The lower-spec model, with 5742 reaching UK shores badged as Nissan. Unfortunately I don't have figures for the Alfa versions, which included a 1.3-engined model and a 5dr which Nissan didn't offer.

Esssentially this model married the Alfa's flat-four engine and gearbox to the bodyshell of the Cherry. It included the Italian suspension and double bulkhead arrangement, and at the very least different hubs on the back to allow fitment of the Alfa wheels.

There were sufficient differences for Nissan to give it a different model code, 920 instead of N12.

This location with a distinctive belt of trees on the golfcourse was used for numerous PR photos at the time. More to come!

The finished bodyshell, it now will have a four wheel drive chassis fitted.

Resplendent in cream; Ford Ivory to be precise. Needs to go over white primer, which in turn goes over grey primer to get the shade right. The original EFE windscreen has also had the gaps between it and the bodyshell filled since yesterday.

Once the innards are painted, the upper deck will be permanently attached to the lower and the gap between filled, sanded and painted before the upper deck panels receive their decals.

1/32 resin slot car Cooper T39 Bobtail Le Mans 1957. Driven By Jack Brabham and Ian Raby to 15th place. Hunaudieres Model Decals resin body and Slot Classic chassis.

1/32 slot car Triumph Vitesse 6 2000cc c.1967. Modified Airfix bodyshell & PCS32 chassis, ali' rims & resin inserts.

Museo Ferrari, Maranello

47405 and 47429, both no more than empty bodyshells on accomodation bogies, stand forlornly at Crewe Works Open Day on Saturday 4th July 1987.

This early (1975) Escort MK II was captured 'travelling' northbound on the M6 motorway.

Launched in 1975, the new Escort MK II was more modern looking than its predecessor. The new bodyshell had squarer lines. A range of models were offered: the base L, GL, Sport and a top-of-the-range Ghia. Two and four door saloons were available and a two door estate version.

As with the Mk I, there was a choice of 1.1 and 1.3 litre engines and now, a 1.6 litre unit. Automatic transmission was also available.

The MK II Escorts were sparsely equiped but more than 600,000 cars were built before the end of the range in 1980.

Split into its component parts (l to r) clear bodyshell painted into into South Wales' ivory and red, plastic interior casting, metal body 'skirts' and plastic chassis.

The model is held together with two small screws through the chassis which screw into the seating unit, which in turn clips inside the bodyshell.

1/32 resin slot car Alfasud ti in Jagermeister ETCC livery c.1978. Resin bodyshell by Joeslot and PCS32 chassis.

The forlorn bodyshell of Class 73/1, 73134 "Woking Homes 1885 - 1985" stands in its long-term resting place outside the Brush Traction works at Loughborough.

Having been used as a spares donor for the 73/9 rebuilds done at Brush, the future remains unclear for 73134 - with its fate being even more uncertain following the recent announcement that the Brush Traction works will close by the end of 2021.

The Citroën AX is a supermini car which was built by the French manufacturer Citroën from 1986 to 1998. It was launched at the 1986 Paris Motor Show to replace the Citroën Visa and Citroën LNA.

Development of this model started in 1983, and it was initially also going to form the basis of a sister model from Talbot to replace the Samba; however, the falling popularity of the Talbot brand - coupled with the huge success of the new Peugeot 205 - had led to Peugeot deciding to axe it by the time the Citroën AX was launched, and so the Talbot version never made it into production.

With the final demise of the classic Citroën 2CV in 1990, the AX became the smallest model in the Citroën range.

The car was very economical, largely because of excellent aerodynamics for its class of car (drag coefficient of 0.31) and a very light weight of 640 kg (1,411 lb) for the basic version. This was due to the extensive use of plastic panels in non-load bearing areas and varying the thicknesses of steel in the bodyshell to be the minimum needed to take required loads

In 1989, a naturally aspirated diesel AX, using the 1360 cc, all aluminium alloy TUD engine, managed a figure of 2.7 litres per 100 kilometres (100 mpg‑imp; 87 mpg‑US), totalling over 1,000 miles (1,609 km) from Dover to Barcelona. This was the longest ever distance travelled on 10 imp gal (45.5 L; 12.0 US gal) of fuel and earned it a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the most economical production car.

1 fibreglass shell, only requiring many mechanical bits (likely sourced from a car wreckers) to complete...

Engine

2.9 L C-Series I6

Wheelbase

84 in (2,134 mm)[14] 1959 - 1961

86 in (2,184 mm)[15] 1961 - 1964

Length

187.75 in (4,769 mm)[14]

Width

68.5 in (1,740 mm)[14]

Height

59 in (1,499 mm)[14]

In October 1959 a new Austin A99 Westminster-based model was launched [16] under the name Princess 3-litre.[1] From July 1960[7] these vehicles bore the Vanden Plas name which became a badge-engineered brand in its own right (rather than being known as coachbuilder for the cars of other manufacturers). The car was a great deal smaller and less than 44 per cent of the price of the previous Princess IV Saloon and was instead largely identical to the Austin A99 Westminster and other models using the same Pininfarina-designed bodyshell. It featured a new distinctive Vanden Plas grille (fairly square, with a thick surround and vertical slats), round headlamps, and horn grilles on the front. The interior was lavish in typical Vanden Plas style, featuring burr walnut wood trim, leather seats and panels, and high-quality carpeting. A division between the driver and the rear compartment was an optional extra. Power was a 3-litre unit developing 108 hp (81 kW).[14]

A 3-litre Vanden Plas Princess with automatic transmission was tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1961 and had a top speed of 99.3 mph (159.8 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 16.1 seconds. A fuel consumption of 21.1 miles per imperial gallon (13.4 L/100 km; 17.6 mpg-US) was recorded. The test car cost £1467 including taxes.[14]

This model was replaced in 1961 by the Vanden Plas Princess 3-litre Mark II. Styling was similar but the wheelbase was two inches (5 cm) longer[15] and anti-roll bars were added to the suspension at both ends of the car.[15] The engine was uprated to 120 hp (89 kW). Better brakes were fitted, and interior improvements included built-in drop-down "picnic tables" for the rear seat passengers. Options now included "Smith's air-conditioning".[15]

This model lasted until 1964

Acquired as a cut down bodyshell. Wheels, and seats added. Repainted.

Class 442. 2424. 'Wessex Electric'. Electric Multiple Unit. In Express livery. Seen stored at the rear of Eastleigh Works.

The bodyshell on this is from the humble Airfix kit. It uses a PCS chassis, Ninco wire wheels which have been painted.

I've tried to make it look like a very early E type racer before the Lightweights came along.

Revell Routemaster Bus....Bodyshell painted and some decals now applied!...note that the instructions in the kit tell you to cut OUT the two large side adverts if you are using them and to GLUE them on, which is exactly what Dave did here. I am VERY pleased with the progress with this model over the last few days.

1/32 slot car Jaguar C-type c.1953 Le Mans winner. Driven by Duncan Hamilton and Tony Rolt. Resin bodyshell and PCS32 chassis.

Estimated : € 8.000 - 12.000

Sold for € 43.344

The Renault Icons

Auction - Artcurial

Renault Manufacture

Flins-sur-Seine

Aubergenville - France

December 2025

- Display car

- Genuine Formula Renault 3.5 single-seater

- A springboard to Formula 1

- Impressive performance, Dallara chassis

- No reserve

Created in 2005, the Formula Renault 3.5 followed the Formula Renault V6 Eurocup and became the top World Series formula. This single-make series featured single-seaters close to Formula 1 in terms of their aerodynamics and the driving techniques required, and many talented drivers passed through its ranks on their way to success in F1, including Robert Kubica, Carlos Sainz Jr, Kevin Magnussen and Heikki Kovalainen. Renault Sport ran 11 seasons of the series before withdrawing in 2015.

The cars were powered by a 3.4-litre Zytek-Renault V8 developing 530bhp, mated to a six-speed gearbox. The regulations for the series allowed teams to limit the cost of taking part, with a quota of tyres each season, for example.

The car from the collection has its original Dallara T08 chassis no. 033 with its bodyshell, and appears to have been used in period, although its history is not known. It is in good condition and comes with a gearbox housing, but is missing its engine and pedal set. It is an interesting survivor of this 3.5 Series, which could be displayed as it is or serve as the basis for a restoration enabling it to be driven again on track.

1/32 resin slot car Alfa Romeo Giulia Super Ti Cloverleaf in Alitalia ETCC livery. Modified & lowered PSR ( www.pendleslotracing.co.uk/ ) resin body with PCS32 chassis.

1/32 resin slot car Porsche 356 Speedster. Winner of the 1957 Liege-Rome-Liege rally. Driven by Claude Storez & Robert Buchet. Resin bodyshell and PCS32 chassis.

1/32 resin bodyshell is from PSR ( www.pendleslotracing.co.uk/ ) and starts out as a Hindustan Ambassador kit. Photo shows initial bodyshell with resin headlights removed.

At Doncaster (the spare bodyshell at wabtec works yard)

25057 on the daily scrap train. The loco is shortly to be dismantled to donate its heavily detailed chassis to a later bodyshell which is on the workbench having replacement cabs

This Stingray was built for this years Bordeaux Vintage slot meeting. The theme was 1966 +67 Le Mans. This was my build using a Revell bodyshell which I modified like the real car.

James Bond Lotus Esprit Car/Submarine was based on an SI Bodyshell and nicknamed "Wet Nellie".It was used in the 1977 film "The Spy Who Loved Me"

1967 MGB GT (restored with a roadster bodyshell).

10 previous keepers. Fitted with a 1950cc engine. H&H classic car auction, Buxton -

"Chassis Number: 121196

Engine Number: 18V347H078510

Finished in Primrose Yellow with black leather upholstery (piped in yellow), this particular example is described by the vendor as being in "good" condition with regard to its engine, four-speed manual plus overdrive gearbox, electrical equipment, interior trim, chassis and wheels / tyres (while, he considers the bodywork and paintwork to be "excellent"). Beginning life as a GT, 'SAN 661F' is said to have been refurbished using "a brand new Roadster bodyshell in 1994". Riding on wire wheels, this smart MG B is offered for sale with assorted receipts (including one for the bodyshell) and MOT certificate valid until June 14th 2008."

Unsold.

East Yorkshire AEC Bridgemaster 9725 AT was built with an unusual shaped upper deck bodyshell in order to pass through the arch of Beverley North Bar.

1/32 slot car resin Ferrari Dino 246GT c.1972. PSR resin bodyshell and GOM chassis with Slot It wheels and inserts.

Sold For £12,320

From H & H Catalogue:

Reg Number: NSU 368

Chassis Number:HAN9-71982

Engine Number: 16205

Cc:1275

Body Colour: Green

Trim Colour:Black

MOT ExpiryDate:Jan 2014

Archer's Garage of Oldbury are renowned for their Sprinzel Sebring Sprite Evocations and were commissioned by the late Michael Sutton Esq. to do much of the preparation work on `NSU 368' including modifying a new Heritage bodyshell to accept authentic-looking GRP bonnet, fastback roof and rear shroud assemblies plus aluminium-skinned doors. Intended for `fast road' use, the Austin-Healey had its 1310cc A-Series engine and four-speed close-ratio gearbox overhauled / uprated by Peter May Engineering Ltd. Sporting a Safety Devices rollover bar, Radtec alloy radiator, bucket seats and upgraded front discs, the two-seater passed its most recent MOT test (January 2013) with no advisories. The four years (2001-2005) and circa £22,700 that Mr Sutton spent on the project are chronicled in two accompanying files.

1/32 slot car Porsche 917 c.1969. Driven to 1st place in the Kyalami 9hr race by David Piper and Dickie Attwood. Resin bodyshell & chassis.

GERMANY: The first two TW3000 high-floor light rail vehicles entered passenger service on Route 7 in Hannover on March 15th 2015.

The two-section bidirectional air-conditioned articulated vehicles are 25 m long and 2 650 mm wide. They will replace the TW6000 cars, which are 30 years old. They will initially operate on Route 7 and then on Route 3. These are cross city stadtbahn (tram) routes with a tunnelled section with stations in the city centre.

City transport operator Üstra placed an initial order for 50 LRVs from a consortium led by Vossloh Kiepe and including Alstom Transport in 2011. Around half of the €126m cost was funded from Land transport agency LNVG.

The contract includes an option for 96 LRVs, and Üstra ordered a further 50 in 2013 for €90m.

Vossloh Kiepe provided electrical equipment and Alstom has supplied specially designed compact bogies. The bodyshells were built in Salzgitter by Bozankaya, with other components coming from Düsseldorf. Final assembly was undertaken by HeiterBlick in Leipzig.

The first TW3000 LRV was presented to the public in March 2014.The LRVs entered service on Line 7 beginning with the 16.00 journey from Misburg to Wettbergen.

The LRVs were due to enter service on Line 7 last year. However, defective welds were discovered on the first batch of 20 vehicles, which required repair, although endoscopic examination by TÜV Nord revealed that the last two vehicles did not require any work after all.

The new vehicle will shape the region over the next decades. The 25 meter long light rail vehicles are characterized by its modern vehicle concept and high level of passenger comfort. They meet current higher safety requirements

Seats: up to 54

Standing: up to 121

Doors: 4 per car

Vehicle length: 25.16 m

Vehicle width: 2.65 m

Vehicle height: 3.75 m

Weight: 44 tons

Drive: 4 x 125 kW

Maximum speed: 80 km / h

The acquisition of new vehicles was facilitated by a 50% percent funding contribution by the national transport funding authority, the Niedersachsen mbH (LNVG).

This belongs to one of my best friends who now lives in in Jordan (he`s a motoring journalist for a mens magazine there).

Its a UR Quattro Turbo that, with a large hybrid turbo & a variety of other mods, puts out around 250bhp at the wheels, well it did until someone came out of a side road without stopping & crashed into the side of him, twisting the entire bodyshell & breaking the gearbox casing....

Unfortunately its only one of 2 UR`s in Jordan so it may not ever get repaired. Import taxes on cars are huge in Jordan (based on the equivalent cars new price, not current value), so he cant just buy a spares car in from another country.

If you have a half decent UR Quattro shell, please let me know!

The next picture is of it shortly before the accident.

What have I let myself in for I hear you ask...?

Well, I've been asked to scratch build a HO scale Portuguese Alstom diesel of the 1931 class as no kit or ready to run models are available.

Well, here's the first completed part - A side, No.2 end bodyside grille. This has taken 3 hours of swearing, sweat and tears to get this far. A mirror image grille is required for the B side of the locomotive.

The angled shape of the cabs is easy enough, a new Roco CC72000 bodyshell acquired off Ebay will provide the cabs and basic bodyshell - albeit the length shortened. A Atlas SD24 will provide the running gear.

More updates as and when I get time...

Has to be completed by 17th April so it can be delivered to the Lisboa paintshop for completion in time for exhibition at the Bachmann model railway show at Butterley in August.

Registration YAE205V

Make OPEL

Model KADETT

Description CITY SPECIAL

Fuel Type Petrol

CO2 (g/km) Not Available

VRT % Rate

At the end of May 1975 the "Kadett City" was added to the Opel Kadett range. This was a three door hatchback intended to compete on price (though not on space efficiency) with the Ford Fiesta, launched in Germany in the same month. The concept had first originated on the Kadett C's Vauxhall sister car the Chevette which was launched first. The unique panelwork for the Kadett City was in fact produced at Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant and exported to Bochum for assembly into finished bodyshells. The Kadett City sat on the same wheelbase as the other Kadett Cs, but the rear overhang was shortened. The fuel tank was positioned under the floor of the luggage compartment at the back, as on the Caravan bodied cars, but the fuel tank on the "Kadett City" had a capacity of only 37 litres as against 43 litres for the slightly longer "Kadett Caravan". Both models featured rear seats that could be folded forward to give a long and relatively unimpeded load area. 263,090 "Kadett City" bodied cars were produced, representing more than 15% of the Kadett Cs produced by Opel Germany.

D1705 built as a Class 47 with a difference. A 47 bodyshell and a Sulzer 12LVA24-type engine, resulted in a Class 48 classification. Refitted with a standard engine in 1969, this turned her the loco into a 47.

Sparrowhawk is seen here on the GCR

Network Rail Class 950 forming the 2Z08 Derby RTC - Euston Test Train, passing through Knuston Spinney, Irchester, Northants.

The British Rail Class 950 is a diesel multiple unit that was purpose-built for departmental use as a track assessment unit. It was built in 1987 using the same bodyshell as the Class 150/1 "Sprinter" units that were built from 1985-1986.

It was originally classified as a Class 180 test unit, but since this designation is now used by the new First Great Western "Adelante" units, it has been reclassified into the departmental series.

The unit is formed of two driving motor vehicles.

This Stingray was built for this years Bordeaux Vintage slot meeting. The theme was 1966 +67 Le Mans. This was my build using a Revell bodyshell which I modified like the real car.

One of the great "could have beens" of the motoring world.

The smooth looks and Wankel rotary engine should have been been a winner, but NSU's inability to solve the rotor tip wear problems was their downfall.

Many surviving examples have Ford V4 or V6 engines transplanted in, and ones with a rotary engine are real collectors items.

NSU ended up being bought up by Volkswagen, and apart from the short lived conventional engined VW K70 based on the same bodyshell it was quickly absorbed.

Oddly Kent registered TKM523N is only on the DVLA system, listed as blue NSU 1999cc last taxed on 1 August 1982, with the most recent V5C issued on 19 March 2013.

Restoration project, anyobody?....you've got a great 2.5 litre Air Cooled V8

1/32 resn slot car Ford Cortina mk3 2.5 litre V6 in BTCC Motorcraft livery c.1975. Modified PSR resin bodyshell with PCS32 chassis & resin inserts.

Rochdale cars were a series of mainly glass fibre bodied British sports car made by Rochdale Motor Panels and Engineering in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England between 1948 and 1973. The company is best remembered for the Olympic coupé made between 1959 and 1973.

The Rochdale company was founded in 1948 by Frank Butterworth and Harry Smith in an old mill building in Hudson Street, Rochdale. They performed general motor repairs and made themselves some alloy bodies, usually single-seaters, for racing Austin 7s and other cars. They went on to sell the bodies as the Mk II.

In 1954 Rochdale launched the Mark IV, using a glass fibre, two-door, two-seater body that was supplied as a bare shell. It was offered with several wheelbases, ranging from 81 inches, primarily intended for the Austin 7 chassis, up to 108 inches. In addition to a suitable chassis, the purchaser/builder had to provide all the interior fittings and the brackets to locate the mechanical components. The body cost £47 10 shillings (£47.50) and was available until 1961. About 150 were made

The breakthrough came in 1959 with the monocoque Olympic designed by Richard Parker and only the third glass fibre monocoque bodied car to enter production (after the Berkeley and Lotus Elite). This featured a closed coupé style bodyshell with the provision for 2+2 seating but the rear seats were very cramped and many builders left them out. Unlike many sports and low production cars of the time, wind down windows were installed.

Production started in 1960 using a Riley, twin-carburettor version, of the 1.5 litre BMC B-series engine, independent front suspension by torsion bar modified from that of the Morris Minor and live rear axle suspended by coil springs

Wikipedia link below

1/32 resin slot car Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce Spider c.1960 race car. Resin bodyshell, MRRC Sebring chassis, ali rims and slimline motor.

This track assessment unit was built in 1987 using the same bodyshell as the Class 150/1 "Sprinter" units that were built from 1985-1986. It was originally classified as a Class 180 test unit, but it has been reclassified into the departmental series.

It is based in Derby and is operating as 262A 08.18 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Laira T.& R.S.M.D , passing through Yatton at 12.26.

Back in the mid 1980s I built a Domino Pimlico, 1275cc Austin Mini based kit-car for my then girlfriend. After we split up I sold the car to a lovely girl from Fulbourn, Cambridge who ran it for some time.

The reg number was DOE401C and it had a grey soft top.

I found a colour negative dating back to the time of build and scanned it.

It was a magnificent car to drive in the summer months with a serious turn of speed. I quite regretted selling it.

I believe it is no longer on the road, but if anyone recognises the number plate or the description please let me know.

This pic is the bodyshell being fitted out in the tiny garage I had in my old house near Nottingham.

As you will see from the next two pics, I now have another Pimlico to restore in my old age!

Brush's Hudswell Clarke 0-4-0DH works shunter D1341 (11079) "Sprite" shunts 92044 "Couperin" into position to be hooked up to the tow loco.

The demic shell of withdrawn Class 73, 73134 "Woking Homes 1885-1995" can be seen in the background.

A series of photographs documenting the release of GB Railfreight's Class 92, 92 044 "Couperin" from the Wabtec Brush works at Loughborough. 044 had spent exactly 14 months there for overhaul, reliability mods and new wheelsets. The assisting locomotive was a fellow Brush Traction machine, Class 60, 60 002 "Graham Farish 50th Anniversary 1970-2020".

The 60 had also been out of traffic for more than a year after a turbo fire. The Covid-19 pandemic had delayed repairs and then some additional mods were done as well as its immaculate repaint - the first GBRf loco repainted at DB Cargo's Toton depot.

This was the 60's first working for GBRf after its long spell in Toton and also its first run on the main line sporting its recently received new name commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Graham Farish.

This was also the first time two of GB Railfreight's Brush "cousins" - the Class 60 and Class 92 - had been together. The locos share a common bodyshell design, built by Procor in Wakefield, and have other similar components.

Potentially most historically of all, though - with the subsequent announcement the Brush Traction works are due to close by the end of the year - there's a good chance this was the last time a Class 60 will visit the place where the 100-strong class were built in 1989-1993.

GB's sole active grey 92 had lost its tunnel rings and Crewe Electric depot plaques whilst in Brush, but there are rumours of a new livery to come in due course. However, that won't be before it gets back to earning some coin for its owners (and DB!) with a brief visit to Crewe for a test run, before heading to Dollands Moor to resume tunnel duties.

60 002 ran from Toton as 0Z60 08:45 Toton TMD to Loughborough Brush, then moved 92 044 to Crewe ETD on 0Z61 09:58 Loughborough Brush to Crewe ETD, before the 60 then ran on solo to resume biomass duties on 0Z62 13:09 Crewe ETD to Tuebrook Sidings.