What was your first car?


Recommended Posts

My daughter only verified the above, and I'll be leasing when this one fails me.

  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
  • Replies 313
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Posts

Lets be a bit more patriotic, years ago the british used to fly in wellingtons now anything goes, trainers, flip flops.

When being a kid was much simpler   

Tip for all the Audi gang if you move your seat forward more you could get even closer to my bumper.

Posted Images

Just gone back to the beginning of this thread and found that there was no picture of my first car, so here it is. 1959 100E. It was an Anglia not a Pop. Still didn't make the windscreen wipers go any quicker when you went uphill though. Passed my test in that. Escort on drive is car number 2

 

bdp07k.jpg

  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Nice cars Malc..........i had one very similar in 1963...think mine was a Popular..........happy days in it......took a girl up 'Snowdonia''

I know you like Rovers Malc...........and i still miss my 'Rover 75'.......twas my all time favourite.

  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

#277.   Yes, that was the more modern style of body.  My old Pop was the old sit up and beg style.  Ok to get from a to b but certainly looked its age.

 

Fly 276.  I don't think you will regret a decision to lease.  You've just got to read the fine print as I'm sure you know.  My first lease was a Ford van for my business. Thus all of the payments were tax deductible.  Not sure how much it saved me, my accountant looked after all that.  I bought it out after three years because it was in good condition.  I figured in the end I'd payed about the same in total as buying it with a bank loan.

Link to post
Share on other sites

That's true denshaw.  That's why I suggested really checking the small print in the agreement.  All three of my leases were such high miles that there was little chance I would go over them, but I'm glad you mentioned it.

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 8 months later...

first one was bought in 1971. ten year old mini 850. two blokes had rented one of old man Hackett's barns across the road. They wanted £100 for it. Then the old man ambled out of the house in his uniform - braces, granddad vest (no shirt) and his Bowler hat. He said it was only worth £60. The blokes didn't want to know, so the old man produced a huge wad of £1 notes (remember them?) and waved 60 of them under the guy's nose.

I got my car, and the old man bless him wouldn't take any money. 

About that time he paid a builder to put up a bungalow in what was their back garden, as a wedding present for his daughter (who married a farm labourer, which didn't please mrs Hackett much) They called the bungalow Ponderosa (I think it's still there)

The old White house had a high ceilinged room where mrs Hackett displayed her collection of glass and porcelain . All gone now, people as well as buildings.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 1 year later...

My first was 1960 LHD blue VW beetle, which had just been imported from Germany so it had a shiny new reg for 1968. Brought it off a mate when I was in the RAF in 1968 up in Northumberland (Royal Geordie Airforce).  It had a pull back sunroof which was useful as it could carry standing passengers as well as sitting.  Just loved driving it, so most weekends I would do a round trip from Amble to Nottingham and back dropping a mate off at the Haven Cafe on the A1. (somewhere near Sheffield) then pick him up again on Sunday night.  The old beetle never let me down.

I managed to float it in a flood.  Unfortunately the force of water pulled the front wing off, bit of corrosion.  Soon stuck it back with some tank tape. Lasted till I pop rivetted a bracket on to secure it. 

At that time you could drive on the beach at Bamburgh in Northumberland,  Bombing up and down the beach mates standing up out the roof. Re-enacting Erwin Rommel and the Afrika Corps.

The highlight of its career was giving seven very nice (and appreciative) Nurses a lift back to the Nurses home . Pleasantly overloaded, five crammed on the the back seat and two on the passenger seat.  Made gear selection something of a challenge but interesting, they arrived back before the Nurses home was locked down for the night. Bad timing on my part.

Had the Beetle for about 4 years  Alas the old beetle suffered badly with car cancer and the floor pan was see through to the road.  Brought it for £56 in 1968 sold it for £40 in 1972.   Splashed out on a brand new VW1303 from Beardalls (next to Asda). It was good but non of the fun the old LHD. SJD113F.  Could go on forever, never had another car with as much character and good times had.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 1 month later...

After many pushbikes, my first foray into motorised transport was a Raleigh Moped and I can still remember, even Fifty Years later, the thrill and exhilaration of finally moving from pedal to motive power. Having said all that I, at 6 ft 3 inches, must have been a sight to be behold on a Moped. The frame finally cracked at the bottom and for the want of an alternative solution I pushed it all the way from Hucknall to the Raleigh Factory on Gregory Boulevard only to be told in no uncertain terms to go away To rub salt into the wounds I had to push it all the way back. My first car was a Commer Cob which belonged to the son of my Driving Instructor and was in a garage being serviced. I picked the car up and drove tentatively along Hucknall High Street, the first occasion I had driven alone. I reached Albert St put my foot on the brake pedal to slow down in anticipation of turning right and carried on. The brakes had failed. I somehow got the car home using the hand brake. Needless to say I contacted the Driving Instructor who had it towed away and repaired Not the most auspicious introduction to the world of car driving but to the best of my memory the car was then  trouble free until I part exchanged it for a Hillman Minx. 

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

After my first association with powered transport, two wheels, i started on four wheels in my fathers mk2zodiac (vvo 767) but soon moved on to minis. Just about had every variant, apart from the 1071 Cooper 's. Apart from my lotus elan, have stuck to rover for the majority of my time until they stopped producing. Now it's anything that takes my fancy, no particular brand is a favorite.

Link to post
Share on other sites

My first car was a Hillman Minx, old style body. It ran well and was easy to maintain, ideal for a keen young motorist. I learned a lot  from that car then moved on to a Hillman Hunter.

Link to post
Share on other sites

My first car was a Mini, bought in 1974 for £650. No idea how old it was at the time but I kept it for about 5 years by which time the floor had rotted, it was like driving a pedal car in the end.    Then I had a brand new Ford Escort.  Had lots of nice cars since those days, never want to change my car but when I’m persuaded I always love the one I’m driving at the moment.  

My husband’s first car (probably 1961) was an Austin 7 which he dumped in a bomb crater, he’s always regretted doing that! 

 

  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Had lots of Minis, and never a poor one. Pale green van,  yellow one, green one, Royal blue one, cream one, but my favourite was a Jet Black. Beautiful.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

I know I've said it before somewhere.  Went on my honeymoon in a 64 mini rented from Swan self drive on Nutthall road.  It made a horrible scraping sound on left hand turns.  Found out later it was a bad constant velocity joint and could have been dangerous.  We were too pre occupied to be bothered about scraping noises.:rolleyes:

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

Waddo, I always like Rovers. I had a gold 213, with the Honda engine I believe. Absolutely superb. Then a couple of 216's, which although more powerful, weren't as reliable. My last Rover was a nearly new 214, which sadly, my ex commandeered.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Same as you Fly, i used to like me Rovers, first one was a Sd 1 Vanden Plas V8 then the Sd1Vitesse V8 and even though they had a bad reputation, both of mine were great. I then had the 2.7 Vitesse now that was a lovely engine, smooth as butter, made by honda. Then a 420 turbo, went like stink, 220 turbo coupe (tomcat) then a 218diesel (proper rattlerly engine) a 620 turbo diesel, a 620turbo petrol next generation 216 and finally a MGzr turbo diesel (that was like a little go kart). So yes, you could say that I liked them a bit. Maybe I was just lucky but i can't think of any of them giving me any trouble and I think, for the money they were good value and more luxurious than Ford's in my opinion.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Only had two cars in the UK the first was a Triumph Herald great little car like this photo Dolphin Grey. Easy to service, lift up the whole front of the car bodywork sit on the tyre and do what needed to be done. Fantastic turning circle too, if you were a bit vigorous when on full lock it used to scrub the tyres like you would not believe and almost push them of the rims. The second was a Ford Cortina MKII only issue I had with that car was the ferrous oxide weevil in the top of the suspension struts fixed by adding reinforcing plates. The car looked pale blue in colour but when it came time to do some touch up and referring to the paint code it was called ???? green. Sold it to a mate when emigrating to OZ

 

Since being in OZ I must have had about 20 cars both work and family. Work cars were changed every 40,000 km. For those NS Australians I have had various makes and models of, Ford (Falcon)(Telstar), Holden (Commodore), Nissan (Skyline) Holden/Isuzu Shuttle (9 seater bus), Mitsubishi (Magna), Mazda (626) Toyota (Rav 4,) and a Hillman Imp for fun and restoration.

Best company car Nissan Skyline R31, the smoothest straight six engine I have ever driven.

Best personal car Toyota Rav4, not exactly inspiring but competent and totally economical, reliable and well put together.

Photo GB Classic Cars

Image result for triumph heraldImage result for ford cortina mkii

Link to post
Share on other sites

Blimey Waddo, you like some gutsy stuff. Brilliant.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes i did like a bit of giddy up occasionally, took the 'tomcat' round snetterton on a track day, overall cost_£600.00 that included tyers, fuel, new discs(old one's went a funny colour and cracked) pads and track time. A damm expensive day really, but good fun. Now I just use the bike and do the odd track day at donnington don't cost a fraction and more fun.

 

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

My first car was a 1949 morris Oxford then went modern with a 1955 Hillman minx then onto minis. Tried BL which I had no trouble with despite their reputation , including a Princess a comfortable car and the much maligned 1100cc Aleggro which took 4 of us and a camping trailer many miles. Also had a Hillman minx ,the Hunter shaped one, the worst thing that happened with that was in the early 70s, I was going along Lower Parliament Street pulled up behind several cars waiting at the traffic lights . The lights turned green started letting the clutch out and walking up the other side of the street was a young lady white T shirt braless, red hot pants which were too small and black thigh length boots . Well I was young so I had too have a good look and I looked too long all the cars in front had stopped. I hit the one in front of me pushed it into the one in front of that and that one into the next one, No one was injured other than my pride. My car was still driveable but there was problems when I arrived home and explained to the wife, she still reminds me of it  today, but still the young lady looked nice.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

In the early 70s as a 21 year old I used to lust after a Ford Capri 1600. I thought the Daytona Yellow finish with a black vinyl roof was to die for. Thing was I didn't pass my test until 1978 and due to lack of funds I  had to settle for a Cortina 1300L but at least it was yellow LOL.

A few years later I wanted an Escort 1300E and then a Cortina 2000E but never managed it. I did buy an Escort 1600 Ghia in the mid 80s and when I aspired to my first company car I had a Granada Ghia which brought my love affair with Fords to an end.

I drive a Freelander 2 these days and would rather spend my money on stamps and guitars than cars. I guess that's what you call growing old.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

I know what you mean growing old but I still waste my money on cars I am waiting delivery for a new model Audi Q3 so I can drive like other German car owners, the colour is orange, my only other form of rebellion these days is wearing odd socks, sad isn't it but why change the habits of a lifetime.

  • Like 2
  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

A Hillman Hunter that I asked my brother to find for me as he allegedly knew his way around cars. It was a private sale in Nottingham and I couldn't afford to pay very much. Anyway when I got it I filled up with petrol only to find that the reason it had been sold with an almost empty tank was because there was a hole in the tank! So, one replacement petrol tank later I drove it to Oxford where I was living at the time. Over the next couple of years, every time I did a long journey the engine would overheat and I would have to be towed home, I'm surprised the AA didn't blacklist me! On one occasion I seized up the engine so my brother and I replaced the engine with one from a scrapyard. Eventually I met my wife, who had a fairly new Ford Fiesta, so I sold my car to a work colleague who wanted to take it drag racing. He gave me £75 for it, which coincidentally was the same amount I paid for the engagement ring. So since then I tell people I sold my car to buy an engagement ring, and my wife counters by saying I only married her for her car!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...