Inherited cars ?
Discussion
I didn't inherit it as such but I now have my late father's SL R107. It's been in the family since 1994 and I've had it since 2011. I bought it thinking I'd keep it for a few years, but I've really enjoyed owning it and driving it and it's now a keeper. As I often do I'll quote the PH'er who said you sail a 107, you don't drive it.
Inevitably it makes me think of my father and the happy times we spent in it
Inevitably it makes me think of my father and the happy times we spent in it
When i was younger and working at Halfords fitting head units i had this nice old man come in for a particular head unit for his 635CSi, which we didn't have in stock. I said i could order one but he didn't have time.
When we got chatting in his car as i fitted his 2nd choice i came to realise what he meant was he literally was out of time. He had been given 3 weeks to live and instead of waiting for it to come, he decided to go on a long road trip and wanted his music for it. I was so keen to know what was to become of the 635CSi and hinted my interest, but it wouldn't have been right to outwardly ask him what is happening to it. I still think about that conversation knowing he is long gone.
When we got chatting in his car as i fitted his 2nd choice i came to realise what he meant was he literally was out of time. He had been given 3 weeks to live and instead of waiting for it to come, he decided to go on a long road trip and wanted his music for it. I was so keen to know what was to become of the 635CSi and hinted my interest, but it wouldn't have been right to outwardly ask him what is happening to it. I still think about that conversation knowing he is long gone.
Edited by BuzzBravado on Tuesday 28th March 15:53
Last time I posted on a thread like this I got dogs abuse from, I assume, ex-Longbridge workers for having the temerity to have a pop at the car my Grandad left to me.
If any of the thin-skinned cocksockets are reading this and want to have another go then, please, just sod off.
Anyway! When my Grandad died in the early 90's he left me his 1985 1.3 Austin Maestro.
If was a lovely gift which I appreciated very much, but probably not the coolest car to be driving around in at 18 and (cure raging anger from ex-Longbridge workers) I'm afraid to say it was an utter POS of a car. Probably the worst one I've ever owned to be honest.
I had all manner of expensive problems with it and, in the end, crashed it into the back of a Fiat Panda whilst tuning the radio (sorry Grandad).
If any of the thin-skinned cocksockets are reading this and want to have another go then, please, just sod off.
Anyway! When my Grandad died in the early 90's he left me his 1985 1.3 Austin Maestro.
If was a lovely gift which I appreciated very much, but probably not the coolest car to be driving around in at 18 and (cure raging anger from ex-Longbridge workers) I'm afraid to say it was an utter POS of a car. Probably the worst one I've ever owned to be honest.
I had all manner of expensive problems with it and, in the end, crashed it into the back of a Fiat Panda whilst tuning the radio (sorry Grandad).
Edited by BigMon on Tuesday 28th March 16:00
BigMon said:
Last time I posted on a thread like this I got dogs abuse from, I assume, ex-Longbridge workers for having the temerity to have a pop at the car my Grandad left to me.
If any of the thin-skinned cocksockets are reading this and want to have another go then, please, just sod off.
Anyway! When my Grandad died in the early 90's he left me his 1985 1.3 Austin Maestro.
If was a lovely gift, but probably not the coolest car to be driving around in at 18 and (cure raging anger from ex-Longbridge workers) I'm afraid to say it was an utter POS of a car. Probably the worst one I've ever owned to be honest.
I had all manner of expensive problems with it and, in the end, crashed it into the back of a Fiat Panda whilst tuning the radio (sorry Grandad).
I sense much anger If any of the thin-skinned cocksockets are reading this and want to have another go then, please, just sod off.
Anyway! When my Grandad died in the early 90's he left me his 1985 1.3 Austin Maestro.
If was a lovely gift, but probably not the coolest car to be driving around in at 18 and (cure raging anger from ex-Longbridge workers) I'm afraid to say it was an utter POS of a car. Probably the worst one I've ever owned to be honest.
I had all manner of expensive problems with it and, in the end, crashed it into the back of a Fiat Panda whilst tuning the radio (sorry Grandad).
As a teenager I worked Saturday's in a department store. The manager and his wife, who managed the ladieswear department, used to arrive together at work every day, take lunch together, and leave together every night. You virtually never saw them apart. Shortly after I finished working there, she sadly died of a heart attack, and a few days after her funeral, her husband took his own life by running his car, a bright yellow mark 3 cortina, in the garage with the doors closed.
A few weeks later I met a work mate who was still working there for a drink and we spoke about their passing. He offered me a lift home and as we emerged from the lift of the multi storey car park, he took his keys from his pocket and headed towards a yellow Mk 3 Cortina parked nearby.
I recognised the number plate and couldn't believe his apparent lack of concern that he was climbing into the drivers seat where a man had died a few weeks earlier. He had been left it in the bosses will and drove it for a couple of years before passing it on to an unsuspecting buyer.
I walked home that evening.
A few weeks later I met a work mate who was still working there for a drink and we spoke about their passing. He offered me a lift home and as we emerged from the lift of the multi storey car park, he took his keys from his pocket and headed towards a yellow Mk 3 Cortina parked nearby.
I recognised the number plate and couldn't believe his apparent lack of concern that he was climbing into the drivers seat where a man had died a few weeks earlier. He had been left it in the bosses will and drove it for a couple of years before passing it on to an unsuspecting buyer.
I walked home that evening.
J4CKO said:
I sense much anger
I can't be bothered to search for the thread but the jist of it was I was an utterly ungrateful w
ker for having the temerity to point out that the Austin Maestro was an utter turd of a car.As it was left to me by my Grandad I should have loved and cherished the tailgate rusting through, gearbox whine, choke problem causing it to bunnyhop when trying to set off from junctions, etc, etc.
I inherited a ford Ka and a Rover 75, as neither of them were wanted and both cars weren't valuable we sold the Ka for scrap value (8mnth mot) to next doors daughter as a first car and I gave the 75 to my dads brother.
I only drove the Ka when picking it up from where it was left and I drove it like I stole it, it was a hoot, had no brakes mind !
I only drove the Ka when picking it up from where it was left and I drove it like I stole it, it was a hoot, had no brakes mind !
Edited by familyguy1 on Tuesday 28th March 16:51
BigMon said:
J4CKO said:
I sense much anger
I can't be bothered to search for the thread but the jist of it was I was an utterly ungrateful wker for having the temerity to point out that the Austin Maestro was an utter turd of a car.As it was left to me by my Grandad I should have loved and cherished the tailgate rusting through, gearbox whine, choke problem causing it to bunnyhop when trying to set off from junctions, etc, etc.
But nobody has to say you should like ancient BL tat.
Sheepshanks said:
My son-in-law has recently been left an old Rolls Royce. I've given to understand it's not really worth anything.
Even my shed of a Rolls is still worth £2k, well thats what I paid in a ebay auction against a few bidders.I have been "left" 2 Ford Focus's now.
First by my dad when I turned 17 (he didnt die but it had no intention of becoming mine till he forgot he had it), he had moved to the USA and just left it on a mates land for a few years till his mate rang and asked when it was going as the wingmirrors had been nicked. Gave it to my brother when I had a years no claims and he turned 17.
Second by my Nan when she died. Was a 1.6 petrol auto with 50k on the clock, I ended up giving it a service and a thrash to top speed and it seemed 100% happier. Gave it to my brother as he ruined the last Focus I got which I gave him.
Inherited my Dad's 08 Skoda Superb mk1 a few years back, my Mother's words were "Ill give it to you as I know you wont get rid of it"...
My wife hates looking at it or being in it and refuses to drive it, and I'd feel really guilty selling it. Ever. This makes for frequent lively debate.
Basic 'minicab' spec, steelies and wheel trims etc with scratches/scuffs on every panel make it look old and desperately uncool. Only 82k miles on a well looked after pd 1.9 tdi engine so my wife will probably have to look at it for a few years yet.
It gets good tyres, oil and filters. Bodywork, trim, rattles, odd intermittent electrical problems etc follow the bangernomics rules of dont fix unless necessary.
Ive grown fond of it yet it'd be one of the last cars Id ever have considered buying with my own money.
Its odd the things we humans get sentimental about.
My wife hates looking at it or being in it and refuses to drive it, and I'd feel really guilty selling it. Ever. This makes for frequent lively debate.
Basic 'minicab' spec, steelies and wheel trims etc with scratches/scuffs on every panel make it look old and desperately uncool. Only 82k miles on a well looked after pd 1.9 tdi engine so my wife will probably have to look at it for a few years yet.
It gets good tyres, oil and filters. Bodywork, trim, rattles, odd intermittent electrical problems etc follow the bangernomics rules of dont fix unless necessary.
Ive grown fond of it yet it'd be one of the last cars Id ever have considered buying with my own money.
Its odd the things we humans get sentimental about.
J4CKO said:
They werent the best but they did a job, everything was a bit ropey then, I thought they drove reasonably well but they werent pretty and rusted for fun, the MG was a decent package and even as a serial Golf GTI owner I reckon it was easily the measure of an 8 valve Golf MK2, just not as desirable.
But nobody has to say you should like ancient BL tat.
If he'd left me an MG or an MG turbo then my recollection may well have been different (not that I could have afforded the insurance in 1992 though).But nobody has to say you should like ancient BL tat.
Inherited late FiL's 1995 Jaguar Sovereign about 10 years ago, it had 44k then & about 52k now.
It's mechanically excellent but needs some lacquer peel sorting. I do like the waft factor of the thing but @20 mpg it's not viable as a daily & anyway I'm awaiting a new daily!!
Thing is, neither Mrs Jim AK or myself can countenance parting with it, she was quite cross with me a couple of months ago when I had to trawl the Bay of Fleas for a Cam Sensor & when she asked what I was doing I said 'Buying parts for that fking Jag again!!
ETA. Spooky stuff is happening here. MiL remarried & her current husband is in a Nursing Home with terminal Cancer. I've just been told WBAC are taking his Kia Venga on Saturday!!!
It's mechanically excellent but needs some lacquer peel sorting. I do like the waft factor of the thing but @20 mpg it's not viable as a daily & anyway I'm awaiting a new daily!!
Thing is, neither Mrs Jim AK or myself can countenance parting with it, she was quite cross with me a couple of months ago when I had to trawl the Bay of Fleas for a Cam Sensor & when she asked what I was doing I said 'Buying parts for that f
king Jag again!!ETA. Spooky stuff is happening here. MiL remarried & her current husband is in a Nursing Home with terminal Cancer. I've just been told WBAC are taking his Kia Venga on Saturday!!!
Edited by Jim AK on Tuesday 28th March 21:58
My dad inherited a Dolomite Sprint from a rich uncle, although my memory of it is limited - it was rear ended by a taxi driver when I was 4, I have a dim memory of sitting in the back seat crying afterwards.
Sold as a non runner for 90 quid. He loved that car but necessity won over sentimentality
Sold as a non runner for 90 quid. He loved that car but necessity won over sentimentality
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff