Which attainable car from your youth would you still like?

[Rob 131 Sport]

jeremyc said:

And for me, something like this please.

I’ve just never got the whole MK1 and Mk2 Escort thing. As a child (in the 70’s) I travelled in many whose parents (the Wife) had one.

They always felt damp and were noisy . Contemporary Italian stuff like the Fiat 131 were so much better . All is forgiven with the Mk2 RS2000 just for the nose cone and where specified Fishnet Recaro’s.

[Elderly]

In the late 1970s, David Piper was selling his LHD Ferrari 250GTE.

I went down to see it - it sat in all its glorious red in the centre of a large bright immaculate garage.
He started it up and it sounded …… WOW !
He took me for a drive around the Surrey lanes and scared the pants off me.

He wanted £5500 for it, I offered £5000.

Neither of us would budge………..

[austina35]

Rob 131 Sport said:

jeremyc said:

And for me, something like this please.

I’ve just never got the whole MK1 and Mk2 Escort thing. As a child (in the 70’s) I travelled in many whose parents (the Wife) had one.

They always felt damp and were noisy . Contemporary Italian stuff like the Fiat 131 were so much better . All is forgiven with the Mk2 RS2000 just for the nose cone and where specified Fishnet Recaro’s.

And I thought it was just me that didn't like Ford's from this period.

[LotusOmega375D]

Elderly said:

In the late 1970s, David Piper was selling his LHD Ferrari 250GTE.

I went down to see it - it sat in all its glorious red in the centre of a large bright immaculate garage.
He started it up and it sounded …… WOW !
He took me for a drive around the Surrey lanes and scared the pants off me.

He wanted 5500 for it, I offered 5000.

Neither of us would budge………..

Probably a good thing you didn’t drive it yourself. If it broke down, he’d have sent you the repair bill.

[lowdrag]

Before anyone kicks off, I know that Alfas are beautiful cars to drive, but we all know that they did tend to fall apart. Despite misgivings, in 1982 I had convinced myself that a 3 litre GTV, which sat in the window of Roger Clark's garage at Narborough, was what I really ought to buy, so down I went to have a good look at the car. I only stayed a minute or two, having noted that the headlight reflectors, still brand new, were already brown with rust. I've never driven one, and I am sure that I have missed something pretty spectacular, but it put me off Alfas for life.

[aeropilot]

Rob 131 Sport said:

jeremyc said:

And for me, something like this please.

I’ve just never got the whole MK1 and Mk2 Escort thing. As a child (in the 70’s) I travelled in many whose parents (the Wife) had one.

They always felt damp and were noisy

How many of those were Mexico's (or RS's)...?

Comparing ownership or rides in a scabby 1300L to owning a nice Mex or a RS2 or even a RS16 if you were really lucky, is like comparing chalk and cheese.

[s m]

aeropilot said:

Rob 131 Sport said:

jeremyc said:

And for me, something like this please.

I’ve just never got the whole MK1 and Mk2 Escort thing. As a child (in the 70’s) I travelled in many whose parents (the Wife) had one.

They always felt damp and were noisy

How many of those were Mexico's (or RS's)...?

Comparing ownership or rides in a scabby 1300L to owning a nice Mex or a RS2 or even a RS16 if you were really lucky, is like comparing chalk and cheese.

I have to say none of my Escorts were damp …. I’ll concede they were noisy but that was likely down to the exhaust I put on

[Mr Tidy]

Rob 131 Sport said:

I never quite got the love for the Mk3 Capri 3.0 S / Ghia. Whilst I liked them and considered one in my late teens, I just thought that in the real world my Fiat 131 Sport would out perform it in every way except maybe ultimate straight line speed.

The 2.8 Capri was of course a game changer and moved everything along. Unfortunately back in the day I couldn’t afford to own one, and when I could I’d moved onto BMW’s.

That made me smile - I only bought my Rover 3500S because I couldn't get insurance on a 3 litre Capri as I was only 20 at the time!

A few years later I had my MK2 RS2000 and got so embarrassed by a 2.8i Capri I had to buy one. By then I was 25 and working for an insurance company so I knew who to ask!

In all honesty I'm glad I owned cars like that back in the day because I think I'd be disappointed by them now - and some are no longer affordable!

[Rob 131 Sport]

austina35 said:

Rob 131 Sport said:

jeremyc said:

And for me, something like this please.

I’ve just never got the whole MK1 and Mk2 Escort thing. As a child (in the 70’s) I travelled in many whose parents (the Wife) had one.

They always felt damp and were noisy . Contemporary Italian stuff like the Fiat 131 were so much better . All is forgiven with the Mk2 RS2000 just for the nose cone and where specified Fishnet Recaro’s.

And I thought it was just me that didn't like Ford's from this period.

I loved Fords of the era, Cortina’s, Capri’s and Granada’s. However the Escorts in my experience were slow, noisy and damp.

[cerb4.5lee]

s m said:

aeropilot said:

Rob 131 Sport said:

jeremyc said:

And for me, something like this please.

I’ve just never got the whole MK1 and Mk2 Escort thing. As a child (in the 70’s) I travelled in many whose parents (the Wife) had one.

They always felt damp and were noisy

How many of those were Mexico's (or RS's)...?

Comparing ownership or rides in a scabby 1300L to owning a nice Mex or a RS2 or even a RS16 if you were really lucky, is like comparing chalk and cheese.

I have to say none of my Escorts were damp …. I’ll concede they were noisy but that was likely down to the exhaust I put on

Love it s m!

[Rob 131 Sport]

cerb4.5lee said:

s m said:

aeropilot said:

Rob 131 Sport said:

jeremyc said:

And for me, something like this please.

I’ve just never got the whole MK1 and Mk2 Escort thing. As a child (in the 70’s) I travelled in many whose parents (the Wife) had one.

They always felt damp and were noisy

How many of those were Mexico's (or RS's)...?

Comparing ownership or rides in a scabby 1300L to owning a nice Mex or a RS2 or even a RS16 if you were really lucky, is like comparing chalk and cheese.

I have to say none of my Escorts were damp …. I’ll concede they were noisy but that was likely down to the exhaust I put on

Love it s m!

Most were mid range 1300’s. I do remember a White 1300 Ghia and a Blue 1600 Ghia. They would have been marginally better. A few mates bought them in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Compared to my Mk 2 Cavalier 1600 GLS and 131 Sport, they were just dire in every respect.

[Retro.74]

Another one for a 5 Turbo, insurance was always the issue for me at that age, can remember ringing round Flux, Hyperformance etc etc with no such joy. Same for the mk2 Uno turbo ie.

Did manage a 91 Swift Gti tho, 1 3 twin cam 16v, cracking engine especially with Janspeed exhaust and Mani, was well on the pace, I imagine most have rotted into extinction these days tho as it was a problem.
On another level, but really wanted a mallard green Escort Cossie too, but not quite as attainable now.

Edited by Retro.74 on Tuesday 31st May 01:38

Edited by Retro.74 on Tuesday 31st May 01:48

[AW111]

Not at all attainable cars I wanted as a youth :

Small:

LJ Torana GTR XU1
Bathurst spec, with triple Stromberg carbs, of course.








Big:
Chrysler charger e49 R/T, with the triple Weber setup ;



I just loved straight sixes with multiple sidedraft carbs!



Now priced into the stratosphere, so I have to make do with my mk1 MR2, which I also desired when new.

[jamieduff1981]

I too always wanted a 2.8 Capri, although that was when you could get one for low amounts of money and I just wasn't earning yet. I fully expect that they would be very crap cars in reality so wouldn't be interested in paying today's prices for one - evidently I don't want one that much.

[HealeyV8]

I had 2x Datsun 240z, The second one absolutely mint UK spec 5 speed that I bought for £5,000 as no one rated them back then.
Wouldn't mind that one back but I'd hate to think how much I'd have to pay for it now!

[Lotusgone]

P5BNij said:

Scotter said:

P5BNij said:

Just about attainable back then - an S2 Lotus Europa, I've wanted one since I was six years old and fifty years later I had my first passenger ride in this one...

That is perfect.
Lottery win first purchase if that was ever to happen.
The nearest I’ve been to owning one was my matchbox toy car model back in the ‘70s.Sort of pink in colour I seem to remember.

The owner Steve takes it along to the Sporting Bears charity rides thing at the annual NEC classics show, it's well worth a few quid if you get the chance. It shifts rather well

Steve's a great guy, he maintains the Europa register. He was really helpful, prior to me buying my Twink. DNR30K, sold and now doing battle in HSCC events.

I would go for a Jaguar XJC V12, which apart from looking gorgeous, was described by Motor mag in 1976 as the best car in the world. Harry Metcalfe's example with all the work done (but - potential heresy - I would put the vinyl roof back on), rather than the Steed version.

[S47]

Attained it early 70's still have it
>

>
Never wanted anything else

[DickyC]

S47 said:

Attained it early 70's still have it
>

>
Never wanted anything else

Fifty years! Marvellous.

[Spottedlaurel]

Been thinking about this for the last few days. I can recall the cars I used to daydream about when growing-up in the '80s, even then most of them were fairly attainable - I wasn't worried about supercars, it was more stuff like a 2-door Avenger in black with Minilites, a Mk2 Cortina on Appliance steel spoke wheels, or a Ventora FE with a V8. Or just a liking for older, cheap, big cars (certainly something I have already attained, with a cheap LS400 on the driveway).

I wouldn't dream of selling my Datsun Laurel (had that for approaching 14 years now), but if I had the cash spare I'd love to have a Manta A.

I owned this terrible one back in 1991-92:


1971 Opel Manta A 1.9 Rallye by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

They drive nicely and there's just something about the shape, I remember a family friend had one back in the '70s and it's stuck with me ever since. Not a line out of place:


1973 Opel Manta A 1900 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr


1975 Opel Manta 1900 (purchased photo) by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

[Regbuser]

Lancia Beta HPE 2000
Peugeot 209 GTi
VW Scirocco G60
Lancia Delta Integrate 8v
...all owned and slipped away...