Walking by Eugene’s The Sports Car Shop always increases the odds of something interesting in the back lot, but this line-up was decidedly better than average. Two Germans, Two Brits, and an Italian, an “illegal alien” at that. But wait, there’s someone hiding behind the Jag.
A third Brit: a TR7 roadster, no less. That does make for a pretty eclectic bunch, especially that yellow Alfa Spider, a car that was never imported to the US. I’ve seen it running around town and had been hoping to catch it. Let’s check out its immigration papers.
Needless to say, this FWD and rather plump Spider was quite the contrast to the classic Spider built from 1966-1993; almost three decades. David Saunders caught one of these in Canada, where the 15 year exemption makes it easy enough to import there. But we have a 25 year exemption, and these started production in MY 1995, so…it joins the number of other cars I’ve seen here that also seem to have snuck through that hurdle. Maybe Oregon is a “safe haven” for the undocumented.
It’s quite the contrast to the classic MGB next to it. The Spider was designed Enrico Fumia at Pininfarina, along with its fixed-top sibling, the GTV. It was a fairly successful effort to break out of the classic sports car mold, and despite initial reserve from some quarters, it won some design awards and came to be widely accepted and appreciated.
Love that lineup, and they’re all in presentable shape, too.
Love that yellow Alfa Spyder, never seen one in person, only when I play the Gran Turismo series on Playstation. Lol
What does the Sports Car Shop do? Restorations? Or auto sales? Sounds like an interesting place for any car lover.
Sales of vintage collector cars, service and restoration. I’ve done a number of posts from their showroom and back lot.
Looks like it needs glasses.
I keep seeing a brown TR7 convertible for sale on a crappy BHPH lot on Reading Rd in Cincinnati…looks really out of place there. My wife would shoot me if I brought it home, but it does tempt me. That yellow Alfa is no beauty, I wonder if a different color would help.
I actually really like the Alfa, and especially in that yellow. When I first saw photos (first in magazines in the mid 90’s, then online and in Gran Turismo) I wasn’t a big fan, but I’ve come to appreciate it. It has a handful of awkward angles but, for the most part, it really works and the grille shield gives a heritage link without going full retro. I do wonder how they snuck it under the 25 year rule though?
Actually, I like every car in that row now that I think about it. Super clean Rabbit pickup, my favorite generation of A6, the Jag is a modern classic, and while the TR7 may not have been Triumph’s finest moment, they look great with the top down.
Also, in the last photo, there appears to be a London Black Cab in the periphery…
Now thats a motley crue for sure. I like it! The VW and MGB are my picks.
Nothing unusual there except that blue ute, the others are every day fare here abouts I saw one of those Alfas yesterday must be CC effect.
A very nice little collection, I don’t think there’s a horrible one in the bunch. I think as far as the droptops go, I’d take the Alfa, then the MG, then the TR, as far as the others probably the Audi (of course), then the Jaguar, then the VW but not for any particular reason, they all seem interesting in their own way…
When these Alfas premiered 20 years ago, I didn’t much like their looks, but now I find them attractive. That shade of yellow works well on it. Honestly, I like everything in those photos. There’s a car for every purpose there!
That very ? MGB’s taillights look ’70s, but the car looks ’60s with its original ride height & chrome grille. Its bootlid looks slightly askew.
The VW Rabbit Pickup was originally a Westmoreland product.
The MGB appears to be a 1973 to me, since it has the honeycomb grille and the small bumper overriders as opposed to the larger rubber “Sabrina” overriders used on the 1974 models. MGBs had chrome bumpers and the original ride height until the rubber bumper 1974 1/2 model.
The small dent in the decklid is common on these cars, and is caused by trying to close the trunk (or boot) with the prop rod in place. The prop rod is on the left side of the decklid, right underneath the dent visible in this photo.
This lineup makes me think of an old New Yorker Cartoon with a Boarder Guard staring down two tourists.
“WHY are your papers in order?”
Priceless!
Given the uncertain status of the Alfa, personally i would have blurred the plates.
Realistically, I don’t think Homeland Security is reading CC. But I’ve taken your suggestion and done it. Of course, how many Alfa Spiders like this are out there? If someone really wanted to track it down, it wouldn’t be hard.
The sticker on the Alfa says Hungary.
CC effect – saw a TR7 convertible last week, and a Fairway taxi in my rearview mirror this morning – someone in the next street has one still in taxi service, so I guess that doesn’t count.
CC effect here as well — saw a TR8 convertible with temporary plates at the gym this evening. My wife said the new owner is in for a surprise!
On another note, my former ’79 Westmoreland Rabbit had the same baby blue color as the pictured truck.