Let's go Carspotting in Google Earth: Sardinia Edition

"Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available" (whoistheleader2) 04/12/2020 at 22:29 • Filed to: carspotting, Google Street View, Dots, Carspotting in Google Earth

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I poked around around the beautiful Mediterranean island of Sardinia on Google Earth. When I descended to street view I was surprised to see more interesting cars around than I expected.

Most of the cars on the street were newish cheap and frugal hatchbacks, including a surprising amount of the wretched Lancia Ypsilon. But let us not devote any more brain power to that pile of steaming crap.

Let us consider this street parked Citroen 2CV.

This bright blue 2CV desperately needs a good bath, but clearly someone loves this classic French car of the people. I’m sure it is actually quite practical in the narrow streets of suburban Sardinia.

This old Fiat camper looks right at home parked in front of this Mediterranean vista. What model van was used as the base of this conversion? I do like the seagull motif painted over the otherwise dull white factory paint job.

Edit: Thanks RalleyDarkstrike for identifying the camper as a Mk. II Ford Transit.

Speaking of Fiats. . .

This 500 toodled by in the distance. That would make a perfect daily-able classic in these surroundings.

I think this is a Fiat, but I can’t identify the model.

Edit: Thanks RalleyDarkstrike for identifying this as a Renault 4.

And this sturdy little Panda showed its face despite being endangered on these harsh streets. The old Mercedes van and the pickup behind it are also worth pointing out.

Edit: Thanks RalleyDarkstrike for identifying the van in the background as a Peugeot J5, a rebadged second generation Fiat Ducato.

Which one of these is not like the others? Do you think this brightly colored Renault 4 is just a creatively decorated private vehicle or a promotional vehicle for a business?

This is one big van.

Edit: Thanks RalleyDarkstrike and Durrtlang for identifying this as an Iveco Daily. The car behind it is a Toyota Verso, known as the Funcargo in its home country.

The Mercedes A Class has always intrigued me. I also don’t recall seeing many Miatas at all while perusing Google Street View so this example with the top down is unusual.

Well, that about wraps up this installment of Carspotting in Google Earth. What did you think?

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 04/12/2020 at 17:05

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Awesome! Love that 2CV! Love the color too...would make a great car for the streets there, and somebody definitely loves it to still be seeming to DD it this many years on!

In the third pic, the ‘FIAT camper’ you mention looks quite FIAT-y, but is actually a ‘facelifted’ Mk. II Ford Transit! :) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Transit#Facelift_(1977%E2%80%931986)

Much love for the person puttering around in that 500! I bet they are in a cheerful mood! :)

The car you can’t identify but think is a FIAT is actually the back end of a later Renault 4: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_4 :D

First-gen Pandas are awesome...pity they rust so much. I’m actually also curious what the chassic-cab van is in the background on the right? The beige one?

The rainbow Renault 4 would certainly be eye-catching for advertising! Imagine using one as such here in North America!

I believe that big van is some sort of Iveco? A second-gen Daily, I believe? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iveco_Daily#Second_generation_(1990%E2%80%932000)

Bonus fun fact, the first-gen Iveco Daily was rebadged and sold as an Alfa Romeo! Weirdness! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_Romeo#AR6_and_AR8

EDIT: Holy crap! There’s a Toyota Verso/FunCargo behind that Iveco - the crazy Vitz/Yaris/Echo-based MPV! :D https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Yaris_Verso

EDIT EDIT: Got it! The beige chassis-cab van in the background of the FIAT Panda pic is a Peugeot J5, which was a rebadged first-gen FIAT Ducato:

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 04/12/2020 at 18:32

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I can always count on you to identify the most obscure European iron out there. I will make sure to edit with these new discoveries. Color me impressed that you got your vans straight. The beigey chassis cab van behind the Fiat Panda I thought was an old Mercedes but I might not be right.

What are the odds of a Funcargo showing up in this after you mentioned that the last time we discussed odd imports? G ood work.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 04/12/2020 at 19:27

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Mmmm brown wagon, bet it is manual too

cute little thing

Suzuki

Oooohhhh Defender

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 04/12/2020 at 20:59

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I like weird stuff, so I’m more interested in 80s Euro vans than supercars, hahaha! :P

Yeah, you’re thinking of the Mercedes TN...it looks REALLY similar to Peugeot rebadge I mentioned. Easy tell is the Peugeot has vertical door handles though! :)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_TN

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 04/12/2020 at 22:18

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I had some sort of cheap die cast Mercedes TN as a kid; the livery was a balloon van. It was unlicensed so I never could figure out what it was though it clearly should have had a M ercedes logo so that always mystified me in an era before MB sold commercial vehicles under their name here. No wonder I mistook them.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > CaptDale - is secretly British 04/12/2020 at 22:20

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That’s the spirit. It is pretty fun to go carspotting in Google Street View, isn’t it? Those are some nice finds. I especially like the Renault 4 and the brown wagon. Peugeot?

Under_Score > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 04/12/2020 at 22:37

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It’s crazy that despite the increase in globalized car design, a c.2010-2013 Mazda3 hatch and a Miata are the only two cars I noticed that are also  sold in North America.

InFierority Complex > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 04/12/2020 at 23:38

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Well, the Ypsilon is one of the best selling cars in Italy . I know it’s the target of jokes because people somehow think is it betraying Lancia’s history because WRC WINZ!!111! but I think it should be kept in mind that rallies were just a portion of Lancia history and not the whole story. Sorry, struck a nerve.

Hell, before they got bought by Fiat nearly 1/3 of Lancia business was commercial trucks and buses but nobody seems to want to remember that.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Under_Score 04/13/2020 at 00:13

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Well I think that is a Hyundai Tiburon in the Transit camper picture but you really do have a point that I find encouraging. The world isn't homogenous yet!

InFierority Complex > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 04/13/2020 at 00:20

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Found a few things of interest. The 33 looked pretty beat. Also should have just used maps on my phone and screenshotted it instead of taking pictures of the screen.

You’ve inspired to go play a few rounds of GeoGuessr.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 04/13/2020 at 01:05

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on left pf pic,  Fiat Panda in fro nt of silver Hyundai plz (3rd pic)

Under_Score > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 04/13/2020 at 07:38

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I noticed the Tiburon shortly after I made my comment! With the black plastic handles, it doesn’t look North American, just like that Ford that looks like a lowered, sporty EcoSport.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 04/13/2020 at 08:22

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I had a TN ‘News Truck’ Matchbox dinky when I was a kid that I always liked! :D

Not my picture, nor my dinky, but it looked exactly like this:

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > pip bip - choose Corrour 04/13/2020 at 08:23

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Oh yeah. There were a few around, probably more than I expected, though it makes sense because they were such sturdy little cars.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > InFierority Complex 04/13/2020 at 08:25

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Thank you. I saw a few of those Alfa wagons (?) But I didn't have a clear shotbon Amy of them. Nice Defender too.

InFierority Complex > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 04/13/2020 at 09:06

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Yep, Alfa 159. They came in sedan and hatchback form, too. Very sinister and cool looking cars.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 04/13/2020 at 10:03

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Mine looked very much like that but the wheels were busted. I used it as a wrecked vehicle in my various scenarios. I somehow like the completely utilitarian styling of those.

Funny how what sort of toy cars you used to like corresponds with what you are interested in now. Same with me. I never used the absurd unrealistic hot wheels and matchbox toys, preferring the realistic ones instead.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > InFierority Complex 04/13/2020 at 10:05

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Ever since I saw a police livery estate on Top Gear a long time ago I have always loved the styling of these. That two door hatch looks fantastic!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 04/13/2020 at 10:08

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Same! :D

I got around the absurd and odd ones (except the really absurd ones that were shaped like skulls or dragons or whatever, which I never used at all, nor bought) by having a ‘Concept Car Dealership’ in my dinky car city, lol

The ‘what you play with as a kid defines what you’re interested in now’ thing reminds me of that article I wrote awhile ago! :)

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 04/13/2020 at 10:17

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And sometime the toys themselves made me realize something existed. I had a Dodge Magnum police spec that I liked and it made me realize that they were kinda rare and cool.

But when I started getting a Motor Trend and Automobile Magazine subscription as a gift then the tables really turned. I remember one time.being absolutely awestruck at reading this design breakdown of the first gen Citroen Cactus. I had never heard of the m arquis before and since they mostly concentrate on USDM it was a while before I heard that name again.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 04/13/2020 at 10:50

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Yup! We never got magazines, so it wasn’t until we got the internet at our own place around 2000 that I was able to look up ‘car stuff’ to my heart’s desire! :P

duurtlang > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 04/13/2020 at 11:52

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This is not a Peugeot J5, it’s a second gen (1990-2000) Iveco Daily.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > duurtlang 04/13/2020 at 11:56

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Crap. I think RalleyDarkstrike did tell me right but I mixed it up while editing. Thank you.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 04/14/2020 at 21:39

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Yes it is, there was an Oppo that used to post a Google Streetveiw find it challenge and then would rank some of the finds. I loved doing those, but I forget who used to post them.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > CaptDale - is secretly British 04/14/2020 at 21:44

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That sounds interesting. I wish I knew who did it. Know what it was called?