The Car Thread

[leedswolf]

The 850 was a cracking little car. Loved the coupe and the spider. Rear engine, interesting handling to say the least!

I had a MK1 X/19 and a few 127’s, one being a Palio no less. Mine were always cheap and knackered but great fun all the same. Always hankered after a Mk1124 Spider or a 131 Super Mirafiori. Crazy money nowadays.

I looked at the X19 in the 70s (it had a Targa top IIRC), but opted for a Ginetta G15.

My dad who had always bought British went for a Fiat 130 to replace his 2200 land crab.

 

[EpsomWolf]

Ooo Ginetta G15, now you are talking.

My X/19 was a Mk1, 1300cc 4 speed in the outrageous 70’s metallic green. The targa tops were brilliant and stored under the front bonnet. Mk2’s were 1500cc 5 speed and more refined.

I was young and plotless so my cars were always knackered. Took another 30 years of clearing mortgages before anything changed on that front. You must’ve been minted though ‘cos those Ginetta’s were the business, a lotus rival, a different animal to the X/19. Always thought the 130 saloon was a strange motor, a sort of 6 cyl luxury pumped up 131. Must’ve been a big change for your old man. The 130 coupe still one of the nicest looking cars made and very desirable now.

 

[leedswolf]

I wasn't really minted, but earning a good salary working in local government (which inluded acces to a low interest car loan facility) along with still living at home.

My old man loved his 130, but there was a problem with most cars of that era - rot. He swapped that for a Saab 90 and then stayed with Saab until he passed away.

 

[Paul]

We always had Fords in the 70's (post the Morris Minor era), Then one year my Dad fancied a change so we brought a Simca 1100, my God that was awful

 

[leedswolf]

 

[Alan]

I wasn't really minted, but earning a good salary working in local government (which inluded acces to a low interest car loan facility) along with still living at home.

My old man loved his 130, but there was a problem with most cars of that era - rot. He swapped that for a Saab 90 and then stayed with Saab until he passed away.

A man after my own heart.

RIP Saab.

 

[EpsomWolf]

We always had Fords in the 70's (post the Morris Minor era), Then one year my Dad fancied a change so we brought a Simca 1100, my God that was awful

70’s Fords are big money now, particularly the quicker Escorts. I always thought Fords were a bit safe at the time but the Simca is a good example of what could happen by jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.

I recall my old man having a Beetle in Albrighton (which caught fire), a ‘coke bottle’ Viva HB in Stafford (which got written off), then a new MK1 VW Passat in 1974 (which got through head gaskets for fun (VW REALLY struggled with the transition from air-cooled to water-cooled (see VW K70))) then eventually getting it together with a Mercedes 190 and loving that a bit like Leeds’ dad with his Saab.

 

[leedswolf]

Ah 1970s Fords. My mate graduated from a Hillman Imp sport to a Mk1 Escort 1300GT which was a great fun car to drive. Ford had really got their act together with engines, transmission and running gear. My cousin (doted upon by his farming parents) who's a couple of years older than me bought a 3.0L Capri. Unfortunately he was a better tractor driver and managed to roll the Capri on a straight section of the A34 between Stone and Stafford!!

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

My dad had a succession of cortinas and granadas through the seventies.

 

[Wolf Hunting]

My brother started his Private Hire firm with a Ford Zodiac and a Ford Zephyr...
Anyone remember them big ships?

 

[sycophantia]

Only ford's we had were a Ford Pop and a Corsair which was a nice car. At one time me, dad and big brother had ford's at the same time, Corsair, Mk2 Cortina and my first car Anglia estate (sexy huh) I later gave my Anglia to my dad when his Corsair expired as I was more into bikes.

 

[EpsomWolf]

When I passed my test in ‘82 some of those 70’s Fords were getting a bit knackered and were the go-to for any boy racer. They were cheap to buy and you’d be up the scrappy every weekend picking up parts for peanuts to keep them on the road.

Best thing about them was they were all rear wheel drive with poor grip and you could spend half your time drifting on opposite lock despite the relatively low power. A lot of the European competitors were more advanced with front wheel drive which came to most small/mid-sized cars eventually, but that put and end to the sideways fun.

Still prefer a RWD car now and have been known to turn off the traction and stability control for moments of reminiscence, but that sort of behaviour would see you losing your licence or in jail pretty quickly now.

Not suggesting roads should still be like racetracks the way they were back in the day but it was certainly much more fun.

 

[SLA]

My dad had a succession of cortinas and granadas through the seventies.

Likewise. Then a Sierra when that came out. Then for some reason in the '80s went for a Fiat Strada, which was quick but rusted away even quicker, apparently due to the rubbish Russian steel it was made from.

 

[EpsomWolf]

Only ford's we had were a Ford Pop and a Corsair which was a nice car. At one time me, dad and big brother had ford's at the same time, Corsair, Mk2 Cortina and my first car Anglia estate (sexy huh) I later gave my Anglia to my dad when his Corsair expired as I was more into bikes.

Blimey, a Corsair, I’d forgotten my old man had one of those - very, very briefly. Was a 2000E with wire wheels but all I recall is him moaning about the insurance, poor mpg and unreliability. He wasn’t into motors and always played safe so I think that was a rash moment best forgotten about.

Wasn’t really a loved car generally the Corsair (complicated V4 engine if I’m not mistaken). The MK2 Cortina on the other hand… some awesome variants of that.

 

[EpsomWolf]

My brother started his Private Hire firm with a Ford Zodiac and a Ford Zephyr...
Anyone remember them big ships?

They were a bit before my time but yes, big luxury motors. Now the sun is out all of the classics are coming out to play and I saw a big Zodiac just the other day, all fins and chrome. Looked fantastic.

 

[Wolf Hunting]

They were a bit before my time but yes, big luxury motors. Now the sun is out all of the classics are coming out to play and I saw a big Zodiac just the other day, all fins and chrome. Looked fantastic.

Wasn't a Zodiac one of the original 'Z Cars' police car programmes?

 

[EpsomWolf]

Wasn't a Zodiac one of the original 'Z Cars' police car programmes?

I was going to say yes but we’re tipping into real nerd territory here - the Zephyr/Zodiac thing was a bit confusing as there were some crossover variants and I’m no expert on which was which. I think quite a few manufactures around that time got themselves in a bit of a pickle with very similar motors with different badges in an attempt to pitch to different markets but ended up becoming muddled.

Anyway, here’s what I thought was a Z Cars Zodiac with a Zephyr badge:

 

[leedswolf]

My brother started his Private Hire firm with a Ford Zodiac and a Ford Zephyr...
Anyone remember them big ships?

Yep. They had column gear change.

 

[leedswolf]

The MK2 Cortina on the other hand… some awesome variants of that.

 

[leedswolf]

I was going to say yes but we’re tipping into real nerd territory here - the Zephyr/Zodiac thing was a bit confusing as there were some crossover variants and I’m no expert on which was which. I think quite a few manufactures around that time got themselves in a bit of a pickle with very similar motors with different badges in an attempt to pitch to different markets but ended up becoming muddled.

Anyway, here’s what I thought was a Z Cars Zodiac with a Zephyr badge:

Z cars were Ford Zephyrs (based on those deployed in Seaport and Kirkby Newtown). The Zephyr Zodiac (and Ford Executive) being a luxury variant.