Found an old “auto trader”…
Discussion
Those of a certain age in the North West might remember some of the hot hatch specialist dealers from the early 90s. Names like, Fast Lane sports cars, leach and Roberts, Brooklands, School lane garage later the early home of Awesome GTI) etc
Anyway, during a loft re jig, I came across a copy of AutoTrader from September 1991. I’d kept this copy as it was the issue I’d sold my 5GT turbo and bought my Fiat X19… I know lol!
I’ll get some page scans up later but it makes very interesting reading. Anyone remember these dealers?
Anyway, during a loft re jig, I came across a copy of AutoTrader from September 1991. I’d kept this copy as it was the issue I’d sold my 5GT turbo and bought my Fiat X19… I know lol!
I’ll get some page scans up later but it makes very interesting reading. Anyone remember these dealers?
Edited by encnew on Tuesday 29th June 11:46
Edited by encnew on Tuesday 29th June 11:47
In the mid 70s, aged about 14, a friend and I came across an Exchange & Mart from about 1965. So we turned to the "cars for sale" section and started phoning up people to see if it was still for sale. No luck with the first few, but eventually we hooked someone, who was so furious, he just kept repeating what I said, but louder:
Me: I'm phoning up about the Austin Cambridge for sale.
Him: Think you got the wrong number. Actually, I had one years ago.
Me: That's the one, two tone blue and white with red leather, a 1963.
Him: What!! That was about 10 years ago!
Me: Has it gone then?
Him HAS IT GONE!!! Of course it's f
king gone.
Me: Shame, it sounded just what I was after. I didn't call straight away, didn't want to rush into it.
Him: DIDN'T WANT TO RUSH INTO IT!!
Me: Been mulling it over.
Him: MULLING IT OVER!!!
Etc etc.
Me: I'm phoning up about the Austin Cambridge for sale.
Him: Think you got the wrong number. Actually, I had one years ago.
Me: That's the one, two tone blue and white with red leather, a 1963.
Him: What!! That was about 10 years ago!
Me: Has it gone then?
Him HAS IT GONE!!! Of course it's f
king gone. Me: Shame, it sounded just what I was after. I didn't call straight away, didn't want to rush into it.
Him: DIDN'T WANT TO RUSH INTO IT!!
Me: Been mulling it over.
Him: MULLING IT OVER!!!
Etc etc.
encnew said:
Those of a certain age in the North West might remember some of the hot hatch specialist dealers from the early 90s. Names like, Fast Lane sports cars, leach and Roberts, Brooklands, School lane garage later the early home of Awesome GTI) etc
Anyway, during a loft re jig, I came across a copy of AutoTrader from September 1991. I’d kept this copy as it was the issue I’d sold my 5GT turbo and bought my Fiat X19… I know lol!
I’ll get some page scans up later but it makes very interesting reading. Anyone remember these dealers?
I remember these names well and the cars they sold in their large ads. As I can recall there would always be a Mk2 Escort RS2000 priced at £3,595 in around 1991. Anyway, during a loft re jig, I came across a copy of AutoTrader from September 1991. I’d kept this copy as it was the issue I’d sold my 5GT turbo and bought my Fiat X19… I know lol!
I’ll get some page scans up later but it makes very interesting reading. Anyone remember these dealers?
Edited by encnew on Tuesday 29th June 11:46
Edited by encnew on Tuesday 29th June 11:47
Around this time as a student I couldn’t afford to buy cars from such outlets and had to scour the auctions for various Italia, Fords and Vauxhall’s.
I have many happy memories of rushing to the newsagents to get The Autotrader as soon as it hit the shelves, thumbing through the pages hoping to find a bargain before anyone spotted it, and then, after an hour plus of reading the various sections, trying to get the print ink off my fingers!
Top Marques not only had better quality cars, they also used better quality ink!
Top Marques not only had better quality cars, they also used better quality ink!
TwigtheWonderkid said:
In the mid 70s, aged about 14, a friend and I came across an Exchange & Mart from about 1965. So we turned to the "cars for sale" section and started phoning up people to see if it was still for sale. No luck with the first few, but eventually we hooked someone, who was so furious, he just kept repeating what I said, but louder:
Me: I'm phoning up about the Austin Cambridge for sale.
Him: Think you got the wrong number. Actually, I had one years ago.
Me: That's the one, two tone blue and white with red leather, a 1963.
Him: What!! That was about 10 years ago!
Me: Has it gone then?
Him HAS IT GONE!!! Of course it's fking gone.
Me: Shame, it sounded just what I was after. I didn't call straight away, didn't want to rush into it.
Him: DIDN'T WANT TO RUSH INTO IT!!
Me: Been mulling it over.
Him: MULLING IT OVER!!!
Etc etc.
Me: I'm phoning up about the Austin Cambridge for sale.
Him: Think you got the wrong number. Actually, I had one years ago.
Me: That's the one, two tone blue and white with red leather, a 1963.
Him: What!! That was about 10 years ago!
Me: Has it gone then?
Him HAS IT GONE!!! Of course it's f
king gone. Me: Shame, it sounded just what I was after. I didn't call straight away, didn't want to rush into it.
Him: DIDN'T WANT TO RUSH INTO IT!!
Me: Been mulling it over.
Him: MULLING IT OVER!!!
Etc etc.
I'm glad that I was of a generation that bought used cars this way.
Take a day off work, get to the newsagent early doors, then head to the greasy spoons with a bic biro and a pile of 20p pieces. Over a bacon sarnie and a mug of coffee, go through the section (mine would be mk2 Golf GTIs) and mark up the ones in budget - use the caff payphone to make your appointments. Then let the adventure unfold. Where would you end up? A massive house in the burbs with a foxy middle aged lady showing you a pristine car on a gravel drive, a shonky transport yard where you'd have to dodge a scary dog on a chain? Damn you internet!
Take a day off work, get to the newsagent early doors, then head to the greasy spoons with a bic biro and a pile of 20p pieces. Over a bacon sarnie and a mug of coffee, go through the section (mine would be mk2 Golf GTIs) and mark up the ones in budget - use the caff payphone to make your appointments. Then let the adventure unfold. Where would you end up? A massive house in the burbs with a foxy middle aged lady showing you a pristine car on a gravel drive, a shonky transport yard where you'd have to dodge a scary dog on a chain? Damn you internet!
I bought a 2nd hand Renault 5GTturbo from Brooklands back in the day. It seemed a good low mileage deal when I bought it, but once I'd had it a few days I realised it felt a bit leggy. When cruising on the motorway at an indicated 60, nothing came past me, then I twigged the speedo was reading low.
Brooklands sheepishly replaced it under warranty and I moved it on sharpish soon after!
E406DCX if anyone out there has it; its probably still showing about 15,000 miles!!
Brooklands sheepishly replaced it under warranty and I moved it on sharpish soon after!
E406DCX if anyone out there has it; its probably still showing about 15,000 miles!!
I’m just trying to remember when the publication became alphabetical within the various sections. Originally I remember having to scan through slowly looking for that Fiat 131 Supermirafiori / Sport or Lancia Beta.
They were the days. The anticipation of Thursday morning and the Autotrader.
They were the days. The anticipation of Thursday morning and the Autotrader.
Countdown said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
In the mid 70s, aged about 14, a friend and I came across an Exchange & Mart from about 1965. So we turned to the "cars for sale" section and started phoning up people to see if it was still for sale. No luck with the first few, but eventually we hooked someone, who was so furious, he just kept repeating what I said, but louder:
Me: I'm phoning up about the Austin Cambridge for sale.
Him: Think you got the wrong number. Actually, I had one years ago.
Me: That's the one, two tone blue and white with red leather, a 1963.
Him: What!! That was about 10 years ago!
Me: Has it gone then?
Him HAS IT GONE!!! Of course it's fking gone.
Me: Shame, it sounded just what I was after. I didn't call straight away, didn't want to rush into it.
Him: DIDN'T WANT TO RUSH INTO IT!!
Me: Been mulling it over.
Him: MULLING IT OVER!!!
Etc etc.
Me: I'm phoning up about the Austin Cambridge for sale.
Him: Think you got the wrong number. Actually, I had one years ago.
Me: That's the one, two tone blue and white with red leather, a 1963.
Him: What!! That was about 10 years ago!
Me: Has it gone then?
Him HAS IT GONE!!! Of course it's f
king gone. Me: Shame, it sounded just what I was after. I didn't call straight away, didn't want to rush into it.
Him: DIDN'T WANT TO RUSH INTO IT!!
Me: Been mulling it over.
Him: MULLING IT OVER!!!
Etc etc.
4rephill said:
I have many happy memories of rushing to the newsagents to get The Autotrader as soon as it hit the shelves, thumbing through the pages hoping to find a bargain before anyone spotted it, and then, after an hour plus of reading the various sections, trying to get the print ink off my fingers!
Top Marques not only had better quality cars, they also used better quality ink!
Ditto, fist thing Thursday morning and straight round to the local shop with a notepad and pen. Only bothered with the bargain section.Top Marques not only had better quality cars, they also used better quality ink!
Write down the numbers and then make some calls - 90% of the time, some b
d had already beaten you to it.Same applied on a Wednesday with the freeads, although had much more success with those as I could get hold of a copy Tuesday evening.
Around the turn of the century (20-odd years ago, not the previous one!) I was working in car imports and would be on the Harwich - Hoek van Holland ferry nearly every day.
For exercise I'd disembark in Hoek and go for a walk - I had about an hour clear before the return sailing, so I'd go in to town (such as it was). Sometimes I'd do my grocery shopping in the Albert Heijn supermarket and stock up on stuff you couldn't find in the UK. But on Thursdays I'd pop into the newsagent and buy a Dutch AutoTrader.
There was quite a variety of cars that weren't available in the UK and I got quite good at working out what the adverts were saying and even made a couple of calls to enquire about cars. The one I most regret missing was an E30 M3 up for the equivalent of about £4500.
For exercise I'd disembark in Hoek and go for a walk - I had about an hour clear before the return sailing, so I'd go in to town (such as it was). Sometimes I'd do my grocery shopping in the Albert Heijn supermarket and stock up on stuff you couldn't find in the UK. But on Thursdays I'd pop into the newsagent and buy a Dutch AutoTrader.
There was quite a variety of cars that weren't available in the UK and I got quite good at working out what the adverts were saying and even made a couple of calls to enquire about cars. The one I most regret missing was an E30 M3 up for the equivalent of about £4500.
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff