Grab A "Classic" Now
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Discussion

Fishtigua

Original Poster:

9,786 posts

224 months

Tuesday 21st May 2013
quotequote all
Older cars that we love to hate, Allegros, Marinas and Vivas, are heavily on the way out. The Telegraph has published a list of those getting close to the end.

The market says there must be a yawning gap between Classic prices and 'just some old crap' prices, must be worth a punt if you have some garage space free.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/10056212/...

I wish I'd hung onto my early Mk.1 Panda now, given free from a bloke in the Pub and sold for £50 to a nipper at work. Will work a bit harder on my Uno from now on.

anonymous-user

83 months

Tuesday 21st May 2013
quotequote all
Allegros, Marinas etc are not quite as bad as people often say, and have a certain coolth of their own. There is a whole website dedicated to the unloved cars of yore, but Pistonheads won't let me say its name (autoste.com).

//j17

5,064 posts

252 months

Tuesday 21st May 2013
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I'd much rather see something rare, like an Allegro or a Vauxhall Chevette at a car show than yet another in a long line of Escorts and E-Types.

mikey77

707 posts

217 months

Tuesday 21st May 2013
quotequote all
Believe me, Allegros and Marinas were horrible. The Allegro was diabolical and the Marina was even worse - you couldn't even sit straight in the damned things. You are hearing someone who actually owned and/or drove them.
I'm all for hanging on to something unusual, so other people can have their memories jogged, but don't believe everything you are told these days. According to classic car journalists everything that was carp years ago is now quaint and acceptable or has had its well-documented faults sorted. If only. rolleyes

Convert

3,757 posts

247 months

Tuesday 21st May 2013
quotequote all
The only Marina I ever drove was a parts van, when I worked for Kennings.

The bloody thing had a digital clutch, on or off no inbetween. The sodding thing either stalled or spun the wheels every time.

As for allaggros, my dad had one. First ever engine that I rebuilt (14 YO). Painted the block red, and my dad painted the exhaust manifold with the same paint (even though I told him not to). The smoke on first run was amazing.

LordBretSinclair

4,306 posts

206 months

Tuesday 21st May 2013
quotequote all
mikey77 said:
Believe me, Allegros and Marinas were horrible. The Allegro was diabolical and the Marina was even worse - you couldn't even sit straight in the damned things. You are hearing someone who actually owned and/or drove them.
I'm all for hanging on to something unusual, so other people can have their memories jogged, but don't believe everything you are told these days. According to classic car journalists everything that was crap years ago is now quaint and acceptable or has had its well-documented faults sorted. If only. rolleyes
Couldn't agree more.

They were a piles of sh*te when new and now they're just old piles of sh*te frown

Paul Dishman

5,386 posts

266 months

Tuesday 21st May 2013
quotequote all
LordBretSinclair said:
mikey77 said:
Believe me, Allegros and Marinas were horrible. The Allegro was diabolical and the Marina was even worse - you couldn't even sit straight in the damned things. You are hearing someone who actually owned and/or drove them.
I'm all for hanging on to something unusual, so other people can have their memories jogged, but don't believe everything you are told these days. According to classic car journalists everything that was crap years ago is now quaint and acceptable or has had its well-documented faults sorted. If only. rolleyes
Couldn't agree more.

They were a piles of sh*te when new and now they're just old piles of sh*te frown
Very true. I had to laugh at the outrage when Top Gear trashed those Marinas

grumpy52

6,055 posts

195 months

Tuesday 21st May 2013
quotequote all
I would love to know where they get the numbers from as the best has got to be the Landrover as something like 60-70% of all landrovers made are still in use (loads used in places other than on the road)
As for others on the list of "good uns" a couple of them were pretty dire when new and will not have improved after 30-40-50 years !
Time will show as it does with all mechanical things the stuff that was poor in its day will not be collected and get rare ,and rare will equal value to some extent in the future.

rumple

14,956 posts

180 months

Tuesday 21st May 2013
quotequote all
Breadvan72 said:
Allegros, Marinas etc are not quite as bad as people often say, and have a certain coolth of their own. There is a whole website dedicated to the unloved cars of yore, but Pistonheads won't let me say its name (autoste.com).
They are, they really really are.yes

rumple

14,956 posts

180 months

Tuesday 21st May 2013
quotequote all
grumpy52 said:
I would love to know where they get the numbers from as the best has got to be the Landrover as something like 60-70% of all landrovers made are still in use (loads used in places other than on the road)
As for others on the list of "good uns" a couple of them were pretty dire when new and will not have improved after 30-40-50 years !
Time will show as it does with all mechanical things the stuff that was poor in its day will not be collected and get rare ,and rare will equal value to some extent in the future.
Triggers broom, I love old Landies but Landcruiser build quality they aint got.

Lotus 50

1,029 posts

194 months

Tuesday 21st May 2013
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I also strongly suspect that they've mixed up the 80's/90's Lotus Elan with the Elans and Elan +2s produced in the 60's and 70's to come up with the 2000+ left on the road...

droopsnoot

14,624 posts

271 months

Tuesday 21st May 2013
quotequote all
grumpy52 said:
I would love to know where they get the numbers from
Generally they come from the "How many left" website, which in turn is based on DVLA data, which is often not very accurate as you go back further through history.

Skyedriver

23,320 posts

311 months

Tuesday 21st May 2013
quotequote all
Marina - load of poo you all say, clutch judder, on off switch etc
You lot should lean to drive - I had a Marina and it was ok, only trouble I ever had was a gearstick that disconnected from the gearbox.

I've driven and thrashed and nursed all sorts of stuff over the years - there was a lot worse than the Marina.

60's Land Rovers
Peugeot 104
70's Transits
HA Viva van
early minis
newer minis
Spitfire now there was a car where the pedal off set would damage your spine...

ste the lot of them

Fishtigua

Original Poster:

9,786 posts

224 months

Tuesday 21st May 2013
quotequote all
Skyedriver said:
70's Transits
Bugger. As you typed that, an old Box-square grill Transit pick-up went by, still with a wooden ass end.

plasticpig

12,932 posts

254 months

Tuesday 21st May 2013
quotequote all
droopsnoot said:
grumpy52 said:
I would love to know where they get the numbers from
Generally they come from the "How many left" website, which in turn is based on DVLA data, which is often not very accurate as you go back further through history.
The Reliant Scimitar figure is certainly correct. Just shy of 16K Scimitars produced (including the later SS1 / Sabre) and 3317 are still registered with the DVLA.

quiraing

1,649 posts

168 months

Tuesday 21st May 2013
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How about the Chrysler / Talbot Alpine or Horizon or Solara?? Mk1 Vx Cavalier 1256? Rover SD1 2000? The Yugo? Dacia Duster (Renault 12 shape).

Fishtigua

Original Poster:

9,786 posts

224 months

Tuesday 21st May 2013
quotequote all
quiraing said:
How about the Chrysler / Talbot Alpine or Horizon or Solara?? Mk1 Vx Cavalier 1256? Rover SD1 2000? The Yugo? Dacia Duster (Renault 12 shape).
As stated, all pretty much crap cars, but there aren't many left. Will be worth a bob or two in a few years (except the Dacia, thousands of the buggers still going).

Think how much Mini pick-ups and vans are going for now. Even 2CVs and R4s are doing well.

awg454

505 posts

245 months

Tuesday 21st May 2013
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Nothing wrong with Marinas!I still own one

mikey77

707 posts

217 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2013
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awg454 said:
Nothing wrong with Marinas!I still own one
Photo please. Of you, not the car.

pixelpimp

674 posts

226 months

Thursday 23rd May 2013
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291 Allegros, now that's scary. *shudders*
With only 37 (how many left website) Fiat 128s left in the country that makes mine effin rare.
And sooooo much better than an Allegro.