Thread: Great Cars that you've owned

The humble gemini has been good to me. So has the Hilux ute 4x2. The turbo deisel Prado is a lovely car for long trips.

Cheers
Michael

1970 Peugeot 504 cabriolet - a great car and one that always turbns heads. I have had it for 15 years and it is the best $20k I have spent.

In UK
Started with a MKI escort my dad bought me so that I could work on the engine before I was old enough to drive.
Next was the first car I bought myself a VW Golf 5 Door, good little car.
Then a 4.2L straight six Jaguar XJ6, was 11 years old when I bought it at 18 for 600 pounds, had lots of fun in it but it oil and brake fluid in the end and used to scare the crap out me when it ran on.
Then had a Ford Sierra for a while and was a mini cab driver in my spare time.
Then on to a Ford Granada larger more comfortable verison of the Sierra
Then a Ford P100 ute
Moved to USA
American Motors station wagon built in 1969 great to get all your mates in and still have room for a Weber in the back....
Moved back to UK
Then a Saab 900
Moved to Australia
Leased new Mercedes C180
Then bought new Mercedes C180 both very nice cars
Then bought Pajero
Now have Hilux SR5 4x4 best of the lot I love it....

HH.

Ah, French cars, memories are made of this.....

First car was a 1955 Peugeot 203, the one that won the Redex rally a few times. Great car, very advanced for its' time, even had overdrive. Next another Frenchie, 1965 Renault R8, 4 wheel disc brakes (in 1965!) rear engine, independent rear suspension (Holden got that in the 90's!), 4 on the floor, layback seats (I was young enough to enjoy them too!)

Next another Peugeot, a 404, another great car to drive.

SWMBO has had 2 French cars, Renault Dauphine, one of those was the Gordini model, very nippy car!

Then came a succession of company cars, some eminently forgettable, but one I was really proud of HQ Premier with bucket seats, nylon upholstery and T-bar auto.

SWMBO had a bright red Honda Prelude for years, 4 wheel steering, sun roof, spoiler and the works, she loved that car.

My favorite was a 34 ford with a 272 engine with triple carbs , light flywheel, Rover 4 speed box , Star model diff.

Plant the foot hard and the front wheels would lift a coupla inches off the ground.

Quite like me current little Hilux even though you couldn't call it a power horse

Originally Posted by Big Shed

another Frenchie, 1965 Renault R8, 4 wheel disc brakes (in 1965!) rear engine, independent rear suspension (Holden got that in the 90's!), 4 on the floor, layback seats (I was young enough to enjoy them too!)

I had that one, too! Loved it. In 1968 traded it for a Renault Caravelle (2-seater with removable hard top) and really loved it until my ex-SWMBO blew the engine.

Renault never really caught on in the US and nor did Peugeot, although they stayed around for years on the fringe. Neither one sold here now. In fact I don't believe any French marques are sold in the US today (??).

Originally Posted by Honorary Bloke

I had that one, too! Loved it. In 1968 traded it for a Renault Caravelle (2-seater with removable hard top) and really loved it until my ex-SWMBO blew the engine.

Renault never really caught on in the US and nor did Peugeot, although they stayed around for years on the fringe. Neither one sold here now. In fact I don't believe any French marques are sold in the US today (??).

French cars appear to be making a come-back in Oz, quite a few Peugeots around and also Citroens, never owned one of those, but drove a 2CV at one stage, what an ugly duckling!

Our old KE30 Corolla which looked after us for 19 years no worries.

1st car was a 1958 Ford Consol Mark II.
(Had been rolled & was just a kid's paddock basher.)

1st registered car (& I had a licence) Morris 1500.

Have owned 3 EH Holdens.

We now have 2 Toyota Corollas.

Hmmm Lets see....

First car was a 1958 Austin Lancer, purchased before I got my licence. went like the clappers, just didnt stop....

Sold it on after half restoring it.

next came the remains of a 1928 Graham paige 610 Sedan. Its still in a shed somewhere, on the list of cars to finish (Way down the list).

Then there was the borrowed HR ute, with three on the tree. That one used to have the gear lever come adrift mid change, leaving you in neutral, holding the gear lever, but not connected to anything.

Then purchased my forst car to use, it was a 1978 Nissan skyline coupe, with 5 speed manual and a huge sunroof.

After it went to god due to driver stupidity, decided to buy someting I couldnt get into trouble in. 1984 Daihatsu Charade. That car taught me how to slide a front wheel drive car... My then girlfriend had a 1980 charade (They got nicknamed Victa and victoria. Victa as it was an overgrown lawn mower).

My charade got totaled by some guy in a 4WD doing 80khp, into my stationary boot. (2 Weeks after I paid it off).

At this point I purchased my first of 3 1978 Mazda 121's. That model was chosen after searching through the wreking yards to find something tough.. It fitted the bill excpet for the head gasket. In the end it was cheaper to buy another car than fix the headgasket...

Got married and inherited the second charade.

Charade started to die and my Mazda got stolen, so started looking for a replacement. Wife wanted the Mazda 121 bubble. Looked at a couple all had accident damage. after a couple of weeks we sat dejectedly having a coffee after another failed car search and I casually mention that for the money we were spending on a 121 we could buy an MG. Wifes face changes and I think Oh no what have I said.

She stands up and says lets go then. That afternoon we signed the paper work for our favorite car.. a bright red 1964 MK 1 MGB roadster. Most fun you can have sitting down. took it everywhere, including camping.

Funny thing was no-one would take the charde as a trade in. So it soldiered on for a little longer. Wife then gets pregnant. Time for a family car. She decides dhe wants a Subaru Liberty. Off we go shopping, take the charade if you want the dealer to ignore you, if you want their attention take the MG. Find one, go to trade in the charade, dealer looks at it. Nah give you 50 bucks to take it away. Now we have three cars.

Charade eventually went to the wrekers, but only after it spent 12 months running straight stop smoke instead of oil.....

baby No two starts to appear. HMMM Subaru is dieing, and MG needs bodywork and you can only fit one baby seat to an MG (Dont ask I tried, the RTA wont let you).

Time for two more cars. Wife and I had a rental Opel Zafira in europe a few years back it seemed a good small family car. So go have a look at them. after much haggling subaru get traded on a new Zafira.

MG sale gets put for for a little longer. Finaly wife get stroppy, must sell. She then sets out the conditions of replacement. You have 15-20K, Must have 4 doors and must have air. Is that all dear. Yes. He He He, that gives me some leeway. I guess the MK 5 Jaguar is out of the question though. SAAB convertible, nah 2 doors. XJ6 Jaguar. Yes, spend 12 months looking at various options. Finally found my current baby a 1990 Jaguar XJ40. Now that is a class car.

Wow I think i started to chanel Wild dingo there...

Neil

Gra, please stick to the topic.

The EK in my Avatar, the pic was on our wedding day, first automatic car ever produced by Holden. It is my second EK and am sure it wont be my last. It's not an everyday driver anymore but we love to cruise in it whenever we get the chance.

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

Gra, please stick to the topic.

You know your off topic when cliff complains.... its like Gumby complaining about a hijack

First was a 64 valiant 265 slant six. Sit on 120 mph no worries at all.

At the same time I managed to get a hold of a 63 valiant regal AP5, the one with push button auto, had the 225 six and it was beeeeeeeeaudiful.

Have since had a lowered Nissan Skyline, 3lt awesome car.

Now I own a Subaru Outback 3lt. Nice to drive and no slouch from the lights. It wont blatantly outrun a SS commodore but it will keep the mongrel honest.