What did you drive in the 80s?

[Mark A S]

generationx said:

My source says whatever has the identity (DKP...) is now with DR, so maybe the chap has moved it on? Interesting story anyway

After i sold DKP in 86 it went solely into Racing where it was painted all yellow. It changed hands 3 or 4 times during that period. Apparently in around 1990 some "astute" person applied for the DKP 191T reg no from DVLA and got it, that is on the DR car now.
As i said, the original log book, still with our name as the last owner, is with the chap in Essex.

Around 8 years ago, i put the chap in Essex in touch with the then owner of the "other" DKP escort in the hope they they could come to an arrangement whereas the owner of the original shell and log book would sell it to the owner of the "other" DKP so they could then build up the original shell using the original log book and gain some provenance.
I was more than happy to help and confirm identities etc as i was the last person to build DKP in its original guise.

Sadly, they could not come to terms.

[generationx]

Mark A S said:

generationx said:

My source says whatever has the identity (DKP...) is now with DR, so maybe the chap has moved it on? Interesting story anyway

After i sold DKP in 86 it went solely into Racing where it was painted all yellow. It changed hands 3 or 4 times during that period. Apparently in around 1990 some "astute" person applied for the DKP 191T reg no from DVLA and got it, that is on the DR car now.
As i said, the original log book, still with our name as the last owner, is with the chap in Essex.

Around 8 years ago, i put the chap in Essex in touch with the then owner of the "other" DKP escort in the hope they they could come to an arrangement whereas the owner of the original shell and log book would sell it to the owner of the "other" DKP so they could then build up the original shell using the original log book and gain some provenance.
I was more than happy to help and confirm identities etc as i was the last person to build DKP in its original guise.

Sadly, they could not come to terms.

Ha ha, the muddy waters of the ex-Works Escorts...

[hilly10]

Glosphil said:

Cortina 2.0 XL(?)
Cavalier 1.6L
Cavalier 1.8SRi
Sierra XR4x4

Enjoyed the XR4x4 but the SRi had much better front seats.

Second that on the front seats my SRI 130 had the Recaro that fitted like a glove. I only have this pic when we went to France and the Cam Belt went



I loved that car

[Mark A S]

generationx said:

Ha ha, the muddy waters of the ex-Works Escorts...

Exactly, there are quite a few with similar "Histories "

This pic of me in it from 1986 has only just surfaced after 35 years!

[Clifford Chambers]

hilly10 said:

Glosphil said:

Cortina 2.0 XL(?)
Cavalier 1.6L
Cavalier 1.8SRi
Sierra XR4x4

Enjoyed the XR4x4 but the SRi had much better front seats.

Second that on the front seats my SRI 130 had the Recaro that fitted like a glove. I only have this pic when we went to France and the Cam Belt went



I loved that car

Back in the day my boss had an early SRI (prior to the 130) as a company car. He used to positively swagger with pride when reps arrived in Sierra 1.6s. Sometimes I'd borrow it, on return he'd drop whatever he was doing, inspect his car and sniff the brakes.

[Om]

hilly10 said:

Second that on the front seats my SRI 130 had the Recaro that fitted like a glove. I only have this pic when we went to France and the Cam Belt went



I loved that car

The earlier 1.8 SRi came with recaros as standard (and I think the alloy wheels). The later facelifted 2.0 115 and 130 SRis only had them as options. Dad got a 2.0 115 after his 1.8 and that had neither - bit of a comedown having plastic wheeltrims and ordinary seats on it. Also the build quality took a nosedive with the facelift - I seem to recall the early 1.8s were built in Germany whilst the facelifted 2.0s came from Ellesmere Port. The 2.0 was a much more torquey engine though but didn't like to rev so much. Cambelt went on his too.

[heisthegaffer]

ian2144 said:

heisthegaffer said:

ian2144 said:

From early 1980 to 1990

Suzuki Whiz Kid new
MG midget 1275
Citroen 2CV new
Fiat Strada 105TC
Volvo 66 estate
2CV “ for your eyes only “ Bond edition
Fiat Panda daily hack
Talbot Samba S/Rallye
Fiat Strada 130TC Abarth
Imp Sport road rally spec weekend toy
Fiat 126BIS daily hack
Daihatsu Charade GTti new
Zastava 311 daily hack

You lucky swine with the 105 and 130. Such special cars.

What were they like... Talk us through them please?

I needed to change the 2CV for something more suitable as I was now commuting Glasgow-Dundee.
Local Ford dealer had a demo XR2 advertised, by the time l got there the next day it was sold.
Salesman tried to palm me off with a Fiesta Supersport which was nice, but just not enough poke.
Then he mentioned they had just taken in a sporty Fiat.
So we head off round the back, me thinking a 127 Sport maybe.... then the black 105TC came into view... wow that’s the one for me, only 12k on the clock.
Apart from some Lacquer flaked on a wheel it was like new.
The 105 was fun while I had it and as quick as any other hot hatch at the time, it was the first car I owned with the new style low profile Pirelli’ P6 tyres. Very grippy.
Don’t recall having any issues with it. Sold it after two years as I was getting married and needed extra cash.

I went through a few little runabouts for a while till the 130TC Abarth appeared in the VW garage it was traded in against a 16V GTi.
The larger than life Recaro seats looked fab and were extremely comfortable but made access into the rear seats almost impossible also a little on the loud side with those twin 40’s
Did I care.... not really. Only issue was an qearbox oil seal which was sorted under warranty.
Funny thing the previous owner accosted me while getting petrol one day, saying he wished he had kept the Abarth. As much as he liked the Golf it didn’t have the same character and you had to rev the nuts of the 16V to make it go.

Thanks mate, appreciate your response. Lovely to hear these tales. The 130 was the car that got me into cars and would always stop me in my tracks irrespective of whatever other cars were about, supercars included.

[politeperson]

1973 Cortina 1.6L when I was 17. It was Daytona Yellow.

I got bored with it so painted it like the Bluesmoblile for a year or so.

Then I welded the doors up and cut the roof off, having attached ford Anglia rear tail-fins with pop rivets at the back. Painted in red. I dont know why.

I remember spending ages changing the black vinyl interior for a brown vinyl interior. I dont know why either.

Home made tarpaulin/hood.

Difficult to get the hood up, so it spent 3 years like that in central London with the hood down when I lived there.

Was very good at collecting peoples smoked cigarette buts. Got pulled by the police and checked every week.

Insured as having a large sunroof.

For £150 I had it 5 years! I fitted 3 engines (cross flow) and 3 gearboxes.

[ian2144]

heisthegaffer said:

ian2144 said:

heisthegaffer said:

ian2144 said:

From early 1980 to 1990

Suzuki Whiz Kid new
MG midget 1275
Citroen 2CV new
Fiat Strada 105TC
Volvo 66 estate
2CV “ for your eyes only “ Bond edition
Fiat Panda daily hack
Talbot Samba S/Rallye
Fiat Strada 130TC Abarth
Imp Sport road rally spec weekend toy
Fiat 126BIS daily hack
Daihatsu Charade GTti new
Zastava 311 daily hack

You lucky swine with the 105 and 130. Such special cars.

What were they like... Talk us through them please?

I needed to change the 2CV for something more suitable as I was now commuting Glasgow-Dundee.
Local Ford dealer had a demo XR2 advertised, by the time l got there the next day it was sold.
Salesman tried to palm me off with a Fiesta Supersport which was nice, but just not enough poke.
Then he mentioned they had just taken in a sporty Fiat.
So we head off round the back, me thinking a 127 Sport maybe.... then the black 105TC came into view... wow that’s the one for me, only 12k on the clock.
Apart from some Lacquer flaked on a wheel it was like new.
The 105 was fun while I had it and as quick as any other hot hatch at the time, it was the first car I owned with the new style low profile Pirelli’ P6 tyres. Very grippy.
Don’t recall having any issues with it. Sold it after two years as I was getting married and needed extra cash.

I went through a few little runabouts for a while till the 130TC Abarth appeared in the VW garage it was traded in against a 16V GTi.
The larger than life Recaro seats looked fab and were extremely comfortable but made access into the rear seats almost impossible also a little on the loud side with those twin 40’s
Did I care.... not really. Only issue was an qearbox oil seal which was sorted under warranty.
Funny thing the previous owner accosted me while getting petrol one day, saying he wished he had kept the Abarth. As much as he liked the Golf it didn’t have the same character and you had to rev the nuts of the 16V to make it go.

Thanks mate, appreciate your response. Lovely to hear these tales. The 130 was the car that got me into cars and would always stop me in my tracks irrespective of whatever other cars were about, supercars included.

No worries, always happy to go down memory lane

[Clifford Chambers]

politeperson said:

1973 Cortina 1.6L when I was 17. It was Daytona Yellow.

I got bored with it so painted it like the Bluesmoblile for a year or so.

Then I welded the doors up and cut the roof off, having attached ford Anglia rear tail-fins with pop rivets at the back. Painted in red. I dont know why.

I remember spending ages changing the black vinyl interior for a brown vinyl interior. I dont know why either.

Home made tarpaulin/hood.

Difficult to get the hood up, so it spent 3 years like that in central London with the hood down when I lived there.

Was very good at collecting peoples smoked cigarette buts. Got pulled by the police and checked every week.

Insured as having a large sunroof.

For £150 I had it 5 years! I fitted 3 engines (cross flow) and 3 gearboxes.

Chelsea cruise?

[Earthdweller]

Theres a Red theme here

I started the 80’s in this ....

Commuting all over the North West



Then went to a Fiat 127 and a Fiesta 1.1 before finishing the decade in this ....

[Pit Pony]

Dapster said:

Pit Pony said:

1.6 DANGLY MIRROR SIERRA ESTATE base in beige.

Did you feel your life ebbing away from you?

To be fair, I learnt to drive in it when it was 2 years old. My dad bought it having been made redundant, and having had his company car taken off him.
He phoned every Ford Dealer in the Northwest, and said, he wanted the cheapest sierra 1.6 estate, that they had in stock. Eventually one has a "cancelled order" beige with 27 shades of brown and sand interior. It didn't have front head rests. There was no radio. No rear seat belts.
It was cheaper than a second hand one. I think.
Later he lent it me for a summer when.he got the sapphire as a company car.
It was fairly quick, given it had no extra weight on board. I also lost my virginity in it. Beach car park at the National Trust at midnight.
3 weeks after I passed my test, I was stopped by a Merseyside police drugs squad car on the dock road in Liverpool. Having over taken them at about 85 mph in what is Now a 30. They have me a talking to and let me go.

Eventually my older sister was given it with 170k on the clock. She sold it to someone in her church at £40 quid a month for a year, who was desperate for a car. She drove it like she was Michele Moultin, I remember her using the hand brake to corner on a country lane near her house.

[Keep it stiff]

In order of oldest first.

Mini
Cortina Mk4 (Dreadful car)
Escort
Aston DB4 Series 5 Vantage
Cavalier
Maestro
Fiat (Can't remember the model)

One of these was not a company car!

[hilly10]

Om said:

The earlier 1.8 SRi came with recaros as standard (and I think the alloy wheels). The later facelifted 2.0 115 and 130 SRis only had them as options. Dad got a 2.0 115 after his 1.8 and that had neither - bit of a comedown having plastic wheeltrims and ordinary seats on it. Also the build quality took a nosedive with the facelift - I seem to recall the early 1.8s were built in Germany whilst the facelifted 2.0s came from Ellesmere Port. The 2.0 was a much more torquey engine though but didn't like to rev so much. Cambelt went on his too.

I inherited mine as a junior, when I came off the tools and into management. A guy above me had his brand new car delivered and I ended up with the SRI, three years old with only 30k miles. I had it for 3 years and took it up to 110k miles and apart from the Cam Belt it never skipped a beat. Mine had Plastic wheel trims.

[Keep it stiff]

hilly10 said:

I inherited mine as a junior, when I came off the tools and into management. A guy above me had his brand new car delivered and I ended up with the SRI, three years old with only 30k miles. I had it for 3 years and took it up to 110k miles and apart from the Cam Belt it never skipped a beat. Mine had Plastic wheel trims.

My company Cavalier was a basic model, something like a 1.6L or GL in a rather horrid pea green. One of the things I recall was that when I was pushing on down country roads by the time I got to a destination the front brakes would be smoking.

[CeramicMX5ND2]

Bought my first car in 1980 - a 1968 Hillman Minx 1500 (Hunter Shape)
1972 Vauxhall Viva HC
1972 Mini 1000
1976 Mini 1275GT
1974? Hillman Avenger 1600GLS
1978 Fiesta 1300S
1981 Mazda 323 1.5GT Hatchback
1986 Peugeot 205 XLD

First car, well was my first car, so was pretty special! Viva HC ste, Enjoyed the Mini's before getting the rather tail-happy Avenger GLS!
Fiesta 1300S was OK, but was never the greatest starter - never did find out why!
323GT was great (Around at the same time as Escort XR3) 1.5 twin carb, and felt pretty quick after the previous cars..
Peugeot 205XLD came because of my aviation hobby and air shows where many miles were covered over weekends Totally reliable and cost peanuts to run..

[caley64]

Glory years for me as well. Started driving in early 80's and had more cars then than later years.
Chevette
Mk IV Cortina 1.6
3.0 Capri, a mk II & 2 mk III's
Fiat Mirafiori Sport
Mk 2 Jag XJ6 4.2
TVR Taimar
Sierra XR4 2.8
Nova GTE
Sapphire Cosworth (RWD)

Some would be classics now but just our cars then. Fiat probably rarest of them. 2 door/four headlight model.
Owned TVR, Jag and a Capri at same time. Got rid of them and bought GTE new (first and last time) Didn't like it and bought Cossie 6 months later going into the 90's.

[LuS1fer]

Keep it stiff said:

My company Cavalier was a basic model, something like a 1.6L or GL in a rather horrid pea green. One of the things I recall was that when I was pushing on down country roads by the time I got to a destination the front brakes would be smoking.

I remember that light pea green. They had an odd non-metallic colour palette. The yellow was more light cheesecake and they had an odd copper reddy brown.

[sunbeam alpine]

Prolex-UK said:

Fun days

No speed cameras just Police hiding in bushes !

...

In 1978 I had a Hillman Avenger Tiger as well................ended up upside down in a field though

Sounds familiar - I parked an Avenger Tiger is a similar manner.

Interesting cars I had in the '80's -

Sunbeam Alpine (still have it)
Hillman Avenger Tiger
Escort RS Mexico
Escort RS2000
Ferrari 308

Company car - Vauxhall Astra 1200 - a real low point!

[Fink-Nottle]

I drove a motley crew (photos are of other people's cars, don't have any of mine):

1) Ex-Bundeswehr--



2) Best dashboard ever--



3) Some guy posted this photo as a token of the worst possible Alfa color...