Cars you don't see anymore Options

[Geoff1951]

Hi Heatmyshorts, a cousin had a Herald once. He welded some bedframe angle iron onto a rear outrigger to replace rusted chassis length. Passed MOT week later. Also passed with broken reverse gear, tester said it doesn't need reverse for MOT.

[heatmyshorts]

Worryingly mine did a very good impression of a crab after the "incident".
I still say the tree whacked the sid on purpose, I was just driving sideways round a corner minding my own business when whack! It all went blurry....
Surley not my fault.

[Geoff1951]

Hi HMshorts, just nosed at your profile, that Herald must have been well past its best by the time you were old enough to reach the pedals. surprised it didn't just crumble into a pile of rust around the tree!

I think back then "corrosion preventative treatment" involved just not going out in the rain.

[heatmyshorts]

Yup, it was deemed as a "classic" by those who were advising me as to car purchase, the bodywork was fantastic, had a great racing wheel and no seat belts, by the time I ended its reign it was 23 years old and fading rapidly. Shame, I loved it briefly.

It did teach me the joy of coss-ply tyres, rear wheel drive and wet roads though, a lesson not forgotten yet!

[Geoff1951]

It did teach me the joy of coss-ply tyres, rear wheel drive and wet roads though, a lesson not forgotten yet!

As did my Mk 1 Viva. 1057cc of raw power through a leaf-sprung live axle.

[paddysaab]

One of my mates has a 1994 mondeo. Terrible excuse for a car. Doesn't start half the time, and when it does it can't climb hills or stop in a straight line . Everything inside is broken; window winders, heaters, locks, etc. Only thing that works is the radio but then that's not standard.

Daftest thing I've had was a Citroen Dyane. That covers me for most makes of car..........The indicators were off a Morris Minor, exhaust off a Ford, radio from a Rover, spots from a Nissan, drivers footwell from McVities, passenger floor was two 3x2s and when the brakes got stuck there was a specially bent screwdriver for levering them open again. Passed "fit for use" (before the NCT) and drove it for 2 years. Great for going fishing, could go anywheere in the days before everyone had a 4x4.
Heree's a motoring fact for you; you could park a 2CV/Dyane anywhere you wanted because the cops couldn't clamp them or lift them onto trucks for towing because of the wheel design and spring travel. Heard that from a policeman years later.

This post has been edited by paddysaab: 11 Feb 2009, 20:27

[SuperSwede66]

My first car was an S-reg Opel Kadett (same as the Vauxhall Chevette). Black with blue go-faster stripes down the side (not done by me). Haven't seen one in years.

[Geoff1951]

Paddysaab - a Dyane!! A 2CV in a pretty dress. Girl I worked with had a pale blue Dyane. She let me drive it once, she'd never seen a car lean over so far. And SS66 - was that Kadett the saloon or hatch? (Kadett hatches were very rare). I had a Chevette hatch, no parcelshelf either standard or accessory, so all your boot contents & luggage was on show.

[Kev_Mc]

My first car was an S-reg Opel Kadett (same as the Vauxhall Chevette). Black with blue go-faster stripes down the side (not done by me). Haven't seen one in years.

There's a Chevette not too far from me - though it's been overtaken by moss for years. Probably way beyond repair now.

My first boss had an Opel Manta. Think it was brand new at the time (mid 80's). I've not seen one of those for ages.

Here's another - Renault Feugo. Not seen one for a good 10 years. Loads of old Renauls you don't see now - my mate used to drive his dads Renault 12 TS Estate. That thing was a laugh

I saw a 3dr Sierra Cosworth tonight on the back of a trailer on the M1. Looked very nice. My friends Sapphire Cosworth was the first fast car I drove. (Only other one I'd say was fast was my old 2.3 Carlsson)

I used to see some NSU R080 (is that the right name?) around Leicester in the 80's. Not see one since as far as I can recall. They were never common though I suppose.

[SuperSwede66]

And SS66 - was that Kadett the saloon or hatch? (Kadett hatches were very rare). I had a Chevette hatch, no parcelshelf either standard or accessory, so all your boot contents & luggage was on show.

'twas the hatch indeed. Much better looking than the saloon. Got it for £500 and sold it for £400 a few years later. Bought a Chevette being scrapped and grabbed plenty of parts from it for the Kadett. Many were surprisingly new as the owner had spent a fair bit of money on it (why?) before realising it had loads of rust. The Opel version didn't have a parcelshelf either as far as I can remember.

I used to see some NSU R080 (is that the right name?)

I saw one of those Wankel-powered cars a good few years ago. Might have been in connection with the Bromley Pageant of Motoring (although it wasn't in the showground). Great place to see all these old classics (!).

[paddysaab]

Paddysaab - a Dyane!! A 2CV in a pretty dress. Girl I worked with had a pale blue Dyane. She let me drive it once, she'd never seen a car lean over so far.

Had it out in a force 9 once. Now that is when you see a car lean. Every time the cloth roof let a slap out of it my mate thought it was the end for sure.
That car actually ruined my driving for years. You had to thrash it to make it move not. And because it was so bad I didn't care what happened to it and abused it horribly. A mate once brought it home and told his wife that he had swopped his Fiesta Ghia for it. She made him swop back before he had his dinner

[TooMany2cvs]

That car actually ruined my driving for years. You had to thrash it to make it move not.

You make it sound like that's a bad thing? That's the fun with 2cvs - you're right up against the limits, all the time, at speeds that won't result in an instant ban or a very messy landing.

A mate once brought it home and told his wife that he had swopped his Fiesta Ghia for it. She made him swop back before he had his dinner

<g> SWMBO would be the exact opposite - if I came home and told her I'd swapped one of the 2cvs for a Fester, she'd go ape. She was well happy when I swapped the Alfa 75 v6 for a red'n'white Dolly...

[Duncan74]

When I was at uni one of the other motorclub members had a 2cv he used for the rallise and won a few. I remember the day he was calling around to get racing brake disks and pads and the guffaws of laughter in the office. Oh, him and his girlfriend did beat the chairman and secretary in their race prepped Golf GTI with full roll cage and other rally suspension and engine mods. Just shows that quality map reading and consistent pace were what was needed, not just a heavy application of the loud pedal. I also remember one day when he'd stripped the engine down and was filing the carb valve screws down to make the flow smoother and he hoped to get and extra 1hp from that. Basically this was his approach, and they all added up I suppose.

[CitTone]

Mini Countryman with the wood stripped off, and a Clubman engine and gearbox inserted - tunnel pop-rivetted into place because the gear-change was different.
Maxi - brilliant concept, [expletive deleted] gearbox, handled like bus
Ambassador - like driving a lounge. The only car I ever sold for what I bought it for, and only changed a head gasket and a pair of wheel bearings.
Maestro 1.6 - aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!
Astra Mk1 - two-tone metallic brown "EXP" model. Rust bucket, that's why there are none around any more
BX 19TRS - quick, smooth, bit thirsty - sold it to a neighbour to drive to Germany in
BMW 520i - 99% boring, but surprisingly exciting on wet roundabouts.
BX GTi-16V - most fun I've had clothed. Good for embarrassing Golf GTi drivers and giving the odd Cossie a WTF moment
BX GTi-8V - oh the disappointment - would have been fine if it hadn't followed the 16V!
BX TZD turbo - 3 different ones, all relentlessly good value
XM TurboD Estate - Like a 9-5 with garlic and a bad attitude - brilliant long-distance cruiser. Loved it but it was killed by an incompetent main-dealer

Gone, all gone, sniff, sob

Then we're into the "modern" stuff - Picasso, Renault Neveragane Scenic, Picasso again, Pug306, 9-5

Mind you, this doesn't include the bikes.......

[CitTone]

Mini Countryman
Maxi
Ambassador
Maestro 1.6
Astra Mk1
BX 19TRS
BMW 520i
BX GTi-16V
BX GTi-8V
BX TZD turbo
XM TurboD Estate
Picasso,
Renault Neveragane Scenic,
Picasso again,
Pug306,
9-5

Forgot a couple of Citroen AX diesels - how could I?? 1.3 diesel, never serviced, mileometer stuck on 83,596 for five years - cutest thing on wheels, and wouldn't pull the skin off a creme caramel

[SuperSwede66]

Here's a good one following the original topic.

How many here have seen a Saab 600? I have, but that was a long time ago. (OK, so I cheated by living in Sweden at the time, but still...)

[Duncan74]

Mini Countryman with the wood stripped off, and a Clubman engine and gearbox inserted - tunnel pop-rivetted into place because the gear-change was different.
Maxi - brilliant concept, [expletive deleted] gearbox, handled like bus
Ambassador - like driving a lounge. The only car I ever sold for what I bought it for, and only changed a head gasket and a pair of wheel bearings.
Maestro 1.6 - aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!
Astra Mk1 - two-tone metallic brown "EXP" model. Rust bucket, that's why there are none around any more
BX 19TRS - quick, smooth, bit thirsty - sold it to a neighbour to drive to Germany in
BMW 520i - 99% boring, but surprisingly exciting on wet roundabouts.
BX GTi-16V - most fun I've had clothed. Good for embarrassing Golf GTi drivers and giving the odd Cossie a WTF moment
BX GTi-8V - oh the disappointment - would have been fine if it hadn't followed the 16V!
BX TZD turbo - 3 different ones, all relentlessly good value
XM TurboD Estate - Like a 9-5 with garlic and a bad attitude - brilliant long-distance cruiser. Loved it but it was killed by an incompetent main-dealer

Gone, all gone, sniff, sob

Then we're into the "modern" stuff - Picasso, Renault Neveragane Scenic, Picasso again, Pug306, 9-5

Mind you, this doesn't include the bikes.......

So you're older than 24 then?

This post has been edited by Duncan74: 12 Feb 2009, 15:07

[Geoff1951]

OK, here goes.
Cars owned:
Viva HA (Mk 1). Engine seized when out with girlfriend. Had to get my father to tow it home next day.
Mini 850 (with stage 1 head & mainifold) Fond memories, but drove one recently and can't believe how uncomfortable it was. Got so used to changing the rubber UJs I could do it in 15 minutes.
Viva HC (Mk 3) colour - beige. Not Saab's Smoke Beige, just plain old beige. Quite fashionable in 1974.
Chevette. "Champagne Starfire Metallic". Vinyl seats.
Suzuki SC100 Whizzkid. Now, who remembers those? Tiny 2+2, rear 1000cc engine. Had a bet with a Lotus Europa driver that the Suzzy was faster. And it was!
Suzuki Alto. Grim. The Kia Pride of its day.
Citroen Visa GT. 1360cc, 80 bhp, twin carbs. Great fun.
Cit Visa GTi. 1600cc, 105 bhp, very disappointing after the GT.
Vaux Nova SR. Replaced the Visa, SWMBO was learning to drive in a Nova and couldn't cope with the Visa when I took her for practice.
Nova GTE. For something a bit faster than the SR.
Peugeot 309 GTI. 1.9 engine from the 205, and a better car. But it was ruining me. The cat died, lambda sensor, and all the associated bits. Cost £1100 to fix. In 1993! 5 sets of front tyres in 3 years. Paid £13k new in 1990, got £3.5k after 4 years px against the next motor.
Peugeot 306 1.4. Totally inoffensive, but superb ride. The mileometer jumped extra 10 miles every hundred. Took ages to work out why the trip reading was always out of synch.
Citroen Xantia 2.0. Bought with 50k up, sold with over 100k up. Lots of visits to dealer, but lovely car.
Mitubishi Galant V6 2.5-24, beautiful but flawed. Prev. owner did 5k in 3 years, car immaculate. Gearbox failed 20k later. Dealer quote - "same box in the Shogun 4x4, replaced dozens of them. "
And then I saw the light. Almost.
Saab 9-3SS 175bhp Arc. Kept refusing to start. Went into limp home mode 3 times. swopped after 7 months for:-
9-5 2.3 lpt Vector Auto, going fine, 62k since Nov 05, and with the help of all you experts out there, can't see me changing it for anything. (Also SWMBO says the next car must be something smaller so she can drive it .
Plus driven dozens more, from pre-war Armstrong Siddley in 60s on airfield in Norfolk aged 15. Aunt was learning to drive in it. Most frightening drive? At night, Chrysler 300C. Great in daylight, but headlamps are purely decorative. Didn't seem to be connected to the electrical system at all. (Superb engine, better than when it's fitted in Merc's S Class.)
That's all folks!

[CitTone]

So you're older than 24 then?

errrr.........a bit...........

And I forgot the Citroen Xantias - because they were boring - and the Wolseley Hornet Mk2 with the 1100 engine and stage1 head that I co-owned with a student friend. Now that DEFINITELY qualifies for the "Cars you don't see anymore" tag

So that's how old I am. Old enough for the memory to be going.

Where am I? Who are these people? Is it time for the nurse to bring the tea around yet?

[sgould]

Anyone seen a TVR recently?