Car Spotting in England

I remembered from my 1998 trip to Europe that many of the world's coolest cars could be found in London. I was not to be disappointed on this latest trip. As soon as we arrived in London, within minutes of arriving in our neighbourhood, I began spotting rare and exciting cars, just parked on the street or in outdoor parking lots. I love spotting a car I have never before seen in person, lile the Aston Martin DB7 Zagato shown below. I realized that real estate is so expensive in London that it is not uncommon to see new supercars simply parked on the street, because people don't necessarily own parking spots (or maybe the parking spots they own contain other even more exotic cars?).

Clearly England is a country obsessed by cars, and the variety that can be seen on the road, not just in and around London or the Goodwood Festival, is astounding. Here are some photos and an almost unbelievable list of cars spotted (not including the Goodwood Supercar parking lot!) during our trip.

Aston Martin DB7 Zagato

Lovely Aston Martin DB6

Another London TVR

Probably a replica, but still pretty neat

There were Vantages everywhere

Focus RS

Vantage and Focus ST

TVR in London

Civic Type R

EK Civic Type R

Arab plate on this Aventador

So many Bentley Arnages, I lost count

Ferrari F12, just parked on the street

Same for this Dino 246

This California seemed to be gathering dust

Many cool Renaults in England, including this Clio Williams

Renault Sport Mégane

Renault Sport Clio

Audi RS4 Avant

A pair of Morgan trikes in London

Peugeot RCZ, kind of looks like a Boxster!

Lancer EVO6 Extreme

I spotted several Caterhams thoughout the trip

This one at Goodwood

A rare Lotus 340R

An Elan Sprint in excellent condition

Lotus-derived Vauxhall VX220

A more aggressive-looking VX220

Cool wing

An S1 Exige

Many nice Ferraris in the Goodwood car park, including this 328

A very nice 308

And a 550 or 575 (I can never tell them apart)

AMG C63 Wagon

AMG C63 507 edition

A nice interpretation of the Cobra

I believe this to be an M3 Evo

Rear view shows the bumper has seen some use!

AC Schnitzer-badged 5-series

First time I had seen an Alfa Romeo Junior Z

Broken down on the side of the road. It's not a real C-type, but still nice!

Neat Citroen wagon I could not identify in Bath

BMW i3

Fiat Punto Abarth Esseesse

The most boring Fiat: our rental car!

Cool cars spotted (England):
Noble M600
Noble M12
Lancia Delta Integrale
Lancia Beta Monte Carlo
Alfa Romeo SZ
Alfa Romeo Junior Z
Alfa Romeo 4C
Aston Martin DB6
Aston Martin DB7
Aston Martin DB7 Zagato
Aston Martin DB9
Aston Martin Rapide
Aston Martin Vantage
Aston Cygnet
Jaguar Mk IV
Jaguar XK120
Jaguar C-type replica
Jaguar E-type
MGA
MG Midget
Dino 246
Ferrari 308
Ferrari 328
Ferrari 456
Ferrari 575
Ferrari 612
Ferrari F430
Ferrari 458
Ferrari F12
Jensen Interceptor
McLaren MP4
McLaren 650S
Lamborghini Gallardo
Lamborghini Aventador
Bentley Corniche
Bentley Continental (1990's)
Wiesmann GT
Lotus Elise
Lotus Exige
Lotus 2-Eleven
Lotus 340R
Lotus Elan (1990's)
Lotus Elan Sprint
Lotus Evora
Vauxhall VX220
AMG C63 Black
AMG C63 507
AMG C63 Wagon
AMG SLS
AMG CLS63 Wagon
Porsche 991 GT3
Porsche 996 GT3
Audi S2
Audi ur-Quattro
Audi RS3
Audi RS4 Avant
Audi RS4 (new)
BMW Z8
BMW M3 E30 Evo
BMW 1M
Caterham Seven
Ford Focus RS
Ford Sierra Sapphire RS
Ford Escort RS
Volkswagen Golf Synchro 4x4
Honda Civic Type R (EK9)
Honda Civic Type R (FD2)
Honda Civic Type R (EP3)
Honda Civic Type R (FN2)
Honda Integra Type R (DC5)
Renault Clio Williams
Renault Mégane RS
Renault Clio RS
Reliant Scimitar
Fiat Punto Abarth SS
Toyota Supra twin turbo
TVR Griffith
TVR 500
Mitsubishi FTO
Morgan Trike
Morgan Plus4

Track Day at Castle Combe

During our trip to England, we stayed in the lovely town of Bath after our visit to the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Alex mentioned that she wanted to visit the village of Castle Combe (among others) and I remembered that there was a race track there. Alex agreed to stop at the track so I could have a look around and I was pleasantly surprised to come across a track day in progress. I managed to snap a few photos in the paddocks and a friendly Caterham owner offered Jules a turn behind the driver's seat. Just as you would have in North America, there were a few BMW's, Civics and Miatas, but there were a lot more Lotus and Caterham products, including a Lotus 2-Eleven, a car I had never seen before. There was also an Ariel Atom, a Skyline R33, a Ginetta, and a couple of cars I could not even identify. Jules and I had a little walk around before heading to the village, and it was a nice surprise for me. Here are a few of the photos I snapped.

A typical track-prepped E36 BMW

Lovely Alfa Romeo vintage racer

Part of the Caterham-Lotus crowd

A rare Skyline R33

Jules behind the wheel of a Caterham

Small person in a small car

Another E36 BMW

A few more Lotus-related products

Lotus 2-Eleven

Jules with the Lotus 2-Eleven

Honda-powered Ariel Atom

Jules enjoying the elevation changes around the track

Yet another E36, and it seemed like a quick one

A Focus RS, probably there for the "RS Day" taking place the next day at the track

Another rarity, a Lotus Sunbeam

I don't know what this is, but it's light enough to tow with an Alfa Romeo sedan

A little Vauxhall, ready for action

Cool trailer for a cool Ginetta

A sports racer, presumably built by ADR