Great Cars that you've owned

[Grunt]

Midge and I were just talking about the many merits of the Renault 10. Damned fine car.

My first car was a Hillman Minx, They just don't make'em like that any more. A full ladder chassis, push button and hand crank starter. 1500cc of throbbing power. 80 MPH top speed (downhill).

I've owned 4 HQ Holdens. Never spent more than $500 on any of them. All pieces of crap. $150 for one of them. Drove it for 18 months and then gave it to my brother. Between us, it only cost 0.03c per mile to own. Used slightly more petrol than oil.

[mic-d]

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

[jmk89]

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.

[HappyHammer]

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....:U

HH.

[Big Shed]

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.

[echnidna]

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

[Honorary Bloke]

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. :2tsup: 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 (??).

[Big Shed]

I had that one, too! Loved it. :2tsup: 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!

[Tankstand]

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

[Cliff Rogers]

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. :2tsup:

We now have 2 Toyota Corollas. :2tsup:

[Gra]

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

[Cliff Rogers]

Gra, please stick to the topic. :rolleyes: :D

[Burnsy]

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.

[Gra]

Gra, please stick to the topic. :rolleyes: :D

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

[Doughboy]

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.

[Wild Dingo]

First owned was a Humber Super Snipe... bloody bottler of a car for a 14 year old!! :2tsup: Cost me a game of pool... I was good back then :roll:

Won my second car a Chevy Impala the same way when I drove it away and checked it out at home I found it had a total spare running gear in the boot!!

Third I paid for... a Hemi Pacer 2 door from a yard for $400 which went like the clappers and all the way to Halls Creek Rodeo... where I sold it to a mob of blackfellas who almost drooled it down the fitzroy river they wanted it soooo bad... with the $2000 they paid me for it (yes they paid me the rediculous amount of 2k which was said to tell them it wasnt for sale but they wouldnt listen and came back 2 hours later with the lot in small and I do mean small change!! ever seen 2k in 10 20 50c peices with a couple of odd crumpled notes tossed in? man thats heavy on the pockets!!... I went to Darwin with a mate and bought my next car.

oh... the Hemi? Its now out at Camballin and from what my younger sis who lives in Broome and goes out there every now and then says it still runs!! on bailing wire and hope! :U It was by far the best car Ive ever owned bar none... comfortable ran on the smell of an oily rag went like a bat outta hell on steroids sheilas loved it and it carried me a fair way through and around the Kimberlies and to many places Im sure and certain Valiant never ever anticipated or dreamed these things would ever go :2tsup:

Bought my first bike in Darwin a Suzi 900 cafe racer... scared the living crap outta me so I got rid of it and bought an old beat up Willys Jeep for 700 and ended up leaving it behind in the Alice where I scored a Kombi ute for 100 which died a death in Oodnadatta scored the next in Adelaide a mini moke which took me back to Perth and up to Port Headland where through no fault of its own it ended up under a semi... didnt go too good after that

Return to Perth scored a Merc gawd knows what model it was 1968 I think... the rings went in it a few months later so I offloaded it and got a HQ... oh right there was a EH ute for awhile when I was about 18 but it sorta lost the plot on the Exmouth road and the steering wheel came of in my hands so I sold that to the fella that ran the pub in Coral bay for a weeks stay and work as a barman at the best sheila scoring pub a single virile young fella could dream of working in

ahem back to the HQ... not a bad bucket of rust... we ripped the roof of and used it on the uncles farm for awhile but it met a tractor one night so it gave up after that... bloody holdens... So I then had a series of 3 Fairlanes over several years from the one with the headlights side by side to the headlights up and down... big wonderous surfer machine they were!! I mean a fella could stack 10 surfboards in the back seat and 4 sheilas in the front swags in the boot and go like the clappers to Red Bluff or Yalingup in no time flat...

Then I got with the missus... and all that fun caper stopped in a manic rush

Who when I got with her had a Suzuki soft top 4x4 thing... convinced her to get rid of the bucket of shyte and get something better... took of for the northwest again in my next vehicle a Landrover ute... came back a year later in a mini monor meanwhile she had bought herself a Renault T19... I FELL IN LOVE!!... with both her and that Renault... man what a great car for traveling in the seat was just right you know? perfect for travel oh and she was pretty good to had and has a fine seat :; ahem...

Sold them both {not the missus though shes a keeper} and got a Landcruiser short wheel base and went to Darwin on our honeymoon she got like a whale on pins rather rapidly and fell out of the landcruiser onto her date one day in town (shes 4ft 8in tall and the damned streets up there have massive slopes to the curb poor wee thing fell out the door!) so the Landcruiser went and a 1978 Ford V8 2 door was bought for 4000 from a bloke in Winnellie (at Lims pub actually seems I bought or won a fair few of my cars in pubs around the country)

Fast forward a year happily married with tiny twin daughters choose to leave Perth for Carnarvon buy a really seriously appropriate vehicle a Ford Capri... pack up slide the bubs on top of the packed back seat and off we go! ahem you could do this back then pre must have seat belt times

a few years later and another 2 kidlets we bought a valiant station wagon... then another year later and another kidlet we splashed out on our first new car a Toyota Lite Ace... fast forward another year and another kidlet and our second new car a Toyota Tarago... fast forward another 18 months and our first Nissan Urvan came into our lives over the next few years we accumulated 3 of these 12 seat buses... finally the twins got old enough to drive themselves so with 6 left to be dragged around we went down to a "Venga" bus a Nissan import peice of utter snot on wheels... decided when the third daughter got her first car to upgrade again so the missus got a Proton Persona and I had a minor mid life crisis and got a raging hoon mobile a suped up Lancer... sold the lancer within 3 months (peice of hole in the fuel tank junk) got a Ford XF station wagon... then inherited mums Toyota Camry then son got his license and I bought the F100 and he inherited the ford... he promptly snotted the gearbox and inherited the camry which he successfully blew the motor in and stuffed the auto gearbox thinking it was a 5 speed manual box

So now I have the F100 AND ive recently re-inherited a sigma wagon I bought and sold to the inlaws 15 years ago who had inherited it to our first daughter who inherited it back to me... so Im driving around in a 1979 F100 who is the moodiest bitche of a machine there is and a totally tired and clapped out Sigma while the missus though has done real well for herself having just 2 weeks ago traded her very rapidly dying Proton in on a BRAND friggin new leather upholstered every friggin doodad Lancer! :~

aahh Ive left out a few motorbikes and cars 4xs and trucks out of that list as I think Id probably od the forum if I kept going

Final word... I have recently found out that 2 of the cars Ive had are now worth 500000+!! bloody super roo ford sedan I bought of a mate for 2000 when it was 2 years old and left with a blown motor at Dimboolah FNQ and a Monaro 2 door I bought of my best man 3 years after he decided to get serious and loose the hoon in him for 1000 and lost in a game of pool in Exmouth a year later... my worst loss at pool and the last time I played for anything other than drinks... but to think I was sooooo short sighted about cars back then... sigh sorta like the 10 acre block just ourside of Broome I was offered for 20000 in 1979 and I knocked it back cause I didnt think Broome would ever amount to anything other than a short stay cheep place... dumbass eh? sigh

[Honorary Bloke]

Strewth, Dingo! :oo: I think you finally outdid yourself. :scooter:

You are a natural-born wit. (Or is it git? twit? No, wit!) :D

[mic-d]

Hey Dingo, you're almost there, I want to see a post that takes up a whole page. Is that possible:? :D :D

Cheers
Michael

[Cliff Rogers]

See what you did Gra. :p

[Grunt]

I want to know does anyone actually read any more than the first paragraph of a Dingo post?

Ok, in this case I got to the 3rd but the 1st two were short.

[Cliff Rogers]

Good subject for a poll. :D

[Stu in Tokyo]

I had a 1967 Chevy Impala Convertible, painted bright yellow, with a great flame job on the hood :D man I loved the car, a couple of missing summers were spent in it......

Also, an original Datsun 240Z, what a hoot that car was, then I got into road bikes, 86 GSXR 750, man that thing was hard on my drivers license......:rolleyes:

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

One of my favourite beasties was a '55 Ford Mainline I started rodding.

Had finished the chassis and wanted to start on the running gear, so threw the body and both guards back on and fitted the steering box and front end. No floor in the tray or doors or seats or anything else... just the basics to make sure everything fitted. Then I fitted up a blown 390ci big-block with twin Holley 780 double-pumpers, an FMX auto and Tank Fairlane diff. (Anyone who understands what all that is can tell I wasn't exactly worried about fuel efficiency. :rolleyes:) Of course, then I wanted to make sure 'twas all running... so I wired up a 20gal drum to the chassis in the back as a fuel tank, mounted a couple of headers upside down like truck exhausts and gave 'er a kick in the guts.

Whooeee! She was one mean sounding mother and Just blipping the throttle sent her shuddering sideways. :2tsup: Real testosterone stuff. Too much testosterone, really, as then I just had to make sure the auto and diff worked OK too. :cool: (Oh, too be young and invulnerable again. [sigh]) Thinking I was being smart, I bolted the doors back on and set up a folding chair for a seat... then eased her out the drive and down the highway. Now, she still didn't have any weight in the back, no tray as I said... and I'd only thrown the original 16" pizza cutter wheels & tyres back on. Traction? Ha! Every time I even looked like putting the foot down she'd just spin a wheel and slow to a halt. And being a barge, she didn't turn too well, so I let her idle down the road to a set of lights so I could do a 23-point turn. :-

That's when it happened... one o' those burgundy Monaros with the gold honeycomb wheels (what were they called??) came screeching up to a halt next to me as I waited for the lights to change, the driver looked over at my motley collection of assorted primer colours and sneered. Then blipped his throttle a few times. Now what's a bloke supposed to do? I blipped the throttle right back at back at him, of course. The smirk disappeared off his face right quick smart when the ol' beasty torqued herself towards the gutter. Then I kicked in the blower to give her another blip, just as the lights changed and in pure reaction I floored it.

Silly me... I knew it had all the traction of a ball-bearing. :rolleyes: Up she goes through the gears, blower screaming, smoke billowing, rear end stepping out and moving forward at a rate measurable in inches per year. My nemesis of the minute sedately pulled away, leaving me in a cloud of burning rubber, asphalt and a shredded tyre. Just as well, I guess, 'cos I hadn't bothered installing anything as mundane as brakes when I took it for my test drive. :doh:

Anyway, I finally got her turned around and idled her back home and into the garage. A bit later on that night, down at the local watering hole, the local constable pulled me aside and gave me a good talking to. Apparently he was off-duty in his own private car following the Munro and was about to book him for reckless driving when he pulled up at the lights... so he was right behind us when the scene unfolded. With the smoke-screen I was laying down I hadn't noticed him either coming or going. :oo:

I've no idea why he didn't book me then and there, although he did say that the Munro driver seemed to be a changed man afterwards, behaving himself as he drove away. Then he cautioned me that if he ever saw that beast on the road again, registered or not, he'd have my nuts for a bonnet decoration.

So I sold the old gal as was and invested in a '67 Pontiac GTO instead... but that's another story.

[bitingmidge]

Hmm, you see my motoring thing wasn't nearly as adventurous.

A couple of veedubs, then the FC Monaro. Well I had a mate who worked for Eagers and the Monaro badge came on a pre-release stand when the Monaro arrived on the scene.

I also had a mate who worked for Repco in the days when Repco was Repco, and he had a few gadgets that he lent me, a crank, some pistons, a flywheel, oh and a rotary valve head. With a two inch copper exhaust and running methanol, it wasn't exactly a town car, but it was the second sideplate engined Holden to break 18's for the quarter, thanks to some forgotten nobody called Harrop, who beat us by a weekend! :((

Then I turned 18 and saw the light. Rallying meant I could have a car that was a bit more street friendly.

Peugeot's 203,403, the magic 404 with the injected 504 engine.
Then the R10 rally car with the 16ts running gear and the R8 front to make it look like a half-passable gordini.

Oh and there was a bug-eyed sprite in there somewhere too.

Then kids:

A couple of mini's, two more R10's, an R12, the incredible C19, an awesome DS23 Palais, and our last Froggy Car, the unforgettable 505 sti.

And they were just the memorable ones! (if you don't know what the numbers mean, you wouldn't understand anyway).

Our Beemer coupe is a loverly thing, no doubt about it, but each of the cars mentioned above had something special that made them memorable. It's as if they had a life or character all of their own, and I'd have any one of them in my garage today. Maybe that's why I mostly drive the Zuk!

Cheers,
P

:D :D

[Eli]

'66 Chevelle ragtop. 283 V-8. Original color pale yellow, I painted it electric blue like the idiot teenager I was. Had set of red fuzzy dice on the mirror. Used to drive with the radio blaring top down in the the middle of snowy winter. My Mom sold it when I went to college. It cost me $100 from a friend of my dad's. The guy who bought it planned a full resto. Probably worth about $35,000 today. Got nothing on your stories Ding, keep writin' em.

[echnidna]

V-8's
Forever

[arose62]

My first car was a MkII Cortina - quickly found out it was cheaper to learn to do the work on it myself.
Most fun was the 2 weeks I drove around with just open headers on the engine while I saved up to buy the rest of the exhaust:D

I got pulled over by the police because of the huge bonnet scoop, but they accepted the explanation that it was only a temporary bonnet while the real bonnet was being painted. (It helped that that was the truth)
They checked under the bonnet, and saw the 1.6l engine, and had a grin, told me to get rid of the bonnet quick smart.

I was praying for them to leave, because I reckoned if I started up the noise from the exhaust-less engine might just change their friendly mood a bit!!

Luckily, the road was a bit downhill, so I just rolled off, and they did a U-turn and I was safe.

And, the car I miss most is my Z3. Ahhhhh... little red 2 seater convertible. Even got me mentioned, and a (blurry) photo in Australian Penthouse!
Same problem with not holding missus and kids as mentioned above. Replaced with 2 Hyundais:no:

Cheers,
Andrew

[Brown Dog]

I want to know does anyone actually read any more than the first paragraph of a Dingo post?

Ok, in this case I got to the 3rd but the 1st two were short.

I try...I really do...but after a while my head starts to hurt...sorry Ding :p :D . You know what they say..."a picture is worth a thousand words"
So here is a couple of pics :rolleyes:

I havent had many cars yet, compared to a lot of guys...mostly commodores, However I think the greatest car I have ever owned (and still own) is my trusty old Series III landrover. Bought and partly restored for a 12 month trip around OZ.

50387

she may be pig ugly....she may feel like your driving a tractor....you may not be able to put your feet on the passenger side floor without getting a nasty burn :U .....but you can field strip her with a shifter and a screwdriver, she has gone anywhere I have ever asked her and she is so reliable that I managed to drive across the Nullabour with what I later found out to be a crack that went from one end of the head to the other :o .

heres another Pic mid restoration.

50388

She now sits quietly rusting, waiting for me bring her back to her full former glory.

cheers
BD:2tsup:

[derekcohen]

My father used to complain that soon after he bought a new car, the company either went bankrupt or the model changed! My early memories were of a series of Studerbakers, the last one in 1958 - big V8 and a "digital" speedometer. But the one I loved the most was his '65 MkII Jag. Oh, that was a pretty car, and very quick (I know - I would steal it and take it as fast as the roads would permit). I have had a soft spot for the Mk II ever since. Never owned one tho'.

I did inherit my father's tendency to hold onto cars. My current driver is now 14 years old, a '93 SAAB aero coupe. It drives like new and I really haven't been tempted enough to change it.... did consider a Audi TT a while ago, and still like them..

But the two cars that stand out were the "first" and the "last".

The first car I owned was a fifth-hand, clapped out 1966 or 7 Lancia Fulvia Coupe. I think I was about 19 years old. Paid a pittance for the car (everything was shot). The importer was a friend of the family and took pity on me, helped me fix it up and get it going. Man, that car was a blast! Very nippy and great road holding. Left hand drive and black. Eventually it started to fall apart and I traded it in on a sensible car, a '67 sunroof VW bug, as I was a poor fulltime student at uni.

Here is a Lancia FC similar to mine:


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Porsche%20356/LanciaFulviaCoupe.jpg

Many years later I was looking for a car that I might restore with my son. He was only 4 years old at the time but that fact did not get in the way of the Great Search. I did eventually find The Car, one that I had fallen in love with a few decades before.... a 1957 Porsche 356 coupe. Here is one like mine (I don't have a decent picture, but this one is almost identical).


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Porsche%20356/35SIX-6.jpg

I call it a Driving Restoration - I drive it a bit, then I work on it, then I drive it again, then I work on it some more ... about 9 years on and I have panel beaten and painted the car, rebuilt the motor, but now I need to get the gearbox done and the interior redone. My wife calls it the Menoporsche.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[fred.n]

Ford Zephyr Mk 2, got it as a hand me down from my brother, he was 18
I was 15 and just got my licence :) Sold it to the Mongrel Mob for $200
about 6 months later, and put a deposit on a yamaha TT500..........there started my love affair with bikes. :2tsup:

[patty]

Datsun 1600 the first car i ever owned and it was bulletproof

you could not kill those old Datsuns in that era, and geez I gave it a good flogging

[Gra]

Derek I thought pron was banned from here :-)

[Cliff Rogers]

Ford Zephyr Mk 2, ....
What year?

That was the 6 cylinder version of my Ford Consul Mk II, mine was a '58.

[Greg Q]

I started out with an Austin Healey 300 MkI, or at least an object of that rough shape crafted from iron oxide and oil leaks. Neat car, and one that I imagined lent an air of dash. It certainly taught me a lot about repair, and rust and penetrating oil and leaks and wire wheels with knock-off hubs.
$400.00 in 1972

Next was a 1964 Pontiac LeMans 4 dr, the prototype for the Abrams main battle tank. I'm pretty sure that the bumpers were 1.5" thick. I bought a new battery right after I bought the car and instantly doubled its value. $200 in 1973

Mini Cooper S. Whoo Hah! Lots of grins. A piston left the building, or the engine room at any rate, at a speed of 80 mph. I can still recall the lovely glint of metal and oil spray reaching out, then wrapping back around the windscreen.

Datsun B210, otherwise known as the 120Y. What a true POS. Except that it did 200,000 miles until it too rusted away. Much of its mileage was performed without measurable engine oil, or coolant. I paid $2400 new in 1975, the equivalent of $9477.00 today. I was robbed!

Mazda RX-7. less said the better

Porsche 911. Nine of them. In many ways the ideal car. Buy low, sell high. I started getting these a few years old in the 80's. Since they were such great poser cars, there was always some wanker having a fire sale. Buy the car and immediately re-list it for sale for 5K more. Drive it anywhere from 3 weeks to 15 months until sold, repeat. In total those nine cars cost me less than a grand for almost 10 years of driving. Compare that to the 120Y.

My best all-time was a '73 911 RS. Pure pleasure.

Porsche 356, a 1959, just like Derek's. Silver, with the ski rack on the back. Neat car, surrendered as bounty in a divorce.

Lexus. Reliable, boring Japanese version of a Cadillac. It is smooth and quiet and very nice. But a 3 litre Healey it ain't.

[theMISSIONARY]

the cars i loved the most (ive had over 50 now:roll: )

were my VW baja bugs loved them so much i had 6 of them over 10 years then there was the baja'ed kombi:; hehe that was fun

i also had a mighty reno 10:U .....i also went for a ride in"the fastest" reno 8 in aus....the bloke who owned it said it was not as theres always some nutter some where with some thing faster

BIKES now thats fun!!!

[Matt88s]

My father used to complain that soon after he bought a new car, the company either went bankrupt or the model changed! My early memories were of a series of Studerbakers, the last one in 1958 - big V8 and a "digital" speedometer. But the one I loved the most was his '65 MkII Jag. Oh, that was a pretty car, and very quick (I know - I would steal it and take it as fast as the roads would permit). I have had a soft spot for the Mk II ever since. Never owned one tho'.

I did inherit my father's tendency to hold onto cars. My current driver is now 14 years old, a '93 SAAB aero coupe. It drives like new and I really haven't been tempted enough to change it.... did consider a Audi TT a while ago, and still like them..

But the two cars that stand out were the "first" and the "last".

The first car I owned was a fifth-hand, clapped out 1966 or 7 Lancia Fulvia Coupe. I think I was about 19 years old. Paid a pittance for the car (everything was shot). The importer was a friend of the family and took pity on me, helped me fix it up and get it going. Man, that car was a blast! Very nippy and great road holding. Left hand drive and black. Eventually it started to fall apart and I traded it in on a sensible car, a '67 sunroof VW bug, as I was a poor fulltime student at uni.

Here is a Lancia FC similar to mine:


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Porsche%20356/LanciaFulviaCoupe.jpg

Many years later I was looking for a car that I might restore with my son. He was only 4 years old at the time but that fact did not get in the way of the Great Search. I did eventually find The Car, one that I had fallen in love with a few decades before.... a 1957 Porsche 356 coupe. Here is one like mine (I don't have a decent picture, but this one is almost identical).


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Porsche%20356/35SIX-6.jpg

I call it a Driving Restoration - I drive it a bit, then I work on it, then I drive it again, then I work on it some more ... about 9 years on and I have panel beaten and painted the car, rebuilt the motor, but now I need to get the gearbox done and the interior redone. My wife calls it the Menoporsche.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Ahh Saab, sweet little cars aren't they? I don't care much for the GM Saabs though, they feel different, lost a lot of their charm and quality it seems. :no:

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u274/JamesBondsAAB/Picture037.jpg
One of my many babies. :U

[Big Shed]

You mean the Swedish Holden with an engine made in Port Melbourne, at a luxury car price?

[derekcohen]

Ahh Saab, sweet little cars aren't they? I don't care much for the GM Saabs though, they feel different, lost a lot of their charm and quality it seems.

My previous car was an '87 900 Turbo Aero. This was very, very fast, although I did not like the turbo lag. In '94 I had the chance of the new model SAAB or a low mileage non-turbo '93. I chose the "93. It was the last of the line. It has been a sweet, reliable, sporty saloon. I have always had something for the quircky looks of these SAABs. The replacement model did nothing for me. It looked like a million other cars. The latest generation are either getting better or I am getting jaded in my taste.

Here is one identical to mine:


http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/download.php?id=8193

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Matt88s]

I hear you, I can't tell the new ones apart from all the other cars on the road. :no:

Nice looking car, does yours have minilites as well?

87 900 turbo, that would have had the Garret turbo, it would have kicked in right at around 3000, I have an 88 with that turbo. Kind of late but when it does kick in :U.

My vert, a 91, has the later Mitsubishi turbo, it kicks in considerably earlier, in the 2000-2500rpm range, its great for around town when you need quick pickup and yet still has pep on the highway. Much more refined, more smooth. They both have their qualities though.

N/A's are great too, I have a little 87 900S that is my daily runabout. (900S here in the states was the non-turbo 16 valve)

Have you ever been to http://www.saabcentral.com/index.htm ?

Drop in sometime, here is the Classic 900 forum. http://www.saabcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=4 (http://www.saabcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=4)

If you ever need any help with the car there is someone on there that can help, a great bunch of fellows, we're spread out all across the globe too, theres a few on there in your area I do believe.

This forum and saabcentral are my two favorite sites, both are very nice, well run, kept clean, people are friendly and polite and always ready to help, just a pleasure to visit and spend time on unlike some where its nothing but flaming wars and contests to see who can use the most fowl language per post. :-


Cheers!
Matthew

[fred.n]

What year?

That was the 6 cylinder version of my Ford Consul Mk II, mine was a '58.

Sorry for the delay in replying Cliff, I've just gone back through and had a look at the thread. As far as I can remember it was a late 50's model?? :?

[graemet]

It's amazing the number of Renault 8 & 10s in this thread.
I've had a few Renaults and Pugs (R10s, 12, 16TS, 20Ts, 505, 405D, 406Hdi) but my first love (autowise) was the '48 Humber Hawk I learned to drive on, back in the 50s. Huge bullet shaped headlights on those arching front guards, 2 WHOLE LITRES of 4 pot torque.
Strangely, when it was traded in, I felt no pangs of regret, now how I wish it was still around!
Cheers
Graeme

[spokeshave]

My first car was an XD Falcon with a 351 V8 and four speed manual (later 5 speed). Had decent suspension and straight through exhaust. Even with good suspension didn't go round corners particularly well but when the loud pedal hit the floor and those back barrels cracked open i didnt care about corners. Oh, the noise!!! The sound of that V8 was addictive. Reliable car too, sold it with nearly half a million kays on it.

It's my firm belief that everybody should own (or atleast drive) a V8 powered car. New fuel injected V8's may have more power than older generations but those 4 barrel carbs just gave them a bit more character. Not to mention a healthy thirst too!!

The XH XR8 ute i got next was a nice machine but now that the bub has arrived i had to go practical so a BF XR6 now sits in the garage.

Maybe one day i may be able to afford one of those XY GTHO Phase 3 thingy's for weekend cruises. Not Likely!!!

Steven.

[Make it work]

My first car was a 63 XL Falcon that cost me 30 bucks when I was 16. About 30 cars later I have a Porsche 911 (993), I just don't get to drive it much being flat out building my house extension.
It sure gets some comments when I take it to pick up building materials and stuff.

Alan

[ciscokid]

A 1987 Buick Grand National. Got bit by the modification bug though and, when I was through, the whole front clip was plastic (including the front bumper) and I was pushing 22 pounds of boost through the motor. Would flat out get up and go though. First gear would make your eyeballs squirm.
Sold it to put a down on a more sensible automobile which I drive to this day. Wife drives an enormous four door 4X4 Dodge pickup truck with a diesel. You can hear her coming from 2 miles away.
Here is my sensible car.

[sumu]

Ahh Saab, sweet little cars aren't they? I don't care much for the GM Saabs though, they feel different, lost a lot of their charm and quality it seems. :no:


One of my many babies. :U


I wonder, many of those were made in Uusikaupunki, Finland. 900Cs and 900CDs, besides other models.

Nowadays they are making Porsche Boxters and Caymans in Uusikaupunki.

If you like, please visit this page of Wikipedia describing Valmet Automotive: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valmet

Kippis

sumu

[pawnhead]

Midge and I were just talking about the many merits of the Renault 10. Damned fine car.I drove a few R 10s way back when. Fun cars to get sideways with the rear engine helping out. :U A mate of mine was a Renault tragic, and had a Gordini (http://jns.ixla.jp/users/skart411/wp025_gordini.jpg) that was in pieces more often than not. Legend of a car, but very temperamental maintenance wise.
It was by far the best car Ive ever owned bar none... comfortable ran on the smell of an oily rag went like a bat outta hell on steroidsYeh I had a Charger 265 four speed. Went like the clappers until I wrote it off (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/holgerdanske/JohnsCharger.jpg). They’re great engines those Hemis.

Then I had an LJ GTR Torana. Handled a lot better than the Charger, but nowhere near as much get up and go. Probably a good thing at the time. :wink:

I’ve had a whole series of old bomb Holdens. Reliable, cheap to buy, cheap and easy to fix, and when they’re exhausted, drive them to the wreckers and buy another one for less than a grand with heaps of rego. You can’t go wrong. :2tsup:

My current transport is a push bike found on the council 'throw outs' (with a milk crate on the back for Rosco (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/holgerdanske/Mar01710.jpg)). :)

[tameriska]

pawnhead,
mate,
Eeek, you did a good job of the poor old charger.

Have been looking for a pic, but I learnt to drive in a metallic gold and vinyl '77 Chrysler Valiant, (and used to drive a '78 till someone wrote me off :(( )

[Master Splinter]

A Fiat 500. There's nothing like a car that has a starter motor with more torque than the actual engine.

But I'm currently happy with a new-ish Subaru Impreza.

And if anyone wants to buy a Toyota Supra (late '86) cheap, let me know (drives well, engine rebuilt professionally 60,000k ago but probably needs new exhaust to get past rego).

[Tonyz]

show my age... first car '47 Ford coupe what Id give for that now.
few R10s
number of minis immagine Mini traveller van towing trailer with supercharged cooper show winner all in matching red candyapple paint.One of these was 2nd fastest road registered mini in NZ. Bought it from some dingbat who carried her kids around and didnt know what color carpet or upholstery was supposed to be cost $600. sold 3 yeears later $2.5k
Best car Fiat 1800 convert. European version not pansied Yank model BRIGHT yellow left hand drive. Best trip;through southern alps south Isl New Zealand, late winter midnight, hood down heater going full bore, body nice and warm top of head like an ice block but the exhust reverberating through those mountain passes Ahhh dreams

[davo453]

Best car I owned was a red 1972 Datsun 240z.

I bought the car in about 1993 and did a ground up restoration of it. It never was even close to concourse standard but the engine and suspension were better than new.

It had it's foibles the horrible brittle plastic trim springs to mind, but boy could it move, a 2.4 ltr straight 6 with dual carbs in a car that weighed practically nothing was very entertaining. it managed 60 mph in sub 6 seconds, not that quick by todays standards but blistering in 1972.

Can't imagine why I sold it really, but I think I fell in love with a landrover defender or something in 2000. Best thing about that car was you could literally hose it out.

Cheers


Dave

[Allan at Wallan]

My first car was a Hillman Minx. It was the most
economical car on the road ... I pushed it everywhere.

Then I lashed out and bought two 1934 Vauxhall Velox
cars for a total of thirty quid. With assistance from a
mate we made one good car out of the two.
I drove up the bum of a truck making a turn in Sydney
Road Brunswick (he had no indicators and I had no
real brakes) and shattered his tailgate into pieces.

It was a week before we noticed just a chip of enamel
missing from the paintwork on the guard. They made
them tough in those days.

Allan

_____________________________________________

I am not at all worried about dying
... but just hope I am not there at the time.

[Chris Parks]

I had multiple Renault 750's, Dauphines a Caravelle (horrible) and an R10. I went onto a Mk 2 Cortina and it was absolutely impossible to drive from Melbourne to Sydney, as I did often in those days, without the generator either falling off or simply seizing. A mate had the same car with an alternator and it did the same thing. The best car I ever had was a PI Triumph which I put a lot of money into and it could do obscene speeds even by todays standards, unfortunately someone T boned it and I now drive boring Japanese cars and a Statesman, but it sits in the yard mostly as it is only used to tow the kart trailer when we go away racing. The good part about Japanese cars is you don't have to work on them which is a plus. Reading through here it is amazing the number of us who drove Renaults.

[Chris Parks]

I drove a few R 10s way back when. Fun cars to get sideways with the rear engine helping out. :U A mate of mine was a Renault tragic, and had a Gordini (http://jns.ixla.jp/users/skart411/wp025_gordini.jpg) that was in pieces more often than not. Legend of a car, but very temperamental maintenance wise.

Yep, they broke sungears, gearboxes, rocker arms and if that all worked they rolled and that is only what I can remember. No 1155 ever looked like that in Oz.

[davo453]

A Fiat 500. There's nothing like a car that has a starter motor with more torque than the actual engine.

Saw this on a dealers forecourt in Rennes (France). It seems they are making a new Fiat 500. looked really nice too.

Dave

[Gingermick]

Yamaha RZ250 2 stroke road bike, 82 model, power valves. Much more fun than any car and very unlikely to un-live anyone other than me :2tsup:

[Robo1]

My first car was an 62 S model Valiant, had it for a few years and sold it to buy a 64 EH Holden sedan. Only being 19 and earning good money in a refinery and no girlfriend at the time I spent all my time and money on it. I had a friend next door who raced holden engined speedway cars and with his help we built a 192, with stage three head, Bert Jones cam, solid lifters , 350 Holley and lightened flywheel. I was still running the Holden three speed with a Speco floor shift (bloody horrible thing) it used to fly and not much could disgrace it moving away from the lights even against some warm V8s, but still having the drum brakes at the time was a bit hard to stop! I finally got round to putting a HR disk front end in it, and after finaly meeting a lady friend and told to change my ways I put a Celica 5 speed in it. Un fortunately someone else liked it too and decided to permanantly borrow it without asking me! I never saw it again. I bought a couple more EH's but it was never the same and I still had a nagging feeling they would go the same way as the first one so I sold it and found a car for my girlfriend a 65 VW Beetle, this started an affection for these little odditys that continues to this day, I just love em! This is my current and last car, I will never part with it. (although I would love to add a Porsche 356) I call her "Pige" (her colour is Pigeon Blue)
Rob...

[tobydogger]

2.0 GT Ford Capri was my first car in 1986. Couldn't corner but great in a straight line. Went through two engines due to a heavy right foot.

Onto a Golf MKIII 8v GTi 5 Door in deep red. Eventually died due to a cooling problem. Great car.

Mazda Xedos 6 with full leather and a lovely smooth 2.0 Mazda motor with a manual change. Failed its MOT (when I lived in the UK) but I still got £800 for her from a dealer.

SWMBO and 2 kids so onto a VW Sharan 1.9 TDI red badge. Why they dont sell the Sharan in OZ I don't know. In my opinion the best People Carrier on the market.

Need some 'quiet' time so I picked up a convertible TVRS3. 2.8 Ford Motor and a tuned exhaust. NICE. Like being in the bath when it rained though.

I now have a Scooby Forester MY06 Luxury model. Nice sensible car. Great around town and down at the beach. Fits the dog and the family with ease and very reliable. Got my eye on the XT model for next year or perhaps (if I'm a really good boy) a V8 'Cruiser!

[manoftalent]

71 Ford XY GT...that I spent $20,000 on a full restoration ....it thumped 410horsepower and continually spat out clutch plates until I took the centres out and welded a plate of stainless steel in....:2tsup:....well someone liked it more than me and stole it ....even with the "then" state of the art cobra alarm fitted to it .....when the police finally found it 6 weeks later ...it was not even worth taking to the wreckers .....I cried for weeks ......the amount of labour and love that went into that car you cant buy .....so now I drive a Toyota Echo ....thieves dont have much interest in them .....

[Robo1]

Know the feeling, you work your guts out to get the money to do all that stuff and some lazy scum lifts it. I still feel sick every time I think about mine.
Rob...

[Don777]

Hi All
It looks like there is plenty of petrol flumes with the sawdust......

Cars and wood, can we add wine as well then that is my 3 loves

but back to Cars

1st leant to dirve morris 1956 803 side valve a real power machine

then 1967 hillman super minx wagon first use more oil that petrol
about a quart every 100miles until new engine....

then came Vans

1976 corolla Panel Van ( got in a mag )
1976 Beford Van ( won a few prizes at shows )

then

1981 simga peter wherrett special bought 1982 sold 2002
6 point cage, mod engine, suspenion etc cruised at 88mph

now into the real power

1976 LJ50 suzuki 4 X 4 bought 1989 sold 1997
great little machine went to the simpson, round most of SA outback

1991 suzuki across nice 250cc bike until 1997

until trip to kangaroo island with trailer and other half ( she doesn't drive )
40 km max on the open road :o that was 1997

ungraded to 1997 suzuki sierra, outback, perth, queensland, etc
great little workhorse ( my daily drive today )

finally decided to buy a nice car for long trips
2001 statesman super V6 ... very nice for the over 50's
still only has 50,000km on the clock ( come out once a week )

well that my wheels over the years

cheers Don

[mirz]

i have Honda Accord 1995 model, 239,000 kms on clock, and still going great with 11L/100 kms economy.

[MrFixIt]

Hi

Ooooh reading this thread brings back memories :)

My favourites in (my) chronological order are...

S Series Valiant - to the extractors I added a straight thorugh Lukey muffler into a 2" straight through copper pipe exhaust - that sounded good, copper has a nice "ring" to it :)

Fiat 1500 (1968) absolutely unbelievable handling for a "normal" road car. There was nothing that could beat me at the traffic light drags - even with the Fiats column shift it was QUICK changing gears.

Mini Cooper S - wow, was I amazed at how those little cars moved :2tsup: I bought it in poor condition for $500 Reconditioned the engine, installed lay-back bucket seats from a ford Escort and painted it irridescent apple green. Sold it 2 years later for $2500.

1989 Range Rover ooooh, my first 4WD :2tsup: I wanted a RR since their release in 1970.

1994 Range Rover Vogue SE, leather, great sound system and air suspension. 4WD in REAL comfort :2tsup: oooooooh that's nice

2000 Range Rover Vogue auto sunroof, beige leather, an even greater sound system auto almost everything and air suspension. 4WD in REAL comfort :2tsup: oooooooooooooooh that's nice. It has all the bits and pieces that are now appearing in other 4WDs

This is my CURRENT vehicle.

You may detect a slight bias toward Range Rovers :2tsup: :2tsup:

[Groggy]

Two sports vehicles were a Mini Cooper 'S' and a Ford XB 351. Best vehicle has got to be the Hilux ute, it does everything I need.

[Glued]

Holden WB Ute and Hilux c/c are clearly the most durable / reliable cars I have had. Mercedes 220SE was brilliant, at high speed 100k :roll:it used to out handle / corner holden / ford V8's 25 years ago owing to its handling characteristics - Not bad for a heavy car with 2.2 litre straight six.
Honda Civics my wife enjoyed very much. Toyota Kluger - Excellent on long trips with the troops on board.
Studebaker 1966 Cruiser (Chev small block) was fun!

[gilrose]

my first car was a 1955 austin A30
indicators switch was on top of the dasboard
first bike 1955 triumph thunderbird 650cc
it could fly,
gil

[Waldo]

First car a heavily worked XE S Pak, of course I spent waay too much money on it.

Second car a '93 SXR6 with some minor modifications of 2 1/2" exhaust and extractors.

My current car, a '07 XR6 :inlove: , colour is called 'Conquerer' (blue) with a few factory extras. I'd love to put some silver XR stripes on it, but I don't think that will happen, only 2 things it will have added on it that it doesn't have now is the XR radiator grill which is an option from the factory, and a better exhaust when the current one needs replacing one day. It's a beautiful thing to drive and nice grunt. But I drive it like Miss Daisy.

[Horsecroft88]

Well to add to the list, I have only ever had Italian cars, Fiats and Alfas in the past 29 years. :D

First was a '68 Fiat 124 S sedan, which I restored to fund my first overseas trip as an adult. Then came my '69 AC 124 sport (Enzo) which I restored with my brother and had as an impoverished uni student. (Still have it to this day, albeit having been restored again). Then came my first Alfa a '68 Giulia Super which I started to restore but never finished (sold it). Thereafter, a '73 Fiat 125s, then '76 Alfetta GT, '74 Fiat 130 V6 sedan (the limo), then '72 Alfa Romeo Berlina 2L, '69 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV series 1 (used it as my daily driver for 11 years but now sleeping waiting its turn to be restored), '69 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super (currently under restoration) and most recently I went modern and bought a '03 Alfa Romeo 156 JTS Sportwagon, to add to my current small fleet.

I nearly defected a couple of years ago as was seriously considering a Porsche: '86 944 Turbo or an early '80s 911 and still hope to acquire one, sometime. Having recently had a ride in a Ferrari Dino 246, I must admit I would love a Ferrari, but somehow doubt this will be ever possible.

I have driven over the years a huge range of cars, European (Fiat, Alfa, Lancia, Mercedes, Audi, BMW, Citroen, Peugot, Renault, Jaguar, Range Rover etc), and regrettably also driven some Australian and Japanese/Asian cars (through work and hire cars) but would never even contemplate owning them, as they don't communicate to me, and are generally very poorly made IMO).

Not sure what next car will be on the agenda for me, but I will definitely have more Italian cars, that is for sure, oh and I would love to have both an Italian Scooter and a '70s Ducati !!

[GEEHARD]

My 1969 ZB Ford Fairlane was the best car i've ever owned hands down.
Payed $800.00 for it and was the pimpest mafia lookin beast ever.....
loved it so much i bought it back a couple of years later when i saw it in a caryard. The only car i've owned twice!!!!
302 windsor v8 (i prefer them to the cleveland)
oh the memories.....

[zuffen]

I've had some fun cars.

First car was a Renault Dauphine then I progressed? to Renault Ten's and 12's. I actually drove my 12 (with an R16TS engine in it to Birdsville once.

Most fun was a Porsche 911 we used to rally. IT made it to Birdsville 4 times and cleared "Big Red" in the Simpson first go.

Over the years I've owned 4 Porsche 911's and a 928. All sold now.

2nd most fun is my Range Rover DAKAR (Bushrangie to Aussies) that has a supercharged Lexus engine and Nissan driveline. It brings a smile to my face just thinking about driving it. We actually won the National Division of the Australian Safari in 1994 with it when it was Range Rover powered.

My wife has always been into cars and currently drives a Mercedes SLK55.

[Horsecroft88]

Zuffen

Out of interest how did you find the 911s to live with, that is how expensive are they to maintain properly. Having only had Italian cars I know well about them, but I have always had a desire to own a Porsche 911 or 944 (Turbo or S2), and have on a number of occasions nearly bought one. I have not driven a 911 yet but have driven a couple of 944s.

I like the idea of the Rangie (Dakar), though am wondering if that is a bit like the Bowler wildcat.

I can imagine you would have had some serious fun rallying over the years. My brother is into Mercedes. His latest acquistion being a '66 250SL (Pagoda roof), manual, LHD. I am looking forward to having a drive in that one. He used to rally a 220Seb (Fintail) very successfully in Targa Tasmania, until it was destroyed by an errant Ford Escort.

[zuffen]

A well serviced 911 will run for 2-300,000k without any major problems.

Engine rebuilds can be ugly but not in Ferrari leaque.

I'm just finishing a full rebuild on my Lancia O37 rally car and that's come in at around $45,000.00. Try $10,000.00 for a new crankshaft!

My Lexus engine owes me about $30,000!

My Rangie is like a Mini Moke on top of the Rangie chassis. No roof or doors. One piece of glass being the windscreen.

I've always had a soft spot for Pagoda topped Benz's. Great car but real old tech now.

My wife and I entered the Targa but withdrew when we decided people would die in it. Probably pretty smart not to do it. We have had people killed in events we've run but cars do that sometimes.

[Spanner69]

the best car I ever owned ( and also the worst) was the Mini I bought at age 18.

It was the best car, so compact, I could get it up to 127 KPH ( windows shut gave a few extra kph) and it could park ANYWHERE!