Cube mk2 and WIR

[Ardene5]

Hi Everyone

I'm so pleased I have been able to give every one a trip down memory lane on the car theme.

It gives me a chance to chat about other things other than hens, ducks, feeds etc.

At times, I drive for children with special needs by taking them to school and then back home after school.

I've just received a lovely "P" reg. Renault Traffic Verso, what a super little mini bus. It is a lovely vehicle to drive and will be cosy during the winter months.

 

Best regards

 

Ian

 

 

Ian & Valerie

William & Harry

Missy & Millie dogs

9 lovely hens

Henian Castle with inside

[Rhapsody]

One of my very first memories is being in my Dad's Rover P5- the 'Poor Man's Rolls Royce' the back seat was like a Chesterfield sofa. I've owned some nice old British sports cars, including a Triumph Vitesse and a very creaky MG Midget.

I had a Golf Syncro (I think it was called the Rally Sport over here) in Germany, which was one of the best-made things I've ever driven and lived to eat mountain roads.

When the kids were small we went through some BMW's, including the M3 which was a joy to own, for laughs we had a Lancia Delta Integrale in banana yellow which was so much fun and I've never had so much respect as a woman motorist ever!

Recently we had a 911, a lovely lovely thing but our farm track was eating the bodywork so now we have a Nissan pick-up. When we build the garage I am angling for an XKR.

I like cars but get bored talking about them.

[Yorkshire Pudding]

As a child I vividly remember my Dad having a series of cars with 'character'. We had a Hillman Superminx, a Sunbeam Rapier, a Ford Consul and a Ford Corsair that had a number painted on the side when we got it - the previous owner had thought it would make a rally car. Dad got underneath it, patched it up and it ran for five years.

 

He had a bit of a history with cars though - he and his two brothers had one-third shares in an Armstrong Siddely Sapphire. He picked my Mum up in it the first time he took her out and I think she was rather impressed! The last time I saw a Sapphire it was carrying my friend and her OH away from the church after their wedding, and it was beautiful.

 

I learned to drive in a Mark 2 Granada that we had at the time - it was huge compared to the instructor's Micra! Dad was doing the knowledge at the time, so I learned to drive around central London while he practised routes. I knew no fear when it came to buses in Oxford Street, although the view from the passenger seat may have been a little more scary at times - I never actually hit anything though .

 

 

My own car history started with an old W-reg VW Polo. It had only 24,000 miles on the clock when I got it in 2006 and did us proud for four years until the petrol tank rusted through and it was beyond my skills with 'chemical metal' patching to fix it. A new tank would have cost more than the car was worth so it went to the great s"Ooops, word censored!"heap in the sky. I replaced it with a boring Escort, then a Daewoo something (so dull I can't remember, but reliable and kept us and new ES dry and transported us reliably for a few years on a small budget). That one seemed to have a target painted on it because I had three minor collisions in it and each time I was stationary!

 

After that we acquired a Picasso. I loved it, it had a huge glass sunroof and I could get huge amounts of junk in it. It was economical, comfortable and a lovely drive; its only fault was a tendency to roll on corners which is normal for the model apparently. However it got very unreliable despite being well looked after and had to be changed. OH has damaged cruciate ligaments and cannot reliably clutch with his left knee, so it had to be an automatic. My uncle is one of the drivers who delivers used vehicles to dealers across the country and recommended a Merc, so we have a 2-litre diesel C-class and it's lovely - but no good for fitting Eglus into the boot!

 

I've never had a 'fun' car - we went straight from being students with no money to parents with no spare cash, so it'll have to wait till the lads have grown. Then I can have a mid-life crisis and buy a 2-seater something that goes like the wind - if cars are still legal by then!

[miffy]

unlike most of you I did not grow up with a car. My father owned one for about 6 months having passed his test abroad , he HATED driving so we used public transport. Indeed I grew up believing that people who owned cars were posh, rather like folk who owned their own houses.

I passed my test when I was 27 only to get my son to school rather than do a 2 bus journey to the local school of our choice. My first car was a SAAB 96 with a column gear change bit of a shock at the time. But I grew to love it, indeed I have a fab photo of one I took in Amsterdam recently which revived many happy memories. My husbands parents always had cars as has my husband since he was 17 (Now 58 ) he belongs to the group of people who go into a cold sweat if they dont have instant access to a car Our current fav car is our Smart for Two which we have owned since new, so cheap to run and easy to park and drive!!

[missuscluck]

Minis of course. Its no wonder Im still mini mad. Everyone in my house had a mini. My dad, both my brothers and my sister. Only natural as the youngest I would follow. An obsession I still carry on to this day.

 

We had a hilman avenger for a while too. Which having been used to minis and mini vans seemed HUGE!

[Cooks]

I cant believe I forgot I had a 2cv (for a few weeks only) and a morris minor as well, cars come and go in this house...

the 2 cv frightened me to death as I was driving down the motorway to work and the window on the drivers side flapped up (they fold out and upwards on 2 cv rather than rolling down) I thought I was going to pass out from the shock...

the morris minor I got as a poor replacement (but many years later) for the A35, it was nowhere near as nice and to be honest a disappointment so it got sold on.

[Ardene5]

Hi everyone

There was not only the 2CV but also the Ami 8 which came with the 602cc engine and 1100 cc.

Citroen also produced the "D series" with head lights that turned as the front wheel turned at night. It was a lovely shaped car, very aerodynamic in shape and was a car ahead of its time with many ideas now found on modern cars.

 

Ideas which could be found in cars of 60's for example :- a button to start the car was on Vauxhall Victors, as was the bench seats and umbrella styled hand brakes.

So there are really no new ideas they really revamp old ideas or they borrow them

from earlier models.

 

Best regards

 

 

Ian

 

Ian & Valerie

William & Harry

Missy & Millie dogs

( lovely Hens

Henian Castle with inside it

[jill the potter]

Wish I could remember some of the names of the cars my Dad used to bring home.. he was in the 'motor trade' I can remember a Ford Zepher - the front seat was like a settee, just one long seat (I remember sometimes sitting on his knee whilst he was driving!!!!!)

 

A Morris Traveller - the one with the wooden strips on the outside and the little arms that popped out for indicators.

 

An very old clapped out mini van that the whole family (5 of us and dog) went camping in - all the equipment was on a roof rack!!! Dad had 'brrowed' a couple of scout tents, one for us and one for equipment!!!

 

My brother had a bright yellow 'frog eyed' Sprite

 

The last car my Dad had was an Ilman Imp.

 

I personally love Corsas - It was the first car I bought after my divorce and was, and still is, a symbol of my independance!!!!!

 

Having said that I would really, really love to have something sporty, but I dont think a rather large 50 something would suit..........

 

p.s. hate 4x4 in towns - No need !!!!!!

[Cooks]

sorry Jill but the mention of your brothers frog eyed Sprite has made me go all funny I love these cars and they were always out of my price range when I was looking, until I had enough money and then they just were not practical enough for the family.

Gorgeous cars not at all jealous in any way of any frog eyed owner

[jill the potter]

Oh, the Sprite was such a long time ago. My brother bought it as a wreck and loving restored it. I was about 10 at the time and used to help him. As a treat he would take me out in it with the top off, sitting on the back !!!!!!! as no back seats He and his girlfriend sitting in the front! Could you imagine doing that these days!?!?!?!?! He's still into cars and has refurbished many since then, but I think the Sprite was his favourite

[Cooks]

I bet he wishes he'd kept it when he looks at the prices they reach now

[Tessa the Duchess]

My first car was a mini the next one was a morris minor convertable which was fun, it came with a starting handle but the roof leaked and the heater didn't work so it had to go. Replaced with an A35, again fun but it was bad at starting and you had to wrap silver paper round the battery terminals to get it going, also the flicky out indicators didn't work unless you really bashed them, no MOT in those days I then had a series of Beetles and 2CV's. I loved them all the 2CV's were fun to drive you just bounced along the road, windows flapping as somebody already mentioned, the gear stick, which was on the dashboard, took a bit of getting used to. Once the children arrived we moved on to larger safer cars, we had a VW campervan for years and now we have a VW Transporter which is so nice to drive and very handy for moving stuff around. The only really fun car we have had was a Black London Taxi, DH put a bench seat in the front, great to drive and they really do 'turn on a sixpence' The only problem was that people keep waving you down thinking you are the real thing occasionly we used to give people free lifts. Sold it to some students in the end who were going to take it overland to somewhere exotic.

 

Tessa

[pistachio]

volvo 240 with leather interior. she was a beauty. I miss her. She was huge but so easy to park. my pride and joy. I had a little vintage batman in the front that got stolen. Got a Volvo 740 to replace her but it blew up while i was on the M5 in the fast lane - one of my more scary car moments. 740 never as good as the 240

[keyhole kate]

I have never had my own car only driven OH's

 

Mk1 Cortina

Mk2 Cortina

Corsair 2000E

Mk3 Cortina Estate

Sierra 2.0 Ghia

Sierra 1.6

Volvo 240 7 seats ( loved it)

Vauxhall Astra 1.6

vauxhall Astra 2.0 dti (I crashed this in june )

 

currently driving DS's old Astra Swing as we cant decide on which new car to buy

 

OH has company Van and has recently dashed my plans to buy my own 1st car a Ford streetka with targa roof from my bestest friend who cares it only seats 2 I want to look I still might

[Seagazer]

Dad used to have a Vauxhall Viva - in the days before seatbelts at the back, we went round a roundabout and the back door opened and I nearly fell out - Mum saved me

 

My first car was a Renault 5, silver with orange seats called Botty Burp, she was gorgeous and drove so well and was really comfortable.

 

Some time later I got my own car (after using hubby's company cars) and I got a Renault Clio called Dilys and she was purple. She was equal best with Botty Burp, had to change her for a bigger car as we had got two dogs by that stage.

 

Got Citroen Picasso and absolutely hated her (YS called her fluffy).

 

Then tried an automatic Clio but it just didn't work properly so then got Vauxhall Corsa Sport to share with my daughter and I can't stand driving this one as its so uncomfortable.

 

I now mostly drive my Volvo V70 automatic estate car and I love it. I'd like to keep this one for quite a while.

 

My dream car is a Nissan Figaro - I love the shape and they remind me of old films when I see them.

[Vicky40]

Oh I love this thread!

 

 

First family car I remember was my Dad's Morris Traveller - you know the ones with wood panelling on the outside? I can remember my Dad sanding down the wood and re-varnishing our car on a regular basis , something you wouldnt see very often now!

 

Then my parents bought a bright acid-yellow vauxhall chevet - we nicknamed it the bionic banana. When I was learning to drive I pulled out of the garage too close to a wall and s"Ooops, word censored!"ed it all down one side. Not to be beaten, my Dad knew someone from the council who provided him with a large quantity of yellow emulsion paint so he touched up the damage with polyfilla and the yellow emulsion!!

 

My current car is my favourite though - its a red mini cooper convertible with black roof. She's nicknamed the ladybird. Its such a great little car and on that couple of days a year when the sun shines in the UK its great fun driving round with the roof down and the wind in your hair.

[Ardene5]

Hi

I can remember my late mum asking my late Uncle when he had his first Ford Popular in the 50s. Does this car have a heater ...... and if so put it on.

His reply was .......... this is the top of the range and it does had a heater and it is on

Oooooooooppppppppppsssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

There was no much chat after that ............ can not understand why..............

 

was it do not chat and keep warm !!!!!! Or was someone annoyed.

 

 

Best regards

 

Ian

[chickencam]

Glad to see on this thread some love for the Volvo 240 We have a 19 year old silver Estate 7 seater, that had only done 80,000 miles. We have just had quite a bit of work done on it and it has broken down a couple of times this year and each time the family have all been sad at the prospect that it might have to go. Each time the AA has come to the rescue and all have been happy again They are big but you can park them anywhere they have such a good turning circle unlike modern cars.

 

We bought the car 13 years ago almost to the day when we realised we needed a more practical car than our VW Scirocco - lovely car to drive, but it was storm grey and we had bought it from my FIL. Until we got the Vovlo all our cars had been FIL's cast offs including a mark 2 Golf which was affectionately known as the pig because it had wide tyres and no power steering and you had to have big muscles to turn corners and a strong leg just to get it going

 

We had the Volvo converted to a 7 seater when I became pregnant with YD because we needed three seatbelts that had proper 3 point fixing and the children all loved traveling facing backwards in the boot, but they are all too big now.

 

My OH's first car was his pride and joy and when he told me he had bought a car, what do you think it is, I said I don't mind so long as it is not yellow or a Beetle and guess what it was a sunshine yellow 1974 Beetle and he called her Daisy, I couldn't drive her and felt really guilty after he finally sold her after about 5 years.

 

My first car was an automatic Mini Clubman saloon in that lovely mustardy colour that BL did so well, he was called Roy because his reg.letters were RUY, We had a 3 point seatbelt fitted to it when ED was born but it had to go in the end because it wasn't really practical with a baby

 

What memories eh!

[Yorkshire Pudding]

Dad used to have a Vauxhall Viva - in the days before seatbelts at the back, we went round a roundabout and the back door opened and I nearly fell out - Mum saved me

 

 

We had one of those, too. We went on our very first camping holiday in the Viva, I remember sitting on the back seet atop all the sleeping bags and airbeds, because there was no way thery would fit in the boot. We had stuff packed under our feet and either side of us, too.

 

We also had a Vauxhall Victor which originally had a vinyl roof (remember those?). On a later holiday to Germany, we were travelling along the autobahn and there was an awful ripping noise. We pulled over to see that the seal on the vinyl had ridden up at the front, allowing air underneath. The whole roof had been ripped off and was flapping behind us like Batman's cloak . Underneath it the steel had all rusted so it was bright orange.

 

The same car had a faulty radiator cap and overheated regularly so we were often passed by cars full of incredulous Germans, amazed to see a car with steam billowing out from under the bonnet and a bright orange roof. Those were the days!

[Gamebird]

My most memorable car was my first car, a Ford Anglia bought in 1972 for £15.

 

Memorable because the only way the passenger door stayed shut was to tie it to the driver's door. with a piece of rope.

 

No such thing as 'elf and safety' in those days - more like 'do or die'.

[Ardene5]

Cars of the 1970's you might remember.............................

 

Triumph Dolomite Sprint

Ford Granada

Ford Capri

Hillman Avenger

Austin Maxi

Datsun 240Z

Vauxhall Frenza DTV

Wartburg Knight

Skoda Fastback

 

Who else can remember these or other cars?

 

 

 

Best regards

 

 

Ian

[Snowy]

Gosh - we used to have a bright yellow Triumph Dolomite!

[Clur]

My first car was a red Ford Fiesta that protested about starting if it had been raining, or cold. I took it for an MOT and the mechanic laughed at me...end of that one. The next car I had was a MkII Ford Escort in fetching banana yellow and I had to park on a hill after it had rained so I could bale it out.

 

When I started work, I bought a Seat Ibiza GLX and thought it was the dog's kahunas as it had allow wheels and leccy front windows. Sold that to help get a deposit on a flat (can you believe my first deposit was 2.5k ) and shared my then-boyfriend, now hubby's Vauxhall Cavalier before we got shot of that for a Honda Prelude, which was a fab car! Then I got a Lexus IS200 brand new, then a second hand Lexus GS300, then I had another child and realised we could either feed the Lexus or the kids, so chopped it in for a Honda Stream. We kept that and when I got a job with a company car, I had a new shape Honda Civic. When I left that job, we decided to go green (and cheap) and sold the Honda Stream too to get two tiny Daihatsu Mira Classics - 659cc!

 

So, peaked quite early on the nice cars, but you can't knock the Noddy-cars for cheapness, ease of parking etc. Even if we do have to take both on holiday - one for our stuff and the other for the kids

[chickenlass]

This is a good thread

When I was a child [many many years ago ] I can remember my father having a Morris traveller. At the back the doors would open like on a van and my sister and I would clamber in and look out of the rear window . The odd [sad?] thing is I can still remember the number plate 436 PTB

My first car was a a rickety Fiat Panda with seats that were really no better than deck chairs...a gear stick that looked like it was made from a coat hanger and something really wrong with it that meant I could only go out in it if i wasn't raining.as it would just lkeep cutting out in the wet.

It scared the hell out of me one day whenthe engine started reving and I could hardly stop as the accelerator cable had got stuck under the throttle....I had no idea it go so fast....I sold it shortly after that as I was convinced it was related to Christine [the Stephen King posessed car]

IFor a while had a Mazda MX 5 which I loved but was totally useless for my lidfe as I couln't even get the shopping inthe boot etc. [Loved it all the same and still wonder what happened to it]

I now have a large Sanyoung as I need to pull a horse trailer and the boot is full of all horsey junk etc.

[Old Speckled Hen]

I loved my old 2CV. you could strip it down to the chassis.

I loved my Dad's old Saab 66 2stroke. when we picked it up from the dealer in Leighton Buzzard we had to refuel and the face of the attendant (Yes in those days there was somebody to put the petrol in for you) when we asked for oil IN WITH THE PETROL was a picture.

Dad also had a Renault Caravelle that had a winter hard top which lived in the kitchen in the summer and a summer soft top that lived on the car.