Strangest Car You've Ever Owned (not Xm)

Well i would say we have two strange cars, but both Citroens, the Citroen 6H certainly gets a lot of attention and is one of only a few remaining, one of only 74 models ever made in RHD, that I know of there are only two remaining in the UK. The C15 6 wheeler is the only right hand drive version built for Citroen by a company called Chausson Leotard. There were 101 made, ours was the last and the only RHD model. Being the Citroen one ours has the bespoke side door and 5 seats.

Although a non Citroen thing (of which there are not many!) it would have to be a Rneualt 4, in fact 2 Renault 4s.

About 11 years ago we found a 1972 R4 TL going for scrap, it had been garaged for over 11 years and needed some work to get it going again, so it was free to a good home. We took it, got it road going again and kept it for about 10 years (sold it a year ago) It was quite a rare one (in the UK at least) as it had a fully opening roof (much like the 2cvs) It would roll to the middle from both ends. It was maroon with a black top and black 'leatherette' seats. In very good condition actually and low mileage.

Mostly good fun filled with people, driving it fast (so not very) down some country roads scaring the passenger with the amount of body lean. I did a few classic rallies with that, trying to keep up with my dad in the 6H was quite a job! Excellent fun.

A few years after we got the 72 R4 we saw a C reg GTL for sale, with an odd red and white colour scheme. The owner had a red one but smashed it up, bought a white one and fitted red doors! So we had two at one point, both hobby cars, we sold the GTL after a year and its next owner had it painted fully red. GTLs didnt have the R4 handbrake, proper seats, heated rear windows and reverse lights, not so with the TL.

The TL we really wish we had not sold, such a good fun car to drive, its now living in Ireland, so look out for a maroon R4 if anyone is over there!

That's probably what I would do, if not for one factor. I live down a fairly narrow cul-de-sac, and right at the end to boot. During the day, it's fairly open, but in the evening, it's parked up tight, and it's tricky to get a Transit through. At the end, I have to get the bus up onto a grassy green in front of our house, and then reverse it into the garden, and the idea of doing that in the dark would be daunting even if it wasn't for the narrowness! However we do it, there's a risk that it'll get stuck at the end of the road. You're probably right about local bus companies - I should talk to someone who might feel kindly towards an old bus.

I like the coach, always had a hankering for one of those.

The strangest vehicle I have owned, wasn't strange at all when I owned it, but compared with modern vehicles it seems very strange.

It was a 1939 Ford prefect. 1172cc side valve engine and three speed box, which kept breaking second gear, transverse springs only connected to the car at the centre (can you imagine the roll!), cable operated brakes which pulled the car in different directions depending on how hard you pressed the pedal, no heater, no interior light, 6 volt electrics and four and a half inch wide tyres, narrower than the average motor bike now - it was pure joy in 1957

Peter.N.

Go for it Sam, midnight run to within 50 or so yards, park up and move it in daylight when the mobile roadblocks have gone to work.

Derek

Perhaps I will. In other news, I have also had 2 Renault 4's, though neither of them ever saw the road.

Bond Bug: Wikipedia

Just don't get a flat rear tyre in one... Especially on a twisty country lane...

1967 Renault 10 (only stopped using it around 2000).



1972 Toyota Hiace Dormobile New World (rescued from a scrap yard - needed lots of welding!). Sold (!) in 1997.



This post has been edited by mouseflakes on January 18, 2009 11:55 pm

Wow! I've not seen a Renault 10 in a while! Is that a 16 in your avatar?

Hi Sam,

That's my R30 in the avatar - hard to tell from the small pic so here's a bigger version....



Here's one of my old 16's though...



Not sure that they qualify for this 'strangest' thread, though it is rare - if not strange - to see a 30 in use these days!

that little camper van reminds me of my sisters, fiat amigo, a bunk bed on wheels,lol, it slept 4 and had a 903cc engine, to which i fitted a twin choke webber and four branch exhaust manifold from my old ,fiat 850 special, it would do 70mph on a calm day

I've not seen a 4, a 16, a 30, or for that matter an 11 on the road since I don't remember when. I realised today how scarce active 2CVs have got too. Shame.

seen in a car park in darlington

That looks like a powerful beast Terry!

Ok not strange but mega rare now. My first car was a Triumph Herald Coupe with the 948 twin SU engine. I might be wrong but I seem to recall it was a "Clubman"? but don't quote me on that. Very pretty Sebring Green over White.

I also have a Rover P5B in a lockup. Unfortunately it was vandalised some years ago.

The B is the 3.5l rover V8 isnt it? Nice car, any plans to get it going again? real shame some mindless idiot got to it

D

Yes that's right Dean the V8. Actually went on hols to IOW in it. Black one, ex Ministry car.

Tbh I can't see me doing it now. I saw a guy on t'internet who sells them and buys them any condition to use for spares. I might contact him.

This post has been edited by demag on January 20, 2009 02:24 am