First car

[Bad Raven]

I passed my test on a Triumph Herald. I would love to have one now.

So did I, but then at the time BSM was using little else.

However, I would NOT want one now, the specs I have are not THAT rosy as I have forgotten all its faults., esp the tuck under rear suspension.  (I drove a Spitfire quite a bit but it wasn't mine, luckily it usually had a boat on tow so the rear was less wayward that otherwise!

Think the best all round car I have ever owned was a 2.5 V6 Mazda MX6, superb engine that didn't need a gearbox much of the time when not hustling. Good tow car, too (boats and windsurf trailer, NOT a caravan!!!!).

Most "interesting" car was a Fiat 132 (Mafia Staff Car!!), the model with all ally twin OHC engine from the 124 Sport Coupe in a large but lightweight saloon body............5 speed close ratio box, VERY quick on the open road, so high geared it was in third a lot round town.

[Trainfish]

Not bad for something with 5 seats, 4 doors but 0-60 more like 5secs, hardest part was keeping it in a straight line when second turbo kicked in (regularly left skid marks at 60mph!!)...

Usually happens to me above 120mph but thankfully it's rare these days that the roads are clear enough to do those speeds.

Someone mentioned the Montego. I had a 1.6 reg number B493RLH which I loved and it never caused me a problem at all. Looking at the MOT enquiry site it died in 1994 

[Trev]

Somewhat off topic-
My dad used to work at the MG car factory in Abingdon. A few years before the plant closed, British Leyland had a huge carnival through the town with MG's going right back to the beginning of the marque.

On the day, I was lucky enough to be helping with tethered hot air balloon flights.  Nothing unusual there you might think except instead of the normal wicker basket underneath, they had an MGB car!

Apparently it had been used in America for a TV advert.
The engine, gearbox etc had been removed and in the boot were the gas tanks.

At the end of the day, the pilot asked if I wanted to go for a flight in it

The team untetherd the balloon from the heavy lorries that it had been tied to all day and as the pilot put his foot on the accelerate peddle, the burners fired up and off we went.
We fly for about 20 minutes going up to about 500 feet before landing in a field for the team to recover and pack away.

One word - AWESOME!

I've managed to find one photo on tinternet.

http://www.mgb-stuff.org.uk/splat.htm

OK - back on topic now sorry for the interruption.

[DELETED]

Lamborghini LM002?

Sincere apologies for my tardyness!  Yes, bang-on (it was too easy).

I didn't have much time today -in and out of the hire depot of the tipper Transit I was driving and had to report a problem with the brakes to the hire company.  However, the bosses restored MK 1 Escort Mexico was parked out front -very well done, very original.  Looked great   Bit like this minus the fogs...


...Obviously a Ford man, the other half of the showroom had his MK 2 and 3 Granada's sitting in it

Sorry, I never got the chance to ask for permission of a photo as I was busy -I don't believe in taking them otherwise though less scrupulous guys passing by on the street were swerving in (almost hitting my tipper) for a photo then pulling off again.  I can't find any hits for those photos on-line (they maybe twiited of facebooked them -Idon't use either).

[Malc]

Just tried the DVLA website that Trainfish posted above. Searched out my 3rd car, a 1970 MGBGT in sweet corn yellow. The guy I sold it to in 1980, painted it chocolate brown. It is still taxed, but no MOT since August, but is now red.

[Papyrus]

Mine was a 1950s upright Ford Popular, reg 321 KMC (you could get thousands for that now...), bought for £30 when I passed my test in 1966. A good car to learn basic mechanics on. Back then I used to make plastic kits, mostly of cars, and I had one of a 1910 Model T Ford. Interestingly, the chassis on my Popular was exactly the same as that on the Model T, transverse leaf springs and all. Now I think of it, that may be why my first girlfriend ditched me after 6 weeks... 

Chris

[Bad Raven]

Just finally rediscovered pics of my first car (half frame transparancies!!) :-





Riley One Point Five, 1960, Birch Grey with Jaguar Opalescent Metallic Maroon and gold coach line, Tuned bored twin carb "B" series engine, wide tyres, anti roll bar, adjustable shocks, and rally lighting.

Notice the towbar?  Well, that was to tow my second car........................

[joe cassidy]

Did you replace the steering wheel by a shirt button ?

[Bad Raven]

Did you replace the steering wheel by a shirt button ?

It was a TRIFLE heavier.........................................   

[RailGooner]

..
Riley One Point Five, 1960, Birch Grey with Jaguar Opalescent Metallic Maroon and gold coach line, Tuned bored twin carb "B" series engine, wide tyres, anti roll bar, adjustable shocks, and rally lighting.
...

Yes, pimped out Riley.

[Bad Raven]

..
Riley One Point Five, 1960, Birch Grey with Jaguar Opalescent Metallic Maroon and gold coach line, Tuned bored twin carb "B" series engine, wide tyres, anti roll bar, adjustable shocks, and rally lighting.
...

Yes, pimped out Riley.

I kept it nearly five years, eventually shearing a little end pin through over revving. Well, there was this MGB, and he didn't like me out dragging him off of four successive sets of traffic lights.....honest, I HAD to do it.....................and then this slight "tick" started.............  Then I got a Flying Land Crab, bored it max litre, and stage 3................but that's another story.

[RailGooner]

  Would loved to have been a fly on the dash of the MGB to see the driver's face.

[stevewalker]

I learnt in a Metro with the driving school and a Lada (the one like a fiat 124) with my father. Once I passed, I used the Lada whenever I needed a car and later that was replaced with a Fiat 131 CL.

Once I stopped being a student and started work and needed my own car, I bought a Yugo 45, which I part-exed for the same price 6 months later. I'd built up enough funds then for a 2 year-old, 1988, Sierra 1.8 GL ... which to this day has been the only car I miss.

Since then Rover 420GSi, two worn out company Astra 1.6s, a company Alfa-Romeo 146ti, a rover 416, Primera 2.2 diesel, a Focus 1.8 TDCI and now (with a wife a 3 children) a Zafira 1.8.

The rover 420 surprised a few people who got quite annoyed and insisted on passing me when I overtook them while towing a caravan.

[Bad Raven]

Would loved to have been a fly on the dash of the MGB to see the driver's face.

Then you're in luck as I took a pic of him, too....................

                                                                                                 

[Mito]

My first car was a Hillman Imp. A great car, a couple of concrete blocks in the front solved suspension problems. I had great fun with it. The second car which I always regret selling was a 1949 MG TC. I completely rebuilt it including having the chassis straightened shot blasted and zinc plated. The only thing I didn't replace was the hood. I never used it, just a tonneau cover. It would do the ton without any problems and pushed on corners hung the tail out beautifully. 3/4 of a turn of the steering wheel from full lock to full lock. Marriage forced the sale of the car but I'm sure it would have been cheaper to keep the car.