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  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    Posts: 9,306
    Except for a few "icons", like the R 4, R 5, and Twingo, Renault never had much of an identity. They failed to follow a design concept, mostly with their larger models. Look at what has been called the Mégane over the years, there is no continuity that yells "Renault" anywhere. Granted, at the opposite end is Audi where every generation of every model looks so similar as to make it next to impossible to know if it's a recent A 3 or an old A 6 when, invariably, they flash their headlights at you in the fast lane. That may be a desired family similarity, but it's also kind of boring.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    edited March 14 Posts: 14,202
    The Safrane was a nice looking car, at least I think it was. You don't seer many of them around these days. I can't remember the last time I saw one.

    Safrane-scaled.jpg

    That C pillar vaguely reminds me of the mk III Granada.
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,644
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    Except for a few "icons", like the R 4, R 5, and Twingo, Renault never had much of an identity. They failed to follow a design concept, mostly with their larger models. Look at what has been called the Mégane over the years, there is no continuity that yells "Renault" anywhere. Granted, at the opposite end is Audi where every generation of every model looks so similar as to make it next to impossible to know if it's a recent A 3 or an old A 6 when, invariably, they flash their headlights at you in the fast lane. That may be a desired family similarity, but it's also kind of boring.

    Fair enough, I'm not the biggest Renault fanboy out there anyway. Though some older models and a few new ones look pretty good imo. The newer ones that look good seem to be modelled on the older ones that I like, or at least that is my impression, hence my comment. I might be wrong though, I can live with that when it comes to Renault :p

    Spot on about Audi's btw, it appears they also come without indicators.
  • 007InAction007InAction Australia
    Posts: 2,701
    £3m Bond Villain Jag C-X75 vs TG Test Track! Stig Laps
  • zebrafishzebrafish <°)))< in Octopussy's garden in the shade
    Posts: 4,436
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    Except for a few "icons", like the R 4, R 5, and Twingo, Renault never had much of an identity. They failed to follow a design concept, mostly with their larger models. Look at what has been called the Mégane over the years, there is no continuity that yells "Renault" anywhere. Granted, at the opposite end is Audi where every generation of every model looks so similar as to make it next to impossible to know if it's a recent A 3 or an old A 6 when, invariably, they flash their headlights at you in the fast lane. That may be a desired family similarity, but it's also kind of boring.

    Not following a design concept over longer periods of time made Renaults difficult to instantly recognize after a model change, but within model lines there were some very interesting designs that stood the test of time. I am thinking of the Twingo (as you also noted), which I saw featured at the Museum of Modern Art in the 90s. Then there was the futuristic looking Fuego, which even today makes me turn my head. Also, R14 (very clean design with smooth surfaces), R15 and R18 looked pretty advanced back then (and still look good today).

    Renault celebrates these models with an online "originals" museum (link) and it should be noted that Renault's small cars were beloved and super-abundant in the 80s-90s. Mind you, my mother had an R5 (1980) and when she sold it after a mere 5 years or so it was badly rusted below the rear seats. I never was a fan of the "quality".
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 14,202
    Yesterday marked 20 years since the collapse of MG Rover. After a centenary of British build cars for the masses, it was a sad ending to say the least. While BMW could take some of the blame, ultimately is was the Phoenix Four who drove the final nail in (and lined their own pockets), with the Project Drive penny pinching.

    _102574513_mgrover187.jpg
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    edited June 18 Posts: 9,306
    I just came across this beautiful 1954 Bentley R-Type Saloon (RHD!) in our little village today when walking my dog. I talked to the guy who owns it (he's quite voluntarily in the second picture, but I decided to blur his face for privacy), and he said he's had it for 20 years. Before that, the car had, among other uses, been in the employ of a British diplomat to Thailand, also for two decades, complete with a chauffeur etc. The present owner is an American (senior) citizen who has been living in the next town for quite a while, but I had never spotted this car before. Imagine it having a coupe/roadster body, and you're quite close to Bond's Bentley from the novels, since it is still heavily based on the pre-war design.
    Bentley-Front.jpg
    Bentley-Left.jpg
    Bentley-Rear.jpg

  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,644
    Yesterday marked 20 years since the collapse of MG Rover. After a centenary of British build cars for the masses, it was a sad ending to say the least. While BMW could take some of the blame, ultimately is was the Phoenix Four who drove the final nail in (and lined their own pockets), with the Project Drive penny pinching.

    _102574513_mgrover187.jpg

    Just saw this a moment ago. My grandfather had two Rovers and considrred the 75 when it came out. For me it's a marque with a nostalgic ring to it. Just like SAAB. A shame these brands aren't around anymore.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 18,439
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    I just came across this beautiful 1954 Bentley R-Type Saloon (RHD!) in our little village today when walking my dog. I talked to the guy who owns it (he's quite voluntarily in the second picture, but I decided to blur his face for privacy), and he said he's had it for 20 years. Before that, the car had, among other uses, been in the employ of a British diplomat to Thailand, also for two decades, complete with a chauffeur etc. The present owner is an American (senior) citizen who has been living in the next town for quite a while, but I had never spotted this car before. Imagine it having a coupe/roadster body, and you're quite close to Bond's Bentley from the novels, since it is still heavily based on the pre-war design.
    Bentley-Front.jpg
    Bentley-Left.jpg
    Bentley-Rear.jpg

    Wow that must be an unusual sight in Germany- don't see them often in the UK! :D
  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    edited June 25 Posts: 8,808
    Talking of which: saw this one in may at an aviation-and-old-cars-event where we were selling our boardgame.

    It's the fifth picture. And no, I don't know why all that code shows up as well.
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  • 007InAction007InAction Australia
    edited June 30 Posts: 2,701
    A car named after James Bond, or maybe Nomi ?

  • 007InAction007InAction Australia
    edited July 2 Posts: 2,701
    2026 Ferrari Amalfi

    The front lacks style for a Ferrari......
    Anyone like it ?
  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    Posts: 8,808
    2026 Ferrari Amalfi

    The front lacks style for a Ferrari......
    Anyone like it ?

    I think I need to see it real life. The front is not that easy to see, it seems to flow backwards a bit. Same goes for the back. I like the fact that it isn't too shouty, it's a bit more understated.
  • 007InAction007InAction Australia
    edited July 2 Posts: 2,701
    2026 Ferrari Amalfi

    The front lacks style for a Ferrari......
    Anyone like it ?

    I think I need to see it real life. The front is not that easy to see, it seems to flow backwards a bit. Same goes for the back. I like the fact that it isn't too shouty, it's a bit more understated.

    It replaces the Roma apparently.

    Which looks much better.

  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 18,439
    I think it’s a bit fresher at the front than the Roma, looks good. It’s the rear wing bulge on the doors I’m not too sure about.

    I just went to the McLaren Live event in Trafalgar Square, lots of cars and stars there, the drivers etc. What’s quite nice to see is the mix of fans: lots of young female fans as well as male. F1 is doing a really good job of expanding its reach.
  • 007InAction007InAction Australia
    edited July 2 Posts: 2,701
    mtm wrote: »
    I think it’s a bit fresher at the front than the Roma, looks good. It’s the rear wing bulge on the doors I’m not too sure about.

    I just went to the McLaren Live event in Trafalgar Square, lots of cars and stars there, the drivers etc. What’s quite nice to see is the mix of fans: lots of young female fans as well as male. F1 is doing a really good job of expanding its reach.

    The Amalfi looks like a EV.

    What sort of cars were there. F1 or road ?
    Did you take any photo's ?

    The young ladies love Lando......... They probably want him to be the next Bond too :)>-
    McLaren Live event in Trafalgar Square
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited July 2 Posts: 18,439
    Oh that's fun, thanks! I saw them recording that, see if you can spot me! :D

    I did take a few snaps but mostly of the event to be honest: a mate of mine had organised it. Lots of cool cars, a Senna car, a 2027 Hypercar, Indy car, Formula E, and a few of the current F1 cars of course. I saw Oscar but had to leave before Lando arrived, I think there's going to be a lot of noise for him.
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    Posts: 9,306
    Talking of which: saw this one in may at an aviation-and-old-cars-event where we were selling our boardgame.

    It's the fifth picture. ...

    I don't see a fifth picture here, and when I click on the link "See more on Instagram" (or whatever it is in English, it is the German version here), Instagram requires me to register to see anything more than your initial photo "tiles". I'm not going to register for Instagram, but if you uploaded the original picture to somewhere, I'd be interested.
  • zebrafishzebrafish <°)))< in Octopussy's garden in the shade
    Posts: 4,436
    @j_w_pepper , I think @CommanderRoss means the picture of a Bentley Speed Six 'Le Mans Special', which actually seems to be a replica based on a 1934 RR. Google this and the license plate "MA 99 90". It looks like a 1930 Blower Bentley 4.5 that literary Bond drove in CR, LALD and MR.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 18,439
    There's a lot of replicas about, Bentley even made some new ones a couple of years back - I saw one and it was pretty amazing.

    I took this snap at Brooklands a couple of weeks ago: there was a pretty impressive amount of them turning out! Lovely things.

    ME1B3YCL_o.jpg
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    Posts: 9,306
    zebrafish wrote: »
    @j_w_pepper , I think @CommanderRoss means the picture of a Bentley Speed Six 'Le Mans Special', which actually seems to be a replica based on a 1934 RR. Google this and the license plate "MA 99 90". It looks like a 1930 Blower Bentley 4.5 that literary Bond drove in CR, LALD and MR.
    Thanks, I found it, but you're right it's apparently a replica. Looks nice...but then Cinderella's Castle in Disneyland looks nice. 😁
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited July 2 Posts: 18,439
    To be fair though, there are replicas and there are replicas: that's not the fibreglass body on a scaffolding chassis type of replica- it's a very high end one which probably shares a lot of components with the original and is a quality bit of kit! :)
    You get a lot of Bentley 4.5litres which are later, often 40s or 50s Bentleys, which have been rebodied to look like a 30s car, it's not uncommon at all. And to my untrained eye they're often indistinguishable from the real thing!

    You can even order one yourself!
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