Near miss

Now that winter's on it's way, the roads are getting slippery and I had a reminder of the responsibility we've got to look after these cars.

I'd just got onto a dual carriageway, approaching traffic lights when they turned to amber. The car behind me was on my tail and braking would have meant the probability of it running into me. I was just as bad, too close to the car in front. That car in front gunned it to get through on amber - I did the same. He then changed his mind and braked. It was just at this point that my turbo cut in on mine and was about to launch me in the back of the car in front.

Luckily, the inside lane was clear and I swerved around it, going through as the lights were changing. Avoiding what would have been a bit of a bump in an every day hack but more likely to be the end of a rare classic exotic.

My fault but glad to have avoided it.

I know you sir !
Yes I do sir !
It is you isn't it ......................Or Dick Dastardly ! WOT-WOT !!!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=H4TDEPP1R9Q

That's the one !!!

It's quite a responsibility driving 1 of only 38 left in the UK. Let's just hope we are all given plenty of space on the roads and don't have any mishaps!

[stephendell]

It's quite a responsibility driving 1 of only 38 left in the UK

Of the 67 RHD I believe 3 have been written off and one of those is now back on the road. A few are abroad, 8 were exported when new, one singapore car is now repatriated, at least are 2 in France (one another ex singapore), one in cyprus/greece, but AFAIK all of the others are still intact so a minimum of 50 still in the UK.

That's interesting (and good!) as I have seen in a few places the figure of 38 mentioned. Just as a matter of interest, do you know if the figure of 11 yellow A610's is correct and does anybody else on here have a yellow one? I've seen L3 ALP on YouTube, never seen K303 NBK since it was a long-termer in performance car, mine was J461 JTP (I think there was also J458, J459 and J460 from the initial batch?)

[BIG_MVS]

The 38 figure was probably from me. I have from the DVLA a list of cars which are currently taxed, "roadworthy" if you like.

At the time that the census was taken there were only 5 Le Mans quoted, we know that there are more like 20 left but obviously they are all not taxed.

K303 lives in North Wales so I am reliably informed(and possibly for sale?). L3 ALP is Joe Salama's. Here's 2 of the early ones:

I have heard 38 from other sources as well mate. I suppose it is not unreasonable for people to store them and declare them SORN. I think they should be on the road though. A bit like Concorde, they ain't quite the same parked up!! The orange A610 below was used by Autocar in their Road Test in 1992, was blue back then. Looks like he did a fantastic rebuild job on that one.

The 38 figure was probably from me. I have from the DVLA a list of cars which are currently taxed, "roadworthy" if you like.

At the time that the census was taken there were only 5 Le Mans quoted, we know that there are more like 20 left but obviously they are all not taxed.

K303 lives in North Wales so I am reliably informed(and possibly for sale?). L3 ALP is Joe Salama's. Here's 2 of the early ones:

[stephendell]

I have details of 11 OV530 yellow cars and another listed as pearl yellow which I guess must be a repaint.

Figures quoted for many models are often DVLA 'on the road' figures which usually includes SORN cars but not those taken off the road before SORN came into place.

and another JTP numberplate.... were these all Renault first owner cars?

[img]http://www.renaultalpineownersclub.com/renaulta610%20005[1]%20(2).jpg[/img]

I think most of the JTP cars were Renault owned press cars initially. I have various magazines with most of these in.
My car (used to be J461) was World Sports Car Magazine,
J466 was Autocar and Encyclopedia of Supercars
J456 was in Auto Express I think.
J458 was in the Cornish Fasty article on Road Tests page.
J460 was used in much of the Renault literature/sales brochures from the time.

K303 is still immaculate and lives in North Wales. this is a photo I took a short while ago, but who has the other car now ? It was for sale when I took this picture.

[BIG_MVS]

What colour is that one on the right Peppermint Green

"maybe" it looked a bit of a different colour at choice time on the colour chart ???

[stephendell]

Mint Green car is ex Aiden Piers

Last known owner Aldo Walker in Bolton.

Not a factory colour, just a respray. Unfortunately not very well done when I saw it, matt black door shuts etc.