rare orange 1960’s british sports cars

once i rhymed with orange. i swear. the cars below are the 1969 adams probe 16 and a 1966 vauxhall xvr.

brothers dennis and peter adams designed the probe as an investigation into styling extremes. it was powered by a mid-mounted austin 1800 engine and is only 34″ (86cm) high. to access the cabin one had to slide down through the glass panelled roof. only three were built, and this example went to the states and starred in the infamous 1971 stanley kubrick film, “a clockwork orange.” it was then displayed in the pollock auto showcase before it was brought back to the united kingdom where it underwent a full restoration.

the car on the right and below is the 1966 vauxhall xvr. originally shown at the 1966 geneva salon, the xvr was largely the work of david jones, vauxhall’s charismatic head of design in the 1960’s. it featured gullwing doors, pop-up headlights and an innovative independent suspension. the xvr’s unique dash treatment was used to test reaction to ideas he had for the firenza in 1971. as with the adams probe, three xvrs were made.

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