What car do you wish you could have kept.

[Gra]

Shedland started a thread, that I hijacked tonight, and got me thinking I had better start my own thread, and the big question;

What car do you wish you had either kept, or were allowed to buy.

In my case it was my fathers MK 5 Jaguar. Tell us about the car that got away from you.

PS. the little kid standing next to the front wheel..... its me in 1970

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

All of them. :D

My ol' mans Mk IX Jag and his late 70's SS Mini Cooper would do for a start.

Then there was my '67 4-door pillarless hardtop conv. Parisienne, my '68 GTO, the '55 Mainline with blown 390ci, the '38 sloper, the...

[sigh] I'm depressing myself now. :( I wonder if any of my babies are still intact?

(So, I'm not in the Roller or Bugatti league... but I don't care! :p)

[Driver]

When we got married in 1973 I had two cars. One of them was a 1961 bog-standard Mini. I bought it from my Dad several years earlier and I had done a lot of repair work on it over time. It wasn't in great nick but it ran well enough.

My new wife didn't drive back then and we didn't need two cars. Furthermore, we were really short of cash. Although Bel tried to talk me out of it, I reluctantly sold the Mini to a bloke who gave me £40 for it. As I watched him drive away, I regretted selling that car and I have never shaken off that feeling of regret.

It was an ordinary car, right enough. Nothing noteworthy about it. Except that I had put a lot of time and effort into it and I had driven a lot of miles in it. It was mine and I hated parting with it. Since then I have owned and driven a great many different cars, some of which I have liked very much. But none of them have ever felt as special as that old Mini. Ah well.

Col

[Daddles]

My first MG probably. I've had three since.

That first was a Camino Gold (okay, baby poo brown), 1971 Aussie assembled job. Chrome bumpers, wire wheels and overdrive. British Leyland but before they started stuffing with the design so it was a genuine Mk2 with the Leyland badge. Had to sell her because I'd been unemployed for eight months (this was during Fraser's year's of enlightenment - thanks Johnny) and she'd just blown her second clutch in that time (the first at a hillclimb, the second because I was one of those proving that that new ballrace thrust bearings were a really stupid idea).

She was sold, at 5pm on a work day to the same sports car dealer that I bought her from. He gave me a fair price and I drove away in the cheapest car he had in the back lot - a purple CHARGER :oo: Dead set, I drove up Paramatta Road in peak hour traffic with tears pouring down my cheeks.

Since then, I've had ...

a Magnette which I failed to restore and get going again

a '74 MGBGT that I bought straight out of the container from America and converted to RHD. She came complete with no brakes (literally), suspension that had no bushings left and shockers that fell under their own weight, no interior to speak of, but a passable paint job and a completely unknown motor. As it turned out, the motor seemed to have been recently rebuilt and un-run since :D I learnt about how worn SU carbies can get on that car - a carby rebuild took the mileage from 8 mpg (I kid you not) to 30 mpg. A few years after I sold her, she wound up in a local car yard, grew a V8 motor and competed in the Classic Adelaide Rally.

and there's the Little Red Rollerskate, a '76 rubbernose. Steel wheels. No overdrive (how could the yanks imagine that was a good idea?). Soon after I bought her, I tossed the single downdraft webber and fitted a pair of SUs, then gave her a darned good caning ... so, of course, the motor let go. Actually, it didn't break as such, I just burnt off all the carbon which was all that was keeping it working - the mechanic, when he rebuilt her, said it was the most worn motor that actually worked that he'd ever worked on. The bearings were running on copper. There was no contact between valves and valve guides. She was pouring out smoke from every orifice, yet not a thing was broken, not a ring nor a valve spring. Just badly worn. She's now got a Stage One (MG motors specs) rally motor in her and grumbles quite happily at idle. She's been lowered to chrome bumber height so the handling has been restored. BUT, she's red and a bloody rubbernose with some oddball fibreglass dashboard in her. Talk about the poor relation as far as MGBs goes. It's funny, I need money now but not enough to sell her. If I did have to sell her, it'd be sad, but not a disaster as I'd really like one of those Mk2s again. But you watch, this'll be the car I die with :D

Richard
nuts, but you knew that :roll:

For piccies, go here (http://www.users.bigpond.com/richardspurling/mg.htm)

[Daddles]

I've owned three Minis - a red ex-PMG van that drove from Adelaide to Squidley more times than any other car I've owned, and two bog standard Clubmans. Lovely little boxes :D

Richard

[graemet]

The car I learnt to drive in - a 1948 Humber Hawk. Huge bullet shaped headlights sitting above the high arched mudguards, a 4 cylinder 2 litre motor that gave it a top speed of about 60mph but enough torque that it pulled itself, a box trailer, my clapped out A40 with a boat railer and VJ behind up Bumble hill near Wyong before the Newcastle expressway was built. Thems were the days - the constabulary would have a fit if we tried it now!

[Honorary Bloke]

Several, really. A '56 Chevy that I bought (well-used but not used well) whilst in the Air Force. Blew the engine driving home for my (first) wedding. Ta ta.

A 1967 Renault Caravelle. Poor man's sports car. Removable hard top. Actually had a hand crank fitted in case the battery turned belly up. :rolleyes:

More recently, my '89 BMW 525. Got itchy and swopped it for an X5 and regretted it since.

There were some others, as well. A '61 Ford Falcon remembered most for what occured whilst I owned it than for itself (:D ).

Old memories--good thread. :)

[joe greiner]

1953 Studebaker. First car (I think) designed by Raymond Loewy, noted industrial designer. Bought used around 1962 for US$150. Never got around to customizing (body work, Cadillac engine, etc.) owing to distractions of education, work, wimmin, and such. Gave it to my lil brudder, but eventually wound up squished by the breakers while I was in the Army.

Currently, my 1976 Datsun 280Z is awaiting serious attention. Still buy tags each year (just in case I get a round tuit), but haven't driven it for several years.

Joe

[Clinton1]

My first car, an 1985 Toyota Corona CSI.... 4 cylinder 2.4 lt, EFI, 5 speed gearbox, independant rear suspension, all round disc brakes. I still regret that I sent it to the wreckers when I moved house.
Drove it for 8 years and learnt how to maintain it from a Gregory's. Reliable bugger and it proved the intercooler theory as you could tell the difference in the engine when you drove not a cold front! It was run down when I got it, but .... :C
:2tsup:

[abitfishy]

Funny how everyone seems to regret selling fancier cars, but I regret getting rid of my 1978 Datsun 200B 11 years ago when I was 21 to buy a more modern 94 Holden Crapadore. Should have kept the Datsun - it was in great nic, genuine 1 elderly owner, spotless interior, auto/air/steer. But like most young people, I wanted something faster and newer, but you can't beat the traditional I reckon. Although the 200B's were called the 180B's with 20 more mistakes, it was a fantastic car and never let me down.

[tameriska]

I still have my first car, a 1970 Triumph 2000Mk2, but the car that I would have loved to have kept belonged to my father, a 1964 Vauxhaul Cresta.
I can only remember seeing it when I was a young kid, it had been sitting out on a mate's farm for years, it had front end damage, Dad had been trowelling off concrete and left it parked out the front, and some *#$@*&%%@ ran into it :((.
From what Dad told me, it came out with disk brakes, REAL leather seats (unlike my Triumph), and the speedo apparently uset to light up from green, to orange, to red with the speed limits.

[journeyman Mick]

I'm afraid that mine aren't in the same league. My second car, which was mostly my first car which was smashed when I rolled it three times after being run into by a drunk driver. It was a '70 Mazda 1800, body by Bertone, I rebuilt it and then put in a 3/4 race cam and twin webers which didn't actually fit under the bonnet so there was a largish hole in the bonnet with an air filter sticking out, until I covered it with an aluminium baking tray.:D In a fit of fun I hand painted it black one weekend and covered it with triangles of different sizes and colours (mostly red, green and yellow) It looked a scream but actually went seriously fast as besides the cam and carbies I'd done a complete rebuild of the engine and balanced and blueprinted it. I blew the doors off quite a few of the local lads in their 6 cylinder toranas.

Then not too long ago there was my 4wd Hilux with the V8, went like the clappers and I would regularly overtake people whilst going up the Kuranda range with a fully loaded tool trailer behind me. The fuel bill was crippling though, $500 a month when running on LPG versus about $150 a month for teh 4 cylinder diesel 4wd that replaced it.

I also put a warmed over falcon 4.1 motor in the wife's volvo. Was a really cofortable and well handling car when I was finished with it and went pretty well too as well as actually using less fuel than when it was a 4 cylinder.

But mostly I think I miss the Mazda, it had character in spades.:2tsup:

Mick

[martrix]

:C I am going to sell my baby in the next few months (only way I can get a deposit for a house:( ) and I know I will regret it.
Its a 1964 SS Impala hardtop coupe. No mufflers, just "Hot Dog" resonators:D Rebuilt mild 327 chevy with a lumpy cam and a 650 Holley double pumper and a turbo 350 auto.
Burbles along fairly quietly, but when you give it some curry.....:o it sings with the best Harley's:U .
Had some good road trips in it:D :C ..
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=17440&d=1136711780

[Daddles]

Now, what's that old song?
(to the tune of 'The Road to Gundagai' )

** cough cough**

There's an old fashioned Ford,
made of rubber tin and board,
along the road to Gundagai.

Well the radiator's hissing,
and half the engine's missing,
the oil tank's running dry,

There's water in the petrol,
and sand in the gears,
she hasn't seen a garage in more than forty years,

But oh hear her roar,
when the pedal hits the floor,
along the road to, Gundagai.

:D:D

Richard

[DJ’s Timber]

Nice car Martrix, I have actually seen her on the road

[TassieKiwi]

http://www.rovercarclubaust.asn.au/images/conc20.jpg

I had one of these in Admiralty Blue with buckskin leather (a saloon) in the UK, until some local hood nicked it one day. Long sad story (I spotted a grey car about 10km from my home there a week later, with my doors/seat/bonnet etc fitted. Called cops, disbelief but impounded it, I showed pics for proof, turned out to be a real nasty local heavy whom i'd asked to use the phone to call the police! about 9 feet tall, tats etc - a week later cops gave him the car back, I got 1500 quid :( ) but best memory is a road trip to Meribel in the French alps, and a pic with 105mph on the speedo blasting down the French motorway waaahoooo!

I'd like:
Healy 3000
Boss Mach 1
Aston Vantage
Silver Cloud (for elegant picnics on the Mersey, y'know)
1960 Pontiac Laurentian (17'6" long)
1965 Splitty Sama
Actually, a concours musem would do.

[martrix]

Nice car Martrix, I have actually seen her on the road
Classic.:D Did you see it or hear it? Must have been out in the S/E suburbs?

It does tend to get attention. A shame that on the day after I bought it, it came home on a tow truck:( .

[Andy Mac]

I haven't owned any seriously flash cars, although I've drooled over a couple. I still kick myself for selling my old '72 Kombi pop-top camper which I had for 8yrs...was almost going to say "my faithful old...", but that wasn't the case.:p Did a 'round Australia engine changing trip once, but had some great times in it, extremely practical vehicle!
I was once given a 1947 Triumph 1800 Roadster, a rusty wreck in a paddock, if I would remove it. Most of it was there, aluminium bonnet etc, and if I'd been dilligent it could have looked like this...!:cool:
http://cwimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=CW&Date=20061030&Category=FREE&ArtNo=61019005&Ref=AR&Profile=1027&maxw=490 (javascript:var n=1)
Dream on...


In my case it was my fathers MK 5 Jaguar. PS. the little kid standing next to the front wheel..... its me in 1970

I think we have that very caravan parked in the driveway!! BTW that is one very stylish car!

Cheers!

[Gra]

matrix,

you going to the American Motoring Show on April 1...

Thinking of taking the mistress, and trying to convince my boss to bring his GT

[rod1949]

Fords - 1949 and 1936 sedan and 1953 F100, all flat tops. They're all be worth squillions of quids now.

[rod1949]

The car I learnt to drive in - a 1948 Humber Hawk. Huge bullet shaped headlights sitting above the high arched mudguards, a 4 cylinder 2 litre motor that gave it a top speed of about 60mph but enough torque that it pulled itself, a box trailer, my clapped out A40 with a boat railer and VJ behind up Bumble hill near Wyong before the Newcastle expressway was built. Thems were the days - the constabulary would have a fit if we tried it now!

I knew some people who had one of those long nose Humber Super Snipes. They had a motoring mishap one day... drove through the front brick wall of a house. The wall was a right-off. The Humber just a bit of paint damage, no dents whatsoever.

[Waldo]

G'day,

I haven't owned one yet and probably never will, but if I get one I'll be hanging onto it.

An F6 Typhoon.

Next car will be a newer XR6 than my current '93 series II XR6, hopefully a BA Turbo.

[ptc]

My
Riley 1.5 RMA 1951
Sold it 3yrs ago.

[TassieKiwi]

I like the 2 1/2 pathfinder. There's one parked up at a garage in New Norfolk, but by the look of it the cancer has really taken hold.

[Groggy]

A 1275cc Mini Cooper S. Bored out to 1310cc, then stroked to 1375cc with a Datsun crank. Span its wheels in top gear and the needle hit the stops on the Smiths speedo at 135mph (still pulling).

I had the great delight of passing a V8 Sandman and watching the bonnet bulge as the engine blew when he tried to catch me. But that was in another life, one I was fortunate to live through.

[Doughboy]

I had an '82 Datsun Stanza SSS. Triple SU's, low profile 14'' solid disk mags, made into a convertible, black pearl paint, air-brushed sword on the side with Excalibur written underneath it, the obligatory redback spider gear nob, red leather seats and console, customised dash with red LED's.

Not many people like her but she was all mine and I loved her. Saddest part was she was stolen and ripped apart. Never again have I put that kind of heart into a car. Bikes are a different matter!!!

Pete

[Ashore]

A lovely little yellow fiat 850 sport, sold it when SHMBO couldn't get the bassinett in the back seat :( Damm Kids, though truth be known I proberly couldn't get in and out of it now. :no:

Rgds

[Gra]

A lovely little yellow fiat 850 sport, sold it when SHMBO couldn't get the bassinett in the back seat :( Damm Kids, though truth be known I proberly couldn't get in and out of it now. :no:

Rgds
ashore,

I feel your pain, had to sell my MGB when baby no2 came along. Mr plod wouldn't let me fit the second baby seat to the parcel shelf, yes I tried and no matter what I did couldn't get the engineering right.

It used to be a good commute from work, pick up child no1 at childcare drive the rest of the way home, roof down. She used to love it (So did dad:D).

Yes I still miss that car. maybe I should have purchased an MGYT (Four seat convertible from about 1940)

[martrix]

matrix,

you going to the American Motoring Show on April 1...

Thinking of taking the mistress, and trying to convince my boss to bring his GT
Ive been meaning to go to it every year for the past 6-7 years, but have yet to get there...too busy. Was even going to display my car..trying to distance myself from the yank tanks for the moment though, it will make the split easier:C .....weening myself off them.


G'day,

I haven't owned one yet and probably never will, but if I get one I'll be hanging onto it.

An F6 Typhoon.

Next car will be a newer XR6 than my current '93 series II XR6, hopefully a BA Turbo.

As much as I dislike Fords, those turbo cars are a cheap weapon and I wouldn't say no to one.

[Harry72]

An AP5 Val that my father sold 2 weeks before I started my current job in 94...

He had it since new, still had the original paint in pristine condition 250000 on the clock and never had any repairs except servicing and the replacement of the exhaust manifold to extractors(a design fault they had).

Man I had plans for that car... no roof and a blown 440!
It probably would have saved me money by not buying a few new cars.

[rrich]

My first new car. A 1966 Corvair Monza 4 speed trans and 110 HP two carbs. One of the best handling vehicles of its time. Traded it in on a 1968 Camaro, one of the worst handling vehicles ever.

[Stuart]

My Honda CB750 - not the greatest bike, but it was the largest, and last bike that I owned (pre SWMBO). Not allowed another one :(

http://www.motorbooks.com/Store/UserDirs/motorbooks.com/coverimages/112854.jpg

Although, for pure asthetics, my CB400 Custom looked great. Sucked as much gas as a small car...... Looked similar to the one in the foreground, but with a V twin perpendicular to the bike

http://www.vankekemmotoren.nl/winkel/honda2ehands/honda%202e%20hands%2019-6-06%20002.jpg

[womble]

my first new car was a vs series 2 v8 commodore ute, panthergreen paint, alloys etc...should have kept it but oh well...

[Tonyz]

My best mini cooper went through speed trial time trap 139MPH sorry 2 weeks later it was at the bottom of Cook Straight (between NZ isls.) after a few rail wagons broke loose and pushed it out. roughest crossing ever S...t
Next best Fiat 124 sports convertible left hand drive canary yellow European version. best trip ....through southern alps mid winter, hood down, heater full bore, snowing, going like the clappers, exhust reverberating, all cause the girl friend wanted a late late night drive.8 hours later were home without a stop.

[ozwinner]

I had an XC Ford Falcon with a 302 Cleveland 4V motor, with a 4 slotter, it came as a rally pack, can you imagine a car as large as that as a rally car? :o

Anyway, it had 240kph on the clock, and believe it or not it done it. :o
Well according to the speedo anyway, man what a rush, this thing stuck to the road like sheet to a blanket, I cried when I sold it.:(

Al :(:(:(

[Shedgirl]

I still miss the '69 Hillman Hunter Royal (Roy-ale with Cheese) which my darling grandad passed on to me when I was 17. He observed my teen angst and knew I needed to get away. It actually had a sticker: Hillman Hunter....Passport to Freedom!"

We were together for years, until I backed out of my driveway and under a really big truck. I reckon if I'd been in a modern car, I'd be Crumplezoned into Oblivion. I actually kept driving it for a bit, then sold the pathetic broken thing for $80 and went to the pub. With the guy who had been driving the truck actually!

[rayintheuk]

I wish I still had my Messerschmitt KR200, it'd be worth quite a bit nowadays.

70 mph, 70 mpg, weird to drive and hell in hot weather. Cable brakes and gear change, basically a motorcycle with a coat on. Mine was black, but these pics will give you an idea:

http://www.raygirling.com/images/kr20001.jpg

http://www.raygirling.com/images/kr20002.jpg

http://www.raygirling.com/images/kr20003.jpg

http://www.raygirling.com/images/kr20004.jpg

Ray.

[Doughboy]

Stuart my first road bike was the CB 900 Bol D'or great bike just could not kill it. Then I had a GPZ 1100 Turbo, was ok but too long and scared the sheet outa me too many times. Then I had a CBR 1100 XXX Blackbird with the Yankee turbo system put on it. Very nice bike and an absolute rocket.

My last one has been mentioned on here before. A Triumph Trophy 1200. Real mile chewer and a bullet to boot. By far the best bike I have had but not necesarily the most fun.

Pete

[dzcook]

well mine is very ordinary compAred to some here but it was still the best car i have had

it would be a1981 toyota corona liftback the car yard wouldnt let me take it for a test drive till i had signed the papers for it so bought it after only sitting in it in the car showroom $10950 with air which was a lot of money then

2lt motor 5spd hatchback used to be able to take it off the speedo over 180 k had it for 10 years had about 300,000 ks on the clock when i traded it in saw it about town for 2 more years after i got rid of it and even now when i see one still think why did i sell it

[bulldog]

well my first was an old 1978 TD Gemini that ran really well until I thought that the P plate rammed down next to the number plate ment Professional driver, killed the car by rolling it. Next best car, belive it or not was a 1996 Hyundai Excel. Great little car went from Cairns to Melbourne a couple of times a year and never missed a beat. Traded it in for my current beast......VE Berlina 6ltr, with all the trimmings....goes like the clappers. Pitty the Excel didn't might still have it if it did......

[stevebaby]

In 1978 a bloke in a pub offered me 2 FJ Holdens. One was in good nick, well kept, no rust, 4 months rego. The other was for spares, but could be made a goer with a little bit of work.
He wanted $50 for both of them.
I laughed at him.

[Tonyz]

Tassiekiwi my ole man used to have one of those. One time he went away on hols. I borrowed it for the night. Had it going sideways through long grass on side of road, terrified it was going to roll. # months later he asaked me about borrowing it I was honest "Yes said I". "any trouble when you had it "
"No said I ,Why?" "well I got the tyres changed today and they found grass up inside the rim around the tubes"

[maxmas]

My 86' VL Calais Turbo. Brock modified (afer market), lowered, Walkinshaw rear end, limited slip and 155 BHP. My most fav car I ever owned. Left here in 93 and still miss her today.:C

[AlexS]

.... I actually kept driving it for a bit, then sold the pathetic broken thing for $80 and went to the pub. With the guy who had been driving the truck actually!

There has to be a story there! We're waiting.:D

[Shedgirl]

Well, there is, Alex. But not for the delicate ears of this forum.:wink:

You live in Westleigh? I used to live there, in Golden Grove. About, um, 23 years ago.

[TassieKiwi]

Tassiekiwi my ole man used to have one of those. One time he went away on hols. I borrowed it for the night. Had it going sideways through long grass on side of road, terrified it was going to roll. # months later he asaked me about borrowing it I was honest "Yes said I". "any trouble when you had it "
"No said I ,Why?" "well I got the tyres changed today and they found grass up inside the rim around the tubes"

Woah, a bit of a close shave there. At least there wasn't a powerpole there!