That old car smell?

[ILoveMondeo]

I can't be the only one..

Anyone ever work out what it actually is?

Anything pre-1994 really and definitely everything from the 80's! sometimes you can smell it from the outside just walking past one..

The smell of the plastics, vinyl, carpets?

Running a little rich, burning a little oil?

Lead replacement in the fuel?

Probably a sweet, sweet combination of all of the above!

Also very evocative and brings out some serious smell based nostalgia!

Off to hunt for a mint condition Astra GTE now.

Edited by ILoveMondeo on Sunday 3rd June 10:10

[nagsheadwarrior]

Oil,petrol and plastic for my capri.

Go older and it tends to be oil,petrol,leather and wood in no particular order, lovely stuff!

[J4CKO]

Definitely, I can smell my 944 on my clothes when I have been in it, can smell it when I walk past when the weather is warm, it is not a "nice" smell, but it is pleasant, like how the Dog smells or your own farts, you wouldn't make an aftershave out of it but you enjoy it all the same.

[billzeebub]

definitely. I absoloutely love the smell of my Corrado

[V8Triumph]

Petrol, oil, leather and wood for my lovely 1967 Triumph GT6.

[e8_pack]

I'm off to smell my own farts

[deltashad]

Lancia Delta's have their own smell. It's very addictive.

I was at a car show last weekend though, and put my head through the window of a mint condition late 70's Alfa GTV. The smell of old car was truly sublime....

[Noesph]

e8_pack said:

I'm off to smell my own farts

I though that was hybrid owners.....

[Timberwolf]

In an old Volvo estate the dominant aroma is dog, with subtle undertones of masonry and tip run.

[Liquid Tuna]

I've got a 1992 Audi Coupe and the smell every time I open the door and get in is awesome!! Never fails to make me smile. It's like stepping back 20 years every time I get in the car. Of course, the summers were warmer back then, cars and music were better, no one got caught speeding and girls wore less clothing.

[Frances The Mute]

Yup, my 1988 Alpina B10 has a very distinct smell which has just not changed over the 9 years of ownership.

The leather is prominent, but it has another quality which is impossible to explain. I find it very comforting.

I think I've stepped out of some sort of closet with this thread...

[rowey200]

Whenever i'm back at my folks place and go into the garage, I often stick my head inside (the drivers window is usually open) my old mans 1974 MGB GT V8 and breathe in Defo has a certain smell that is very....er... satisfying to behold?!

[Agrispeed]

Spit' smells of oil, warm leather, wax and burning fuel, not to mention how it feels!!!

Also, hot tires, brakes and engines cooling down smell

[GadgeS3C]

Always amazed how different the S3C (leather) smells to the 3000M (oily) - both nice in different ways.

[ILoveMondeo]

Glad I'm not the only one with an automotive olfactory fetish!

[Vulgar LS2]

My Amazon smells like no other car I've owned before, don't know why it just does.

[Triumph Man]

I love the smell of my Triumph, hot oil, a slight mustiness, and vinyl seats!

[KP328]

My friends dad had a Rover P6, it might have been the combination of leather, wood and age, but it smelled so good.

[LHD]

Frances The Mute said:

Yup, my 1988 Alpina B10 has a very distinct smell which has just not changed over the 9 years of ownership.

The leather is prominent, but it has another quality which is impossible to explain. I find it very comforting.

I think I've stepped out of some sort of closet with this thread...

It smells like an old BMW.

All old BMW's smell this way.

[LuS1fer]

In the 60s it was glue, plastic, horsehair and damp carpets.