N Gauge Forum

I can not find anything similar, so I thought I would ask "What was you first car?"
Mine was a Triumph Herald. I can not remember the registration number, but I bought it in 1972, after just having passed my driving test. I had had it a few months when I asked my first wife if she wanted to go down the motorway. Thinking I was joking, she said "Yes". As soon as I turned onto the slip road, she screamed at me to stop, so I quickly shoved the gearstick into reverse and got off the slip road, (dangerous and illegal I know, but there was no other traffic about  :doh:). Trouble was, that manoeuvre made a mess of the gearbox and I had to drive with no reverese gear for a couple of weeks, until I traded the Herald in for a Ford Cortina. David.

I left the UK on me 22nd birthday in 1974, and bought a 1967 MGB in 1975!

Didn't even have a driving license! Anyway, when I did finally pass me test, drove the thing to Canberra and back, got home and hurt it big time.

In 1976 I downgraded and bought a Mini.  :-[

When I was celebrating my 17th. birthday I was given 2 driving lessons, 4 weeks after those lessons I passed my test and was given my first car, a Morris 8 Series "E" 4 door built in 1947 so it was the same age as myself!  It weighed just over a ton and had an 8 horsepower side valve engine.

It was given to me by my brother after he had used it to work and court his wife.  The car had no clutch, double de-clutching was the only way of driving it, the brakes were poor and worked one wheel after another such that if you did an emergency stop the car slewed sideways!

I learnt by replacing the clutch myself, plus overhauling the brakes etc, all the time I was driving it to my own job!  (When the clutch was repaired obviously!!!)

I kept it for another 5 years until I was attending Agricultural College and driving an Israeli colleague down a hill towards Rochester on the M2 in Kent, a valve head broke off and embedded itself sideways into the top of a piston, the cylinder head broke* and a piece came out through the bonnet leaving a crown shaped hole.  I was doing the fantastic speed of 50 MPH!  (Damage to the connector rods and crankshaft stopped me considering overhauling the engine!)
(* remember that the cylinder head is flat there were NO overhead camshafts in those days or at least they were in the minority!)

After enduring a terrible train journey back to my home on the Isle of Wight I bought a clapped out Morris 100 van with a 948cc engine, WOW, didn't I fly!  You couldn't see me for smoke, Literally!

Since then I have owned 8 different cars none of them new but my first car was the most fun!

JYW 693  We called it joywide!

Peter.

Found this on the web.  Almost the same as mine but I didn't have the headlight extenders or the wing mirrors.  One thing I really miss is the roller blind in the back window that could be pulled up from the drivers seat to stop annoying drivers main beams blinding you!

[smg id=24324 type=preview align=center caption="10265368 10152805038606982 4101090719648525839 o"]

Didn't bother with cars from age 16 to 29 as I rode motorcycles, but I finally tired of heroically sliding off in winter and, being bored at work lunchtimes, decided to take my car test. Having passed I bought a 2nd hand 850cc Mini, but within 3 months had written the car off in an argument with a badger (long story). This, in turn, caused me to break my collar bone and my humerus such that I couldn't ride motorbikes any more and had to revert to a car.
Many years later another badger caused £600 worth of damage to a Ford Focus I owned :hmmm:

In 1960, I bought a 1951 Ford 8 van which somebody had put windows in the sides and an old bus seat in the back; it had half a turn play in the steering wheel, only 1 brake worked properly, tyres were shot and the petrol pump stopped working after 7 miles and we would have to stop for about 20 minutes until it cooled down, then do another 6 or 7 miles. I learnt to drive and passed my test in it, by which time I had replaced he diaphragm in the petrol pump.

Not long after passing my test I drove it from RAF Cosford to my parents home in Poole; father worked at the local Ford main dealership, took one look at it and took it into the works where it got sorted, drove quite well then.

I got sent on a course in '61 and drove it between RAF Cosford and RAF Yatesbury (near Calne Wilts) every weekend, until the then ma in law helped us buy a Ford 100E estate, which after she passed away we used some of her will to buy a new Mk1 Cortina., since then I've had 19 cars, mostly Ford (with dad working for Ford dealer what would you buy?) although I'm now on my 5th Mazda, an 07 reg Mazda2, (the earlier estate version not the current saloon)

Bought my first car in 1966. It was a little Austin A40 Farina three door Countryman (split upper & lower tailgate)
Registration 360 ALU, Tartan Red & Black in colour with a 948cc engine and four speed gearbox.

Thought it was 'the bees knees' at the time. Kept it for three years then bought an ex London cab. Great fun to
drive, especially as I worked at the British Museum in central London at the time  :)

Roger

My first car was an Anglia 105e reg DBP333 I had many a good spin down to Coverack on the Lizard Peninsular I well remember one holiday we went up the old Porlock Hill we went round the sharp left hand hand bend half way up and we heard a funny noise like air escaping from a tyre ,the car was still driving OK so when we got to the top I pulled up to see which tyre was flat all four OK, we decided to have a brew up opened the boot and found the cause of the noise ,my cousin Terry had packed some shaving foam in his case when we went round the bend it got squashed and there was foam every where .I had that car for about 9 years I loved it in the summer we took the rear side windows out so we kept cool it was a great car very basic but great fun.One other car was a MK2 Cortina and Val loved the MK2 Capri although it was useless for towing a caravan it was to tail happy.many other cars since including my pocket rocket
a Saxo VTS the only time I was very naughty and broke speed limit by miles I actualy went mad and touched 125 MPH but with that car it just had to be done and it was very very early in the morning on the M40 on the way to TINGS one year only me and one lorry on the road for miles and I didn't keep it up for long.
Enough nattering for now .
Bob

After riding a bike for some years, I passed my car test and bought a 1965 VX490, one of Vauxhall's finest rust buckets. A luxury car in its day, twin choke Webber carbs, 1600cc engine. It went OK, but the driver's seat dropped through the floor on the M69 and it dropped a valve on the Derby ring road. I fixed the engine and the seat, but it failed the MOT spectacularly about 4 months later. I bought a Marina next, owned by a rep for Wilson's Snuff of Sheffield (I found tins of the snuff under the spare wheel. When I got to 25, I bought an MGB GT, one of the nicest cars to drive I ever had. I had  125,000 miles on the clock, when I retired it due to metal worm. The guy that bought it, spent a fortune on filler and re sprayed it chocolate brown and flogged it on for a profit.

I passed my test at 18 but being a low paid apprentice I was unable to buy myself a car so in the end when I was just over 21 my mother presented  :hmmm: me with a 3 year old Bedford  delivery van  (viva style) which I drove until it died after years of (mis)use. V an that length with a 21ft 6inch canoe on top was not really a perfect match but it worked. In Brecon 1 weekend we sopped for a policeman directing traffic and signalled right. When he beckoned us on we turned half way and realised that the stern of the canoe was about to decapitate him so had to straighten up till we cleared him. Soon after that I  sold the van and replaced it with the best motor I ever owned ..   a short wheel based Fords Transit van. In the end it had a camp bed, cooker, etc  and went miles up hill and down dale (the back did see quite a bit of (holiday  ;) action before I got married and Ann wanted something more civilised to ride in

My first car was bought with a friend in about 1960 and was a Morris 8 Tourer built sometime before 1948

We put a lot of work into it, even persuading my mother to make a Tonneau cover for it, the hood needless to say being useless.

It belched rather a lot of smoke, so we decided to change (amongst other things) the valves and valve guides.

When trying to knock out one of the guides it split, sending a rather large splinter into my forearm. Resulting in a fountain of the red stuff  a trip to A & E and 6 stitches.

I've still got the scar but strange enough the car disappeared soon after the incident.

Ray

Great for the old nostalgia! Mine was bought for me (and my sister jointly) by my Dad and was a ford escort mkII SYD968W or SYD for short! I passed my test at 17 (1993) and drove it around till I went to university. Since then I've only had  four other cars but still remember old SYD with the greatest of fondness.

Yes Only me I only stopped at 125MPH because of the extreme cross winds around the Bicester area the car started to use all three lanes and I promise I wasn't under the influence of any thing .But it was a really fast little motor I could beat  most things away from the lights if I wanted to its exeleration got me out of trouble a few times, I believe the max top speed was 140 MPH without any modification ,didn't like it at first but then really sad when the electronics packed up and caused a bit of damage to the engine sold it as seen two young guys baught it got it going about a month later then wrapped it round a road sign on Marlow bypass didn't do them a lot of good either both in hospital for a few months .These youngsters think they can drive but sometimes just can't handle a car like that,shame the car came to a tragic end .
I must admit my little 16 year old Punto Sport will do me now till I pack up driving.
Bob

We are going back more than 50 years to me owning a car for the first time, and in the years since I have tended to run all my cars for a good length of time before changing them, so have only "owned" 10 in total but have driven many many more.

I learned to drive in my fathers Ford "Pop" saloon, but after 2 driving test failures in it (it was a "b...ard" to drive), I finally passed my test in a Triumph Herald, following which I bought my first "car" a well used green Morris Minivan.

My first ever "brand new" car was an Austin Mini-Cooper in white and black, and my current car, which I have owned since 1994 and emigrated in back in 2004 is a Triumph Stag.

Pictures of my cars appear below (Ford Popular, Triumph Herald, Morris Minivan, Austin A40, Sunbeam Rapier Mk3A, Austin Mini-Cooper, Triumph Spitfire Mk3, Triumph Spitfire Mk4, Morris Marina Super Coupe 1.8, Ford Capri Calypso, Mercedes 230E saloon, Triumph Stag 3 Litre V8.)

PS. Just thought - if anyone had any interesting adventures in any of their cars (eg. drove it from Wales to Tenerife), might be worth posting the experience on here? As regards my 1st car - farthest I got with it was Bude in Cornwall, but drove a few of the later cars on the Continent (the A40 I drove to the Costa Brava and back on a camping holiday).


(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Model%20Railway/First%20Cars.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Model%20Railway/First%20Cars.jpg.html)

(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Model%20Railway/FirstCars2.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Model%20Railway/FirstCars2.jpg.html)

(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Model%20Railway/FirstCars3.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Model%20Railway/FirstCars3.jpg.html)

(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Car%20Photos/IMG_1852.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Car%20Photos/IMG_1852.jpg.html)

The first car I had was "inherited" from my sister in 1972, who in turn had "inherited" it from our mother who had bought it new...a 1959 Morris Mini Minor in off-white ( I think it was called Old English White).  It was later "taken back" by my sister and replaced in 1976 with a 1968 Austin 1100 which I bought with savings.  That was sold 2 years later for the same money it cost, but with a different engine.  I had swapped the original with one a guy I shared a house with had available (his car was too rusty for the MOT and my engine had died).

There followed a few car-free years in Paris and then a trail of cars here in the US (Mazda 626, Toyota Corolla, Saab 900, Toyota Camry, another Saab 900, Saab 9000, Volvo 850GLT, Mercedes C230, Subaru Outback 3.0, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Mercedes C240 Touring, Mazda Miata).  The Miata was the mid-life crisis car...I told SWMBO that I wanted a little green sports car or a cute redhead  :hmmm:, but obviously for her a Ferrari Testarossa was out of the question.  :'( But I do like the Miata!

My first car was a Triumph Dolomite 1850HL SEK523R. I bought it before I passed my test to tinker with and ensure it was mechanically sound ready for the big day as no 'L' plates were going to interfere with its classic lines!
Anyway I learnt to drive in a one litre Ford Fiesta and when I passed my test it was straight home to fire up the Dolomite. It was raining and I encountered my first roundabout within 400 yards of my home. Rear wheel drive and twice the power......................................
Gareth

After the mini I got a state-of-the-art Toyota Celica 1978 model which was actually a brilliant car. I wasn't going to add any more to this thread, except for Malc saying that the seat of his Vauxhall fell through the floor reminded me of the Celica.

If the upholstery in the Celica had gotten any worse, I would have had to drive it standing up   8)

Mine was an ancient Triumph 2000 in 1976. I brought it with me when I emigrated to Holland that year. It was so rusty that bits kept fallling off, and it needed regular topping up with oil. After a few months I scrapped it and got a sporty but impractical Alfa Romeo GTA 1300 Junior - impractical because commuting caused the plugs to fur up, so the garage mechanic had to be called out regularly to get it started again.

Number one was a 1984 Triumph Acclaim 1.3.

Bits kept falling off, it needed a serious run-up for hills - Telegraph hill in Devon (70-80mph at the bottom would just about get to the top at about 40mph) - and broke down frequently. That said,  it was my first car and racked up 25,000 miles in the year I owned it. It meant freedom.

In fact my next two cars - a 1989 1.3 Vauxhall Astra estate and a 1992 Rover 414 - were both also short-lived (although both were sold on; they just had lot of issues).

My third car - a 1998 Volvo V70 lasted me 12 years and was only moved on at the beginning of this year.

(http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd417/Claude_Dreyfus/IMG_6046_zpsh5ngjisx.jpg)

My latest toy is another V70 a 2.5T petrol.

(http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd417/Claude_Dreyfus/Resized_zpsuz7oa1rq.jpg)

A 1968 Mk1 Escort, I bought it in 1992 for £100 when I was 16 then spent a couple of years restoring it, then used it daily when I passed my test. I still own it now, other cars have come & gone but still got this one, It  just gets used for shows & on weekends now though. :D
(http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww334/raxmk1/simply%20ford%202012/DSCF7288.jpg) (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/raxmk1/media/simply%20ford%202012/DSCF7288.jpg.html)

cheers, Stu.

My first car was a Triumph Herald 13/60 in 1972, I bought it for a whole £40 and sold it 12months later for £50 when I moved up to a Morris Oxford.Then a Hillman Hunter,Fiat 131 estate, Skoda Rapid, Bedford camper, Renault 6,Suzuki SC100, Fiat X1-9, Skoda rapid special, Fiat X1-9,Fiat X1-9,Datsun Cherry, Fiat Barcetta, Diahatsu Sirion Rally 4, Merecedes SLK 230 and now a Skoda Citigo elegance.

My first was a 1947 Hillman Minx, interesting side-valve engine, very easy to work on. No danger from timing chains failing with valves hitting piston crowns.
No, I did not buy it from new in case you were all wondering.
Later we ( later I had aquired a wife ! ) had an Austin A40  Farina, it suffered from dreaded rot in the ,, hmm what were they called the newfangled tubular construction that no longer needed a chassis ? Father-in-law replaced them with folded stainless steel ex the TSR2
(not while it was flying ! only after Harold W. scrapped it ! or was it Tony Benn ?)

I can not remember any of the number plates nor all of the other multitudinous vehicles that passed through chez nous :) although a Kharmann Ghia that we once had in Brazil is memorable, not least because it had its engine in the back and acted like a pendulum on the un-metalled roads we liked to travel :)

.

I bought my first car when I was 19 in August 2003 just before passing my test, an E reg (1987?) Volvo 340 1.7 GLE which had done 150,000 miles on it's second engine. It cost me £70 and £1070 to insure for the year! The upshot of this purchase was that it came with £20 of fuel in the tank and a new MOT as the elderly owner was giving up driving and wanted rid of the rusty old thing. Despite being a GLE with (working) heated seats and electric windows, the top of the rear offside door had rusted through entirely so was fetchingly covered with two widths of gaffer tape although it was surprisingly solid underneath. On it's first outing with me alone behind the wheel for the first time, I tentatively approached my second ever solo roundabout. On shifting down in anticipation of this, the gearknob popped off in my hand!
The dangerous cocktail of budget ditch-seeker tyres meant that the coming winter was spent learning a lot about how a stodgy, cart sprung rear-wheel-drive car handles and prepared me well for my second car bought 6 months after passing my test, an immaculate white E32 BMW 730i which had leather seats, electric everything and was pretty quick.
(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/26/thumb_24282.JPG) (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=24282)
Although it only did about 16mpg, having a car with such a capacious back seat was very handy and it was cheaper than renting my own flat...
(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/26/thumb_24281.JPG) (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=24281)

Quote from: d-a-n on April 21, 2015, 10:25:01 PM
. . . an E reg (1987?) Volvo 340 1.7 GLE which had done 150,000 miles on it's second engine . . . the top of the rear offside door had rusted through entirely so was fetchingly covered with two widths of gaffer tape although it was surprisingly solid underneath.

Seems to have been an odd quirk of the 3-series Volvo, rusting from the top down instead of the usual floor-upwards  :confused1:

My bro-in-law had a 340 GL that looked OK, then one day he opened the tailgate in Tesco's car-park to put the shopping away and the whole tailgate came away in his hand - the hinge-mounting panel had disintegrated into oxide dust!!  :smiley-laughing:


Paul

340s had very heavy doors - particularly the 2-door versions. This meant that the hinges suffered, and the doors did have a reputation of dropping off after a while (rust etc.). Mrs Dreyfus had a 1990 1.4 340 and absolutely loved it - and it never lost any doors.

Some interesting replies on this thread, but analysing them, what would members say was the "best" car they ever owned, ie. the one that gave them the most satisfaction and pleasure?

In my case I would have to say (apart from my present car) it would have to be the Sunbeam Rapier Mk3A for a number of reasons :-

1) With all the windows wound down it was as good as a convertible (a true Coupe).
2) The wood & leather interior would beat anything produced to-date.
3) I dated 2 girls at the same time when I owned it - partly due to the attraction of it.
4) It took me to France, Belgium, and Holland, and was the car I owned when England
    last (and only time) won the World Cup.

If only they made a a car like that today!?

The best car I owned? So far the S reg V70...quite simply because in the 12 years I had it, it only let me down twice. The previous 3 averaged about 5 RAC call outs a year; the worst being the Rover letting go its oil pump at Scots Gap on the A1; a long way from Sussex!

The Volvo was also the best to drive, being suprisingly nimble for a car of its size. The turning circle on the older V70s was exceptionally good.

That said, I hope it will be bettered by the new version...I have only had it since the beginning of March.

Quote from: Tdm on April 21, 2015, 11:17:56 PM
what would members say was the "best" car they ever owned, ie. the one that gave them the most satisfaction and pleasure?

Not one but two, both of which I would love to own again now:

[smg id=24283]
My 1955 86" Series 1.

[smg id=10169]
My 1969 Plymouth Fury 111, all 332 BHP - 6,276 cc. (It was blue & white 2 tone when I had it)

As I said, wish I still had them both :(

Roger

My first was a FIAT "Uno" bought in 1983 in co-operation with my brother..
Here in Amsterdam camping near old olympic stadium..
<a href="http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/Marconeri5/media/image.jpg1_zpsr7uubl7a.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/Marconeri5/image.jpg1_zpsr7uubl7a.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo image.jpg1_zpsr7uubl7a.jpg"/></a>

I think ones preferences change over the years, what we considered our favourite car in our early driving days, would not appeal when we get older, I loved the last update of the Mk2 Ford Consul375 with the addition of front disc brakes, I then thought the Mk1 Cortina was great, later it was the Mk4 Zephyr 6 2.4L; the Citroen BX19RD was the perfect towing car; The car I kept longest was a 1962 Ford Classic 116E bought in 1993, I had that for 10 years, a "rolling restoration"  used as a daily driver as well as getting us free entry to car shows as an "Exhibitor", I finally gave it up when I turned 70, crawling over and under it became no longer fun.

I've recently  traded my 53reg 104,000 mile Mazda 2 for an 07 reg 40,000 mile Mazda 2 it suits me now and should see me out, I only do about 1000 miles a year now, I used to do 20,000 a year!

Don't really have a 'best' car as I only drive them 'cos I'm physically incapable of riding motorbikes now, but I guess the best of my own vehicles was a Citroen BX14E which, despite the gear lever coming off in my hand once, the clutch cable breaking halfway to Bristol and the damn windscreen wiper freezing up every winter due to the feed pipe running up the single wiper, was a fantastic handling car, extremely well equipped at the time and had a voluminous boot, especially with the rear seats folded down ;) ;)
I've lost count of the mileage I've driven as I used to be a sales rep and have put over 100,000 miles on each of the 5 company cars I had. In effect, I've driven to the moon and back at least once ::)

surprised no trikes ah' well , my first car and its still with me , was the marital runabout , restored in the mid 1970's to as you see to-day , we'll leave most of you guessing ....[smg id=24297 type=preview align=center caption="IMG 1891"] 

Quote from: Tdm on April 21, 2015, 11:17:56 PM
Some interesting replies on this thread, but analysing them, what would members say was the "best" car they ever owned, ie. the one that gave them the most satisfaction and pleasure?

First car, a FIAT 126 registration C941 PMV as far as I can remember.  Enormous fun when it was working properly, which wasn't often.  I've sometimes been tempted to try and buy another but these days prices are surprisingly high for the few surviving 126s.

Best?  Probably one of the four Honda Preludes I owned (three 1989 models in succession and a 1998 type).  The first three were the 3rd generation type with mechanical four-wheel steering (two with manual transmission, one automatic), the last was a 2.2 VTi with electronic 4WS.  All were magnificent; fast, comfortable and a delight to the senses with just about the best steering I have encountered (and I've driven a fair selection of cars).

These days I drive a modest Ford Fiesta, which is terribly sensible but not particularly interesting.  It does the job, however, and if I need to blow away the cobwebs there is the Honda CBR 600 lurking under a tarpaulin in the back garden...

Is it a mk c or d Mr Bond?

Quote from: johnlambert on April 22, 2015, 02:04:34 PM

Best?  Probably one of the four Honda Preludes I owned (three 1989 models in succession and a 1998 type).  The first three were the 3rd generation type with mechanical four-wheel steering (two with manual transmission, one automatic), the last was a 2.2 VTi with electronic 4WS.  All were magnificent; fast, comfortable and a delight to the senses with just about the best steering I have encountered (and I've driven a fair selection of cars).

...

My wife's favourite car was a Honda Prelude - the one pictured in the photo below - she put over 100,000 miles on it before selling it.

(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Car%20Photos/1991ab.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Car%20Photos/1991ab.jpg.html)

Quote from: Tdm on April 22, 2015, 02:28:06 PM

Quote from: johnlambert on April 22, 2015, 02:04:34 PM

Best?  Probably one of the four Honda Preludes I owned (three 1989 models in succession and a 1998 type).  The first three were the 3rd generation type with mechanical four-wheel steering (two with manual transmission, one automatic), the last was a 2.2 VTi with electronic 4WS.  All were magnificent; fast, comfortable and a delight to the senses with just about the best steering I have encountered (and I've driven a fair selection of cars).

...

My wife's favourite car was a Honda Prelude - the one pictured in the photo below - she put over 100,000 miles on it before selling it.

(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Car%20Photos/1991ab.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Car%20Photos/1991ab.jpg.html)

Yes, that's the same shape as my first three.  Looks like it was the non-4WS one but nice all the same.

I think I did 100,000 miles in my first one (from 88,000 to 188,000, I was slightly annoyed that circumstances beyond my control prevented me from taking it the next 12,000 miles to 200,000).

Quote from: mk1gtstu on April 21, 2015, 08:37:57 PM

(http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww334/raxmk1/simply%20ford%202012/DSCF7288.jpg) (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/raxmk1/media/simply%20ford%202012/DSCF7288.jpg.html)

cheers, Stu.

I notice you haven't weathered it (yet), Stu :P

Some great cars here, thanks everyone for posting them up.

Quote from: Tdm on April 21, 2015, 11:17:56 PM
Some interesting replies on this thread, but analysing them, what would members say was the "best" car they ever owned, ie. the one that gave them the most satisfaction and pleasure?

I've had  a few 'best' cars. Once the BMW went, I was left with a Vauxhall Nova which was the best car for B-road blasting. It had polyurethane bushes all round, stiffer and lower shock absorbers and springs, strut braces front and back, wide 14 inch Cavalier steels with 185 low profile tyres, GSI brakes with green stuff pads and grooved discs, stripped interior (Just SR bucket seats and seat belts) and numerous other bits and pieces to make it more fun but still stealthy, not your normal bodykitted rubbish. It was noisy and very hard riding but totally worth the compromise!
This was followed by an Audi 80 2.0 sport which in turn received similar chassis and brake modifications and the seats from a UrS4 but no power mods - I was paving the way to replace the 8v lump with a 2.3 5 pot 20v lump but the car met an untimely end. Sold the thing in bits for more than I could've got for it as a whole car!
Once this was gone, I was desperate for a runaround so I bought an R reg 1.3 16v Toyota Starlet which has been a faithful machine for the last 4 years and 40,000 miles. I've serviced it and put decent tyres on but not spent much cash on it - it needed a touch of weld on it's first MOT and since then it's passed every MOT without fault. It returns 40mpg in normal driving, 50mpg on a long run at 65mph and once saw 53mpg. I can leave it anywhere, not worry about it scraping over speed bumps and has never failed to start. For this, I'd say it's been the best car I've ever owned. 

With all this talk of old cars, I thought you'd might like to see the car my dad got as his first car around 50 years ago, a 1932 Morris Minor; he painted the chassis in his bedroom and drove it around the neighbourhood without any bodywork on when he was getting it sorted out.

(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/26/thumb_24304.jpg) (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=24304)

He still owns it!

 ^^ Nice one, a proper car  :thumbsup:

Roger

My first car: A 1961 Austin A 35 2-door, with the 1100 cc motor.  Being a 'first' car, I didn't treat it very well, but it 'did' .  Second car was 1963 VW Beetle, which I owned for only a week as the 'very kind' car salesman (and VW agent BTW) had sold me a very expensive dud!! it was returned, and a refund given!!! My next vehicle was a 1966 Hillman Imp Mk 2 super.  Definitely my favourite car. I had lots of adventures wit the 'Limp' , including using it very successfully as a Landrover-equivalent while gold-prospecting in a very rugged part of New Zealand's Coromandel Peninsula. it was an unwilling  participant in several spectacular accidents (long stories), but eventually I wore it out, so sent it on its way.  I would definitely get it back if it was possible.  The Imp was followed by an Austin  A35 Estate (vapour lock and poor brakes - exciting), a Vauxhall Viva HC (NEVER again would I buy Vauxhall; a total lemon), a Ford  Cortina Mk 2 Super, a 1985 Ford Laser 1300 (gutless) and then an absolutely superb 1996 Nissan Primera 2.0 which I have only recently sold in favour of a 2 litre Nissan Bluebird Sylphy.

Best car ('conventional' use): 1996 Nissan Primera 2.0
Best car ('non-conventional' use):  1966 Hillman Imp Mk 2 Super - it could really get in and out of some very strange places (river beds, unformed roads, 'bush' tracks).  Remarkable.

Worst Car: Vauxhall Viva HC: Ongoing Wiring / Electrical failures, Fuel Pump /s, Fuel tank leakage, Pathetic fuel tank size and consequent range (especially important in the days of 'petrol rationing). The list is almost endless.

BTW: Although I would have liked to have continued to 'Buy British',  the Nissans' have proven to be the most trouble-free and reliable of any of the vehicles I have owned, with the Primera doing 250,000 kms over 11 years - most of it over long distances and through rugged terrain.  Perhaps the stories about 'British production methods' and 'reliability' were actually true?

PS: One really good thing about the Imp was that it could out-turn and outrun Mini's (and give Vee-Dubbs something to think about as well). 'Doing' a Mini was always VERY satisfying, and could quite make one's day...
 

1st car: Ford Cortina 1.6L. Written off by my colleague crashing into the back of it 6 weeks after I got it, but I got to keep the wreckage, sold it to a scrapper and with the insurance money make a profit!

Best car - TVR 350i. Not very frugal though... 20mpg if you were VERY careful. It did go like Joe Stink though, even with the roof down. The pop-up headlights were sometimes idiosyncratic however. But that 3.5 V8 sound! Anyway, sold it to buy a house! Stuck to my bicycles after that.

2nd best car - Opel Manta 2.0 GTE Exclusive coupe. Would buy it again if I could. Vey comfy and quite fast for its day but it looked like the batmobile.

Quote from: javlinfaw7 on April 22, 2015, 02:19:34 PM
Is it a mk c or d Mr Bond?

Mk D , very rare Hard top (shown with hood ) , also ex factory reverse fitted £12 extra !!! - but remember in those you needed a full licence to drive a threewheeler with reverse . But I passed the test in the Bond , and in later years had to pass a further test for the 4 wheeler !

first car, costing £50, was a minivan, in 1970, sold a couple of years later for £55  :thumbsup:

best is the Volvo XC70 in use at the moment, which cost a lot more than £50  :'(

in between there have been

a Ford Anglia,

a mk.1 Ford Escort,

a couple of mk.3 Ford Cortinas,

a Ford Sierra estate,

an ex army LWB Landrover FFR

a Landrover 110 County V8 3.5

a Suzuki Grand Vitara

a Suzuki Grand Vitara XL7

a Hyundai Santa Fe

frightening to think how much I've spent on cars over the years  :hmmm:

RHT200M a 1973 mk3 1.6 Cortina, yellow with an immaculate black vinyl roof bought for £380 in 1984 I think. After a couple of years the camshaft went (quite normal for the Cortina) and a mechanic friend of mine sold me a reconditioned head with high lift cams for £50 and offered to fit it for nothing. He then found the piston rings were on their way out so I PXed the short engine for a 2 litre and had the head fitted to that. It left most cars behind at the lights after that. I never really understood the 'high lift cam' + bigger short engine = a faster car off the blocks as I'm no mechanic but I was happy with it. I'm sure I have a picture of it (and all my other cars) somewhere and will upload it if I do  :thumbsup:

My first car was a 1982 Vauxhall Chevette in bright orange !  :sick2:

Little did I know what I'd started... I passed my test in 1994 and since then I have had 76 cars ! That's an average of almost 4 cars a year, it all started when I crashed my first car (most first cars end their life this way !) and I decided that rather than spend a fortune buying nice cars I'll just buy bangers thinking I'll save money.... How wrong could I have been ?

I have kept a record of every car car I've owned and so far my car history has cost my nearly £45,000 !!! My current car is a 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.0 CRDi which I'm actually very happy with, chances are I may actually keep it long enough to MOT it !

If enough people are interested I'll show the whole list..... It'll take ages to post !

4x2

Very interesting info.  While the list 'details' don't interest me per se, what I AM interested in is to learn when you started to move away from 'British' and into 'Foreign'; and the path you took to reach your current Hyundai.

Did you follow the 'Continental European' path (Renault, Fiat, Merc etc.), or go via the 'American' route?  Or, if neither was the case (which leave only Japanese and Korean)at what point did you decide to go 'Asian' and for what reason/s?

I'm asking these questions in support of a theory that it is actually possible to determine with some accuracy the year in which the British motor vehicle industry stared its descent into oblivion; the hypothesis being that this occurred when the first mass- importation of 'pre-loved' Japanese vehicles came into the UK (as it did in New Zealand, where it subsequently destroyed the local car assembly industry, largely due to volume and a massive decrease in price compared with the local product).  Although in New Zealand this occurred 1986/1987, I suspect that in the UK it was considerably later.

As you can 'track' your vehicle purchases with some accuracy, I suspect that you may be able to follow this path and would be interested in learning when the 'swing away' from the home-grown product started.

Thanks.

     

Interesting subject - the decline of the British Motor Industry, and the rise in foreign Imports.

Personally I think one of the triggers was the British Leyland "troubles" of the late 70's, when "Red Robbo" was constantly making headlines due to all the "Strikes" taking place at the Car Manufacturing Plants in the Midlands, and the workforce seem to "throw" British cars together without taking any care in the product they were making, and quality control was virtually non existent.

I have never "owned" a Japanese car (although have driven plenty), and the only "foreigner" I bought was a second hand Mercedes 230E which I ran for 17 years with only 2 failures, one head gasket failure , and one new altenator. I only sold it when we emigrated as I couldn't drive that and my Triumph Stag to Tenerife at the same time.

My wife on the other hand has had a couple of Nissan Bluebirds and a couple of Hondas, the last Honda (an Accord) we did drive to Tenerife in 2005 and is still going strong here although it is now nearly 20 years old (the Stag is approaching 40 years old by the way).

To be honest if asked to recommend a "reliable" car to buy by someone, I would say go Japanese (or Korean), although VWs seem very well made, and they now own "Skoda" whose cars Taxi drivers here are buying to replace their Mercs. 

what ! no tarted up dash boards ?  :D

Quote from: mr bachmann on April 23, 2015, 01:45:40 PM
what ! no tarted up dash boards ?  :D

If you like "modified" dashbords - what about this one - bet you can't guess the make and model of car?

(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Car%20Photos/IMG_1116.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Car%20Photos/IMG_1116.jpg.html)

My first car was a Vauxhall Nova SR. Now drive a VW Scirocco R-line.

Quote from: Tdm on April 23, 2015, 03:18:45 PM

Quote from: mr bachmann on April 23, 2015, 01:45:40 PM
what ! no tarted up dash boards ?  :D

If you like "modified" dashbords - what about this one - bet you can't guess the make and model of car?

(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Car%20Photos/IMG_1116.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Car%20Photos/IMG_1116.jpg.html)

R5 GT turbo !

No its not an R5 - if you want a clue it is not a French car.

Not sure those seat covers would do your Farmer Giles much good :worried:

I shall be leaving to run the Quiz in our Bar shortly.

If anyone wants a further clue as to the identity of the car I featured with the brightly coloured dashboard, make a post on here and I will respond when I get back home at about 11pm or so depending how quick the Quiz goes and how good the beer is tonight.

Of course it could be that by then someone has been able to correctly name it?

Quote from: Tdm on April 23, 2015, 04:46:20 PM
No its not an R5 - if you want a clue it is not a French car.

It's got to be a Honda then, most likely a civic... not much there to figure it out !

Sorry - wrong again - will post a picture below taken from outside the car - see if that helps?,
but be aware the ouside has been modified too.

(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Car%20Photos/IMG_1114.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Car%20Photos/IMG_1114.jpg.html)

Quote from: Komata on April 23, 2015, 08:15:55 AM
4x2

Very interesting info.  While the list 'details' don't interest me per se, what I AM interested in is to learn when you started to move away from 'British' and into 'Foreign'; and the path you took to reach your current Hyundai.

Did you follow the 'Continental European' path (Renault, Fiat, Merc etc.), or go via the 'American' route?  Or, if neither was the case (which leave only Japanese and Korean)at what point did you decide to go 'Asian' and for what reason/s?

I'm asking these questions in support of a theory that it is actually possible to determine with some accuracy the year in which the British motor vehicle industry stared its descent into oblivion; the hypothesis being that this occurred when the first mass- importation of 'pre-loved' Japanese vehicles came into the UK (as it did in New Zealand, where it subsequently destroyed the local car assembly industry, largely due to volume and a massive decrease in price compared with the local product).  Although in New Zealand this occurred 1986/1987, I suspect that in the UK it was considerably later.

As you can 'track' your vehicle purchases with some accuracy, I suspect that you may be able to follow this path and would be interested in learning when the 'swing away' from the home-grown product started.

Thanks.

   

Hi Komota, I have had quite a random collection of cars over the years... In the UK most makes are available and all are well supported so really which car you choose tends to boil down to cost and toy count (AC, electric windows etc). I personally am a Ford fan (9x Fiesta's 3x Escort's 3x Sierra's and more !) so Ford has always been my first choice, however recently in the UK we had a 'Scrapage Scheme' which offered anyone with an old car £2000 off a new car when they part exchanged their old banger... Thousands of good cars were scrapped and new car sales took off... In the UK Ford, VW and Vauxhall tend to dominate new sales so second hand sales tend to follow, leaving the cheaper Asian cars for the budget buyers (like me). My current car, a Hyundai Santa Fe was purchased for a fraction of what it was worth 2 years ago and it's much more reliable than the equivalent Landrover Freelander (known for shreading it's transfer box amongst other things !).

My Dad has also just bought a Kia Rio, he said 'Best little car I've ever owned' and he's a fussy @#@#@# !

Hope that helps  :thumbsup:

Quote from: Tdm on April 23, 2015, 10:26:02 PM
Sorry - wrong again - will post a picture below taken from outside the car - see if that helps?,
but be aware the ouside has been modified too.

(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Car%20Photos/IMG_1114.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Car%20Photos/IMG_1114.jpg.html)

Last guess then... Toyota MR2 ?

O.K. If your giving up I'll show you a picture of the production car.

The red car is a heavilly modified Mitsubishi Colt Starion Turbo.

Would you like me to post some pictures of other cars that you might not immediately recognise?  ;)

(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Model%20Railway/1982_mitsubishi_starion_turbo.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Model%20Railway/1982_mitsubishi_starion_turbo.jpg.html)

Quote from: Tdm on April 23, 2015, 10:57:21 PM
O.K. If your giving up I'll show you a picture of the production car.

The red car is a heavilly modified Mitsubishi Colt Starion Turbo.

(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Model%20Railway/1982_mitsubishi_starion_turbo.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Model%20Railway/1982_mitsubishi_starion_turbo.jpg.html)

wow... The standard car looks so much better... I always liked the starion but they are so rare !

Quote from: Komata on April 23, 2015, 08:15:55 AMWhile the list 'details' don't interest me per se, what I AM interested in is to learn when you started to move away from 'British' and into 'Foreign';

Did you follow the 'Continental European' path (Renault, Fiat, Merc etc.), or go via the 'American' route?  Or, if neither was the case (which leave only Japanese and Korean)at what point did you decide to go 'Asian' and for what reason/s?

I moved away from Austin/Morris/British Lealand/its predecessors/ heirs and succesors/ when they ceased trading !

Red Robo was a political nuisance and did cause the decline , but do his worst - it was still fixable with a whitworth here and a 10thou there.
did though get a bit fed up at one point and looked at a Renault, but there was a 9month waiting list ! Ha !

Now, for new I would do the cheapest (ex - east -) european, [except for son-in-law who keeps finding us good deals on 220th-hand ricegrinders - - I'm not proud ;) as long as it works and has 4 wheels, one on each corner , and the far easern stuff seems to just keep going and going ! ]

Well, I certainly started something !!
I have owned a number of cars in my lifetime, some of which were, (in no particular order), 2 x Mk2 Cortinas, Triumph 1500, Hillman Avenger, (that was such a rust bucket, I drove for long enough with a piece of wood in the footwell to stop me using my feet as brakes  :smiley-laughing:). I have also had a Morris Marina, Austin Princess, a BMW 3 and a 5 series. The best car I ever owned in the UK was a Sunbeam Rapier H120 - what a car, it was gold in colour with two red stripes down the sides - if memory serves me correctly, it was registed AHV360G. I think it was the Mk5 Rapier, with engine and other bits tuned by Holbay Racing engines, (hence the H120). The one and only time I hit someone was in this car - a teenager was at the side of the road with his Mum, me thinks, "He's gonna run" - I took foot off accelerator, started braking, he ran, I hit him  :censored: His leg was broken in two places and I only had a slight dent in the bonnet leading edge. When we decided to move to Ireland, I bought an old transit, made two trips on the ferry with all our wordly goods, (I refused to make a third trip  :no:) and then sold it when an engine blanking plug (?) went and would not stay in its hole. I am currently on my third Opel (Vauxhall) Astra. I bought the latest in July 2013, as new, although it was one that the dealer had registered in January, (to artificially inflate the sales figures!), so technically, it was second hand. However it only had 36km (23 miles) on the clock. It is the saloon version which, for some reason, Opel/Vauxhall did not release in the UK.  :(  David.

I don't think most of you guys will like my cars!  I think you may see a trend in my car preference in terms of where they are manufactured:

• Silver 1992 Honda 1.5L  Civic LSi (FIRST CAR IN 2001)
  Aquamarine 1993 Toyota 2.0L MK 2 MR2 GT-i (ended up totally modified with rare Toyota 2.0L VVt-i engine, custom ECU and dyno'd about the most powerful naturally aspirated MR2 anywhere)
  Astral Black 1995 Toyota 2.0L Gen 6 Celica GT4 (4wd, turbo, JDM)
  Blue 1994 3.0L MK 1 Toyota Aristo (3.0L twin turbo, same engine later put in the Supra, JDM)
  Blue grey 1988 1.6L petrol MK 1 VW Caddy –stripped down and re-furbished by me
  White 1994 2.0L Gen 6 Celica GT4 WRC (4wd, turbo, WRC homologation model number 1,500'ish of 2,500 made, JDM)
  Silver 2004 Land Rover 1.6L petrol series 2 Freelander
  Silver 2000 Toyota 1.6L MK 3 MR-S (actually wrote this off when a deer jumped in front of me driving it home from buying it, so I only had it a sum total of 3 hours, JDM)
  Blue 2001 Toyota 1.6L MK 3 MR2
  Canary yellow 1995 Toyota 2.0L MK 2 MR2 GT-S (2.0L turbo, with copy TRD wide-body kit fitted, JDM)
  Silver 2003 5.0L Mercedes CL500 coupe
  Metallic white / champagne 1998 Nissan 3.2L TD E50 Elgrand (CURRENT CAR -2015, JDM)

...My preference was and still is pre 2000 Toyotas and much prefer Japanese import's for the spec and better condition.  Not a boy racer but I just like modified Japanese cars and waiting to get another one, only thing is they're all getting a little shabby now for my standards.  For me, pretty much anything post 2000 (any make) is just plain boring and uninteresting in looks and performance.

I have pics of them all, most of them were almost up to show spec, but I don't think you guys want to see a showing of Jap cars.

I just totted up and between 2005 and 2009 I also had 11 works cars, all 4x4 SUV's and pick-ups including Defenders.  This is the first year since 2005 I have only had one car (usually had 2-3 at any one time).

TDM:  If you're into classics I'm not sure if you'll ever end up in Berlin (you may have already been) but you might want to check this place out:

http://www.remise.de/Classic-Remise-Berlin.php (http://www.remise.de/Classic-Remise-Berlin.php)

I couldn't believe the amount and quality of the classics stored there when I visited the other year!

Rich



Rich

Nothing wrong with Japanese cars... I'd love to get my hands on a clean R32 Skyline GTR, I say clean because I like stock on the outside, but crazy under the bonnet !

Ditto but an R33 V-Spec GTR for me :thumbsup:


Paul

QuoteNothing wrong with Japanese cars... I'd love to get my hands on a clean R32 Skyline GTR, I say clean because I like stock on the outside, but crazy under the bonnet !

...I can't resist then, sold as a Lexus GS300 in Europe my MK1 Aristo (next to my MR2).  Big comfy machine, all soft luxury leather, electric everything -even ultrasonic wing mirror for demist, pioneering electrical gizmos back in the day -but nearly 350Bhp under the bonnet.  I just lowered it a tad and had some nice wheels.  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!!)...

(http://i629.photobucket.com/albums/uu17/RSTA/aristoandmr2-2_zpsa4114471.jpg) (http://s629.photobucket.com/user/RSTA/media/aristoandmr2-2_zpsa4114471.jpg.html)

...Was such a mistake selling it.

QuoteNothing wrong with Japanese cars... I'd love to get my hands on a clean R32 Skyline GTR, I say clean because I like stock on the outside, but crazy under the bonnet !

QuoteDitto but an R33 V-Spec GTR for me :thumbsup:

I looked at skylines for a good while, to be honest the 32 takes me more than the 33 or 34.  I really like the G35 in black though and would love to track one down at sensible price.  Looks over performance.  Trouble is trying to get good cars at reasonable price.

If I had choice and good budget though I'd be hard pushed to choose between a Toyota 2000 or an early Z car.  A 3SGE or SR20DET or plus would fit in each size chassis car (wouldn't sacrilege an original car).

If I was rich I would like one each of the following :-

The Merc because I think it is the best looking model they ever produced,
The GTO because I love old American "Muscle" cars,
and the Ferrari because like the Merc, I think it is one of the nicest cars they ever produced.

(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Car%20Photos/3Classics-1.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Car%20Photos/3Classics-1.jpg.html)

I must admit I do like that merc... Well classy  :heart2:

MR TDM I don't disagree with you on 2 accounts and I am with you on the GTO, but in my mind the best looking car ever bar none for me is always the Dino:

(http://i629.photobucket.com/albums/uu17/RSTA/classic%20remise/DSCF0037_zpsb7aefcf1.jpg) (http://s629.photobucket.com/user/RSTA/media/classic%20remise/DSCF0037_zpsb7aefcf1.jpg.html)

...what car is this? ( I may have given too much away)

(http://i629.photobucket.com/albums/uu17/RSTA/guess%202.jpg) (http://s629.photobucket.com/user/RSTA/media/guess%202.jpg.html)

Lamborghini LM002?

Tdm

Absolutely agree about the Merc (220 SE model?) - a really beautiful car, and IMHO, a more graceful design than the later 280 SL  'Pagoda' - especially in the dark maroon scheme that the vehicle in the image is wearing.

FWIW: A one-owner, well-garaged and carefully maintained 'maroon' 220 SE  lives locally, the original purchaser's widow using it as a 'shopping basket'. It is truly a work of art, and being one owner, is absolutely immaculate. it ALWAYS gets admiring looks as it drives by. No doubt the owner has received some potentially-lucrative offers.
   

Mini 850cc Estate.
Graduated over years to Japanese .
Last 3 Cars have all been Subaru with a Toyota, Mitsubishi, and Suzuki before that.

My first car was a Hillman Imp bought from next door before they emigrated. My brother and I spent a good while fixing it up and fitting a rather sexy (in 1979) front air-dam, it was then repainted metallic blue!

We rebuilt the engine too, I passed my test in it and it was loads of fun even if it had the annoying habit (like many Imps) of blowing the cylinder-head/gasket, meaning water in the cylinders. As I understand it a big problem with the Imp's all aluminium engine being in the back and getting too hot. We had fixing it down to a fine art, could have the engine out, head off, reground the head flat (grinding paste and a big bit of plate glass) new gasket and back together in about three hours!

Next car was a Mini Clubman followed by a couple of Ford Escorts (A Mk2 and Mk3). Favoured choice from 1987 to last year were various incarnations of VW Golf and Polo (three of each) and my current car is a Seat (so same family).

Roy

My first car was a Daf 66.

Very basic but a great car to learn maintenance on.
One thing I remember about it, it was belt driven. The belt went between 2 cones and as you got faster, the cones moved apart on springs. A bit like an automatic. The same design was later used in the Volvo 340 I think.
Because of this arrangement, it could go as fast backward as it could forward which was a little disconcerting if you forgot.

All you had to control direction was what looked like an umbrella handle coming up from the floor. You put it forward and you went forward. in the middle was neutral and move it back, you were in reverse.


I remember once going down Stokenchurch hill in it with 3 friends and decided to see how fast it would go. I bottled it at 98mph and slowed down but the car was still accelerating at that point.

Then moved on to a Talbot Sunbean, Talbot Horizon and then an Austin Maestro - Lovely car

Quote from: Roy L S on April 25, 2015, 11:27:13 AM
My first car was a Hillman Imp bought from next door before they emigrated. My brother and I spent a good while fixing it up and fitting a rather sexy (in 1979) front air-dam, it was then repainted metallic blue!

We rebuilt the engine too, I passed my test in it and it was loads of fun even if it had the annoying habit (like many Imps) of blowing the cylinder-head/gasket, meaning water in the cylinders. As I understand it a big problem with the Imp's all aluminium engine being in the back and getting too hot. We had fixing it down to a fine art, could have the engine out, head off, reground the head flat (grinding paste and a big bit of plate glass) new gasket and back together in about three hours!

Next car was a Mini Clubman followed by a couple of Ford Escorts (A Mk2 and Mk3). Favoured choice from 1987 to last year were various incarnations of VW Golf and Polo (three of each) and my current car is a Seat (so same family).

Roy

as you say the Hillman Limp problems is rear engine - but the problem is the car is moving forward , and the radiator and water pump with cooling fan attached is pushing the air forward to ! , this along with the shape of the car whilst on the move creates a vacuum of a few inch's , and the poor fan is then deemed useless .  Hence the engine over heats then inside the cylinder block the bores (steel linings) expand and move under vibration and cant move further for the cylinder head (aluminium) is bolted down and unfortunately the gasket is the week spot .

I still run my be-loved Imp engine , now sporting a front mounted radiator   ....
[smg id=24401 type=preview align=center caption="IMG 2208 Copy"] 

Quote from: mr bachmann on April 25, 2015, 03:38:27 PM

as you say the Hillman Limp problems is rear engine - but the problem is the car is moving forward , and the radiator and water pump with cooling fan attached is pushing the air forward to ! , this along with the shape of the car whilst on the move creates a vacuum of a few inch's , and the poor fan is then deemed useless .  Hence the engine over heats then inside the cylinder block the bores (steel linings) expand and move under vibration and cant move further for the cylinder head (aluminium) is bolted down and unfortunately the gasket is the week spot .

I still run my be-loved Imp engine , now sporting a front mounted radiator   ....
[smg id=24401 type=preview align=center caption="IMG 2208 Copy"]

Wow, what is that? I feel I should recognise it but don't.

Regarding the Imp, it was innovative in so many ways, including that light aluminium engine which we used to detach from stub axles (rubber "donught" CV joints) and a few other places and wheel out on a trolley-jack, but I never could figure how the radiator and fan tucked out the way as it was could possibly be effective in keeping the engine cool. I had so much fun in the car, but it was nowhere near as nice as my mum's Singer Chamois from a few years earlier, my dad reckoned it's engine was a 998cc and it certainly did go well and never had the engine problems my Imp did.

Regards

Roy

Quote from: Trev on April 25, 2015, 02:21:40 PM
My first car was a Daf 66.

One thing I remember about it, it was belt driven. The belt went between 2 cones and as you got faster, the cones moved apart on springs. A bit like an automatic. The same design was later used in the Volvo 340 I think.

Correct on all counts :thumbsup:
It's called a 'Continuously Variable Transmission' (CVT) and yes the Volvo 340 used it too. The cones one end move apart while the pair at the other end move together to take up the slack in the belt. Ford fitted it to some models of Fiesta in later years as well :)

Quote. . . and then an Austin Maestro - Lovely car

I've had three Montegos in the past at various times - a 1.6L, a 2.0 Vanden Plas, and an MG Turbo - great cars, much maligned without good reason, never had a problem with any of them. The Turbo was a fantastic car, faster and better handling than the Escort RS Turbo, as  many of the local boy-racers found out ;)


Paul

Passed my test at 17(50 years ago :o) and for the princly sum of £45 i brought a 1948 Ford Prefect, the sit up and beg variety as some called em, very similar to the Pop but four doors and with a three speed crash gearbox :doh:. Got a good deal of use out of it before it finally gave up the ghost.
Great when you slung it into a bend and the a##e drifted out :bounce:. One problem was in the rain, the wipers were on a vacum so the faster you drove the slower they went  :o :D and pretty damn cold in the winter with no heater., however you could open the windscreen slightly via a screww mechanism on the dash which was good in the summer 8)

Quote from: Sprintex on April 25, 2015, 06:51:51 PM

I've had three Montegos in the past at various times - a 1.6L, a 2.0 Vanden Plas, and an MG Turbo - great cars, much maligned without good reason, never had a problem with any of them. The Turbo was a fantastic car, faster and better handling than the Escort RS Turbo, as  many of the local boy-racers found out ;)


Paul

For a while I was put onto work hire cars rather than be provided. At that period Group "C" was Sierra/Cavalier/Montego territory.

I dreaded getting a Montego, as it was pretty much guaranteed that it would have bad faults (this with nearly new cars).

One was on the motorway and there was a loud clatter from under the dash and something hit my foot. Stopping was difficult as the throttle had jammed part open. The noise was several large screws which had fallen from somewhere in the steering column area. Two had stuck into the throttle pivot.

Another time I was delivered an Auto with less than 50 miles on it.  When out of Drive it had a massive scraping noise from the gearbox. After it running for a minute or so there were metal "filings" dropping onto the ground from it when off load. When rung, they said they were short of cars and I should "drive it till it broke". I went Bromley/Croydon/Harrow/Peterborough/Norwich/Bromley that day. At the end of that it had ground 1/4" away from the bell housing, visible through a presumably missing cover hole, and was quiet!!

Another one had a switch for a clutch, or that's how it felt. That one leaked around the windscreen like a sieve, too.

The door handles and locks were weak, and came loose, too. And that's only examples.

Sorry, but I think from bitter experience they deserved ALL the flak they got.  Poor design, assembled by untrained monkeys using only hammers. You must have been VERY lucky!!!

Cavaliers were not great either, esp ones with no power steering as the gearing was SO low after one roundabout you were knackered. Very little fell off though.

Sierra best to drive of a not very good bunch.  (and I'm not a Ford fan).

My first car was a 1960 Riley 1.5 with 8" steel rims, four spotlights, etc. 706 PPD.  Kept it nearly five years. Replaced by an Austin 1800 which was bored to 2.1 litre, Stage 3 tuned and London/Sydney Marathon specced out. KYO 813D.  (Rallied that a little)

My First car was a Austin 7 mini, bought for me by my parents when I was 18. I had passed my test learning to drive my dads Morris Traveler and later a Mk1 Ford Escort 1300cc Estate.  I was a biker and was on my 3 rd bike a new 1968 Triumph Bonniville 650cc.
My dad had been giving me lessons then stopped because he wanted me to have my long hair cut. When he got the Escort I had my hair cut and then passed my test, they bought the mini hoping I would get rid of the bike, I run both for a while before buying a Ford Mk2 Cortina Estate, by then I was working for Ford too.

Quote from: Bad Raven on April 25, 2015, 10:07:38 PM

I dreaded getting a Montego, as it was pretty much guaranteed that it would have bad faults (this with nearly new cars).

You must have been VERY lucky!!!

Two of mine were a year old when bought and the third was three years old, and two of them were owned for over three years without any faults. My dad also had six Montegos in succession as company cars covering 40k miles a year as an Auditor - all faultless.

I counter that you must have been VERY unlucky :)


Paul

My first was a Triumph a 1965 Herald 1200 estate bought after my first year at university in 1974. It was a great little car, especially at the begining and end of terms, but it had a serious rust problem and had to go in 1978. I still have the original black number plates and the black ball from the top of the gear stick! My next car was a Triumph Spitfire which didn't last very long at all. It was years before I bought another car--a VW Polo.

Quote from: Sprintex on April 25, 2015, 06:51:51 PM

Quote from: Trev on April 25, 2015, 02:21:40 PM
My first car was a Daf 66.

One thing I remember about it, it was belt driven. The belt went between 2 cones and as you got faster, the cones moved apart on springs. A bit like an automatic. The same design was later used in the Volvo 340 I think.

Correct on all counts :thumbsup:
It's called a 'Continuously Variable Transmission' (CVT) and yes the Volvo 340 used it too. The cones one end move apart while the pair at the other end move together to take up the slack in the belt. Ford fitted it to some models of Fiesta in later years as well :)

DAF's system was called Variomatic; an interesting feature of the DAF transmission was the absence of a differential.  The pulleys automatically adjusted to compensate for different wheel speeds when cornering.  This meant no loss of drive if one wheel was on a slippery surface.

Modern CVTs replace the rubber belts with a steel belt in a much more compact package; only one belt with a conventional differential final drive so you no longer get the limited-slip differential benefit.

Back in the 1990s a Williams F1 car was fitted with an experimental CVT; it proved capable of lapping Silverstone much faster than an otherwise identical car with conventional sequential manual transmission.  In fact it was so effective the FIA promptly banned the CVT; so much for Formula 1 representing the pinnacle of automotive engineering...

My first car was a Morris Marina 1.3L estate -Say no more!.

Quote from: Toneeze on April 26, 2015, 09:43:34 AM
My first car was a Morris Marina 1.3L estate -Say no more!.

A 1.8 Morris Marina Super Coupe replaced a Spitfire I had that someone ran into and wrote off, and I had no problems with the car - the 1.8 engine being the same as fitted to the MGB but with only one carburretor.

It had great "torque" and would accellerate in top gear from low speed with no problems at all and leave other cars standing and without the need to change down a gear. After 3 years  it passed on to my father who then ran it for a good many more years without a problem.

Quote from: Roy L S on April 25, 2015, 05:24:48 PM

Quote from: mr bachmann on April 25, 2015, 03:38:27 PM

as you say the Hillman Limp problems is rear engine - but the problem is the car is moving forward , and the radiator and water pump with cooling fan attached is pushing the air forward to ! , this along with the shape of the car whilst on the move creates a vacuum of a few inch's , and the poor fan is then deemed useless .  Hence the engine over heats then inside the cylinder block the bores (steel linings) expand and move under vibration and cant move further for the cylinder head (aluminium) is bolted down and unfortunately the gasket is the week spot .

I still run my be-loved Imp engine , now sporting a front mounted radiator   ....
[smg id=24401 type=preview align=center caption="IMG 2208 Copy"]

Wow, what is that? I feel I should recognise it but don't.

Regarding the Imp, it was innovative in so many ways, including that light aluminium engine which we used to detach from stub axles (rubber "donught" CV joints) and a few other places and wheel out on a trolley-jack, but I never could figure how the radiator and fan tucked out the way as it was could possibly be effective in keeping the engine cool. I had so much fun in the car, but it was nowhere near as nice as my mum's Singer Chamois from a few years earlier, my dad reckoned it's engine was a 998cc and it certainly did go well and never had the engine problems my Imp did.

Regards

Roy

Hi Roy , and for the others , its a 1969 Bond 875 this one is the Mk 2 version , only les than 3500 made both Mk 1 & 2's , great design from prototype but been a three wheeler the goverment laws was under 8 cwt , the 875 weighed in at near 9 cwt - so Bonds had to loose 1 cwt , starting with the front end -grill/mudguard/headlight dish's/bronze stearing bearings/spare wheel/petrol tank filler spouting/and loosing 2 tank securing brackets . Then the doors winding gear/glass windows/inside door handles even lighter seat frames , and then its the motors turn down grade from 10 to 1 compresion to 8 to 1 ( Imp van engine) after all that the car was passed fit to use - but by this time those that had orderd the car got fed up and went for the other make .

Still with the low compresion engine the claim was 0-60 in 12 seconds - but this 8 was more the norm , top end could see the pointer hovering in the upper 90's .
Not very sought after to-day , easy £'s to get hold of - only a few on the club register .

I passed my test on a Triumph Herald. I would love to have one now.
My first car was a white Hillman Imp. A great car. It burnt a valve out but was still under warranty. I sold it and bought a 1949 MG TC for GBP220. I completely rebuilt the car from chassis upwards. I never had the top up, always just the tonneau cover, summer or winter. Sold it when I got married, should have stayed single :D
I now run a 10 year old Kia Sorento.

Bargain £99 pound Hillman imp van in 1975
Several cars later
Now Toyota aygo , doesn't seem as much fun
Prefer bike when weather not too inclement

Austin A40  1100 engine.  Grey with cream roof.  FHX653B.  Learned on it and passed my test in it in Aug 1972.  TPFT insurance for a new learner in April 72 was just under £37.   Sold it Nov 73 and bought a Morris 1300 Estate car.  Better for carrying railways!!  Ands faster but not too expensive to insure.

Quote from: Mito on April 26, 2015, 09:14:58 PM
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.

Quote from: RST on April 24, 2015, 10:09:31 PM
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 (https://www.vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/) it died in 1994  :thumbsdown:

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 :laugh3: :laugh3: :claphappy: :heart2:

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

OK - back on topic now sorry for the interruption.

Quote from: Greybeema on April 25, 2015, 07:56:59 AM
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 :thumbsup:  Bit like this minus the fogs...
(http://[url=http://www.vertar.com/images/cotm/ford-escort-mk-1-701_2_large.jpg%5Dhttp://www.vertar.com/images/cotm/ford-escort-mk-1-701_2_large.jpg%5B/url%5D)

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

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).

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.

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

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

(http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22727/Riley_Front3s.jpg)

(http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22727/Riley_Rear1s.jpg)

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........................

(http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22727/Karts.jpg)

Did you replace the steering wheel by a shirt button ? :)

Quote from: joe cassidy on June 25, 2017, 09:07:58 PM
Did you replace the steering wheel by a shirt button ? :)

:bounce:

It was a TRIFLE heavier.........................................   :D

Quote from: Bad Raven on June 25, 2017, 09:00:56 PM
..
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.
...

8) Yes, pimped out Riley. :thumbsup:

Quote from: RailGooner on June 25, 2017, 09:12:37 PM

Quote from: Bad Raven on June 25, 2017, 09:00:56 PM
..
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.
...

8) Yes, pimped out Riley. :thumbsup:

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.

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

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.

Quote from: RailGooner on June 25, 2017, 09:21:31 PM
:laughabovepost: 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....................

                                                                                                 :veryangry:

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. :D

My first car was a 1969 Mini Traveller (the station wagon with the 'Tudor half timbered' effect) which I got just before I started university in 1983. It was fine until two things happened:

• The gear lever started popping out of the gearbox in my hand during driving! Very disconcering at first!
• I knocked a rock on a country road upwards such that it punched a hole in the fuel tank and I couldn't afford to fix it

My second car was a similar age Mark 1 Escort that was an absolute pile of  :poop: and cost me the princely sum of GBP 120.00. It lasted a year. I eventually moved on to a Mark 1 and then a Mark 2 Ford Capri (typical boy racer!) before getting sensible when I went self-employed in 1989 and buying a Vauxhall Cavalier. When I turned 25 I bought an Astra GTE soft top which then I sold when as a result of my move to the UAE in 1991.

Out there I had three Nissan Patrol 4WDs (an MQ, then a GQ then a GU) before moving to Australia in 2004.

In Australia, I bought another GQ Patrol before buying a 100 Series Land Cruiser which was beautifully set up for outback touring but I never got to do that with it. My current vehicle is a 2013 Prado.

I had a 1993 1.1l Fiesta (in 2004), in a very fetching metallic baby blue, with pink stickers no less, which swiftly got removed. It wasn't too bad actually, you occasionally had to remove the fuel pump fuse as it was a bit keen and would flood the engine when you first stopped after pulling away. I got adept at doing it before the car stalled. I used a concrete pillar to help me park once and it largely shrugged that off.

Replaced with a Peugeot 206, which was actually a great little car, then three successive Golfs, each one getting newer and faster!

My first car - not counting the 'plastic pig' Reliant Regal van I had when, after more than 15 years of two-wheel freedom, my last motorbike had problems - was the best car I have ever owned. No new car since has come close in matching it in terms of pride of ownership and general feel-goodness. It was a Saab 96 with a V4 four-stroke engine and a freewheeling gearbox, that meant it had almost zero engine braking when you took your foot off the accelerator. Lovely driving position, heated front seats, real wood trim, and Saab solidity.

Car's in order of apperance
BMC-Morris 1300 (big mini type)
sold when I moved, as I hadn't passed the test yet.

Ford Anglia Van,
I think it used more oil than fuel, I used to slipstream coaches on the motorways to keep up 70mph.

Ford Zodiac,
bench seat I kept sliding around, it went with many of those cars a warped V4 cylinder head.

BMC- Wolsley 1800,
loved that car really comfortable, some drunk pulled out on me outside Lanark race course on a clear day..

Mini van,
bought in a hurry, I was in the middle of being posted from one RAF camp to another when the above happened.

Triumph 1500 FWD, I quite liked that car, it's clutch failed Christmas day morning as I finished work, I had it loaded with cans of fuel to drive 430 miles to my parents, no food in the house, nothing open...

Chrysler Alpine 1300 FWD, suprisingly good. Towed a 1 ton Boat inc trailer from Norfolk to the Outer Hebridies and back and to Northumberland. Had to go as it was suffering from the hammering it was getting.

Triumph 2000 saloon, towed many thousands of miles loved the overdrive switch, loved the car, split the body shell between the rear wheels with all the towing....

Triumph 2000 saloon, many thousands of miles done, less towing. sold to buy...

Bedford CF Ambulance!!!,  used to go to various places sailing, mast on the roof little boat in the back!!, kip in ambulance at sailing site..

Yugo thing... awful car given to us by SWMBOs brother as SWMBO was too small to drive the CF..

Ford Sierra Estate (with tow bar) SWMBO could manage it, and it would tow boat for two with a lot of gear on board.

Kia Pride our first new car (I was working in Saudi by this time I had some money for a change) Specifically bought for SWMBO while I was out there. it  was suffering from over 120,000 mile rust  living so close to the sea, the rust being on body parts repaired by a garage after being hit by an 8X4 sheet of shuttering ply with nails that came off a lorry going the other way on the M6.

Mazda 121 I had in Saudi for the duration ,bought very secondhand  for about £400, mechanically the same as a Kia pride.

Kia Rio, the replacement for the Pride some time after I got home using the Scrappage scheme, effectively it cost us £6000, they are well over £12,000 now.
still got it very reliable, heading for 90,000 miles on the clock.

Land Rover 110 1984 van body, NO, it's NOT a Defender, that name didn't come out till 1991. Bought as a tow car during the days of the Kia Pride.
Still going strong, but it has now got A galvanized chassis, galvanised Bulkhead, galvanised frame doors, stainless exhaust, much sound and heat proofing, a 200TDI engine and Discovery Gearbox. I use it a lot towing and carrying stuff from DIY Sheds.

Since I keep mentioning towing...

Laser Dinghy, sold when I had to move up to a 2 person boat,

Lark Dinghy, very old, eventually broke it's back scrapped.

Ospray dinghy, bought as a wreck, sailed using the Lark mast.

Lysander 17ft sailing cruiser sailed anywhere from the Outer Hebridies to Norfolk, towed that many miles, eventually succumbed to woodworm.

16ft home designed and built by me in Saudi, mini keel boat, now 20 years old undergoing a full rebuild and modification.

27ft Motorboat not a wreck, but not far from it, has now been re-engined as a diesel electric with generator, the window seals are knackered, which is the next task before rebuilding the inside.


if that lot hasn't bored you nothing will.. :)

Ah, you want to be bored, Eh? NO problem................

Riley One Point Five (as previous post)
Austin 1800 (bored to max and stage three)
Austin Maxi Mk2  (Baby carrier period)
Fiat 132 (twin cam 5 speed close ratio boxed rocket in sheeps clothing, "Mafia Staff Car")
Toyota 1000 (grotty looking saloon but the engine was a real shock when tested, then realised it was what they were winning all F3 races with at the time!!)
Nissan Stanza Coupe
Nissan Cherry (new)
Fiat 126 (at same time as Cherry)
Toyota Corolla (post "hurricane" damaged repaired new bought for a song! Replaced Fiat 126)
Mazda 626 1600cc (replaced Cherry)
Ford Ka (new, replaced Corolla)
Mazda 626 2000cc EGI
Mazda 626 Coupe
Mazda MX6 (superb 2.5 V6!)
Ford Focus Mk1 2.0 Ghia (new, job car then bought)
Ford Focus Mk1 1.8 TDCi (new)

Current pair

Hyundai i20 (modded, new)
Skoda Octavia Estate 2.0 TDi (new)

I'll not list all the two wheels or the historic commercials (lorries and buses).

My first car was a blue and white Ford 105E I had it for about nine years  ,me and a mate rebuilt the engine on the kitchen table as a part of his apprenticeship at Fords ,We done a little bit each night and too the exact tollerances as per the book .My Mum wasnt very happy about that but she enjoyed the trips out in it .When we started it up it went first turn of the key.
My second car was a Mk 2 Cortina it was one of the very first built and actually had a de ratated  Mk 1 1600cc engine because it was one built in a hurry to get it to the big car show.I had that for about the same time and I put inch and a half wheel spacers on the back and inch and a  quarter spacers on the front ,and spring assisters front and rear as well, it used to corner as if it was on rails .I used to tow a Sprite Alpine caravan with it  went all over the South West with it .Vals favourite car was our Mk 2 Capri she would love another one but that was absolutely usless as a tow car the back was far too light.

OK, here goes - main car only

1964 Austin A40  (1100 engine)   1972-73  Grey with cream roof.  I learned and passed my test on this.  Initial TPFT insurance cost me c £36 - I was 19 with no NCD.  Petrol usually 32.5p a gallon
1968 Morris 1300 Estate Car  1973-77   Dark blue
1972 Morris Marina 1.3  4 Door   1977-84  dark blue
1982 Austin Maxi Mk 2 1750cc   1984-87  dark blue
1984 Austin Maestro 1600  1987-91  (This proved to be a very expensive lemon)  Creamish
1989 Ford Escort 1300    1991-94  Dark blue
1990 Vauxhall Cavalier 1800 Hatchback  1994-97  White (never again)
(Can;t remember the year of registration) Ford Mondeo Estate  1800  1997-2002  (dark blue again!)
2001 Peugeot 307  1600  2002-09  (dealers lease car)  Metallic Silver
2008 Peugeot 207 1600 diesel  Estate  2009-2013  (dealers demo car)  Metallic dark grey
New VW Golf H/B  1.2 S  85bhp  2013-2016  Bright Red
New VW Golf H/B  1.0 Match 115bhp  2016-    Metallic Grey

 :hellosign: My first car was a Morris Marina estate in red with a 1.3L engine, the gear lever came out in my hand , lucky I was n`t moving at the time. The car really only had one use and I leave that to your imagination!.   

In order of acquisition/disposal, my first 20 years of car ownership:

1980-82). 1966 Hillman Super Minx LJD888D in green. Three accidents, three bonnets, two boots, and fluffy seat covers a la Huggy Bear in Kojak. No power steering, no servo assisted brakes. A great addition to your collection, as Mr Antique Toys might say!

1982-86). 1973 Cortina Mk 3 LX SPF371M in Daytona Yellow with black plastic seats. handy bolt on wings for when the old ones corroded.

1987-90). 1984 Vauxhall Nova 1.2 L A324NTT in GWR Chocolate with cream fabric seats. Best investment as a car ever. Bought for £3200, sold 4 years and 30,000 miles later for £2000. Needed extra lead in petrol to stop it pinking though, and slowed to about 30 going up Telegraph Hill outside Exeter.

1990-92). 1988 Vauxhall Belmont 1.6 L F21HKX. dark metallic blue which flaked off like dandruff. Shouldn't happen they said.

1992-94) Rover 216SLi H102WDU in pulsar silver. Woarrrrrrrrrr. Loverly Honda engine. Had to sell as I got the first of three company cars, which was...

1994-95) Brand new Rover 214 SLi in antique gold. Pah. Rover K engine. Pah. Dashboard fell out one day. Burned out three rear windscreen wiper motors. Skidded off road twice before finally wrapping it around a line of trees and denting every panel in a flat 360 spin. Prescribed diazepam as a muscle relaxant so I would not get whiplash after the accident. Those were the days!

1995-97) Rover 216 GTi 3-door in solid white. Now we are talking.

1997-99) Honda Civic 1.8 VTi in Pirate's Black, (or as I pronounced it, Pi-ra-tees as in Pilates) a lovely metallic aubergine colour with go faster stripes saying VTEC on the sills. What you get when you put a Devil's incarnation of an engine in a Rover 420 hatch. Seriously fast. Loved it. Pi-ra-tees black eh?

1999-2003) Back to reality and not a company car, with Honda Civic Coupe in plain old black.

That's all for now. I'd like to say the cars I had this century were more grown up cars, as I matured, but they are not :)

Bob

The first car I owned was a 1967 Ford Galaxie convertible like this one:

(http://media.motortopia.com/files/4384/vehicle/45e5d7362e168/gal67.jpg)

Could sleep four comfortably.

My First car which was family owned from new was a BL (not Rover according to the log book) Metro 1275 G206WOU in Henley Blue (i still have an aerosol can of that colour). Great car of which i was the 5th family owner from new in 2000 that could out run sports cars in the corners but on the straights lacking a bit of power. Ours had the usual rust and an engine that would run on despite a top end rebuild, valve seat grind and de-coke. I sold it to my uncle in 2002 for £25 when i bought another car which i kept for many many years. Despite all this it went on till 2006 according to the DVLA website.

Talking about Citreon Saxos, i nearly bought a VTR last night which was original and honest for £495, the problem was the 148k on the clock but it was really straight and i thought about having it over the summer to just run it then get rid of it in September.

Richard

My first car was a Standard Companion which I remember very little about except that it carried more rust than paint and metalwork combined.  I paid the grand sum of seven pounds ten shillings (£7.50) for it. It was Portpatrick's mention of fuel prices above that prompted me to make this post.  I clearly remember saying that if petrol ever went over three and six a gallon, I would give up driving and go back to using the bus and the train.  Three shillings and six pence would be equal to seventeen and a half pence (or new pence as I still tend to think of it) in modern speak.
Do I need to say that I didn't stick to that promise to give up driving?  I do however clearly remember the awe and amazement when I first went to live in the US and filled the tank on my hire car (a Chevy Lumina) and got change from nine dollars!!!

Quote from: Zogbert Splod on July 01, 2017, 12:04:07 AM
My first car was a Standard Companion which I remember very little about except that it carried more rust than paint and metalwork combined.  I paid the grand sum of seven pounds ten shillings (£7.50) for it. It was Portpatrick's mention of fuel prices above that prompted me to make this post.  I clearly remember saying that if petrol ever went over three and six a gallon, I would give up driving and go back to using the bus and the train.  Three shillings and six pence would be equal to seventeen and a half pence (or new pence as I still tend to think of it) in modern speak.
Do I need to say that I didn't stick to that promise to give up driving?  I do however clearly remember the awe and amazement when I first went to live in the US and filled the tank on my hire car (a Chevy Lumina) and got change from nine dollars!!!

I moved to the US in 1995 when gas was $0.89/gallon, so I am appalled at paying $2.99/gallon today!!!

To stick to the topic, my first car in the UK was a Renault 4 (bench front seat, weird gear stick coming out horizontally from the dashboard). My first car in the US was a Jeep Grand Cherokee, which must have been pretty soon after that model first came out. Quite a contrast to the R4!

MGB on arrival in Australia. Convertible. Sunny climate.

 :You  obviously weren't living in Melbourne...:)

 :laughabovepost:

Quote from: Chetcombe on July 02, 2017, 07:48:33 AM
I moved to the US in 1995 when gas was $0.89/gallon, so I am appalled at paying $2.99/gallon today!!!

Mike, even so the US still has pretty cheap petrol. Here in Oz we pay about $1.30/L. In USD this is about $1/L and so we would be paying about $3.80/US gallon. Our government like to load up the petrol cost with tax, but I gather the stuff is even more expensive in Europe.

My first car was an NSU Sport Prinz which 'boasted' a two cylinder 600 cc engine 30 bhp and a weight of 535 kg so compared to this a mini was large. A dangerous piece of garbage that I only owned for 4 months. I would much rather have owned JayM481's Ford Galaxie as a starter.

(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/53/4229-020717084204.jpeg) (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=53094)

Most of the subsequent cars I've owned would be models that are unfamiliar to those in the UK and Europe. They have included Plymouth Valiants (2-door hard top and 4 door sedan), 2L Ford Capri, HD Holden station wagon, Volkswagen Scirocco, Mazda 1800, Toyota Tercel, Telstar (really a Mazda 626), and a Mitsubishi Magna which is my present car that I've owned for the last 20 years and is now beyond 300,000 km and still running strong. 

My favourite car is the Scirocco (1976) coloured metallic blue with modified suspension and engine, but my best car is the Magna which like my dear fairly recently departed lab cross (Kyla the dog) has been totally reliable and faithful and not fancy in the slightest. The Holden (1965) which is a GM Australian car took me and others right round Australia, burned lots of oil on the way, had marginal steering and brakes, but got us there.

Webbo 

Mine was a fairly knackered Mercedes 190e. It was a J reg in silver/blue and had been nearly round the clock twice when I got it. Was a joy to drive and I'll probably get another one some day...