The best car your Dad had....
Discussion
Repmobiles all of his life other than an Astra that he bought when he and my Mum moved to Spain.
We're talking MKIV Cortinas, Cavaliers, and his finally company car was a Renault 25 TXE.
None of them were great of course, but when you're a youngster it is quite exciting when Dad brings home a brand new car every couple of years whilst your neighbours seem to have to keep theirs much longer.
What I do recall though is that I never really caught on to the idea of what a company car was until I was in my early teens.
We're talking MKIV Cortinas, Cavaliers, and his finally company car was a Renault 25 TXE.
None of them were great of course, but when you're a youngster it is quite exciting when Dad brings home a brand new car every couple of years whilst your neighbours seem to have to keep theirs much longer.
What I do recall though is that I never really caught on to the idea of what a company car was until I was in my early teens.
Dad had a series of standard fare 60's 70's and 80's rep mobiles. Austin 1800's, 2 litre Cortina's (GL spec!). Always an exiciting time when he brought the "all in one" Ford brochure home and you could leaf through it - Fiesta / Escort / Cortina / Capri / Granada - highlights for me were the Fiesta Supersports, RS 2000's and sporty Capris. Anything with a fishnet headrest was pretty desirable.
Anyway, then came the Sierra. I was about 16 and I conviced him to defect to a MK11 Cavalier SRi (reg A115 KEH) - I thought it was great, my friens thought it was great. He hated it. Ride way too firm with early low profile tyres and hard Recaro seats. Poor bloke had to do 40K a year in it for a couple of years before he could go back to something he wanted. Always felt a little guilty and unsurprisingly he has taken my car advice with a pinch of salt ever since.
Anyway, then came the Sierra. I was about 16 and I conviced him to defect to a MK11 Cavalier SRi (reg A115 KEH) - I thought it was great, my friens thought it was great. He hated it. Ride way too firm with early low profile tyres and hard Recaro seats. Poor bloke had to do 40K a year in it for a couple of years before he could go back to something he wanted. Always felt a little guilty and unsurprisingly he has taken my car advice with a pinch of salt ever since.
Best is a bit if a blurred measure. In technical terms my dad's current E46 330 is the best car he's ever had, but my dad isn't really into cars just has whatever comes up cheap usually. Before the Bmw he had a IS200 which he now uses as a second car, but he bought that after I'd bought mine so as always discounted it a bit. All the other cars in my living 30 memory have been Vauxhall. The earliest I defender was a brown mk2 Cavalier, then he had 3 Carltons and lastly an Omega. Out of all of those my favorite, and the only car I think he's ever truly loved was a K reg metallic Charcoal grey 2.6 auto Diplomat spec Carlton.It's the only car he ever spent proper money on and was only about 5 or 6 years old at the time.I used to drive it round a campsite down west Wales when I was 14 and even used to laugh or boat with it. Always wished he kept it.
Old man is a petrol head so had plenty of nice metal over the years that grew my interest in cars
Numerous mk1 and mk2 escorts in Mexico and rs variants
Opel manta,
nova gte.
Various fast beemers
Couple of scoobies
And now he's nearly 60 he's settled down and bought a nice c320 cdi that seems to be a bit brisker than stock and goes sideways rather easily
Numerous mk1 and mk2 escorts in Mexico and rs variants
Opel manta,
nova gte.
Various fast beemers
Couple of scoobies
And now he's nearly 60 he's settled down and bought a nice c320 cdi that seems to be a bit brisker than stock and goes sideways rather easily
i think maybe the slightly sad thing about our Dad's car history is that it's downhill from the best, and not downhill as in rubbish cars really, but that the best car maybe coincides roughly with their heyday as a person. My Dad waxes lyrical about how amazing his Honda CRV is nowadays, which is a bit tragic on the face of it, but more poignant is that it signifies he's getting a bit old now. At least he's healthy.
Quite a long list of exotic cars, ranging from a Ferrari 250lm, Lamborghini Espada and Maserati Merak.
Although probably the most valuable (alongside the 250lm)
All back in the day where cars like these changed hands for very little money. Infact the GT cost my dad £6k with front end damage!
Ford GT40 Chassis number P/1002
and a rather shameful picture of myself alongside his pontiac!
Although probably the most valuable (alongside the 250lm)
All back in the day where cars like these changed hands for very little money. Infact the GT cost my dad £6k with front end damage!
Ford GT40 Chassis number P/1002
and a rather shameful picture of myself alongside his pontiac!
Edited by gazz81 on Saturday 14th February 11:10
He had a D-reg Mk2 Astra GTE, but a rare (read undesirable) 5 door version with the 1.8 8v engine. Sadly my only memories of it, were it rotting on the driveway at my Nan's house. He had a habit of just parking cars up when something happened to them. I think it was broken into and he never repaired it.
He did the same with his Focus. Had a bump in it and just left it on the driveway for 9 months until I bought it from him and repaired it.
He did the same with his Focus. Had a bump in it and just left it on the driveway for 9 months until I bought it from him and repaired it.
By far the best car my family ever had was a 1936 Dodge straight 6 saloon.
It was probably the first car we had that could do a mile a minute, & certainly the first that could do it safely & all day. These were the days when new cars were still in short supply after the war, & getting a decent car was more a lucky dip of what was available, than how much you could afford.
That car could cruise the gravel roads of country NSW, riding the potholes as if they weren't there.
I would love a run in one today to see how much my memory has been tinted rose coloured by time.
It was probably the first car we had that could do a mile a minute, & certainly the first that could do it safely & all day. These were the days when new cars were still in short supply after the war, & getting a decent car was more a lucky dip of what was available, than how much you could afford.
That car could cruise the gravel roads of country NSW, riding the potholes as if they weren't there.
I would love a run in one today to see how much my memory has been tinted rose coloured by time.
My Dads car history was nothing worth mentioning because he classed cars as white goods.BUT for years he worked at a Vauxhall/Opel dealers as a salesman,the owner of the place was mad about cars and I used to pester my Dad to bring nice things home.Some I remember were.
He told me to wag off school and one day and wait for him to come home,we were going on a trip.His boss had ordered a new Jensen and my Dad was taking his old one back to the factory and collecting the new one.
He brought home the works rally Firenza that was on doing the rounds of the dealers.
Mercedes pagoda soft top.
American car,Chevelle I think,went like stink.
Happy days,god rest his soul.
He told me to wag off school and one day and wait for him to come home,we were going on a trip.His boss had ordered a new Jensen and my Dad was taking his old one back to the factory and collecting the new one.
He brought home the works rally Firenza that was on doing the rounds of the dealers.
Mercedes pagoda soft top.
American car,Chevelle I think,went like stink.
Happy days,god rest his soul.
Shewie said:
Don't think my dad ever forgave me for having to sell his beloved MGB for a 1600E Cortina when I came along, although he did have the last laugh when his grandson was born last year and I had a similar dilemma with a Boxster S....
I think for me the 1973 Capri 3000GXL (OEP 99L - The DVLA database still has it as registered!) he had when I was an impressionable three year old left the biggest mark on me and probably turned me into the petrolhead I am now. One of my earliest memories is of him filling it up in the local "Jet" petrol station and telling me he'd put "jet fuel" in it. To prove this point he turned onto the road and floored it , pinning me back in my child seat as we shot off up the street. Apparently from then on, everytime I got in the car i'd just shout "daddy do a wheelie" at which point he'd oblige by sticking his foot down - to roars of laughter from me in the back. I remember being gutted when he chopped it in for a Mimosa yellow Dolomite Sprint which turned out to be the most unreliable car he's ever owned.
Since then he's owned plenty, including an "Opel Manta wannabee" Cavalier GLS coupe several more 3L and 2.8i Capri's before reaching a low point in the mid nineties when he had a couple of Rovers (a 420i and then a 620ti). More recently its all been about BMW's with a 330D and a beautifully restored 2002tii currently sitting in the garage.
I think for me the 1973 Capri 3000GXL (OEP 99L - The DVLA database still has it as registered!) he had when I was an impressionable three year old left the biggest mark on me and probably turned me into the petrolhead I am now. One of my earliest memories is of him filling it up in the local "Jet" petrol station and telling me he'd put "jet fuel" in it. To prove this point he turned onto the road and floored it , pinning me back in my child seat as we shot off up the street. Apparently from then on, everytime I got in the car i'd just shout "daddy do a wheelie" at which point he'd oblige by sticking his foot down - to roars of laughter from me in the back. I remember being gutted when he chopped it in for a Mimosa yellow Dolomite Sprint which turned out to be the most unreliable car he's ever owned.
Since then he's owned plenty, including an "Opel Manta wannabee" Cavalier GLS coupe several more 3L and 2.8i Capri's before reaching a low point in the mid nineties when he had a couple of Rovers (a 420i and then a 620ti). More recently its all been about BMW's with a 330D and a beautifully restored 2002tii currently sitting in the garage.
The best was probably the 1975 Stingray, yellow. Looked like it had landed from Mars 
I also like the Dolomite Sprint, not as much as the Volvo 245 GLE, lasting impression that one.
I thought about this the other day. What's my daughter going to say when she's older. Currently the only Atom on the school run
I also like the Dolomite Sprint, not as much as the Volvo 245 GLE, lasting impression that one. I thought about this the other day. What's my daughter going to say when she's older. Currently the only Atom on the school run
My dad is a complete knob head, but he did have a lot of decent cars while he was around.
I remember a red ford escort cosworth. He sold that but tried hunting it down years later, he found it but owner would not sell.
Subaru impreza turbo .
Loads of different Mercedes.
A ford f150 Harley Davidson edition.
A rapidly fast BMW, I'm pretty sure it was a m3.
A few less notable cars I remember... A ford Mondeo estate, a land rover discovery, Suzuki vitara, a Vauxhall 4x4, about a thousand ford transits. Mitsubishi 4x4, Mitsubishi pick up truck...
I remember a red ford escort cosworth. He sold that but tried hunting it down years later, he found it but owner would not sell.
Subaru impreza turbo .
Loads of different Mercedes.
A ford f150 Harley Davidson edition.
A rapidly fast BMW, I'm pretty sure it was a m3.
A few less notable cars I remember... A ford Mondeo estate, a land rover discovery, Suzuki vitara, a Vauxhall 4x4, about a thousand ford transits. Mitsubishi 4x4, Mitsubishi pick up truck...
Beeva said:
Shewie said:
Don't think my dad ever forgave me for having to sell his beloved MGB for a 1600E Cortina when I came along, although he did have the last laugh when his grandson was born last year and I had a similar dilemma with a Boxster S....
I think for me the 1973 Capri 3000GXL (OEP 99L - The DVLA database still has it as registered!) he had when I was an impressionable three year old left the biggest mark on me and probably turned me into the petrolhead I am now. One of my earliest memories is of him filling it up in the local "Jet" petrol station and telling me he'd put "jet fuel" in it. To prove this point he turned onto the road and floored it , pinning me back in my child seat as we shot off up the street. Apparently from then on, everytime I got in the car i'd just shout "daddy do a wheelie" at which point he'd oblige by sticking his foot down - to roars of laughter from me in the back. I remember being gutted when he chopped it in for a Mimosa yellow Dolomite Sprint which turned out to be the most unreliable car he's ever owned.
Since then he's owned plenty, including an "Opel Manta wannabee" Cavalier GLS coupe several more 3L and 2.8i Capri's before reaching a low point in the mid nineties when he had a couple of Rovers (a 420i and then a 620ti). More recently its all been about BMW's with a 330D and a beautifully restored 2002tii currently sitting in the garage.
I think for me the 1973 Capri 3000GXL (OEP 99L - The DVLA database still has it as registered!) he had when I was an impressionable three year old left the biggest mark on me and probably turned me into the petrolhead I am now. One of my earliest memories is of him filling it up in the local "Jet" petrol station and telling me he'd put "jet fuel" in it. To prove this point he turned onto the road and floored it , pinning me back in my child seat as we shot off up the street. Apparently from then on, everytime I got in the car i'd just shout "daddy do a wheelie" at which point he'd oblige by sticking his foot down - to roars of laughter from me in the back. I remember being gutted when he chopped it in for a Mimosa yellow Dolomite Sprint which turned out to be the most unreliable car he's ever owned.
Since then he's owned plenty, including an "Opel Manta wannabee" Cavalier GLS coupe several more 3L and 2.8i Capri's before reaching a low point in the mid nineties when he had a couple of Rovers (a 420i and then a 620ti). More recently its all been about BMW's with a 330D and a beautifully restored 2002tii currently sitting in the garage.
Beeva said:
Shewie said:
Don't think my dad ever forgave me for having to sell his beloved MGB for a 1600E Cortina when I came along, although he did have the last laugh when his grandson was born last year and I had a similar dilemma with a Boxster S....
I think for me the 1973 Capri 3000GXL (OEP 99L - The DVLA database still has it as registered!) he had when I was an impressionable three year old left the biggest mark on me and probably turned me into the petrolhead I am now. One of my earliest memories is of him filling it up in the local "Jet" petrol station and telling me he'd put "jet fuel" in it. To prove this point he turned onto the road and floored it , pinning me back in my child seat as we shot off up the street. Apparently from then on, everytime I got in the car i'd just shout "daddy do a wheelie" at which point he'd oblige by sticking his foot down - to roars of laughter from me in the back. I remember being gutted when he chopped it in for a Mimosa yellow Dolomite Sprint which turned out to be the most unreliable car he's ever owned.
Since then he's owned plenty, including an "Opel Manta wannabee" Cavalier GLS coupe several more 3L and 2.8i Capri's before reaching a low point in the mid nineties when he had a couple of Rovers (a 420i and then a 620ti). More recently its all been about BMW's with a 330D and a beautifully restored 2002tii currently sitting in the garage.
I think for me the 1973 Capri 3000GXL (OEP 99L - The DVLA database still has it as registered!) he had when I was an impressionable three year old left the biggest mark on me and probably turned me into the petrolhead I am now. One of my earliest memories is of him filling it up in the local "Jet" petrol station and telling me he'd put "jet fuel" in it. To prove this point he turned onto the road and floored it , pinning me back in my child seat as we shot off up the street. Apparently from then on, everytime I got in the car i'd just shout "daddy do a wheelie" at which point he'd oblige by sticking his foot down - to roars of laughter from me in the back. I remember being gutted when he chopped it in for a Mimosa yellow Dolomite Sprint which turned out to be the most unreliable car he's ever owned.
Since then he's owned plenty, including an "Opel Manta wannabee" Cavalier GLS coupe several more 3L and 2.8i Capri's before reaching a low point in the mid nineties when he had a couple of Rovers (a 420i and then a 620ti). More recently its all been about BMW's with a 330D and a beautifully restored 2002tii currently sitting in the garage.
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