Boring or wot with no football to enable jugular veins to bulge, the book of profanity to consult and nostrils to flare. So, what is your most missed every day used car you owned from years back? Me, for a while, was misguidedly a greasy motor mechanic so has had over 70 cars down the years, some for about 3 days. My most missed is a 1968 Mk1 Ford Cortina GT 1500. Red, two door and the reg was RGX 873F. Used to carry me to the games in some style I can tell you! Now that was a car. :yay:
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Two: a Triumph Spitfire KKU 975F (Racing Green with two parallel offset silver stripes) or a 1955 Morris Minor 86 BPD. I bought the latter for £40, sold it for £20 in 1976 and in the mid-80s saw the number plate offered for sale in a Sunday paper for £2199.
I miss my yellow 1973 MGB GT had it for about two years in the early 90's and while it caused me nothing but problems, when it did run it was a joy to drive.
Changed my mind. My mgtf the roof was easier to put up and down and it had a boot. One designed for golf clubs to fit it
Funny how we always recall the registration numbers. All good cars mentioned. I did have a 1936 Austin Hertford saloon for sunny days only, 6 cylinder side valve, on the way to being a limousine...and I sold it for £65 in 1975, this still haunts me every day..what was I thinking of!!!!! 090.gif fp.gif
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No car anybody wanted but was cheap so I could afford it and built like a tank. My first car was the poor mans Lada. The Polish FSO. I had the Saloon but also drove the hatchback version. A lorry hit me on a roundabout and the only damage was to the front bumper. You always love your first car.
I knew a bloke who bought an old, probably 1930s, Austin 7 and parked it up on the verge by his crossing-keeper's cottage. It would have been about 1959/60. My dad asked him what he wanted with that old wreck and he said he'd bought it for 30/- (£1.50) and was going to do it up. He didn't and moved away in the 60s. I've checked on it twice since (mid-70s and again this year) and it's still there, now fully integrated with the hedge and well beyond "doing up".
Before I grew up, I was a boy-racer with a series of hot shoes. My favourite car of all was the VW GTI 16v from '86 (?).
My first car was a Mini, followed by a Beetle with a 6 volt battery. The heater never went off and the lights were like candles.
The Mini was the reason I started following Fulham. I had just moved into Doneraile Street and was unaware there was a football ground around the corner. One Saturday afternoon I found four large men picking up my car and moving it within an inch of the car behind so they could park their hideous Ford Zephyr in the enlarged space.
"I say, why are you doing that?", I asked. "What's going on?"
"Fulham, mate," one replied.
It was the first home game featuring Bobby Moore, George Best and Rodney Marsh (beat Hereford 4-1). I missed that one, but went the next week. And for a few years afterwards until kids and emigration put an end to my spectating days.
If that Mini had touched the car behind, it would have fallen apart.
Nogood "ah, mammaries, light the corners of your mind, isit" Boyo
I hated my first car... A 1.6 Ford Sierra. Woefully underpowered, 4-speed, pale blue, and just generally UGH.
I loved my second car... A souped-up silver 3-door Vauxhall Astra. This was before the days of the VRX, but it was a bit of a beast. Getting in the family way made it totally impractical, and so I went for a decked-out low-slung Cavalier SRi, which was a bit of a police magnet!
I don't really miss any of the other motors I have had over the years.
Back in the 90s I just missed a dark blue BMW trying to cut me up at the Southerham roundabout on the A27 three times in one week. Got him in the end though.
Your gonna laugh at this but it was my very first car, a Morris 1000 (Mildred). Though, it never had power steering, so I suppose it would be murder to drive now.
An old P Reg Saab 900......most solid car I've ever driven....I keep my eye out as would like another one
Morris Minor UNJ 910 light green - yuk colour but still had original leather seats and never let me down. I remember a really cold and snowy winter must have been early 80s, and going on Nightshift. All the lads with newer cars had problems but me, no problem - started first time and again in the morning!
Quote from: BestOfBrede on May 24, 2016, 03:31:03 PM
Morris Minor UNJ 910 light green - yuk colour but still had original leather seats and never let me down. I remember a really cold and snowy winter must have been early 80s, and going on Nightshift. All the lads with newer cars had problems but me, no problem - started first time and again in the morning!
And you had a starting handle if you needed it.
1964 Ford Anglia, bought it in 1971 sold it a year later to a friend it was written off soon after I sold it .
Regretted selling it but always said I would get another someday, that day came about 5 years ago when one that had not been on the road in 30 years came up for sale locally, the fruits of my labour can be seen on the left in my avatar . 092.gif
My first car was a 1970's Triumph Toledo. Light blue, 4 speed (although it would involuntarily jump out of 4th on it's own accord. I laid the carpets out of unused axminster. A rust bucket but passed my test in it back in 1985 ! Still got a lot of affection for it.
My first car was a 1972 MG Midget 1275. It was 18 years old by the time I owned it and was fairly rusty, but it was great fun. It also had a pretty cool reg - FHE1L - which was probably worth more than the car!
The car I miss the most though is an 2003 Alfa GTV I owned. Alfa red, tan Momo leather, 17" teledials - it was gorgeous. I constantly lived in fear it would go wrong and cost me a fortune, but it didn't miss a beat in the entire 4 years I owned it. I've had a soft spot for Alfas ever since. They are far more reliable than their reputation suggests.
My favourite car was an old Morris 1800, HLW 584K, I'd inherited it from my dad and it was like driving a bus
Quote from: NogoodBoyo on May 24, 2016, 12:55:17 PM
Before I grew up, I was a boy-racer with a series of hot shoes. My favourite car of all was the VW GTI 16v from '86 (?).
I had an E reg 16v Golf GTi, it was a great car, but I only had it for 2 weeks coz the mate that sold it to me begged (in tears) to buy it back. I made a small profit on it for my trouble. As I said, a great car, but would have benefited from having PAS.
I remember a new lady at work was put in charge of company cars and she struck up a special deal with a garage on Ford Cortina/ Crusaders and I had one forced on me. I was not too pleased at having a Ford forced on me by a new lady to the company but looking back it was probably the most comfortable car I have had.
Cuould suffer rear wheel skids so was safer to drive with a bag of sand in the boot.
Some great tales offered. Peabody, I have an old 1930's Austin and I have called her Mildred also! Sad tale of the Austin 7 left to rot. I had a 1961 Anglia that suffered my boy racer days and used to go like a rocket. My worst car i think was an Austin Allegro, why I bought the thing I have no idea! Always in my yoof recall Sunday morning being polish the care time. Every area was got at in readiness to show off to my lady at the time, now I cant be arsed to even wash it!!!
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The worst car I had was an Austin Allegro estate. First it had a head gasket problem and burnt oil like petrol. Then, one day I was driving along the Shere by-pass and there was a sudden noise at the back. I slowed down to see the offside rear wheel rolling passed me as the car began to touch down gently on its hub. I rang the AA or RAC who said they'd have to come and check if I needed to be relayed or if it could be towed. I explained that I had the rear wheel had parted company from the car in a mechanical shearing sort of way and that I had it in my hand. Not literally, I was in phone box, but I had to make the point or I'd have wasted hours. They sent a low-loader.
Quote from: Holders on May 24, 2016, 04:18:32 PM
Quote from: BestOfBrede on May 24, 2016, 03:31:03 PM
Morris Minor UNJ 910 light green - yuk colour but still had original leather seats and never let me down. I remember a really cold and snowy winter must have been early 80s, and going on Nightshift. All the lads with newer cars had problems but me, no problem - started first time and again in the morning!
And you had a starting handle if you needed it.
I never needed to use it but yes, it did!
Really wish I Had kept the ol' girl
Called her VII (my girlfriend was VI)
Quote from: bog on May 24, 2016, 08:18:28 PM
Some great tales offered. Peabody, I have an old 1930's Austin and I have called her Mildred also! Sad tale of the Austin 7 left to rot. I had a 1961 Anglia that suffered my boy racer days and used to go like a rocket. My worst car i think was an Austin Allegro, why I bought the thing I have no idea! Always in my yoof recall Sunday morning being polish the care time. Every area was got at in readiness to show off to my lady at the time, now I cant be arsed to even wash it!!!
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Ah, bog and f321ffc....we are brothers in the 105E brotherhood ! I had a '63 Ford Anglia when it was 4 years old as my first car. 119FLN .....It was eventually towed to Curly's breaker' yard in Hayes after an unfortunate encounter with a Sunbeam Tiger in Hillingdon. I rolled it as a guy cut across in front of me...I got an insurance payout for a write off, he got the massive fine of £15 plus £10 costs for 'without due care'. Just about the only car I ever had that if two blokes were sitting in the front with overcoats on, then they were wedged in between the doors and each other. Happy times though.
Quote from: BestOfBrede on May 24, 2016, 09:40:50 PM
Quote from: Holders on May 24, 2016, 04:18:32 PM
Quote from: BestOfBrede on May 24, 2016, 03:31:03 PM
Morris Minor UNJ 910 light green - yuk colour but still had original leather seats and never let me down. I remember a really cold and snowy winter must have been early 80s, and going on Nightshift. All the lads with newer cars had problems but me, no problem - started first time and again in the morning!
And you had a starting handle if you needed it.
I never needed to use it but yes, it did!
Really wish I Had kept the ol' girl
Called her VII (my girlfriend was VI)
I remember the rhyming slang at the time for that item of kit was "The old Harry Randall". I don't know how widespread that was though...
I miss my 1961 beetle it would be worth at least 4K now.still driving a VW though.
I've always been a bit of a petrol head. I was so keen to drive that I started with a three wheeler when I was 16 back in 1968, a Berkley T60. I've driven some junk and some nice cars over the years, I was very keen on my MGA 1600.
My most missed car is an Austin Healey 3000 Mk III. I owned it until three years ago but because I live in Dubai and it was stored in the UK I was persuaded to sell it.
In Dubai I am fortunate to drive a Porsche 911 S (997 gen 2). It is a quantum leap up from anything I have ever owned before but it has spoiled me, goodness knows what we will buy when we return to the UK next year!
Twig, what a car that Healey. :Haynes The Maestro: :yay: :clap_hands:
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My ol man had a number of cars but his fav was a Zephyr 6, I always wanted a Humber but couldn't afford one back then.
My old man's best car was a 1933 SS Jag. It went past everything apart from a petrol station and for that reason lasted about a week before he got rid!
Years ago we were given an old Montego Countryman estate by an in-law. It's possibly the ugliest car in Christendom but it went like stink, carried tons stuff in it over the years we had it. It never failed to start and never failed an MOT's and all we did was put petrol and oil it and washed it occasionally when the neighbours complained. Couldn't fault it, apart from its ugliness and its brown/biege colour scheme.
Eventually we gave it to a farmer who cut the roof off the back and used it to haul animal feed up and down his farm. He probably still has it.
Quote from: ron on May 24, 2016, 09:46:04 PM
Quote from: bog on May 24, 2016, 08:18:28 PM
Some great tales offered. Peabody, I have an old 1930's Austin and I have called her Mildred also! Sad tale of the Austin 7 left to rot. I had a 1961 Anglia that suffered my boy racer days and used to go like a rocket. My worst car i think was an Austin Allegro, why I bought the thing I have no idea! Always in my yoof recall Sunday morning being polish the care time. Every area was got at in readiness to show off to my lady at the time, now I cant be arsed to even wash it!!!
092.gif
Ah, bog and f321ffc....we are brothers in the 105E brotherhood ! I had a '63 Ford Anglia when it was 4 years old as my first car. 119FLN .....It was eventually towed to Curly's breaker' yard in Hayes after an unfortunate encounter with a Sunbeam Tiger in Hillingdon. I rolled it as a guy cut across in front of me...I got an insurance payout for a write off, he got the massive fine of £15 plus £10 costs for 'without due care'. Just about the only car I ever had that if two blokes were sitting in the front with overcoats on, then they were wedged in between the doors and each other. Happy times though.
I had a Mk 1 ford consul , VPJ 790 bought for £10 off a bloke at work, also had a 100E van that had the vacuum wipers, the faster you went the slower they did, best car in Yoof was a split screen morris 1000 van that belonged to a bloke who worked for Stratstones the Jag dealer on Brixton hill, he had the rear kitted out the same as a Jag with big leather seats, reading lamps the lot, right passion wagon down Windmill road on Wimbledon common, steamed up well also :005:
Quote from: f321ffc on May 24, 2016, 05:02:37 PM
1964 Ford Anglia, bought it in 1971 sold it a year later to a friend it was written off soon after I sold it .
Regretted selling it but always said I would get another someday, that day came about 5 years ago when one that had not been on the road in 30 years came up for sale locally, the fruits of my labour can be seen on the left in my avatar . 092.gif
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I miss my Citroen SM Maserati 1971. 153 MPH
Also my 1921 Cirtoen Cloverleaf open tourer.
Quote from: bog on May 25, 2016, 07:09:06 AM
Twig, what a car that Healey. :Haynes The Maestro: :yay: :clap_hands:
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Yes and it was it in the classic two tone blue and off white colour combo. I loved it but it was a constant source of friction between my wife and me, in the end I relented. Got a good price but that was little consolation. Had even used it as the wedding car for one of my daughters.
Holders, I had a sharp intake of breath when reading of your father's best car. Please don't tell me he sold it for little money?! That is just about one of my best ever cars that I dream about! :clap_hands: :yay: 082.gif They had to change the name to Jaguar cos of the same name as that Hitler's delightful SS.
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To Ron and F321ffc. Did your 105E Anglias have a problem with the top of the steering box coming loose? Seemed as though the steering wheel was going to become a frisbee! This was a common fault, I worked at Dagenham Motors Alperton and Andrews of Ealing and we often had to tighten them up. Blimey that was over 40 years ago!
Twig, you must have felt gutted as it drove away. I never got over selling my 1936 Austin Hertford. Painful to recollect aint it!
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Quote from: bog on May 25, 2016, 04:51:04 PM
Holders, I had a sharp intake of breath when reading of your father's best car. Please don't tell me he sold it for little money?! That is just about one of my best ever cars that I dream about! :clap_hands: :yay: 082.gif They had to change the name to Jaguar cos of the same name as that Hitler's delightful SS.
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He never paid more than about £10-£15 for a car so I don't expect he got much back. We're talking early 60s here when no-one wanted the old cars which were all that he could afford. They're classics now but everyone wanted newer.
His best coup was a 3-wheel Bond that he bought off the side of the road for 30/- and sold to a dealer for £20. Later, a friend proudly drove it round to us to show it off and told my dad that he'd paid £50 for it. That would be maybe mid-60s so a lot of money.
Holders, that is right. I recall a massive Bentley that probably went round Brooklands for a few pounds, no one wanted it!! Oh for hindsight!! :doh:
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Hindsight is an exact science.
My old man fancied a Roller for £200 but he thought he'd get embarrassed driving around in something with headlamps a foot in diameter.
Quote from: bog on May 25, 2016, 04:56:57 PM
To Ron and F321ffc. Did your 105E Anglias have a problem with the top of the steering box coming loose? Seemed as though the steering wheel was going to become a frisbee! This was a common fault, I worked at Dagenham Motors Alperton and Andrews of Ealing and we often had to tighten them up. Blimey that was over 40 years ago!
Twig, you must have felt gutted as it drove away. I never got over selling my 1936 Austin Hertford. Painful to recollect aint it!
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Didn't have a problem with the steering, (perhaps it was rusted securely on!)...but the real bugbear on the 105e was the starter for me. The starter ring on the flywheel minced the teeth on the starter in short order, which caused a shocking noise, then failure to start at all. I had a problem with the lower engine breather blocking as well, so back pressure built up enough to blow the oil filler cap (which also had a blocked breather) against the bonnet with a tremendous bang. Never a dull moment, especially in a car that up against modern standards seemed to only have about 25 moving parts!
I had a Morris Minor in Calgary when I was in university there. White and a little boxy. Paid $150 for it. Next door neighbor didn't want it anymore. Drove like a peach. Never a problem. Incredibly underpowered, but I didn't care. Called it Betty. Smelled like an old car. Gear shifting was tricky. Did its job. Had a love-hate relationship with an Opel Manta 1900. A 1970-something model. Called it the Orange Crate. Had to push start it more times than I can remember. But it got me through law school. No room for romance in that car, that's for sure. An all black interior. Heavy metal for its little size. Looked fast, but like the Morris, a turtle. Came back from a trip to Toronto to Detroit where I was living at the time, and stopped off at a dance club, parked it in the street. When I came out a couple hours later, found my side window smashed, with a brick on the front seat, and my suitcase missing. All the bastard got was some clothes. But at the time it bugged me so, and a few weeks later I got rid of the Orange Crate and bought my first new car, a 1986 Nissan Sentra. Like buying your first pair of sensible shoes.
Ron that was another common fault with the stater motor. On the later cars they put three bolts to hold the starter in place. Mine used to make that awful noise, usually late at night as well!!
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Forever Fulham, Morris Minors were always a reliable car, early on a little under powered but later with the 1098cc engine a real motor. They never failed to start either, i have had about 6 of them.
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:Haynes The Maestro:
Quote from: bog on May 27, 2016, 09:52:48 PM
Forever Fulham, Morris Minors were always a reliable car, early on a little under powered but later with the 1098cc engine a real motor. They never failed to start either, i have had about 6 of them.
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Two interesting cars I owned briefly that have yet to feature - with apologies if somebody has already mentioned their personal love affair with either of these cars.
1. Cortina 1600E that my father owned and gave it to me to sell in London. Went like a bomb for a comparatively small engine (by today's standards) -
2. Triumph Stag. This was voted one of the worst cars ever, but I loved the look, the hard and soft top plus the sweetest sounding engine I have ever had the pleasure to drive. Bad points? Timing chains...and the fact that the door would change colour in the rain. Did I mention the timing chains?
Nogood "now I drive Ram trucks and John Deere tractors, isit" Boyo
