Cars of your youth

[Classic Chim]

macdeb said:

Had quite a few, here's one of my first own builds from back in 1980 when I was 21 standing very 'proud' with it on a trip to Cornwall. A 1960 Vauxhall Velox, I rebuilt a small block Ford V8 for it, installed disc brakes too which was useful and a Ventura rear end when the new engine exploded the diff'. Used to go well in a straight line, corners were interesting. I did it all in a car-port under my flat and had the engine stripped in the kitchen. attempted the black respray too and copied/traced the image on rear wing from 'Tubeway Army' album, well it was 1980

Should have kept it, the perfect band wagon
Legend guitar player and car builder
That’s one off the scale motor even in 1980

[macdeb]

Classic Chim said:

macdeb said:

Had quite a few, here's one of my first own builds from back in 1980 when I was 21 standing very 'proud' with it on a trip to Cornwall. A 1960 Vauxhall Velox, I rebuilt a small block Ford V8 for it, installed disc brakes too which was useful and a Ventura rear end when the new engine exploded the diff'. Used to go well in a straight line, corners were interesting. I did it all in a car-port under my flat and had the engine stripped in the kitchen. attempted the black respray too and copied/traced the image on rear wing from 'Tubeway Army' album, well it was 1980

Should have kept it, the perfect band wagon
Legend guitar player and car builder
That’s one off the scale motor even in 1980

Ahh bless ya ! Cheers dude, must catch up I wish I still got it and can't believe I swapped it for a Jag!

[Classic Chim]

macdeb said:

Ahh bless ya ! Cheers dude, must catch up I wish I still got it and can't believe I swapped it for a Jag!

A Jag
Your the bloke to have a beer with for sure, how many fails did we have before we learnt

My Mk 1 2door Cortina sold in 1981 for £40 I didn’t even have a licence, I thought I sold well at the time
Got to have a jam and a beer, I can hardly walk but still love the idea of it, rippin players

[s3dave]

TV8 said:

I have just watched wheeler dealers and the Alfasud and I so want to have one of those cars in my life again!

Many of your probably wanted a TVR back then but I didn't but loved two ultra rotten alfasuds in a way that I love my Chimaera today. Only 50 left! Mrs B and I watched it together and I think she is a bit worried about me going out to get one!

What cars did we have back in the day then?

Mini 850 Van - great first car
Morris 1100 - so many holes in the sills I had to put my welly’s on when it rained!
Mini 1000 - OK but boring
MG midget mk2
Triumph Dolomite 1850 HL - I thought it great at the time but looking back not so good.
Jenson Healey - numerous issues with engine and brakes
Lots of boring family cars
TVR S3
Sagaris

Most loved car: (apart for Sag obviously!) was the MG Midget - rusty as hell (I remember pop riveting a new boot floor on, made from some old sheet steel I had). Had to renew the front suspension King Pins - anyone remember what they are? I would love to have that back today - but I would have to fit a supercharger, as it was pathetically slow.

[Belle427]

1980 Toyota Corolla, resprayed it from shi# brown to red.
1983 Mk 1 Astra Gte, bit of a rust bucket.
1990 Ford Escort Rs Turbo Series 2, loved this car and a dream to own at 21 years old back then.
1993 Mk 3 Astra Gsi, modified the suspension and exhaust, loved the red top engine.
1993 Mk 5 Ford Escort RS2000, pile of crap.
1991 Mk 2 Golf Gti 16 valve, loved this car too, needed more power though.

House purchase time then a pile of old sheds for a while, nothing memorable, then back in the game when funds allowed.

Gardner Douglas Cobra Replica, built by myself and my father. Ford 302 Engine.
1995 Tvr Chim, bought to fill the hole the Cobra left.
2006 Mk 5 Golf Gti, not very exciting but a good drive.
Current car 2008 Saab 9-3 Aero Estate 1.9 Tid, I love driving this, very comfortable and surprisingly quick.

[macdeb]

Classic Chim said:

A Jag
Your the bloke to have a beer with for sure, how many fails did we have before we learnt

My Mk 1 2door Cortina sold in 1981 for £40 I didn’t even have a licence, I thought I sold well at the time
Got to have a jam and a beer, I can hardly walk but still love the idea of it, rippin players

Loved it dude, Dave and Neal ask about you often, loved them jams Liked them mk1 cortina's, I helped a mate at the time put a V6 into a mk2. Again, outside in the elements Must do beer soon bloke, xx

[Zener]

Here goes .....

71 Hillman Imp 1st car modded with my brother Santa Pod 19 sec quarter about 65/70 IIRC
73 Ford Capri MK1 Facelift 1.6 XL (wrapped round a bollard) black ice and a tt ... Me
72 Ford Capri MK1 1600GT XLR (owned and loved a long time way to many mods to list)
69 Ford Capri MK1 3000GT XLR
72 Ford Capri MK1 3000E auto but not for long
75 Triumph Stag MK2
77 Transit Van SWB MK1 Ford Big Block 390ci engineered by bro-in-law and tyre shredder (Big Fun)
81 Capri MK3 2.8i early 4 speed
Pontiac Firebird (Rockford Files shape) small block


Then I got older and got more sensible ... kinda

Edited by Zener on Thursday 16th January 15:59

[phazed]

I can top that! well maybe

First car at 17 years old. A 1964 Austin 1100.
Rust, body filler and absolutely standard!

I had two wheels since by 16th birthday but this was my first car. What a great time I had with this. Went everywhere, took everyone and gave it away when I had owned it for one year!

[Zener]

phazed said:

I can top that! well maybe

First car at 17 years old. A 1964 Austin 1100.
Rust, body filler and absolutely standard!

I had two wheels since by 16th birthday but this was my first car. What a great time I had with this. Went everywhere, took everyone and gave it away when I had owned it for one year!

My Mum had one of those 1100 auto on a B plate comfortable .... but ultimately it blew up Nice rod Mac you made outta that Velox cant beat yank V8 HP

[macdeb]

Zener said:

phazed said:

I can top that! well maybe

First car at 17 years old. A 1964 Austin 1100.
Rust, body filler and absolutely standard!

I had two wheels since by 16th birthday but this was my first car. What a great time I had with this. Went everywhere, took everyone and gave it away when I had owned it for one year!

My Mum had one of those 1100 auto on a B plate comfortable .... but ultimately it blew up Nice rod Mac you made outta that Velox cant beat yank V8 HP

^^^^ Thanks Simon, it made an EPIC sound too! First car here Peter at 17 was a 1967 Ford Anglia, £80 of my hard earned/saved. I once went to the local 'Alan Pond' garage (green shield stamps) and when I slammed the door shut the whole sill fell off with the jacking point along with filler and bits of newspaper.
In the end one day I thought, 'that's sitting a bit low at the back', and when I opened the boot I was greeted by the leaf springs coming through the floor

Edited by macdeb on Thursday 16th January 20:02

Edited by macdeb on Thursday 16th January 20:03

[Zener]

macdeb said:

^^^^ Thanks Simon, it made an EPIC sound too! First car here Peter at 17 was a 1967 Ford Anglia, £80 of my hard earned/saved. I once went to the local 'Alan Pond' garage (green shield stamps) and when I slammed the door shut the whole sill fell off with the jacking point along with filler and bits of newspaper.
In the end one day I thought, 'that's sitting a bit low at the back', and when I opened the boot I was greeted by the leaf springs coming through the floor

Edited by macdeb on Thursday 16th January 20:02

Edited by macdeb on Thursday 16th January 20:03

Stuff sure did rot back then I remember hearing from a reliable source that back in the day they was fitting cover sills on many brands and Ford top mounting plates was a regular at only 4 to 6 years old holy moly , so your Anglia pretty typical by all accounts your Velox must have led a cared for life methinks

[TV8]

I had a 1964 mini as my first car at 17. Push button start, sliding windows with moss for lubrication and the worst brakes ever. Single cylinder drum brakes up-graded to twin cylinder with spares from a local breakers where everything seemed to be a fiver!. For those that know me, it will be a surprise to say that with my dads garage and tools available, plus his help when I got stuck, I rebuilt that car. My mates sister bought it and it was written off a week later!

[s3dave]

TV8 said:

I had a 1964 mini as my first car at 17. Push button start, sliding windows with moss for lubrication and the worst brakes ever. Single cylinder drum brakes up-graded to twin cylinder with spares from a local breakers where everything seemed to be a fiver!. For those that know me, it will be a surprise to say that with my dads garage and tools available, plus his help when I got stuck, I rebuilt that car. My mates sister bought it and it was written off a week later!

Common thread here - my sister wrote it off - but we rebuilt it. Don't remember the push start, but do remember the Mini headlight foot dip switch (always thoughts that was a good idea). Distributer was right at the front of the engine and often got wet, causing a breakdown.

[DangerousDerek]

[phazed]

My daughters youth.

She had a Micra which she did about 5000 miles on while learning to drive. She drove me everywhere while learning even up to the centre of London. Let her go out alone on the first day of passing her test and she wrote it off, (Police in attendance, road closed off)

This is the second car. Days after this photograph was taken she lost it on a country lane bend, came out the other side sideways, corrected it left, then right, then left, then right and ended up wedged in between two trees, (Police in attendance, road closed off). Luckily I had Dave and Alex, (Chimaera owners) visiting that afternoon so we put the trailer on my car and rescued her. A short while after that she took the slip road off the A3 at 70 miles an hour, didn't brake for a bend, rolled it and ended up amongst the trees, (Police in attendance, road closed off) Her friend and she walked away totally unhurt, unbelievable!

You can see what fathers have to put up with by this photograph!



I have left out other indiscretions but thankfully now at 23 that is all behind her.

Yes she is a devil.....but what can you do.....

[Zener]

Dads N Daughters apart from the car re-modelling you wouldn't change a thing Peter

[DangerousDerek]

phazed said:

My daughters youth.


Yes she is a devil.....but what can you do.....

except when she makes us lemon drizzle cake then she is an absolute angel

[rev-erend]

I've had a few classics, not sure I would want some of them back in my life again though.

Austin A30
Datsun Cherry
Cortina mkii Savage 3.0 stage 3 swaymar
Capri 2.0 S
Jag 4 door salon (1979)
Mini 850 van hand painted with a 1293 engine
XR2i
Cortina mk1 v8
Volvo 340 (£500 and drove to Morocco and back)
probably a bunch of others that my failing memory chooses to forget then some modern classics
TVR 400 SE
Griff 500
T350C
Focus RS 2
450 SEAC (Wildcat)
BMW M3
Focus RS 3
SLK AMG
BMW M3 E93 convertible

It's been fun

Forgot a TR6.

Edited by rev-erend on Sunday 19th January 14:50

[Classic Chim]

You can see she takes after her father

Luckily she looks like her mom

Kids.

[AC43]

TV8 said:

I have just watched wheeler dealers and the Alfasud and I so want to have one of those cars in my life again!

Many of your probably wanted a TVR back then but I didn't but loved two ultra rotten alfasuds in a way that I love my Chimaera today. Only 50 left! Mrs B and I watched it together and I think she is a bit worried about me going out to get one!

What cars did we have back in the day then?

I had a Sud, a Sud Sprint, a 33 and a Spider back in the day.

My mate had a Sud Sprint. His family had a Sud, a Fiat Coupe, an Alfetta 1.8 GT and a Guilietta.

Another mate's dad had a Sud and he had 2 Mirafiori's with twin cams fitted and then a GTV6

Another mate's dad had a Beta and then a Beta HPE.

Another mate had a 33 and then two supercharged Beta coupes.

Other mates had various Sud's, 33's and GTV's.

Used to cane them all over Fife, down to the Borders and up to the Highlands. Several trips from Scotland to the South of Frace and back. And Italy, of course. Twice.

Did I mention we were into Italian cars at the time?

Edited by AC43 on Saturday 18th January 11:26