Classics left to die/rotting pics

[nicanary]

ATTAK Z said:

Believe me they weren't that good to drive ... the steering wheel was connected to the front wheels with rubber bands ... it was like driving a boat in moderate seas !!!

Most 50s saloons were like that. Young people today have no idea just how bad they were. Anybody who crticises the Morris Minor for being boring needs to compare its steering/roadholding with something like a Cresta PA.

[ATTAK Z]

nicanary said:

ATTAK Z said:

Believe me they weren't that good to drive ... the steering wheel was connected to the front wheels with rubber bands ... it was like driving a boat in moderate seas !!!

Most 50s saloons were like that. Young people today have no idea just how bad they were. Anybody who crticises the Morris Minor for being boring needs to compare its steering/roadholding with something like a Cresta PA.

agreed

[Mercky]

[quote=ATTAK Z]
agreed[/quote Yes, they were terrible, and so were were Morris minors.

Maybe we should all drive new Mondeos. They drive really well

[Cliftonite]

Mercky]TTAK Z said:

agreed[/quote Yes, they were terrible, and so were were Morris minors.

Maybe we should all drive new Mondeos. They drive really well

And what exactly was "terrible" about a Morris Minor (in the standards of the time)?

Have you ever driven one? What's not to like??

[RichB]

Mercky said:

ATTAK Z said:

agreed

Yes, they were terrible, and so were were Morris minors.

Maybe we should all drive new Mondeos. They drive really well

Contrary to what you may think Morris Minors had rack and pinion steering and drove pretty well for a small, cheap car.

[MontyC]

Not sure If you would class this as a classic, but still a sad sight!

[nicanary]

RichB said:

Contrary to what you may think Morris Minors had rack and pinion steering and drove pretty well for a small, cheap car.

Absolutely - that's why I picked it as a comparison. They're a real hoot to drive, and can easily cope with modern traffic. Issigonis at work.

[jimbob82]

nicanary said:

Absolutely - that's why I picked it as a comparison. They're a real hoot to drive, and can easily cope with modern traffic. Issigonis at work.

i remember seeing one that had a fiat 1600 twin cam engine in it. went like a rocket, all the suspension and drivetrain were standard too, made for "fun" sunday afternoon roundabout trips. just drive around to find the best roundabout to drift round...

[M3DGE]

Mr. Magoo said:

JimmyJam said:

Salt flat rat said:

I was once talking to a guy in a West London pub when he said he was was fan of Iso Leles/ Grifos etc. I told him that there was a very interesting car under a tarpaulin in the front garden of a house near Watford station. I had lifted up the rear of the tarp a few days earlier. The car had Swiss number plates , was silver and the boot badge said " OSI ". It was obviously something quite exotic. He immediately asked me to draw a map and took my phone number. He then went out into the Shepherds Bush Road and disappeared off into the night having summoned a cab. A few hours later I got phone calls every twenty minutes or so, until eventually he found the bloody thing, got the owner out of bed, did a deal and had it transported away. It was a very rare Grifo once owned by Peter Sellars. The then owner had put the boot badge on back to front. I got two dozen bottles of Chrystal champagne for my help. And all because I asked a chap for a light for my
Montecristo.

Great story

That really is a cracking story. My dad once passed a vintage 3 Litre lagonda carting hay about in a field in the late fifties. My dad was doing his apprenticeship in the Faversham dockyards at the time and didn't have much money. He did however enquire in the local pub about who owned it and the landlord said the local farmer who usually gets to the pub about 7pm.

My dad waited for him to arrive and asked him how much he wanted for it, the farmer said £60. My father said no and but offered £50. The farmer couldn't agree so my dad came back the next evening and offered him £55 and they shook. The farmer asked his farmhands to go back to the farm, pump up the tyres and put a gallon of fuel in. When they got back with the car my dad handed over £55 and drove off home in the dark with a 1929 3 litre Lagonda with no lights or reverse gear and only 1 seat. And here it is....back in the day...




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What a great story - and pic. The car still shows up on Car Check & TFL, although MID says not insured. Hopefully awaiting restoration!

[dycecooper]

dycecooper said:

Several people have emailed me about this car and rather than email all the individuals at this point I thought it easier to post here for now.

The car is at a friend of mines, I enquirer further about it but it does not belong to him, I know who owns it but I have not spoken to him yet due to work but when I do I will let you all know.

[jimbob82]

dycecooper said:

Several people have emailed me about this car and rather than email all the individuals at this point I thought it easier to post here for now.

The car is at a friend of mines, I enquirer further about it but it does not belong to him, I know who owns it but I have not spoken to him yet due to work but when I do I will let you all know.

Great stuff. Look forward to hearing more

[Mercky]

Cliftonite said:

And what exactly was "terrible" about a Morris Minor (in the standards of the time)?

Have you ever driven one? What's not to like??

I just don't like Morris Minors! I have driven a few in my time and I just think they under powered bimbling old ladies cars that look st. I particularly dislike the pedals sprouting from the floor!

I would rather drive a Cresta.

[Hooli]

MontyC said:

Not sure If you would class this as a classic, but still a sad sight!

The only thing sad about that is it's still saveable, hateful horrid cars them.

[Yertis]

Hooli said:

The only thing sad about that is it's still saveable, hateful horrid cars them.

Really? I like to think of them as among the last proper Citroens.

I like Moggies too and recently have thought about getting another, but then I think about getting another, different classic nearly every day.

[Hooli]

Yertis said:

Hooli said:

The only thing sad about that is it's still saveable, hateful horrid cars them.

Really? I like to think of them as among the last proper Citroens.

Just my opinion. Your probably right about the last real citroen, but to me that isn't a good thing.

[RichB]

Hooli said:

MontyC said:

Not sure If you would class this as a classic, but still a sad sight!

The only thing sad about that is it's still saveable, hateful horrid cars them.

One man's meat is another man's poison but I tend to agree, dreadful cars

[Yertis]

Hooli said:

Just my opinion. Your probably right about the last real citroen, but to me that isn't a good thing.

It's all opinion isn't it.

[Rollcage]

Surely the XM is the last of the "proper" Citroens?

[MarkwG]

Humbug...the DS was the last of the real Citroens

[Yertis]

Rollcage said:

Surely the XM is the last of the "proper" Citroens?

Yes, hence my 'among'. Personally I think of the Xantia as the 'last' proper one, but they just fizzled out didn't they. I think the CX is the last proper, proper Citroen...