Other Classics We Own / Owned or Admire

[katana]

2 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

My first car at the age of 16. Points if you can guess what it is.

Horrible? Ugly? Super Shed? - am I close?

[colr6]

1 hour ago, katana said:

Horrible? Ugly? Super Shed? - am I close?

That’s a bit harsh.........do you know how many extra paper rounds he had to do to get that!!........cut the man a bit of slack😜

[Rally Pack 2000]

19 hours ago, Vista said:

 

We get quite a few of the later version of that imported over here but I've never seen one of that vintage before.

Scott was the first to message me with the correct answer its a Series 1 Mazda Bongo Van!

The weird thing is we never got any subsequent models whereas you guys got the later ones, go figure?

17 hours ago, katana said:

Horrible? Ugly? Super Shed? - am I close?

Well mine was all white with chrome bumpers so not as bold as that one. Fridge like yes, horrible and ugly? You guys worship Mk1 transits with their weird styling so in comparison a tiny Series 1 Bongo van is positively sleek in comparison!

16 hours ago, colr6 said:

That’s a bit harsh.........do you know how many extra paper rounds he had to do to get that!!........cut the man a bit of slack😜

You guys may laugh at my first vehicle but it was in fact given to me for free when I was 16. My step father bought it off a mate of his to transport stuff but it was only a small van and had a fixed bench seat and no synchro in first. He was over 6ft 4in tall and found he couldn't drive the thing because he couldn't fit behind the wheel. They had also just bought a brand new car of which I made the fateful comment that the new car would be good for me to learn how to drive in. WRONG!! So since the wayward little van wasn't suited to purpose it was given to me on the promise I never touched their car or asked to borrow their car EVER! So it may look like a crummy little van to some, to a high school kid who wasn't even allowed to have bike because they were considered too dangerous for the skinniest kid in school, to suddenly have my own transport, an enclosed van with NO back seat it was like all my Christmas' had come at once. I was only one of three kids to have their own car in high school and drive every day and a van with a side opening door with nothing but cargo space  I achieved undreamed of popularity carrying up to ten kids in the back hanging out the side door driving them all home from school. 800cc with ten kids means nothing more than ten miles an hour but it was so much fun. No eggings or sordid stuff but the odd concentrated cordial in a soda siphon was used without my knowledge on passers by. At the school formal I filled it with helium balloons myself and three girls (just friends of course) and got someone to drive it to the door of the social and flung open the side door and everyone and balloons exploded out. So never mock the van man it was the first taste of real freedom. LOL

One day my mum borrowed the van, with its top speed of 50 miles per hour and drove it down the freeway at 65 miles an hour (the speedo was actually in miles) and by the time it returned home the engine had dumped its lunch in the driveway. I was really upset. It was decided since she blew up the van she would replace it with something else. But the catch was they would buy something THEY deemed suitable and I would in no way have any say in the replacement since they were paying for it. A friend of theirs working at a second had dealership knew just the thing for safe reliable motoring for a young man still on his provisional licence! So if you think the Mazda Bongo was ugly and terrible it was nothing to the shame that was thrust upon me!!!

A Datsun 120Y!!!!!!

Two months later I had my first full time job, two weeks into that job I went door knocking at every bank that would let me through the office and one cut me a break and I secured my first bank loan at a bank I didn't even deal with. The 120y was gone in three months!

With my life savings and the bank loan came  ................................... Ta Dahhh!!

Of which you people know today, 35 years later as .....

Me! RP2000.

Now my fourth car was going to be a utility vehicle while I hotted up the Mk2 so it made sense to get a van that I could share some parts with so I naturally saved up to buy an Escort Van. Was shopping for vans when a friend rang me and said he has someone trying trade in this car they had no idea what to do with and even though he knew I was looking for a van thought I may be interested in taking a quick look. I went and looked and the owner wouldn't go below the princely sum of 2000 quid equivalent and instead of the planned van I cam home with this instead.

The Mk2 never did get modified and sold off the brand new Twin 40 Dellortos that I had ready for it as be Jesus wasn't going to have two twin carburettored cars! The money going to pay for a set of original re-trimmed low back seats as the Twincam came with fixed racing buckets.

My fifth and final car was bought as a replacement to the Mk2. It had rusty C pillar and was going to cost alot to pass its MOT and so intended to retire or scrap it so I wanted a classic that you could readily get parts for. So for my last car was this.....

An 1100 Mini Clubman, strangely with twin SUs.

After a month with the Mini I found I was coming home with a sore stomach. What was happening was every time I was about to hit a bump or pothole I would clench up in anticipation of the bang from a combination of small wheels and rubber cones for suspension. Under Australian MOT rules they give you 3 months past the due date in case there are delays in repairing your vehicle. With a week to spare I managed to scrape the Mk2 passed and flogged off the mini that weekend and since then done the odd repair or two that the Mk2 is still here today and has never been taken off registration since it was new in 1979.

So my history is very short compared to everyone else's here but its one I have had fun with and still have two of the 5 cars in the driveway!

[Vista]

Those Datsun 120Y's are very Retro cool over here now.

I forgot one from my list, a Saab 99 Coupe in about 88. It was short lived as e clutch slaved cylinder went and I couldn't afford to fix it. Pretty damn cool at the time though. 

Oh and the Mazda Bongos have never been available here officially,  they're all used imports from Japan. 

 

[Rally Pack 2000]

1 hour ago, Vista said:

Those Datsun 120Y's are very Retro cool over here now.

I forgot one from my list, a Saab 99 Coupe in about 88. It was short lived as e clutch slaved cylinder went and I couldn't afford to fix it. Pretty damn cool at the time though. 

Oh and the Mazda Bongos have never been available here officially,  they're all used imports from Japan. 

 

Good grief! You know the world has gone to hell in a handbasket when Datsun 120Y's become cool! I copped so much stick from my friends because of that car, everyone loved the van but the 120Y was just jokes and jibes. Mazda Bongo Vans have become retro cool here too, they are popular for Rotary or V8 Conversions.

I too forgot to mention one car but it was really more loaned than owned. That was a Mk4 Capri that I loaned someone the money for and the deal was I kept it till they came up with the money. They didnt, hit a roo in it but sold it on for a profit anyways.

[Rich T]

2 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

 hit a roo in it .

 sold it on for a profit.

TWO things you dont read every day lol

[Rally Pack 2000]

8 hours ago, Rich T said:

TWO things you dont read every day lol

That is true usually its terminal. Just that the car was really really cheap 500 quid which was why my friend wanted it in the first place. Roos sometimes go up and over the bonnet with no front bumper damage. So the car was still roadworthy and it was so cheap in the first place it still sold for a bit more than was paid for it.

[katana]

Its funny - you sometimes still see the odd original Mini shaped mini's on the road, not precious collector cars, but daily's - but I haven't seen a Clubman body in probably 20 odd years! Loved the 1275 GT replacement for the Cooper S and loved the dry rubber cone suspension that was fitted to my '68 Cooper S - modified of course, lowered, neg camber all round and stiffer dampers - absolute Go Kart!

[Rally Pack 2000]

4 hours ago, katana said:

Its funny - you sometimes still see the odd original Mini shaped mini's on the road, not precious collector cars, but daily's - but I haven't seen a Clubman body in probably 20 odd years! Loved the 1275 GT replacement for the Cooper S and loved the dry rubber cone suspension that was fitted to my '68 Cooper S - modified of course, lowered, neg camber all round and stiffer dampers - absolute Go Kart!

Clubmans are quite common in Australia as Leyland set up a plant to build cars in Sydney and Clubmans were the main thing they churned out. It seems easier to get one over the classic mini when I was shopping around for one.

[Rally Pack 2000]

So any other suggestions for a regular driver classic for under 4 grand? Some good suggestions so far but not quite there yet.

[Vista]

1 hour ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

So any other suggestions for a regular driver classic for under 4 grand? Some good suggestions so far but not quite there yet.

I think you were on the money with the series 1 SLK. Get a 6 cylinder one though. 

[caprimk1v4]

On 05/09/2019 at 21:27, notenoughtime said:

More of a Morgan is it not? Was it made of ash? Lol

Not ASH, that was later, when the rear brakes overheated and set fire to the lot.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

[Rally Pack 2000]

1 hour ago, Vista said:

I think you were on the money with the series 1 SLK. Get a 6 cylinder one though. 

Oh see I didn't even know they offered a 6 in those. I just assumed they were supercharged fours from the ones I had seen. That's valuable advice. Are they straight 6s or V6's?

[katana]

On 08/09/2019 at 15:40, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Clubmans are quite common in Australia as Leyland set up a plant to build cars in Sydney and Clubmans were the main thing they churned out. It seems easier to get one over the classic mini when I was shopping around for one.

What is the classic Mini market like in Aus? Did you get the 1275GT and if so what sort of prices are they getting nowadays - I sort of still fancy one!

[Rally Pack 2000]

5 minutes ago, katana said:

What is the classic Mini market like in Aus? Did you get the 1275GT and if so what sort of prices are they getting nowadays - I sort of still fancy one!

The mini market is more stable and serviced than the Escort market. We have specialized Mini parts dealers like Mini Kingdom where you can buy every conceivable Mini part and trim that you would ever want for restoration. Nothing like that exists for Escorts here and it was that which drew me to Minis because it was so easy to get stuff for them. The 1275GT Clubman was also made in Australia. They had distinctive bonnet/wing stripes. A good example is about 10 to 12 thousand quid equivalent.

[Rally Pack 2000]

Just moved all the posts regarding peoples lists of previous owned cars from the "Abandoned and Forgotten" thread and discussions about those cars over to here where it fitted more with the topic.

Please be open to telling us any fun stories from previous owned cars on your lists and if they were great or simply total crappers! If you haven't listed your previous owned cars, time to fess up!

[meXEco]

From what I remember:

 

1972 Bay window camper converted from panel van-my first car-never did anything with it or even drove it bought it before I passed my test (BCV738K)-swapped for-

1985 VW Polo coupe-swapped for-

1972 1303S beetle (REV700M)

1973 1300A beetle-sold both for

1966 mk1 Cortina 4 dr 1500 Deluxe in Maroon-first Ford-used as a daily-cracking little car (EAN967D)

1984 Alfa 33 1.3 another great little car pretty nippy

1978 RS2000 Black-used as a daily for a few years (MDR543R)

1978 RS2000 White-bought as almost finished resto used for couple of years (XKO950S)

Couple of 80's Metro sheds back when they were a penny a dozen and disposable.

1969 mk1 Escort 1300-bought as basket case project stripped it-bought a load of panels (SAD144G)-then sold it for

1968 mk1 Escort bare shell-which me n dad built as our first real start to finish car (ORL39G)-sold

1968 mk1 Escort 1100 Deluxe-bought on Ebay when we still had the one above as an investment and daily-used for a couple of years then stuck in storage-still got and waiting to be fitted with a Twink. (MRL917F)

 

Couple of Corsa dailies.

Renault Clio 1.5Dci daily past few years.

Now got an 11 plate Ford Ka daily-and still got the '68 Deluxe mk1.

[Rally Pack 2000]

27 minutes ago, meXEco said:

From what I remember:

 

1972 Bay window camper converted from panel van-my first car-never did anything with it or even drove it bought it before I passed my test (BCV738K)-swapped for-

1985 VW Polo coupe-swapped for-

1972 1303S beetle (REV700M)

1973 1300A beetle-sold both for

1966 mk1 Cortina 4 dr 1500 Deluxe in Maroon-first Ford-used as a daily-cracking little car (EAN967D)

1984 Alfa 33 1.3 another great little car pretty nippy

1978 RS2000 Black-used as a daily for a few years (MDR543R)

1978 RS2000 White-bought as almost finished resto used for couple of years (XKO950S)

Couple of 80's Metro sheds back when they were a penny a dozen and disposable.

1969 mk1 Escort 1300-bought as basket case project stripped it-bought a load of panels (SAD144G)-then sold it for

1968 mk1 Escort bare shell-which me n dad built as our first real start to finish car (ORL39G)-sold

1968 mk1 Escort 1100 Deluxe-bought on Ebay when we still had the one above as an investment and daily-used for a couple of years then stuck in storage-still got and waiting to be fitted with a Twink. (MRL917F)

 

Couple of Corsa dailies.

Renault Clio 1.5Dci daily past few years.

Now got an 11 plate Ford Ka daily-and still got the '68 Deluxe mk1.

Thats an interesting list. You seem seemed to grow out of an early VW phase before you found the light and stuck with a line of OSFs. And as Jeremey Clarkson says every true enthusiast has owned an Alfa at some point.

[meXEco]

Yup started off really liking VW's-wanted a splitty van-but a guy on the estate we lived on had the mk1 Cortina for sale-it was only £350 or 400 if I remember correctly and both the Beetles needed quite a bit of work-so they got sold for not much and the Cortina was mine-that's when I got the Ford bug as Dad was into them as well he had a few 1600E's so knew a bit about them.

The Alfa-haha yes good quote by Clarkson i'm in the club lol - think I paid £300 off a mate-good car that was went like stink for a 1300.

 

 

[katana]

8 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

The mini market is more stable and serviced than the Escort market. We have specialized Mini parts dealers like Mini Kingdom where you can buy every conceivable Mini part and trim that you would ever want for restoration. Nothing like that exists for Escorts here and it was that which drew me to Minis because it was so easy to get stuff for them. The 1275GT Clubman was also made in Australia. They had distinctive bonnet/wing stripes. A good example is about 10 to 12 thousand quid equivalent.

That's interesting that they retained the mk2 body / door hinge style but with recessed handles - our Clubmans were mk3 with concealed hinges and 'normal' handles.

Prices are good though - ours are going through the roof comparable to Escorts! Wheel trims / spats / cill looks strange to these UK eyes.  Weird wheels again - just use std Minilites FGS! Wonder how many you can squeeze into a container!

[Vista]

11 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Oh see I didn't even know they offered a 6 in those. I just assumed they were supercharged fours from the ones I had seen. That's valuable advice. Are they straight 6s or V6's?

V6's......but for ultimate poke you want an AMG SLK32. A supercharged V6 with 354bhp

Like this:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201809220754341?atmobcid=soc3

 

 

[Rally Pack 2000]

3 hours ago, katana said:

That's interesting that they retained the mk2 body / door hinge style but with recessed handles - our Clubmans were mk3 with concealed hinges and 'normal' handles.

Prices are good though - ours are going through the roof comparable to Escorts! Wheel trims / spats / cill looks strange to these UK eyes.  Weird wheels again - just use std Minilites FGS! Wonder how many you can squeeze into a container!

There you go even with one photo an enthusiast can spot some differences with Australian built models. Although I owned an 1100S I didn't have it long enough to compare it with British versions. I know many prefer the traditional Mini shape I actually prefer the Clubman. Not only the front but the dash layout as well.

Its funny you saying that the prices are comparable to Escorts there because it was something I almost wrote about the prices here being comparable in my previous post too. Prices are comparable just our Escorts haven't reached your silly season yet. The good thing also about 1275 Clubmans is they don't have the Cooper tag so like the RS tax you can get much more for your money without it.

Given how many Escorts fit in a container I would have thought Minis would be better. I haven't ever heard of the Exports flood with minis though like I have with Escorts. I thought that was probably due to Minis being made in other countries till relatively recently and in the old shape that most prefer that our little island of Clubmans has been left alone.

I think you will find those alloys were factory. There were concessions in 70's for local content and our Minis had unique steel and alloy wheel offerings. By Escort standards they were a nice looking wheel compared to what Ford thought was tasteful.

If you ever go to the Blue Mountains just West of Sydney almost every weekend you will see a swarm of Minis doing the Jenolan Caves run. While at the caves once there were 20 to 30 Minis parked in the carpark and a friend noticed one lone vacant spot in the middle of them and he asked should he park there in his new Holden Barina (Rebadged Opal Corsa). We dared him to do it!

[Rally Pack 2000]

I seriously looked at these at one point when I was considering scrapping my Mk2. It was sort of the RS2000 of the hot hatch world. Simple single cam engine with a large capacity for a tiny car. I hesitated with reservations of the interior longevity. French plastics + Australian UV Summer = Talcum Powder.

 

[meXEco]

I fancy one of these but prices are on the up unfortunately.

[Rally Pack 2000]

4 minutes ago, meXEco said:

I fancy one of these but prices are on the up unfortunately.

What do they go for now? When I was considering them they were only a few thousand quid for a good one.