How much attention do you attract?
Discussion
Chunkychucky said:
Just had a crisis... 
My favourite shape of Mustang with my favourite wheels for an American car - superb!
In my Mk 1 Cortina, tend to get alot of glances from other road users, and when I park it up I haven't managed to get away without being approached by someone wanting to talk about the car. Even in the circuit at the Goodwood Revival people were coming up and talking about it, which was a bit wierd obviously given the array of much more exotic machinery around!
I think it's because they're more likely to have a story about, or a personal connection to, the Cortina. It's like being 'starstruck' when you meet a really famous person - I mean, seriously, if you found yourself face-to-face with Daniel Craig, all you'd have to talk about would be James Bond and other films he'd done and I bet he'd be sick to death of it, as opposed to your best mate down the pub who you can yak with for hours.My favourite shape of Mustang with my favourite wheels for an American car - superb!
In my Mk 1 Cortina, tend to get alot of glances from other road users, and when I park it up I haven't managed to get away without being approached by someone wanting to talk about the car. Even in the circuit at the Goodwood Revival people were coming up and talking about it, which was a bit wierd obviously given the array of much more exotic machinery around!
Same with cars. If you approach a 250GTO owner you can probably talk spec and racing, but you won't have learned to drive in one, or have a funny story about one, or remember your Mum driving you around in one.
'Ordinary' classics are very 'sociable' things to own.
Twincam16 said:
Yes I agree, the cars that you dad had or you had when you were younger always seem to be more interesting, I've alway wanted to drive a P6 3500 rover 'cos my grandad had one new...and I'm always on look out for yellow E21 bmw as it was like a rolls to me when i bought one for £600 25 years ago....the people who buy the £1million+ cars must miss out on most of the fun
I think it's because they're more likely to have a story about, or a personal connection to, the Cortina. It's like being 'starstruck' when you meet a really famous person - I mean, seriously, if you found yourself face-to-face with Daniel Craig, all you'd have to talk about would be James Bond and other films he'd done and I bet he'd be sick to death of it, as opposed to your best mate down the pub who you can yak with for hours.
Same with cars. If you approach a 250GTO owner you can probably talk spec and racing, but you won't have learned to drive in one, or have a funny story about one, or remember your Mum driving you around in one.
'Ordinary' classics are very 'sociable' things to own.
I think it's because they're more likely to have a story about, or a personal connection to, the Cortina. It's like being 'starstruck' when you meet a really famous person - I mean, seriously, if you found yourself face-to-face with Daniel Craig, all you'd have to talk about would be James Bond and other films he'd done and I bet he'd be sick to death of it, as opposed to your best mate down the pub who you can yak with for hours.
Same with cars. If you approach a 250GTO owner you can probably talk spec and racing, but you won't have learned to drive in one, or have a funny story about one, or remember your Mum driving you around in one.
'Ordinary' classics are very 'sociable' things to own.
If you've got "an ordinary" classic people think your car and you are approachable
With my previous Spridget I was in a busy tyre shop and next bay was a very new, wide and expensive Porsche yet a small crowd was round my car talking about it with the Porsche owner alone buy his car looikng on in slight surprise
With my present, a bit tatty looking, Midget on the chunnel train just behind was a new Aston and two in front a Cerbie both owners came over to look and talk to me about the Midget - the Aston owner said it was a great car and he had one when young
most people do seem happy to see "an ordinary" classic on the road and are very polite towards it, even some cyclists and pedestrians
With my previous Spridget I was in a busy tyre shop and next bay was a very new, wide and expensive Porsche yet a small crowd was round my car talking about it with the Porsche owner alone buy his car looikng on in slight surprise
With my present, a bit tatty looking, Midget on the chunnel train just behind was a new Aston and two in front a Cerbie both owners came over to look and talk to me about the Midget - the Aston owner said it was a great car and he had one when young
most people do seem happy to see "an ordinary" classic on the road and are very polite towards it, even some cyclists and pedestrians
MATTP77 said:
hesnotthemessiah said:
My E30 M3 always puts a smile on peoples faces. And I get lots of winks, nods and toots from drivers.
if you wish to sell for an extremely low and unrealistic price, let me know! But thanks for the back-handed compliment anyhoo.
Edited by hesnotthemessiah on Thursday 17th March 18:34
I have odd classic cars as I like Gandini designs. ( countach Khamsin Espada X1/9) I find people almost always polite curious and very nice to me and my cars. Other drivers are the same. Always get let into spaces or out of junctions.
A lot is to do with the owners attitude. I encourage people to chat as I think all classic cars are for generating interest in out hobby
All classics deserve the same respect in my view.
Paul
A lot is to do with the owners attitude. I encourage people to chat as I think all classic cars are for generating interest in out hobby
All classics deserve the same respect in my view.
Paul
I get a bit of attention in my BGT, not loads but definitely a few swivelling heads and a few people have come over for a chat. When it's moving though it is pretty loud so does attract attention. Used to get quite a bit of attention in the Tiv, probably because it's loud and convertible, will have to see when I get it back on the road if it still makes people take notice. I'd imagine when I finally get the Mini on the road that should be a bit noticeable by virtue of being loud (a bit of a theme here) and bright yellow!
hesnotthemessiah said:
MATTP77 said:
hesnotthemessiah said:
My E30 M3 always puts a smile on peoples faces. And I get lots of winks, nods and toots from drivers.
if you wish to sell for an extremely low and unrealistic price, let me know! But thanks for the back-handed compliment anyhoo.
Edited by hesnotthemessiah on Thursday 17th March 18:34
When I first got my car, I was expecting loads of attention, but never really got any. An old lady in a petrol station said she once owned a Triumph, and a Mustang I waved to on the A46 as I overtook them gave me a very strange look, but thats about it.
I had a door man at the Mal maison in Oxford where they insist on parking your car in an underground car park, insist he had driven and parked at least three countachs although he didnt seem to recall anything odd about the gearbox or parking them!
Easy way to tell if its a replica or not. look at the gear lever. If it doenst have a large metal clip on top of the gate blocking reverse it aint a real one
Paul
Easy way to tell if its a replica or not. look at the gear lever. If it doenst have a large metal clip on top of the gate blocking reverse it aint a real one
Paul
paulqv said:
I had a door man at the Mal maison in Oxford where they insist on parking your car in an underground car park, insist he had driven and parked at least three countachs although he didnt seem to recall anything odd about the gearbox or parking them!
Easy way to tell if its a replica or not. look at the gear lever. If it doenst have a large metal clip on top of the gate blocking reverse it aint a real one
Paul
Thanks for the interesting but useless tip I can apply at future car meets Easy way to tell if its a replica or not. look at the gear lever. If it doenst have a large metal clip on top of the gate blocking reverse it aint a real one
Paul
Does that apply to all years of Countach?
Got any pics?
My E30 325i only really attracts the wrong sort attention, and usually when I'm driving it. It boils my p*ss when I'm driving the kids home from school and some massive prat, usually in a Golf TDi insists on tailgating me. Conversely, my XJ6 gets completely ignored by everyone bar work colleagues who occaisionally ask why I insist upon driving that 'piece of sh*t'.
PigFilth said:
Lots.
Mine's a bright blue Mk2 Escort 2-door - quite often come out of petrol stations after paying and find people looking at the car.
I took it along to the Porsche breakfast meet at Malton last year - before I'd even got out, a swarm of chaps (OK, about 5) gathered round to look at the car. "You can have any amount of Porsches, but as soon as an old Escort turns up, everyone wants to look at it," was what I heard as I wandered away. How true.
Same happens to me with my MK1 Escort. Old fords seem to make a lot of interestMine's a bright blue Mk2 Escort 2-door - quite often come out of petrol stations after paying and find people looking at the car.
I took it along to the Porsche breakfast meet at Malton last year - before I'd even got out, a swarm of chaps (OK, about 5) gathered round to look at the car. "You can have any amount of Porsches, but as soon as an old Escort turns up, everyone wants to look at it," was what I heard as I wandered away. How true.
Twincam16 said:
I think it's because they're more likely to have a story about, or a personal connection to, the Cortina. It's like being 'starstruck' when you meet a really famous person - I mean, seriously, if you found yourself face-to-face with Daniel Craig, all you'd have to talk about would be James Bond and other films he'd done and I bet he'd be sick to death of it, as opposed to your best mate down the pub who you can yak with for hours.
Same with cars. If you approach a 250GTO owner you can probably talk spec and racing, but you won't have learned to drive in one, or have a funny story about one, or remember your Mum driving you around in one.
'Ordinary' classics are very 'sociable' things to own.
spot on , everyone seemed to know or have one themselves at some stage , added to that the Cortina was all things to all men , it came in so many different guises , base model to Lotus engined gave it universal appeal , shrewd marketing and manufacturers like Toyota are realising the simple fact , you need a flagship model to boost the rest of the range especially in the UK , oh and realibility helps ! Same with cars. If you approach a 250GTO owner you can probably talk spec and racing, but you won't have learned to drive in one, or have a funny story about one, or remember your Mum driving you around in one.
'Ordinary' classics are very 'sociable' things to own.
paulqv said:
Yertis said:
Can we have a picture of the Khamsin too?
I love Khamsins, sometimes I think about selling all my other cars so I can buy one.
I love Khamsins, sometimes I think about selling all my other cars so I can buy one.
hope this helps
Paul
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff