Most influential car as a kid?
Discussion
For me it was always the Ford Escort RS Cosworth. I remember seeing it for the first time on the Motorshow TV programme where Clarkson was reviewing it alongside Michelle Newman in a Rover 200 Tomcat. Not sure if it was the whale tale that did it for me or not but I've always, always wanted one.
At the show a few years ag I even managed to get a bit better acquainted with my ultimate childhood hero - Malcolm Wilsons 1994 British Rally Championship winning car.
At the show a few years ag I even managed to get a bit better acquainted with my ultimate childhood hero - Malcolm Wilsons 1994 British Rally Championship winning car.
288 GTO and Lancia 037 probably stand out as the first cars I remember wowing at.
Weirdly, it is actually magazine articles that I remember liking more than any individual car (until the integrale). All the magazines used to do some relatively oddball things like the Renault 5 turbo racer review ("taking a series of chicanes-paf paf paf"), a group test of rally (cross) cars that included the rs200 and an xtrac escort, the story of patch, 24 hour 2cv race in Ireland, the monumental CAR issue with the f40, 959, 288gto vs Aston zagato and carbon countach.
Weirdly, it is actually magazine articles that I remember liking more than any individual car (until the integrale). All the magazines used to do some relatively oddball things like the Renault 5 turbo racer review ("taking a series of chicanes-paf paf paf"), a group test of rally (cross) cars that included the rs200 and an xtrac escort, the story of patch, 24 hour 2cv race in Ireland, the monumental CAR issue with the f40, 959, 288gto vs Aston zagato and carbon countach.
Mum had lots of unreliable British product, Vauxhall Viva, Princess, Ambassador the cheap family cars of the day, dad had lots of quick Italian stuff, alfasud, 2000HF, beta, 131 etc. the 131 (I think it was super mirafiori or something like that )
I wasn't influenced in the slightest, I mostly like dodgy quick Italian motors......oh wait.....
Probably didn't help living in Italy during my formative driving years.
I wasn't influenced in the slightest, I mostly like dodgy quick Italian motors......oh wait.....
Probably didn't help living in Italy during my formative driving years.
Edited by sandys on Wednesday 7th October 10:22
My father had an SD1 Vitesses one after the other. The first one was much like the 675LT green with gold wheels. Considering what else Rover had produced and the rest of BL were knocking out, it really was an astonishing car.
It looked really beautiful and was well and cleverly designed. The steeing column tunnel on the left hand side turned into an air vent and the entire instruement binnacle could simple be moved from left to right.
It was also fast and that engines sounded amazing. When he was away on business I used to take it out for a spin. Scared myself stupid on countrylanes north of Bristol.
Had a collection of photos on the wall, cut from Magazines. Not footballers but plenty of cars. The Countach of course. Car Mag did a really great feature on the Essex Turbo Esprit. Still remember the photos.
Lancia Delta Integrale which my brother eventually owned. The first Evo II to be imported into North America.
I also owned three VW Polo's and love them. A really practical and reliable car. The first two were cast offs from elder brothers to use for Uni, the third I bought In Denmark because cars are so expensive. Really versatile, comfortable and reliable.
However it was really motorcycles that caught me. We were not allowed them because my mother had been in a series accident on the back of a Bonneville. However the Fireblade RRS, the first Fox Eye Blade in Red, White and Red. The Pinnacle was however the 916. Fortunately I have owned an RRS, beautiful, ride all day, thrash it, comfortable, practicle and so well built. Three Ducati 916-8. Feel very lucky to have owned even one. Tamburini was one of the best automotive designers there has even been and managed to buy one of his MV's as well.![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/VBRhM5b1.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/vst5KY9P" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/vst5KY9P.jpg)
It looked really beautiful and was well and cleverly designed. The steeing column tunnel on the left hand side turned into an air vent and the entire instruement binnacle could simple be moved from left to right.
It was also fast and that engines sounded amazing. When he was away on business I used to take it out for a spin. Scared myself stupid on countrylanes north of Bristol.
Had a collection of photos on the wall, cut from Magazines. Not footballers but plenty of cars. The Countach of course. Car Mag did a really great feature on the Essex Turbo Esprit. Still remember the photos.
Lancia Delta Integrale which my brother eventually owned. The first Evo II to be imported into North America.
I also owned three VW Polo's and love them. A really practical and reliable car. The first two were cast offs from elder brothers to use for Uni, the third I bought In Denmark because cars are so expensive. Really versatile, comfortable and reliable.
However it was really motorcycles that caught me. We were not allowed them because my mother had been in a series accident on the back of a Bonneville. However the Fireblade RRS, the first Fox Eye Blade in Red, White and Red. The Pinnacle was however the 916. Fortunately I have owned an RRS, beautiful, ride all day, thrash it, comfortable, practicle and so well built. Three Ducati 916-8. Feel very lucky to have owned even one. Tamburini was one of the best automotive designers there has even been and managed to buy one of his MV's as well.
Blayney said:
The Dodge Viper. Cemented seeing a GTSR at the NEC motorshow 98 or 00, anyone remember? If 00 I would have been 11.
Also XJ220. Had one of the metal pencil cases.
Bloody hell that takes me back!Also XJ220. Had one of the metal pencil cases.
I used to have those car tin pencil cases too!
I had a Gulf McLaren F1 and an Xj220!
My McLaren F1 pencil case was still serving me well way after the veyron was released!
I remember, that when I was between 3 and 4 years old a neighbour got one of those. I don't even remember his name, but I know that my life would have been differnt I this lad had bought something else.
The rasping sound got me interested, and I turned a car geek on my tricycle within weeks.
Martin
framerateuk said:
Always the Esprit for me. Had Lotus Turbo Challenge II on the Amiga for my 8th birthday and I was hooked.
I keep saying I'd love to own a Esprit V8, but I just don't think I've got the will to keep on top of all the maintenance. One day maybe when I've got a spare garage space.
Came here to post the same thing haha! I was always into cars having relatives who were mechanics, they always had various RS/XR models through the years. But I always seemed to like that mid engined shape, although I was never big on ferraris. I had a tonne of Group C toys, my favorite being the XJR-9I keep saying I'd love to own a Esprit V8, but I just don't think I've got the will to keep on top of all the maintenance. One day maybe when I've got a spare garage space.
I ended up with the japanese equivalent of the Esprit Turbo instead, I dont think I could hack owning an actual one now though! Although I wouldnt say no!
Lotus Europa. This probably started with Tara King's in the Avengers, firmed up with the restyled buttresses. Finally got one at 40 and loved it. Gutted when Mick Miller died, I wanted him to do the restoration. Sold it after five years of ownership - DNR 30K is now being raced in HSCC. However, I can "drive" it whenever I like, it was used as the template Europa for GranTurismo4.
Staying with the Avengers theme, Steed's Broadspeed XJC is coming up for auction. In 1976, Motor described the XJC V12 as the best car in the world; if only funds allowed...
Staying with the Avengers theme, Steed's Broadspeed XJC is coming up for auction. In 1976, Motor described the XJC V12 as the best car in the world; if only funds allowed...
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