What was the car that initally got you interested in cars?
Discussion
Sorry if there is a thread about this somewhere already, I am not trawling through 8000+ pages to find it.
Anyway, for me it was the Renault Clio Williams, mainly because when I was 13 we traveled to Scotland for a holiday, called in a Little Chef on the way up, and there was one parked outside, me being a younger teenager, penchant for Subaru's and the like, I instantly mocked it, saying to my stepdad, "Look, that Clio is trying to be like a Subaru" which he then explained to me about it, and then when I managed to look into it a bit more, I just started seeing cars on the street and wanting to find info out about them, and that was basically it really.
Anyway, for me it was the Renault Clio Williams, mainly because when I was 13 we traveled to Scotland for a holiday, called in a Little Chef on the way up, and there was one parked outside, me being a younger teenager, penchant for Subaru's and the like, I instantly mocked it, saying to my stepdad, "Look, that Clio is trying to be like a Subaru" which he then explained to me about it, and then when I managed to look into it a bit more, I just started seeing cars on the street and wanting to find info out about them, and that was basically it really.
Been interested ever since I used to sit in the back on my dad's Vauxhall Victor estate; loved his XJ6 2.8 which he'd never try and keep up with a friends dad's 4.2 (I know why now) and much later on his XJS (early pre-HE to those that care, in red), been hooked ever since and had lots of car 'crushes' that were completely mad, rusty old alfa's, ferrari engined lancia's, that sort of thing.
I don't really know, ever since I can remember I've loved cars as far back as my dad having a granada estate do that wasn't much of an influence. If anything I influence my dads car choices from a very early age, he bought a rover Vitesse 3500 because I told him it was awesome, he then almost swapped it for a Montego grand prix (1.3) but I was beside myself that he changed his mind and got the MG Turbo instead - still a crap car but quick.
You boys make me feel very old .....
So a wealthy customer of my Dad (Gardener) turning in up in a then brand new E Type .... which I know know was a V12 Coupe in Old English White, circa 1974, I would have been 9 at the time.
I can recall now the 4 exhaust pipes !
That'll do it !
So a wealthy customer of my Dad (Gardener) turning in up in a then brand new E Type .... which I know know was a V12 Coupe in Old English White, circa 1974, I would have been 9 at the time.
I can recall now the 4 exhaust pipes !
That'll do it !
Edited by rswift on Thursday 16th February 01:20
Edited by rswift on Thursday 16th February 01:24
A brown Renault 21 that I ran in front of, and go hit by, as a small 3/4 year old child.
Luckily, I was wearing thick winter clothing and the whole thing happened at low speed in a car park, so there was no damage to the car
Oh, and I was unhurt too 
Although even before this, I seemed to have an obsession with most mechanical things according to my parents.
Luckily, I was wearing thick winter clothing and the whole thing happened at low speed in a car park, so there was no damage to the car
Oh, and I was unhurt too Although even before this, I seemed to have an obsession with most mechanical things according to my parents.80's hot hatches.
Being a kid growing up in the 80's into teenage years early 90's my first car had to be an MK2 XR2 lol
Loads of my mates with decent jobs had 80's hot hatches back then,205 gti,R5T.One flashy b
d bought an Escort RS turbo.It was the fastest by far of all our cars.
Great fun times.
Being a kid growing up in the 80's into teenage years early 90's my first car had to be an MK2 XR2 lol
Loads of my mates with decent jobs had 80's hot hatches back then,205 gti,R5T.One flashy b
d bought an Escort RS turbo.It was the fastest by far of all our cars.Great fun times.
Seeing a wide bodied 560 SEC travel down the M4 some time mid 80's, at a speed that could be conservatively called 'making progress'. Lorinser I think and probably the reason I like large saloon cars and coupes. It made a very impressive noise (well it would do I suppose compared to my father's POS nova saloon in JRG. Yep, not even a hatchback, the hippocrocororunt that was that car.. Shudder).
Manta 1.8S Berlinetta. Older cousin had one, and another chap I was friendly with had an Escort RS Mexico.
Would've been about 13-14 at the time.
Tended to prefer the bikes more though - the smell of AVGas & being pillion on a YPVS 350 Yamaha!
Would've been about 13-14 at the time.
Tended to prefer the bikes more though - the smell of AVGas & being pillion on a YPVS 350 Yamaha!
Edited by PJ S on Thursday 16th February 01:56
Our next door neighbour had a Manta ! (forgot they existed until now) ... didn't they have a really cool badge (manta shape) on the lower front wing ?
(Having just checked google images I appear to be talking about the Mk1 Manta, with the round rear lights) great looking car, told you I was old !
(Having just checked google images I appear to be talking about the Mk1 Manta, with the round rear lights) great looking car, told you I was old !
Edited by rswift on Thursday 16th February 02:00
Thanks to my dad i could say "CAR" before "MUM" or "DAD", however formative car influences would have been ....
plus some of Dad's car's - BMW 2002, Porsche 911 2.4, Vauxhall Magna (Dad always had his priorities right, make sure there is money in the kitty for cars and beer, will figure out how to pay the bills later!!!)
however the defining moment from kids toy cars to outright petrolhead would have been 1981 in the Forrest of Dean when this went blatting past blowing flames driven by Hannu Mikkola
it just went downhill from there for me!!!
plus some of Dad's car's - BMW 2002, Porsche 911 2.4, Vauxhall Magna (Dad always had his priorities right, make sure there is money in the kitty for cars and beer, will figure out how to pay the bills later!!!)
however the defining moment from kids toy cars to outright petrolhead would have been 1981 in the Forrest of Dean when this went blatting past blowing flames driven by Hannu Mikkola
it just went downhill from there for me!!!
just need to get our kids into it now so it continues.... 
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