GAME - Petrolhead Cars
Author
Discussion

Blue_star

Original Poster:

1,249 posts

46 months

Thursday 4th January 2024
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Hi all,

Game rules:

- Share car brand/model + year that comes to mind when you hear the word petrolhead
- One car per post
- Put description why you chose it
- Doesn't need to be expensive/powerful - share what is personal opinion to you
- No need for Jeremy Clarkson to approve


Mr Tidy

31,534 posts

157 months

Friday 5th January 2024
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I'm old so might need to revisit, but in 1984 I bought a 1982 Ford Capri 2.8 Injection. I loved that car but had to sell it to help fund a deposit on my first house.

I bought it after a "dice" with one along the A259 past Roedean in my MK2 Escort RS2000 made me feel like I was going backwards!

Lo-Fi

1,290 posts

100 months

Friday 5th January 2024
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Late 90's I bought a Nissan Silvia. A bluebird with pop-up lights and turbo. RWD. £750. I was 22. I loved cars but knew fk all about them. Coming over Vauxhall bridge, traffic lights ahead, on red. 3 lanes, two of which were occupied, the inside lane was clear. As I approached the lights changed, so I dropped to second and floored it in the inside lane. I'd beat those plebs waiting..
The car did a perfect 180 and I sat there, staring at 3 lanes of traffic coming toward me.
I learnt to drive that day.

Blue_star

Original Poster:

1,249 posts

46 months

Friday 5th January 2024
quotequote all
Lo-Fi said:
Late 90's I bought a Nissan Silvia. A bluebird with pop-up lights and turbo. RWD. £750. I was 22. I loved cars but knew fk all about them. Coming over Vauxhall bridge, traffic lights ahead, on red. 3 lanes, two of which were occupied, the inside lane was clear. As I approached the lights changed, so I dropped to second and floored it in the inside lane. I'd beat those plebs waiting..
The car did a perfect 180 and I sat there, staring at 3 lanes of traffic coming toward me.
I learnt to drive that day.
Remind me to get my brown pants if we go for a drive together hahah

CKY

2,268 posts

45 months

Friday 5th January 2024
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Blue_star said:
Hi all,

Game rules:

- Share car brand/model + year that comes to mind when you hear the word petrolhead
- One car per post
- Put description why you chose it
- Doesn't need to be expensive/powerful - share what is personal opinion to you
- No need for Jeremy Clarkson to approve
Interesting premise for a thread! Showing my age here...

- Share car brand/model + year that comes to mind when you hear the word petrolhead
For me, something like a 1963-66 Lotus Cortina.
- Put description why you chose it
When I grew up, Cortinas were cheap/readily available, and thus the chosen transport for a vast number of people. The majority were happy enough to potter around in a 1200/1500, those wanting to distance themselves from the crowd could plump for the 1500GT. For the 'petrolhead' with a budget, you could try to find a LoCort, preferrably an early one with aluminium panels and a close-ratio 'bullet' gearbox. The performance increase over a GT wasn't night/day, but the noise from the twin Weber carbs was superb, and the classic green flash down the side saw you stand out from the usual Cortina. The downsides were increased purchase cost (even when used), increased running costs, and (sometimes) a bit of extra effort to keep the thing running properly - tuning the Webers, keeping an eye on back axle oil leaks from the A-frame etc. Not something that would be deemed necessary to the average motorist, in other words. They were great fun cars and back then you could make use of the extra performance without fear of retribution from The Law - a friend had an ex-Coombs Mk2 Jaguar, it wasn't until I got a BRM cylinder head and twin 45s on my Lotus that I was able to keep with him in a straight line.
- No need for Jeremy Clarkson to approve
Who? wink


The irony of my post being that nowadays, you'd be harder-pressed to find a non-Lotus 2 door Cortina, given how many shells have been painted white/green and had a Lotus Twincam installed, then called a 'Lotus'.

markcoopers

780 posts

223 months

Friday 5th January 2024
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Westfields, of various types and configurations from 1992 to about 2009.
They taught me mechanical skills, car control and above all introduced me to friends that are close today through the community.

LeeM135i

711 posts

84 months

Friday 5th January 2024
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2018 Mercedes C63S Coupe.

Simply the noise it makes, you can buy a 2019 with the fancy digital dash, nicer ride, flasher body mouldings but the noise isn't as good! Also while the Coupe is impractical compared to the saloon or estate it is the best looking (in my humble opinion).

Bobupndown

2,960 posts

73 months

Friday 5th January 2024
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Takes me back to my teens, modified Minis, stage 1 tuning, inlet and exhaust manifolds, big bore exhaust. Minilight alloys, spotlights, alloy dash with extra guages. Huntmaster recliner seats. Roof painted white (or black on my white Mini). Happy days.


rotarygoth

188 posts

135 months

Saturday 6th January 2024
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Mazda RX7 FC3S (- that's the second generation)
My dad had a 1980 1st gen from new and I loved it so started my love of rotary engines, they are small, light and generate so much power for their size. The torque is a bit low so you need to keep the revs up but the redline is higher than reciprocating piston blocks.
So when I could I bought a gen 2 and so began a 6 year journey from a stock 200bhp car to a ridiculous 450bhp, barely road legal weekend fun car.
Oh, forgot to mention the other thing I love about the RX7 is very tunable