What cars stuck in your memory from childhood?
Discussion
Boredom seriously setting in, so thought it might be interesting to see what cars from the broad age range on here had an effect on us growing up.
For me it was the local millionaire's wife's Aston DB6, a retired military type's MK6 Bentley and a solicitor neighbour's brand new P reg SD1 3500 in pale yellow. All daily drivers in an otherwise sea of 70's mundanity.
Oh and an abandoned PC Cresta which we used to play in and on which couldn't have been more than 8 to 10 years old!
For me it was the local millionaire's wife's Aston DB6, a retired military type's MK6 Bentley and a solicitor neighbour's brand new P reg SD1 3500 in pale yellow. All daily drivers in an otherwise sea of 70's mundanity.
Oh and an abandoned PC Cresta which we used to play in and on which couldn't have been more than 8 to 10 years old!
Stuart70 said:
V1nce Fox said:
Lotus Esprit. Always, always wanted one.
Me too. Until I got to 6’ 2” with short legs and a long back. That was not the shape Colin designed them for!
It looked like someone asked a kid to draw a fast car. So uncompromising in appearance.
Don’t know why but a yellow mid 70s C3 Corvette parked up outside a semi detached house on the way to school ca. 1980. Probably the least desirable model ever made with barely enough power to pull the skin off the school rice pudding. But I always looked out for it as I went past as it looked so alien in the humdrum surroundings. Funny what you remember.
We had some wealthy families living nearby, or at least more wealthy than us. I can clearly remember: Triumph Stag / E-type S3 / Lotus Elite / Volvo P1800 / BMW635Csi.
The district nurse who daily visited old Uncle Jim over the road drove a blue Midget.
My Uncle George was a successful builder who drove various MGs and P6 Rovers. The last car he had before he died was an Audi 100 coupe. That was pretty exotic in 1973, and I’ve been an Audi person ever since. Although that loyalty is sometimes stretched wafer thin nowadays.
The district nurse who daily visited old Uncle Jim over the road drove a blue Midget.
My Uncle George was a successful builder who drove various MGs and P6 Rovers. The last car he had before he died was an Audi 100 coupe. That was pretty exotic in 1973, and I’ve been an Audi person ever since. Although that loyalty is sometimes stretched wafer thin nowadays.
Good thread!
Living in the north east exotic stuff used to really stand out, normally I’d only see them in Top Trumps and so on.
Off the top of my head... silver Merc 450SE, silver Aston Martin V8, silver Maserati Bora (!!!), and a few years later occasionally a bright yellow Merak. This latter car may have had something to do with Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) but that could just be me putting two and two together to make nine.
Living in the north east exotic stuff used to really stand out, normally I’d only see them in Top Trumps and so on.
Off the top of my head... silver Merc 450SE, silver Aston Martin V8, silver Maserati Bora (!!!), and a few years later occasionally a bright yellow Merak. This latter car may have had something to do with Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) but that could just be me putting two and two together to make nine.
Citroën DS.
Always looked other-worldly. Cemented in my mind even further when I saw one in a movie that split in half behind the driver but kept going. Henceforth forever known to my brother and I as a "splitter" Citroën.
Also, a local farmer had a S1 Land Rover in grey with a vertical exhaust, like a tractor. In my defence I was 4 at the time, m'lud.
Always looked other-worldly. Cemented in my mind even further when I saw one in a movie that split in half behind the driver but kept going. Henceforth forever known to my brother and I as a "splitter" Citroën.
Also, a local farmer had a S1 Land Rover in grey with a vertical exhaust, like a tractor. In my defence I was 4 at the time, m'lud.
Turbobanana said:
Citroën DS.
Always looked other-worldly. Cemented in my mind even further when I saw one in a movie that split in half behind the driver but kept going. Henceforth forever known to my brother and I as a "splitter" Citroën.
Also, a local farmer had a S1 Land Rover in grey with a vertical exhaust, like a tractor. In my defence I was 4 at the time, m'lud.
Was that a Bond film with the DS split in half? I can picture it, but cannot find it online.. hurting my little brain cells now.Always looked other-worldly. Cemented in my mind even further when I saw one in a movie that split in half behind the driver but kept going. Henceforth forever known to my brother and I as a "splitter" Citroën.
Also, a local farmer had a S1 Land Rover in grey with a vertical exhaust, like a tractor. In my defence I was 4 at the time, m'lud.
I always liked cars but back in the 60s and 70s, new cars were not common, especially in rural areas.
So the first brand new car I ever became aware of was a 1970 beige Hillman Avenger, bought by the local newsagent. Then my mate's Dad bought a new 1971Celica ST. However, this replaced a Jag 3.8 Mk II so was mildly disappointing.
We loved Bond Bugs. Very cool.
My Dad has a series of Zephyrs but wasn't cool until he bought a 4 year old Cortina 1500GT Mk II. He knew it and loved the car.
For me, while I liked cars like the black JPS Capri S, the first lustworthy car and working class hero was the Droop Snoot Firenza. Still one of my favourite unicorns.
Loved elusive supercars but never saw them Closest I came was seeing a new Citroen SM on the road. Quite stunning.
So the first brand new car I ever became aware of was a 1970 beige Hillman Avenger, bought by the local newsagent. Then my mate's Dad bought a new 1971Celica ST. However, this replaced a Jag 3.8 Mk II so was mildly disappointing.
We loved Bond Bugs. Very cool.
My Dad has a series of Zephyrs but wasn't cool until he bought a 4 year old Cortina 1500GT Mk II. He knew it and loved the car.
For me, while I liked cars like the black JPS Capri S, the first lustworthy car and working class hero was the Droop Snoot Firenza. Still one of my favourite unicorns.
Loved elusive supercars but never saw them Closest I came was seeing a new Citroen SM on the road. Quite stunning.
Edited by LuS1fer on Saturday 28th March 09:32
I remember this very clearly but can't be sure of the circumstances.
In 1961 the Mk 2 Sprite came out, I was 4 & I went to Kidderminster cattle market with my dad and we had a test drive - I sat I the back, dad and the sales guy in the front, might have just been round the car park, cattle pens etc.
I know my dad's friend was something like Sales Manager for the BMC dealer (called TBC) so I guess that's why we went, I assume it was a launch event for the Mk2 but will probably never know, unless there's someone older than me on here who was there.
I asked dad if we could buy one - he didn't have a car at the time and a 2 seater for a family of 4 wouldn't have been very practical!
There was an autotest going on as well and I had a Spot On red Mk 2 model (which must have been produced very quickly after the car was introduced) and spent ages on the floor autotesting it using things from the toy box as cones and garages.
In 1961 the Mk 2 Sprite came out, I was 4 & I went to Kidderminster cattle market with my dad and we had a test drive - I sat I the back, dad and the sales guy in the front, might have just been round the car park, cattle pens etc.
I know my dad's friend was something like Sales Manager for the BMC dealer (called TBC) so I guess that's why we went, I assume it was a launch event for the Mk2 but will probably never know, unless there's someone older than me on here who was there.
I asked dad if we could buy one - he didn't have a car at the time and a 2 seater for a family of 4 wouldn't have been very practical!
There was an autotest going on as well and I had a Spot On red Mk 2 model (which must have been produced very quickly after the car was introduced) and spent ages on the floor autotesting it using things from the toy box as cones and garages.
Citroen SM.
Sat in one at the 1972 Motor Show when my dad was ordering a GS. It left quite an impression on this six year old.
He'd ordered a Viva for his first car, but thankfully Vauxhall couldn't deliver before Christmas, so he decided on the GS instead.
Wonder if my car interest would have been the same if he'd got the Vauxhall.
Also seeing old MK2 Jags always made me look twice especially after a trip back from Birmingham in my dad's friend's Daimler 250.
Sat in one at the 1972 Motor Show when my dad was ordering a GS. It left quite an impression on this six year old.
He'd ordered a Viva for his first car, but thankfully Vauxhall couldn't deliver before Christmas, so he decided on the GS instead.
Wonder if my car interest would have been the same if he'd got the Vauxhall.
Also seeing old MK2 Jags always made me look twice especially after a trip back from Birmingham in my dad's friend's Daimler 250.
Riley Blue said:
Nicola M***y's dad's Vauxhall Cresta, Diane T****s's dad's Wolseley 15/60, Georgina K***l's dad's Rover 2000 and Georgie H*****K's dad's Standard Vanguard - all for much the same reason. 
I think all these years later, you could probably have named and shamed them without fear of reprisals?Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff