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Wonder if its the first prototype of that awful city car(tata) when they agreed to make it for rover?
rear end side shot looks very similar, and it is tall?
just a thought
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I wasn't trying to fool anyone with a shot of a normalised Metro. I literally took a line that went across the body of the car and then out to the edge of the photo via the cement mixer. The object being to prove just how normal this picture might have been and how easy it would be to rectify the potential anomaly. My personal theory is that it's some sort of in-camera film-slip fluke. Not a deliberate attempt to fool anyone just a weird picture of a normal scene. The person we need to ask is the photographer - did he see a crazy Metro and take a photograph...or did he take a picture of a normal Metro and end up with a crazy photo? If the car is real, then someone's gone to an enormous amount of effort to produce something with little purpose...or at least a purpose that could have been fulfilled with much less effort involved. I still agree with this I know what you mean but if it was just a normal white Metro, of which there must have been thousands and thousands at the time, why would you go to the trouble of taking a picture of it from a moving car? However, whilst the weird trick of the lens theory makes no sense, chopping the thing in half lengthways and insert a foot of extra metal makes no sense either. |
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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The curious tall MetroBenzBoy
@benzboy
Club Retro Rides Member 7
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I know what you mean but if it was just a normal white Metro, of which there must have been thousands and thousands at the time, why would you go to the trouble of taking a picture of it from a moving car? However, whilst the weird trick of the lens theory makes no sense, chopping the thing in half lengthways and insert a foot of extra metal makes no sense either. In the Facebook link that OP provided, the photographer accompanies the photo with this: "I took this photo in 1986/7 never seen one like it since" So he took the picture hastily out the back window of his car because it was an unusual looking Metro. Either that or he's Photoshopped the pic in order to confuse some blokes on an internet forum, but seeing as retrocarsdan seems to know the guy and said that he wasn't the type to do that, I'd think it's the former. Unless retrocarsdan is in on the ruse and it's all a big conspiracy to make us think there are weird tall Metros out there, roaming the streets!  My money's on a home-built disabled car conversion, or a very small-scale manufacturer. Metros seem to be a favourite amongst eccentric car builders (anyone remember the The Bullit?!) Surely if it was a test mule, manufacturers would normally select a car that is of similar proportions to the new vehicle to disguise it, so as to blend in with traffic and not raise suspicions that they're testing new tech. |
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Last Edit: Nov 7, 2015 22:52:18 GMT by BenzBoy
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In the Facebook link that OP provided, the photographer accompanies the photo with this: "I took this photo in 1986/7 never seen one like it since" So he took the picture hastily out the back window of his car because it was an unusual looking Metro. Either that or he's Photoshopped the pic in order to confuse some blokes on an internet forum, but seeing as retrocarsdan seems to know the guy and said that he wasn't the type to do that, I'd think it's the former. Unless retrocarsdan is in on the ruse and it's all a big conspiracy to make us think there are weird tall Metros out there, roaming the streets! The 'full' story - or at least as full as I can provide - is that I saw a link to the original picture on a friend's FB page. The friend is a time served journalist on Classic Car titles, and the original poster of the Metro picture is a contact he's made through the course of his work. I don't know the guy who took the picture. I did do a bit of snooping to see what kind of bloke he is - and it's pretty clear that he's 100% not a Photoshop-guru. He appears to be a car enthusiast with an unhealthy obsession with hearses, but there's absolutely nothing to suggest that he's trying to fool anyone with the picture. Believe me, I'd be the first to cry foul if I thought the image was doctored in any way - I'm incredibly cynical, and certainly wouldn't have posted this on here if I thought it wasn't 100% genuine. PandaSelecta alluded to the fact that he'd 'seen' a similar car - and I'm wondering if he can add any more to the discussion, as it's the nearest we've got to a 'lead'... |
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retrolegends
Club Retro Rides Member
Winging it.....Since 1971.
Posts: 3,726
Club RR Member Number: 94
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The curious tall Metroretrolegends
@retrolegends
Club Retro Rides Member 94
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I like the BenzBoy conspiracy theory of scary tall Metros roaming the streets, maybe some early '80s BL experiment that went horribly wrong! I am a little scared to leave the house now though.    |
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1974 Hillman Avenger 1500DL1992 Volvo 240SE1975 Datsun Cherry 100a flying custard1965 Hillman SuperMinx Rock N Roller1974 Austin Allegrat Mk1 1.3SDL1980 Austin Allegro Mk3 1.3L1982 Austin Allegro Mk3 on banded steels2003 Saab 9-3 Convertible 220bhp TurboNutter1966 Morris Minor 1000 (Doris) 2019 Abarth 595C Turismo (not retro but awesome fun) www.facebook.com/DatsunCherry100a |
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In the Facebook link that OP provided, the photographer accompanies the photo with this: "I took this photo in 1986/7 never seen one like it since" So he took the picture hastily out the back window of his car because it was an unusual looking Metro. Either that or he's Photoshopped the pic in order to confuse some blokes on an internet forum, but seeing as retrocarsdan seems to know the guy and said that he wasn't the type to do that, I'd think it's the former. Unless retrocarsdan is in on the ruse and it's all a big conspiracy to make us think there are weird tall Metros out there, roaming the streets! The 'full' story - or at least as full as I can provide - is that I saw a link to the original picture on a friend's FB page. The friend is a time served journalist on Classic Car titles, and the original poster of the Metro picture is a contact he's made through the course of his work. I don't know the guy who took the picture. I did do a bit of snooping to see what kind of bloke he is - and it's pretty clear that he's 100% not a Photoshop-guru. He appears to be a car enthusiast with an unhealthy obsession with hearses, but there's absolutely nothing to suggest that he's trying to fool anyone with the picture. Believe me, I'd be the first to cry foul if I thought the image was doctored in any way - I'm incredibly cynical, and certainly wouldn't have posted this on here if I thought it wasn't 100% genuine. PandaSelecta alluded to the fact that he'd 'seen' a similar car - and I'm wondering if he can add any more to the discussion, as it's the nearest we've got to a 'lead'... It was while ago, but it does look like the disability car I saw. I only came across it by chance as I was looking at the high top Minis for added headroom (I'm 6ft5in tall), and also because nobody seemed to want them. I suspect the tall Metro was most likely to have been on a thread about "weird" vehicles on some forum where they like to laugh at other peoples cars, so pistonheads maybe? |
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1939 Francis Barnett Powerbike
1971 Honda C90
1992 Mitsubishi Lancer 1.5 GLX
1993 Fiat Panda Selecta
2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van
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Anyone on a Metro forum where they might have a better idea about what it is ?
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My thoughts right from the start were definitely AC. Does look like it says AC in the correct font for the badge. Definitely not an MG badge and nothing on it that looks anything like an MG spec of Metro.
It is 100% genuine though. I still have no idea what it is or why, but there are too many things on it that just wouldn't be there on a "normal" Metro.
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 Specialist Bodyshop & Fabrication Classic, Retro, Prestige & Custom Small Repairs to Concours Restorations Mechanical Work Vintage to Modern |
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MK2VR6
Posted a lot
Mk2 Golf GTi 90 Spec
Posts: 3,329
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Nov 18, 2015 20:36:46 GMT
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Any updates or further leads on this?
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Nov 30, 2015 10:09:19 GMT
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Can't find anything, but I'm intrigued too! And the more I look, the more I'm convinced that's an AC badge on the grille!
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Specialist Bodyshop & Fabrication Classic, Retro, Prestige & Custom Small Repairs to Concours Restorations Mechanical Work Vintage to Modern |
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sonus
Europe
Posts: 1,392
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Nov 30, 2015 11:13:05 GMT
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Could it possibly be a continuation of ACs invacar that didn't come to production?
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Current
1968 TVR VIXEN S1 V8 Prototype
2004 TVR T350C
2017 BMW 340i
Previous
BMW 325d E91LCI - sold
Alfa Romeo GTV - sold
Citroen AX GT - at the breakers
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MG ZT 1.8T - sold
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Land Rover Discovery TD5 - sold
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SOLVED!!!
No, not really, I've still not got a clue... Sorry.
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I asked the designer, he said it's a 'chop.
Though that's not to say someone could;t have lashed it up outside of BL. Though god knows why.
Chris
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I asked the designer, he said it's a 'chop. Though that's not to say someone could;t have lashed it up outside of BL. Though god knows why. Chris Well looks identical to that disability car I saw. Wish I could find the details for it. |
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1939 Francis Barnett Powerbike
1971 Honda C90
1992 Mitsubishi Lancer 1.5 GLX
1993 Fiat Panda Selecta
2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van
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I don't think there's any chance that could be a photoshop job.
Also, it doesn't explain the unknown badge on the grille, which definitely isn't a badge that would be on any "normal" Metro.
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Specialist Bodyshop & Fabrication Classic, Retro, Prestige & Custom Small Repairs to Concours Restorations Mechanical Work Vintage to Modern |
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VIP
South East
Posts: 8,299
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I asked the designer, he said it's a 'chop. Though that's not to say someone could;t have lashed it up outside of BL. Though god knows why. Chris I don't believe for a second it's a photoshop, rmad's 'unchopped' version simply looks all wrong and awkward perspective-wise. The angles of the roof and bonnet line are representative of where they would be at that height compared to the camera. Brought back down to 'stock height' they simply don't fit in with the surrounding objects. |
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I asked the designer, he said it's a 'chop. Though that's not to say someone could;t have lashed it up outside of BL. Though god knows why. Chris I don't believe for a second it's a photoshop, rmad's 'unchopped' version simply looks all wrong and awkward perspective-wise. The angles of the roof and bonnet line are representative of where they would be at that height compared to the camera. Brought back down to 'stock height' they simply don't fit in with the surrounding objects. Cool your jets, tiger. All I'm saying is that one of the men who penned the Metro is saying it's nothing that was done in an official capacity. He said "it's photoshop" not me. Chris |
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There would be plenty of info on it online if it had been an "in-house" thing at BL/Austin Rover. Would be on AROnline etc for sure.
The badge on the grille would hold the answer as to "whodunnit", but it's far too blurred to indentify it for certain, but it certainly looks similar to an AC badge.
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Specialist Bodyshop & Fabrication Classic, Retro, Prestige & Custom Small Repairs to Concours Restorations Mechanical Work Vintage to Modern |
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Specialist Bodyshop & Fabrication Classic, Retro, Prestige & Custom Small Repairs to Concours Restorations Mechanical Work Vintage to Modern |
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Also, the guy who took the photo says he was sat in back of his parents car as a kid, whilst they were driving along when he saw an odd-looking Metro and took a quick photo as he'd not seen anything like it before.
In the photo you can see the reflection of the glass of the rear screen and you can even see the edge of the parcel shelf just in the foreground. It's highly unlikely that anyone would take a photo from the back seat of a car of any car that you'd see 100's of every day at that time.
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Specialist Bodyshop & Fabrication Classic, Retro, Prestige & Custom Small Repairs to Concours Restorations Mechanical Work Vintage to Modern |
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