Spotted - FBS Census

[domster]

Yes, one of the rarest production cars on the planet, I believe - and it wasn't Joe90's yellow one.

It was in british racing green, seen near John Lewis in High Wycombe on Sunday.

I patted myself on the head for recognising it instantly

[alunr]

I think this was the one my GF saw parked at Haddenham & Thame parkway. Seems to be a strong link between FBS and Haddenham/Thame...

I've seen - Silver, Yellow, Green and a two-tone one.

[domster]

You are beating me on the FBS spotting stakes.

However, having the 'factory connection' of living near Thame will help.

Wonder if they're all owned by locals?

[CarZee]

I patted myself on the head for recognising it instantly

Come now, Domster.. hardly that great an achievement..

A bit like recognising Peter Beardsley, surely.. ?

[nmlowe]

CarZee said:

I patted myself on the head for recognising it instantly

Come now, Domster.. hardly that great an achievement..

A bit like recognising Peter Beardsley, surely.. ?

We used to have a geography teacher that looked like Peter Beardsley at school. We used to call her that behind her back too!

[alunr]

Looking at the website - www.fbscars.co.uk/ they're based in Brackley (not far away)

[nmlowe]

I like the interior, but I'm not sure about the Dutton kitcar style exterior. The front looks ok I suppose, perhaps a hint of Alfa GTV. the rest of the car looks a bit frumpy and ill proportioned.
Has anyone on PH had the opportunity to drive one yet?

[alunr]

www.pistonheads.com/roadtests/index.asp?storyId=3219

[CraigAlsop]

I did - see here
I thought it drove excellently...

[domster]

alunr said: Looking at the website - www.fbscars.co.uk/ they're based in Brackley (not far away)

Joe90 lives in Thame, I think.

Had a pint with him a while back and I was under that impression any way.

I could spot Peter Beardsley, a mile off. But Joe90 was harder - he didn't have strings attached to his limbs like the genuine version

[johno]

Saw the orange one on the M25 just before M40 jct the other week ...

Guy with curly hair and glasses driving it. Sure it was the bloke who was with the car at Mania @ Duxford last year ..

[alunr]

Well joe90 if youre listening I'd love to go out for a pint and talk cars all night.

From another Thame boy

[joe90]

Alun, I’m always happy to talk cars. I’ll swap you a Census drive for an Elise one!
Census recognition guide:
Proto 1: silver, used as a proof of concept car in 2000. Scrapped early 2001.
Proto 2: originally red. After running 10,000 miles in six months, we took it off the road at the end of 2001 but are now rebuilding it in yellow as a non-running display car.
Proto 3: has been dark blue and orange-graphite (as at Duxford). Now silver and in track configuration, I use it for mileage accumulation (29,000 miles in 21 months to date), in particular on my commute, Thame to Brackley.
Prod 1: yellow, lives at Longbridge but not often seen outside the Rover experimental sheds.
Prod 2: red. Lives in Sussex. About 3000 miles.
Prod 3: Aston Martin metallic Olive green. Based Buckinghamshire and used a lot (it is its owner’s only vehicle). Delivered in August and had its 10,000 mile service today.
Prod 4: silver. Also based in Buckinghamshire and used a lot (it is also its owner’s only vehicle). Delivered in December and at around 7000 miles.
Prod 5: red. Based in Bedfordshire. Delivered late March and has done a couple of thousand miles. I think this is the recent sighting of an “Orange” one on the M40 / M25. I was taking it to SVA. This is the first car with a body coloured hard top, see www.fbscars.co.uk/gallery_prod5.htm

[alunr]

joe90 said: Alun, I’m always happy to talk cars. I’ll swap you a Census drive for an Elise one!

Sounds good I'll mail you off line.

So I've seen...

Proto 3, when it was orange-graphite and also now as silver and in track configuration
Prod 3, Parked outside a pub near me over the weekend (and in the past in various places)
Prod 4, silver.
Prod 5, red. Based in Bedfordshire, Whilst driving to see my parents in bedfordshire/Cambs

We're going to have to discuss the comments in your profile though!

joe90's profile says
all of which I liked to some extent except the Elise which was a great disappointment

[RichardR]

Saw one on the M40 last Tuesday or Wednesday morning. Can't remember exact location (somewhere between J4 and J13) or the colour (I can barely remember my own name most of the time).

Still not convinced about the looks having seen it 'in the flesh'. Still, beauty's in the eye of the beholder etc. etc.

[SturdyHSV]

Well, I had no idea what it was, but obviously there's a PH thread about it.

Saw what I assume is Prod 4 in MK at about 17:50 going from Broughton across the H6 towards Willen Lake.

Despite being sat in a Holden Ute, I was gladly upstaged in the rarity stakes