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What a weird era of Tuning. I have very fond memories of seeing photos of cars from this era online.

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It certainly produced a variety of supercar customisations! I hadn't really thought about it but you are right, I really don't see much like it any more, kind of miss it!

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We never really got it over here, I wonder what happened to all these kitted cars!

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They were common in London - many on Middle East registered cars - and I also saw lots when I used to spend a lot of time in Monaco like this one. I think most have been returned to their original build, after all many of them are just replaced parts rarher than physically changed. Supercars seem to have several lives, being rejuvenated many times over through their lives!

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I remember coming to London in 2013 and seeing Middle East plated cars for the first time, felt like I was in an oldschool YouTube car spotting montage.

It's good that some kit manufacturers opt to do full replacement panels instead of needing to drill or cut anything on these $$$ cars

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I used to love it but then they switched to boring domestic style plates, really took the edge off the "exotic" distances the cars had travelled to be there, now it's a treat to see the original plates!

I think most of the kit manufacturers realised the value of exclusive limited production cars, and that their kits are designed more as an "upgrade" (or downgrade depending on the kit!) rather than an physical change which cannot be undone. That said I think some are more permanent than others..!

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Yah, I've noticed that the original plates seem to be rare in photos i've seen online recently. I'm sure it makes it trickier to decipher what the country of origin is!

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Sometimes you can get a clue from the plate frame, a Doha telephone number or a garage name in Bahrain. Other times a Google search can sometimes bring to light photos of the cars on different plates. The best example of this "treachery" I can give is this SLR from Saudi Arabia, been parading in London on GB Euro plates no less since at least 2012! When I uploaded my spot I didn't think about it, but then I found the photos online after Omoferina uploaded their spot in London: http://platesmania.com/uk/nomer14435233
Google (via autogespot) shows us the car on previously used non-standard KSA plate base that used to be seen in London often, completely removing the western numbers from the original plate! While also not original, at least it's obvious where it comes from...


On the topic of tuned supercars, here's a couple of my Qatari spots from 2008 in London which will probably never be uploaded as I doubt the old plate design will be supported when it arrives here! I could hear the Hamann Murcielago from 3 blocks away as it was stuck in traffic, it's noise drew me in closer until I was able to see it in the queue!

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Very cool story on the SLR, so the vehicle was never actually registered in the UK even though the plates matched up to a UK format. Super Cool.

I saw a couple Saudi plated cars in London when I visited in 2013, one was a chrome Blue 458 spider that had been pulled over by a police officer on a bicycle which I thought was quite comical.

Thanks for sharing those spots! The plate design is awesome in my opinion and the tuning (although objectively somewhat ugly) hits that early spotting nostalgia sweet spot. It was actually a photo of a Qatari registered Zonda Cinque in London (on the old design) that got me really into the idea of spotting.

By the time I visited London, the Qatari plates I saw were all the flag ones which were still very cool to me. I wish I would've been more mindful to take better photos back then lol.

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The Ferrari in Question:

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2013 I took this photo too and I'd say the same owner?! I also have a photo of this car being stopped by the police but I can't find it right now (bit annoying)

I really miss wandering around London and spotting the really oddball supercars, as ugly as they may be they had character and added a sense of occasion to any London bound trip - where no matter the reason I was heading into London I would always swing by the hot spots to see if I could see something different. For a few years before Covid hit I was working in London once a week and rarely went car spotting even though I went for a walk every day I was there at lunch time.
Oh I know the "I wish I took better photos" feeling, Got plenty of those regrets too

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I actually think I have some photos of that one as well. It had Hamann wheels if I recall correctly. Something I'd never dreamt of seeing here in North America. I agree with you fully, although the cars aren't to my taste, I do appreciate that some folks are willing to drive their wacky creations around.

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You did get it! Cool! Definitely looks like you got a nice selection when you were here

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I managed to get at least 1 photo from each "main" Middle Eastern county (main as far as spotting goes that is).

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That was good, now it seems to be dominated by the plain white offset homemade Qatari plates, anything else is a treat for me to see!

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A shame, I wonder why that switch happened.

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