What did you drive in the 80s?
Discussion
Om said:
Supercars like the Countach were vanishingly rare in the 80s - it was an event to see one on TV let alone in the flesh (unlike nowadays).
That is my experience exactly. I got my license in 1983 and grew up in Germany. I don't recall ever seeing any of the cars we swoon over these days at the time. Those were Matchbox toys but surely they weren't real. The one car I remember blew my mind and which you actually would see semi-regularly was the Porsche 928. That was from another planet. The 911 by contrast was everywhere and hence not alluring.
Didn’t own many motors in the 80’s but entered the decade running a 78 Audi 80 GLS estate then worked all hours to save for a new 82 Golf GTI 1.6 5speed; ran a suffix A followed by a suffix B Range Rover in parallel with these for off reading/green laning/towing then at the end of the decade sold all and bought a 4dr Range Rover.
Got to drive loads of different family cars as dad used to swap when he needed the tow car, standout being the 900 turbo, he always complained about the inside feathering of the tyres when he got it back
Got to drive loads of different family cars as dad used to swap when he needed the tow car, standout being the 900 turbo, he always complained about the inside feathering of the tyres when he got it back
underwhelmist said:
Frozennorth said:
Fiat mirafiori sport EEK700V long gone I suspect
Similar - Fiat Mirafiori 1.3 in powder blue. A great car, unfortunately you could almost hear it rusting. BJP700T. Funny that yours was also a 700. Slightly off thread as it’s into 1990. Having just turned 18 I bought a V Reg Fiat 131 Mirafiori Sport (JLA71V) finished in Racing Orange.
I’d always lusted after these since their launch in 1978 as my Dad had a 124 Sport Coupe.
The 131 was a fantastic car and I suspect mine had been slightly warmed over as it was noticeable quicker then a coupe of friends who also ran 131 Sports. The engine, gearbox, interior and looks were all top notch. However after 9 months I got fed up with the ever increasing rust, low 20’s petrol consumption and noise on motorway journeys.
I’d always lusted after these since their launch in 1978 as my Dad had a 124 Sport Coupe.
The 131 was a fantastic car and I suspect mine had been slightly warmed over as it was noticeable quicker then a coupe of friends who also ran 131 Sports. The engine, gearbox, interior and looks were all top notch. However after 9 months I got fed up with the ever increasing rust, low 20’s petrol consumption and noise on motorway journeys.
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.
This missed out on the recognition it deserved - awesome for doing all that and for no other reason than you could! Most young drivers these days can't even fill the washer bottle...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.
Rob 131 Sport said:
Slightly off thread as it’s into 1990. Having just turned 18 I bought a V Reg Fiat 131 Mirafiori Sport (JLA71V) finished in Racing Orange.
I’d always lusted after these since their launch in 1978 as my Dad had a 124 Sport Coupe.
The 131 was a fantastic car and I suspect mine had been slightly warmed over as it was noticeable quicker then a coupe of friends who also ran 131 Sports. The engine, gearbox, interior and looks were all top notch. However after 9 months I got fed up with the ever increasing rust, low 20’s petrol consumption and noise on motorway journeys.
Mine was racing orange too as you say engine etc were brilliant just let down by rusting I traded it for a fiat Uno turbo C308OCU which was much the same.I’d always lusted after these since their launch in 1978 as my Dad had a 124 Sport Coupe.
The 131 was a fantastic car and I suspect mine had been slightly warmed over as it was noticeable quicker then a coupe of friends who also ran 131 Sports. The engine, gearbox, interior and looks were all top notch. However after 9 months I got fed up with the ever increasing rust, low 20’s petrol consumption and noise on motorway journeys.
I turned 17 in 1986.
Learned to drive in this 2CV.
Then had a 998 Mini, before progressing to this 1275GT.
It needed new wings, sills, A panels and door skins. Then Dad and I rebuilt the engine to 1293cc with a Piper 270 cam, MG inlet and HIF, Maniflow LCB and ported head.
The rolling road at Rally Equipe said it produced 80bhp, but that sounds very optimistic. In any event, it would stay with a Mk1 XR2 all the way to 100mph.
Stuck on arch extensions and Cosmic Mk1s. Inside it was treated to a Rokee walnut dash, bucket seats and a Mountney steering wheel.
Had some good times in that Mini.
We built an early aluminium bodied Westfield Seven with 1600XF, twin 40s and a Piper 285 cam. That was a flying machine. Sold it to Mike Abbas and it was exported to Japan.
Then had this MGB GTV8, which sounded good and was surprisingly fast. I saw out the 1980s with the MG, before passing my bike test in 1990.
If I could have any of them back it would be the 2CV, followed by the Mini.
Happy days.
Learned to drive in this 2CV.
Then had a 998 Mini, before progressing to this 1275GT.
It needed new wings, sills, A panels and door skins. Then Dad and I rebuilt the engine to 1293cc with a Piper 270 cam, MG inlet and HIF, Maniflow LCB and ported head.
The rolling road at Rally Equipe said it produced 80bhp, but that sounds very optimistic. In any event, it would stay with a Mk1 XR2 all the way to 100mph.
Stuck on arch extensions and Cosmic Mk1s. Inside it was treated to a Rokee walnut dash, bucket seats and a Mountney steering wheel.
Had some good times in that Mini.
We built an early aluminium bodied Westfield Seven with 1600XF, twin 40s and a Piper 285 cam. That was a flying machine. Sold it to Mike Abbas and it was exported to Japan.
Then had this MGB GTV8, which sounded good and was surprisingly fast. I saw out the 1980s with the MG, before passing my bike test in 1990.
If I could have any of them back it would be the 2CV, followed by the Mini.
Happy days.
Frozennorth said:
Mine was racing orange too as you say engine etc were brilliant just let down by rusting I traded it for a fiat Uno turbo C308OCU which was much the same.
I wanted to replace the 131 Sport with either a late Lancia Beta Coupe, Delta 1.6 HF Turbo, Fiat Strada 130TC Abarth or an Uno Turbo. However my finances wouldn’t allow and I ended up looking for a late Fiat 132, Argenta or 131 2.0 Supermirafiori. However by then they were very rare on the used markets, either scrapped or the survivors being hung onto by their owners knowing what great cars they had. I ended up with a China (light, solid dreary) Blue Mk 2 Cavalier 1.6L Hatchback. With its lack of Rev Counter, Steel Wheels and Tweed Seats it was very far from any automotive love. I endured it for nigh on 2 years.
Rob 131 Sport said:
I ended up with a China (light, solid dreary) Blue Mk 2 Cavalier 1.6L Hatchback. With its lack of Rev Counter, Steel Wheels and Tweed Seats it was very far from any automotive love. I endured it for nigh on 2 years.
A friend of mine had a Cavalier 1.6L Mk2 - bought for him by his parents. It was in beige with beige plastics, beige carpets and beige seats. It only had the 4 speed gearbox which was a real surprise even in the 80s. He drove it everywhere on the door handles and it never broke.
His parents must have really wanted to punish him...
I learnt in my dad's 2.0GL Cortina (JFB762X) and a driving school 1.1 Fiesta in 82/83 before buying a Spitfire 1500 (OTX747R) later in 83.
Amazingly I saw the Cortina drive by me in 94 or 95 whilst I was waiting for a bus on Whiteladies Rd Bristol.
Also very surprised that the Spitfire is showing as MOT expired in 2018 as I sold it in late 80's a a non-runner.
Amazingly I saw the Cortina drive by me in 94 or 95 whilst I was waiting for a bus on Whiteladies Rd Bristol.
Also very surprised that the Spitfire is showing as MOT expired in 2018 as I sold it in late 80's a a non-runner.
My first car in 1986 was the orange 2CV in this pic, with young me in it. It was so much fun my brother got one too, on the left. His engine was always bit wheezy compared with mine and he eventually put a hole through a piston. Mine was by that time languishing in a scrapyard so we took the engine from that and popped in in his. SRU39X is still out there somewhere, and it's nice to think that that little gem of an engine is still thrumming away.
Then I replaced the 2CV with this TR6.
That was the '80s for me.
Hairstyle being "ruined' about remains an issue
Then I replaced the 2CV with this TR6.
That was the '80s for me.
Hairstyle being "ruined' about remains an issue
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