Classics left to die/rotting pics
Discussion
The Sierra was a big part of my childhood... we had loads while I was growing up, I remember a red 4x4 Estate, a metallic blue 4x4 estate, then a Black XR4x4 with the 2.9 engine, that was a 1990 on a G plate, with Cosworth alloys, and blue stripe around the side mouldings.
Back in the days when Dad used to really look after, modify and care about his cars.
Then he had a new 1994 Mondeo 2.0LX Estate, and it all started going downhill.
Back in the days when Dad used to really look after, modify and care about his cars.
Then he had a new 1994 Mondeo 2.0LX Estate, and it all started going downhill.
DickyC said:
When I was writing for the AMOC I got to know John Martin, son of Lionel Martin the founder of Aston Martin (I win prizes for the number of times I can include 'Martin' in one sentence). He was in his eighties and I was in my forties. One weekend in the mid-nineties I had a works DB7 to write about my road impressions. On the Saturday, to the amusement of my sons, I perfected my standing start acceleration technique; it was a manual and matching the quoted 0 - 60 times I didn't find easy to begin with. On the Sunday my wife and I drove up to Thames Ditton to see John and his wife to show them the car. Marjorie was a real character who had enjoyed the Charleston as a girl and as she got older was often in the Sunday papers leading protest marches for animal rights among other things. John was one of the gentlest, most gentlemanly men I have ever met. He was such a nice guy. Anyway, leaving the ladies to talk, John and I went out for a spin in the Aston. I drove slowly round the residential parts of Thames Ditton to a big set of lights on the old A3 with a filling station on one corner. I crossed the lights, cut left through the filling station and pulled up at the white line on the main road to wait for green to show him how well the car went. Each of the four arms of the cross roads were allowed across separately, so we had a bit of time to wait. As we waited, cars pulled up alongside and behind. Next to us was a Cavalier, the occupants agog at the Aston as the DB7 was quite new at the time. Then a Testarossa pulled alongside the Cavalier to make a third lane. Across from the lights were two lanes. John said quietly, "Traffic light Grand Prix." "Yes," I said, "I think I've got to." "Yes," he said, "I think you do."
The lights went a bit orangey and the Aston and Ferrari blasted off together. I couldn't think of the numbers but guessed the Ferrari was the quicker of the two but... In his haste the driver of the lil red car smoked his tyres in first, second and third trying to get away and the Aston gave good account of itself until John said the Police were hot round there and I eased up. The DB7 did 0 - 60 in five I think and in all the wheelspin the Ferrari wasn't doing much better. What the folk in the Vauxhall thought I can't imagine.
"Did you see what I was doing?" asked John. "No, what?" "I was poking my tongue out at him!"
At his funeral I read the eulogy and told this story. There were about two hundred people there. Afterwards an old gent came up to me and said, "I have known John since the nineteen thirties and I didn't know of the Aston Martin connection until today."
Apologies, that wasn't as Testarossary as I remembered. A Bit Astony.
Loved that Dickey! Cheers. The lights went a bit orangey and the Aston and Ferrari blasted off together. I couldn't think of the numbers but guessed the Ferrari was the quicker of the two but... In his haste the driver of the lil red car smoked his tyres in first, second and third trying to get away and the Aston gave good account of itself until John said the Police were hot round there and I eased up. The DB7 did 0 - 60 in five I think and in all the wheelspin the Ferrari wasn't doing much better. What the folk in the Vauxhall thought I can't imagine.
"Did you see what I was doing?" asked John. "No, what?" "I was poking my tongue out at him!"
At his funeral I read the eulogy and told this story. There were about two hundred people there. Afterwards an old gent came up to me and said, "I have known John since the nineteen thirties and I didn't know of the Aston Martin connection until today."
Apologies, that wasn't as Testarossary as I remembered. A Bit Astony.
sim16v said:
Thanks Tony, I'd like to take you up on your offer, one way or another!
email on it's way, and here's an idea of how bad it is.
That's after a couple of soaks and scrubs with truck "fleet clean" type chemicals, and little bits of attempting to machine polish it!
Oh, and when it was in the barn it had a couple of windows smashed, and the bonnet and boot left open, so it is all over the car!
It smells just a bit, but it has no rust, and even after 12+ years, with a splash of fresh fuel in the tank and a new battery it started and ran!
I know I'm amongst like minded anoraks but I'm embarrassed for my self to say that I can see that this a post '82 facelift (I can make out an econometer and the fabric reaches the edge of the seats - no vinyl panel). Also, the facelift had slightly different wheels but this one doesn't...email on it's way, and here's an idea of how bad it is.
That's after a couple of soaks and scrubs with truck "fleet clean" type chemicals, and little bits of attempting to machine polish it!
Oh, and when it was in the barn it had a couple of windows smashed, and the bonnet and boot left open, so it is all over the car!
It smells just a bit, but it has no rust, and even after 12+ years, with a splash of fresh fuel in the tank and a new battery it started and ran!
Right, I'm off out to talk to girls.
Dapster said:
I know I'm amongst like minded anoraks but I'm embarrassed for my self to say that I can see that this a post '82 facelift (I can make out an econometer and the fabric reaches the edge of the seats - no vinyl panel). Also, the facelift had slightly different wheels but this one doesn't...
Right, I'm off out to talk to girls.
And not before time Right, I'm off out to talk to girls.
DickyC said:
The point the owner of the business was making, I believe, was that the cars are not actually dying, they are in a state of pre-restoration or pre-sale and restoration by someone else. By doing either he is in a win/win situation. Nice chap; approachable.
//j17 said:
Stop complaining - some of us had to sit in the back of base model Mk2 Vauxhall Cavaliers and T12 Nissan Bluebirds!
What I'd have given for my dad to buy a Ford instead of either of these!
..or a '61 948cc Austin A40 that made the trip for five of us from Ayrshire to London once a year at 35mph on mainly the A6 (yes, ..over the Shap in winter, with breakfast at the Jungle). No M6 in those days. Only took us eighteen hours to get to Wembly with no seatbelts, and a roofrack for the giant trunk. What I'd have given for my dad to buy a Ford instead of either of these!
Big surprise treat for my brother and I one time, was an entirely new concept.. A canned drink!! We had a can of Fanta each, that needed a triangular can opener to pierce the top. The hole my Mum made in the top was very small so the drink would last us all the way! Heaven!!
exitwound said:
...an entirely new concept.. A canned drink!! We had a can of Fanta each, that needed a triangular can opener to pierce the top. The hole my Mum made in the top was very small so the drink would last us all the way! Heaven!!
Crikey I had forgotten about can openers. I used to have on on my key ring because it was essential for getting into a can of beer or Coke. In fact you had to make two holes on opposite sides, one to drink from the other to let some air in. MAkes one realise what a good invention ring pulls were! exitwound said:
//j17 said:
Stop complaining - some of us had to sit in the back of base model Mk2 Vauxhall Cavaliers and T12 Nissan Bluebirds!
What I'd have given for my dad to buy a Ford instead of either of these!
..or a '61 948cc Austin A40 that made the trip for five of us from Ayrshire to London once a year at 35mph on mainly the A6 (yes, ..over the Shap in winter, with breakfast at the Jungle). No M6 in those days. Only took us eighteen hours to get to Wembly with no seatbelts, and a roofrack for the giant trunk. What I'd have given for my dad to buy a Ford instead of either of these!
Big surprise treat for my brother and I one time, was an entirely new concept.. A canned drink!! We had a can of Fanta each, that needed a triangular can opener to pierce the top. The hole my Mum made in the top was very small so the drink would last us all the way! Heaven!!
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