Have you ever seen a prototype on the roads?
Discussion
Just wondered if anyone here had seen a prototype car on the roads?
Way back in the early 90s I saw a Rover 800 in Bristol, with what looked like a Lancia grille. This was a prototype for the facelifted 800 which introduced the saloon with the higher bootlid. On my way back from Brum airport I saw a Rover 800 coupe about 18months before they were out. I also saw a Rover 200 coupe (Tomcat?) around Bath, a number of Rover 200 (25 shape) in Bristol (the 3dr didnt half look like a mk2 Astra when disguised), something that I assume was a Honda or a Rover 600 in Chippenham that was heavily disguised. I also used to see on a very frequent basis the Range Rover that was introduced in about 1994 in Bristol, inc a sand coloured one with an orange light and Highway Maintenance signs on it. I never did carry a camera around tho......... Oh and a Maestro van with BIG wheels (apparently that was a Freelander underneath)
In the more recent past i've seen a Hyundai Santa Fe on the M42, followed by the big Hyundai saloon both all taped up. I saw a Jag S Type with big arches on the road, presumably a mule for the new XF and on my way from the 'Ring last year saw a Nissan Qashqai coming the other way. The new 4dr Bentley done up as a Merc and also a few weeks ago one of the new LR Defenders with the big bonnet & transit engine. And an XK last year, just before they were launched too.
And then last week coming the other way along the M4 was something white with panther stripe camoflage, i'm assuming it was a new Mondeo as it was that size.
Have I just been very lucky and spotted these?
Way back in the early 90s I saw a Rover 800 in Bristol, with what looked like a Lancia grille. This was a prototype for the facelifted 800 which introduced the saloon with the higher bootlid. On my way back from Brum airport I saw a Rover 800 coupe about 18months before they were out. I also saw a Rover 200 coupe (Tomcat?) around Bath, a number of Rover 200 (25 shape) in Bristol (the 3dr didnt half look like a mk2 Astra when disguised), something that I assume was a Honda or a Rover 600 in Chippenham that was heavily disguised. I also used to see on a very frequent basis the Range Rover that was introduced in about 1994 in Bristol, inc a sand coloured one with an orange light and Highway Maintenance signs on it. I never did carry a camera around tho......... Oh and a Maestro van with BIG wheels (apparently that was a Freelander underneath)
In the more recent past i've seen a Hyundai Santa Fe on the M42, followed by the big Hyundai saloon both all taped up. I saw a Jag S Type with big arches on the road, presumably a mule for the new XF and on my way from the 'Ring last year saw a Nissan Qashqai coming the other way. The new 4dr Bentley done up as a Merc and also a few weeks ago one of the new LR Defenders with the big bonnet & transit engine. And an XK last year, just before they were launched too.
And then last week coming the other way along the M4 was something white with panther stripe camoflage, i'm assuming it was a new Mondeo as it was that size.
Have I just been very lucky and spotted these?
I saw the Freeloader II well before it came out in convoy with another one near Liverpool (they're made in Speke I think).
Shame I didn't have a camera with me, could have got a few quid out of Autocar...
Also saw an AM V8 Volante with no camo on about 5 months before it came out. I was on my way back from Silverstone and had a camera with me so really there was no excuse for no pic.
Shame I didn't have a camera with me, could have got a few quid out of Autocar...
Also saw an AM V8 Volante with no camo on about 5 months before it came out. I was on my way back from Silverstone and had a camera with me so really there was no excuse for no pic.
I tend to see a few due to the fact I work at Nissan R&D 
If you live near a proving ground you will get to see quite a few. Alot will get trailored to and from but general road evaluations have to be done so some get driven with full camo on. It can get interesting when you are driving with camo on with people chasing you trying to take photos to get their 'free subscription' to Auto Express
.
A colleague had some pillock stand in front of him at a T juction fiddling around trying to get his camera out. Said pillock had to take evasive action when the 'black plastic bag' drove at him
If you live near a proving ground you will get to see quite a few. Alot will get trailored to and from but general road evaluations have to be done so some get driven with full camo on. It can get interesting when you are driving with camo on with people chasing you trying to take photos to get their 'free subscription' to Auto Express
. A colleague had some pillock stand in front of him at a T juction fiddling around trying to get his camera out. Said pillock had to take evasive action when the 'black plastic bag' drove at him
Im 99% sure I saw one of these once years ago, it was huge, and covered in tape and patterns, no badges or lettering.
Not sure if it was before or after they were released, and it could have been something completely different. argued with my dad for ages, he first thought it was one of those big merc clk gtr's, or a DTM car, but this is the closest thing I could find at the time. Seem to remember it having a bigger rear window though.
Not sure if it was before or after they were released, and it could have been something completely different. argued with my dad for ages, he first thought it was one of those big merc clk gtr's, or a DTM car, but this is the closest thing I could find at the time. Seem to remember it having a bigger rear window though.
I saw a Jag S-type once years ago, although at the time I didn't know what it was. But being a nipper obsessed with cars from a young age, I knew it was something new and spangly under there so checked Autocar/Express every week until I found it!
Bit disappointed I haven't seen one since really.
Bit disappointed I haven't seen one since really.
I saw the last M3 as a bare metal shell, 2 years before you could see piccies of it anywhere. I noticed 3 things at the time, the flared arches, the side grills & the bonnet bulge. Saw the complete thing, from underneath as well, 18 months before launch. This was 'cos I worked at the BMW factory in Regensberg where the 3-Series was made. Also saw the car being road tested in the area 6 months before launch.
Funnily enough this came up as I was chatting to someone @ MB World today... euro trips etc. Point is, went to Maranello in 2003 and whilst driving into the town near the (pretty prominent) rear gates of the Ferrari factory a rather strange looking car emerged. Basically looked like a 575M which had an extra foot of bodywork between the front wheels and the A pillar, was silver with black shrouding round the bodywork from behind the front wheels to the A pillar. Looking at the time I saw it, and Ferrari's subsequent car launches I can only surmise it was a 612 drivetrain prototype...... I thought it was cool anyway!
Have seen one or two slightly odd looking Fords & Jags, but nothing I can identify as likely prototypes: I live quite close to Ford's Dunton engineering works so I guess its not that surprising to see engine test beds out and about but they dont look particularly unusual.....
Have seen one or two slightly odd looking Fords & Jags, but nothing I can identify as likely prototypes: I live quite close to Ford's Dunton engineering works so I guess its not that surprising to see engine test beds out and about but they dont look particularly unusual.....
I have seen only a few "simple" prototype-cars in my life long time ago...
And now I drive a car that started out as a prototype the only Hartge Z3 coupe 5.0 in the world owned by Herbert Hartge himself...
I remembering seeing the first pictures of that in magazines and "dreaming" away that that car is awesome to own...many moons later I've got it in a perfect condition
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=355481&f=181&h=0
GTRene
And now I drive a car that started out as a prototype
the only Hartge Z3 coupe 5.0 in the world owned by Herbert Hartge himself... I remembering seeing the first pictures of that in magazines and "dreaming" away that that car is awesome to own...many moons later I've got it in a perfect condition
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=355481&f=181&h=0
GTRene
Edited by GTRene on Sunday 25th February 22:20
Catherinej said:
Land Rover and Jaguar seam to do an awful lot of testing around Wiltshire.
The seam to a circuit involving coming off the M4 at Chippenham, down to the A303 via Warminster, up the 303 to join the M5 and then back up to the Midlands.
The seam to a circuit involving coming off the M4 at Chippenham, down to the A303 via Warminster, up the 303 to join the M5 and then back up to the Midlands.
And round the North West, I saw a few x type's before they were released and a new freelander recently with loads of black plastic wrapped around it, can't remember where I actually saw it though!
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