrote:How far into the decade did it need replacing?Nugget wrote: We had a TM for about a decade, maybe more and we had to replace the box once. It just died one day. That said, the NRMA membership took care of towing to the dealer and the dealer/Mitsubishi took care of the rest. The box didn't have any troubles after that.
- Swift
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
That was one of the earliest learning transmissions wasn't it? No wonder they develop problems when they constantly adjust their shift points.
Regarding hybrid engines, I wouldn't imagine they would be subject to much different conditions to a standard efi motor. They are designed to be driven off straight away and as long as you go easier for the first few kilometres, it shouldn't present a problem in a hybrid. The engines activate quite often, at least in the case of the Camry Hybrid. Also, in taxi use, just like other cars, the engines stay warm more often in most cases.
Regarding hybrid engines, I wouldn't imagine they would be subject to much different conditions to a standard efi motor. They are designed to be driven off straight away and as long as you go easier for the first few kilometres, it shouldn't present a problem in a hybrid. The engines activate quite often, at least in the case of the Camry Hybrid. Also, in taxi use, just like other cars, the engines stay warm more often in most cases.
NSW, the state that embraces mediocrity.
- Swift
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
KB Laser from 1982 -85 in Matraville and a collaboration
between Mitsubishi and Mercedes?
between Mitsubishi and Mercedes?
NSW, the state that embraces mediocrity.
Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Our neighbours had one of those Lasers back in the day, was a good little car, but a pain to start on a cold morning, I remember hearing him crank the crap out it. Must of had a crook carby or choke from new as not even Lube Mobile could fix it.
It got taken off the road by the EPA as it blew too much smoke, was traded as it would cost too much to fix. Only 10 years old at the time.
Those Express vans were axed in 2013 because they did not meet current standards. Mitsi have not got anything to replace it.
It got taken off the road by the EPA as it blew too much smoke, was traded as it would cost too much to fix. Only 10 years old at the time.
Those Express vans were axed in 2013 because they did not meet current standards. Mitsi have not got anything to replace it.
- Swift
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
In other markets, the 1.5 litre was available with efi. You would think they could have offered it as an option, at least on the Ghia. The XE Falcon had already introduced efi at the time.
Those Mercedes wheel covers on the express van are off a 1967 model.
Those Mercedes wheel covers on the express van are off a 1967 model.
NSW, the state that embraces mediocrity.
- boronia
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
A set of good Merc hubcaps probably worth more than the van.
Preserving fire service history
@ The Museum of Fire.
@ The Museum of Fire.
Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Anyone want a nice EB GT for $40,000?
https://www.australianmusclecarsales.co ... on-89.html
Has the nice Alpine stereo and CD stacker that featured on the higher EB II models and the DCII LTD.
The husband of a friend of my grandmother worked at Ford in Broadmeadows as a supervisor, and he got some nice company cars every 9 months. One of them was a lovely EBII 6 cyl Ghia fully optioned and with said Alpine equipment, was fun as a 10 year old reading the manual to figure out how to use it. Nearly bought it for himself at the end of the 9 months but someone at the factory got in first and snapped it up. He bought his 9 month old EF Ghia company car when he retired.
https://www.australianmusclecarsales.co ... on-89.html
Has the nice Alpine stereo and CD stacker that featured on the higher EB II models and the DCII LTD.
The husband of a friend of my grandmother worked at Ford in Broadmeadows as a supervisor, and he got some nice company cars every 9 months. One of them was a lovely EBII 6 cyl Ghia fully optioned and with said Alpine equipment, was fun as a 10 year old reading the manual to figure out how to use it. Nearly bought it for himself at the end of the 9 months but someone at the factory got in first and snapped it up. He bought his 9 month old EF Ghia company car when he retired.
- Swift
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Nice work if you can get it! Thanks for showing us the GT. I recently watched an edition of Shannons TV covering the EB and the model has a surprising amount of race history. They were actually saying special editions of the EB could still be obtained at sensible money. Not anymore!scott wrote:
The husband of a friend of my grandmother worked at Ford in Broadmeadows as a supervisor, and he got some nice company cars every 9 months. One of them was a lovely EBII 6 cyl Ghia fully optioned and with said Alpine equipment, was fun as a 10 year old reading the manual to figure out how to use it. Nearly bought it for himself at the end of the 9 months but someone at the factory got in first and snapped it up. He bought his 9 month old EF Ghia company car when he retired.
NSW, the state that embraces mediocrity.
- boronia
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
On display in Paddy'd Markets
Preserving fire service history
@ The Museum of Fire.
@ The Museum of Fire.
- Swift
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- Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2004 1:23 pm
- Favourite Vehicle: Porshe 911 Carerra
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Funny enough, today's Judge Judy featured a man with a grievance over an early 60s VW bus rolling shell he was restoring with a bloke he was trying to get compensation off for not completing paid work on the body.
NSW, the state that embraces mediocrity.
Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
They also built a special batch of EB II S packs badged as SS if I remember correctly, sometime in 1992 or early to mid 1993.
- Swift
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Yes, I'm pretty sure they mentioned the SS, which I thought was funny as that is better known as a Holden Commodore variant.scott wrote:They also built a special batch of EB II S packs badged as SS if I remember correctly, sometime in 1992 or early to mid 1993.
Here is the video of that episode. Well worth checking out.
https://youtu.be/MJPzQmfFZMU
NSW, the state that embraces mediocrity.
- boronia
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Hanging around Kensington today
Preserving fire service history
@ The Museum of Fire.
@ The Museum of Fire.
- Swift
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Recently saw a dark coloured VK Commodore in tidy looking condition parked in Flinders St Darlinghurst late at night. Felt like a blast from the past seeing it parked there like any other vehicle.
Came across a dark blue 1968 VE Valiant on club plates in Maroubra Jcn earlier tonight.
Came across a dark blue 1968 VE Valiant on club plates in Maroubra Jcn earlier tonight.
NSW, the state that embraces mediocrity.
- Swift
- Posts: 13296
- Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2004 1:23 pm
- Favourite Vehicle: Porshe 911 Carerra
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Here is one Boronia should appreciate. An early 70s Volvo with 5 speed manual. Apparently the previous owner painted it into lipstick red from it's original orange red. The owners showed me some of the original paint showing in the door jambs. It had been used for racing and had a roll cage in it in the past. The current owners want to restore it back to original.
NSW, the state that embraces mediocrity.
Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
A 5 speed is already an upgrade, I think they were standard with 4 speeds in the early 70s.Swift wrote:An early 70s Volvo with 5 speed manual.
- Swift
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
One lack of originality I would be happy to keep!Nugget wrote:
A 5 speed is already an upgrade, I think they were standard with 4 speeds in the early 70s.
NSW, the state that embraces mediocrity.
- huppypuppy
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
With a equally rare/interesting Mack MetroLiner concrete truck behind it! :OSwift wrote:Here is an unusual looking early Toyota Prius.
Love the new Custom Denning vehicles
Including the Adventurer School Bus
And the Endeavour Low Floor
And the new Element 100% Electric Bus - the first Aussie BEV bus
Including the Adventurer School Bus
And the Endeavour Low Floor
And the new Element 100% Electric Bus - the first Aussie BEV bus
- huppypuppy
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Not so much a rare/interesting car but a rare/interesting coach!
Austral HRP2 Minimaster TV8354 by Joe Hupp, on Flickr
Austral HRP2 Minimaster - rare in that five were made and all went to Deluxe Coachlines. This survivor was the third unit off the Austral Bus and Coach production line and wore Deluxe fleet number 203. Currently owned by former Deluxe employee, Phil Langley of Dubbo, NSW, this Minimaster was given the Deluxe repaint as Phil is hosting this year's Deluxe reunion at his yard in West Dubbo
Austral HRP2 Minimaster TV8354 by Joe Hupp, on Flickr
Austral HRP2 Minimaster - rare in that five were made and all went to Deluxe Coachlines. This survivor was the third unit off the Austral Bus and Coach production line and wore Deluxe fleet number 203. Currently owned by former Deluxe employee, Phil Langley of Dubbo, NSW, this Minimaster was given the Deluxe repaint as Phil is hosting this year's Deluxe reunion at his yard in West Dubbo
Love the new Custom Denning vehicles
Including the Adventurer School Bus
And the Endeavour Low Floor
And the new Element 100% Electric Bus - the first Aussie BEV bus
Including the Adventurer School Bus
And the Endeavour Low Floor
And the new Element 100% Electric Bus - the first Aussie BEV bus
- Swift
- Posts: 13296
- Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2004 1:23 pm
- Favourite Vehicle: Porshe 911 Carerra
- Location: Ettalong- the world capital of 0405s.
Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
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.huppypuppy wrote:With a equally rare/interesting Mack MetroLiner concrete truck behind it! :OSwift wrote:Here is an unusual looking early Toyota Prius.
NSW, the state that embraces mediocrity.