Today I saw a classic and took a pic thread!

Spotting abandoned French classics by the roadside

Scrappage worked wonders for the new car market, but at what cost to the sport of spotting half-dead classics at the roadside

It's a minority pleasure, but one that must appeal to a few car nuts, and particularly enjoyable when pursued in France and Italy for some reason. And that's the enjoyment of spotting dead cars among the scenery when you're on the move.

Despite years of can't-help-it commitment to this diversion, I still haven't worked out why a dead old car in the undergrowth is more interesting than the same old car parked on the street and alive, but it is. Perhaps it's the possibility of planning a rescue.

Anyway, I was driving through France recently, and had confirmation of what I have long feared - that scrappage schemes, environmental clean-ups and the desire to be tidier, perhaps, has cleansed the French countryside of many a dead wreck.

Among the few mouldering cars that I saw were an '80s Peugeot 305 saloon (no rescue pangs there, although the second-generation version had a brilliant chassis), the rear half of an Opel Kadett estate that appeared to have been used as some sort of agri-storage and amazingly, a couple of Austin 1300s in scrapyards, which would have been at least 30 years old.

That certainly triggered the investigation urge, but there was no time, frustratingly, though that's probably as well. So a couple of good spots, but compared to a decade ago this is an activity of rare rewards.

Most well-balanced members of the public will be pleased at this development of course, but for me it's a pity.

gobnaitolunacy wrote: »

...and the drivers of 4wd sprog carriers clanging doors off whoevers parked next to them.:mad:

gobnaitolunacy wrote: »

...and the drivers of 4wd sprog carriers clanging doors off whoevers parked next to them.:mad:

Anan1 wrote: »

Only one tailpipe.. Do that one still have the flat four aircooled, does anyone know?

macplaxton wrote: »

It's got some identity crisis going on. Yes, it is an Austin Cambridge, but that front panel and grille surround is MG Magnette.