Spotted Xantias! (and other French stuff)

[andy5]

Well your reg has a 2172cc motor according to the DVLA which makes it a Talbot Sunbeam Lotus

Someone I knew about 20 years ago bought a rally spec one of those with roll cage etc

Took it for a try out down the road from his workshop, slid off at the first or second corner, had to mend some panels and front suspension

Did this before he actually insured it, so not quite the bargain he originally thought

[van ordinaire]

Someone round the corner had a very nice one, Minilites, 4 Oscars the whole bit - only a few doors along from the Xantia that gave way to a Skoda (badged VW).

Now a quick recap on sightings on the Western Isles, a few Clios, Saxos & 106's, 2 each of bustleback Meganes & 406's (one spotted twice within 10 mins around Uig - that's where the Lewis chessman were found - so may be the remotest Pug in the UK). In the front of a house on Benbecula was a 205, a Ferguson (yes, we've been importing them from France for a long time now) & an ex-(French?) army, soft top Peugeot G-Wagen; difficult to tell which, if any, were still in use. Oh, & there was the C15 I've mentioned elsewhere, sadly put out to grass - quite literally - & therefore, I fear, quietly rotting away.

Don't usually mention cars at shows/rallies but will make an exception for these 3 at Citro-Retro:- a 1923 Citroën (C2???) - that had only done 10,000-odd km, supposedly the oldest, original Citroën, which seems entirëly feasible, an R8 Major (wa'dat?) & a quite stunning Simca 1501 estate, just awaiting door cards to complete restoration, complete with varnished wood strips between the roof rails - were they an original feature?

So, up to date, yesterday afternoon westbound on the A303 on the Devon side of the Blackdown Hills - another white C15 (just recovered from my surprise for a last minute wave - but not to see if it was acknowledged) & much further East, a grey, pedestal spoiler bedecked 405, looked original but don't know my Pugs well enough to say whether it was anything special.

[Zelandeth]

Not so much a spot as I was driving it...and I forgot to snap a photo which I'm now kicking myself for...but crossed paths with an AX today for the first time since I was at the garage. One of the last carbed cars being a 1992 in 11TZX trim.

I'd really forgotten what a sweet little car a good AX is to drive. Feel the Xantia would really benefit from the slight backward crank on the gearknob, and the indicator/wiper stalks in the AX feel *far* better quality than the really low rent feeling ones in the Xantia. Bit of a shame as that's a control you need to make quite regular use of...

I'd love to drive one back to back with a 205 and a Saxo/106 to compare them now.

Definitely one of those cars which makes great use of every one of the 1100cc capacity of the engine...Granted it was only an hour or so of driving I did today, but it covered country lanes, main A roads and dual carriageways...Not once did I find myself wishing for more power.

Had forgotten those lovely soft seats too...VW could learn something from those...

[dave_xsara]

Would you spend £3k on a 2003 auto 110 HDi Xsara?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified ... dal=photos

[GiveMeABreak]

It's very clean.... but no!

You'd have to be a die-hard Xsara fan and have a few shekels spare - but could be just the vehicle for a long-term keepsie.

[van ordinaire]

More than a little surprised this afternoon to see a white Xantia estate come up the road into Newton Abbot from the A38 (although it might just as well have come from Bovey - or further out on the Moor) & turn off as though going to Trago Mills.

[RichardW]

There was a white MK1 CX saloon parked outside the Shepherd & Flock (Google it to see what's unusual!) Earlier today. Sunk down so they must have been in for a while - or it lives there.

[NewcastleFalcon]

There was a white MK1 CX saloon parked outside the Shepherd & Flock (Google it to see what's unusual!) Earlier today. Sunk down so they must have been in for a while - or it lives there.

..and being curious I did reminded me of this totally classic track from the Pickled Egg Jukebox.

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.2196902 ... a=!3m1!1e3

as far as google can find it appears to be the only "Shepherd and Flock" in the entire British Isles similar to our very own Pickled Egg of which there is only one and that is in St Helens.

REgards Neil

[mickthemaverick]

NEIL "similar to our very own Pickled Egg of which there is only one and that is in St Helens."



Sorry to have to contradict you there Neil but there is a jar of them on the counter in our chippy!!

[van ordinaire]

I forgot to mention the sliver 406 estate just ahead of me in the queue for Trago Mills' forecourt in Newton Abbot Sunday week but after that Xantia estate on Saturday any sightings completely eclipsed by the dark blue Traction coming down the Dartmouth Road on Sunday, which just as we drew level, turned into a small (relatively) new build estate; since it's development I can't ever remember seeing anything turn into, or out of there before.

[Zelandeth]

Nearly forgot this one, but one of the event staff where I was last weekend has a really tidy white Pug 207.

Meant to go and get a better photo of it but got sidetracked talking to someone and totally forgot...so you'll have to make do with a cropped photo from miles away through the filthy windscreen of the van.

Slightly better one from 2018 though.

Really annoying when you've walked past a car half a dozen times over a weekend and every time thought "I should grab a photo..." yet after four days still never manage to actually do it.

Sadly the only other French motor I noticed there was a Partner with a flat battery on the Monday morning.

[van ordinaire]

Popped into Newton Abbot Tesco's (which is actually in Kingsteignton - but I know how you all love trivia) & as I was about to cross the entrance road an electric blue Xsara came in.

On the way back, not far from my turn off the Torbay ring road, what should be coming towards me - but that same Traction! Well I assume it was, there can't possibly be 2 blue ones in Torbay - can there? (I mean they're not common classics - like Minors, B's & Stags)

[Michel]

No pics as I was driving at the time, but yesterday I saw both a silver X-reg Xantia hatch AND an 08 plate deep blue C6 parked within 5 spaces of each other in Twyford Waitrose.

[Hell Razor5543]

This is a nice article. Slide 14 brought a grin to my face;

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/in- ... li=BBoPWjQ

[Hell Razor5543]

Spotted nice and early this morning, while heading to Guildford, a REAL Citroen DS (orange with white or cream roof), reg XBL 333e.