Your first car

Claretmatt4 · Post by **Claretmatt4** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 6:37 pm

I've just had to send mine to the big car park in the sky today... A 1999 Yaris 1L... 4 years and 140,000 miles (only 40k by me) later she's goosed the poor bugger.

Do you all have fond memories of your first cars? Any interesting stories?

bob-the-scutter · Post by **bob-the-scutter** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 6:38 pm

She`s not gone yet, she still lives!

Claretmatt4 · Post by **Claretmatt4** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 6:39 pm

bob-the-scutter wrote:She`s not gone yet, she still lives!

Times ticking away though!

Sidney1st · Post by **Sidney1st** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 6:41 pm

B-reg, horrible light metallic green Austin Maestro, 2001 I got it.
I got it for free due to the amount of welding it needed to pass an MOT.

I had her for 3 months and sold her to my step dad.

I remember losing the back end on a roundabout, with a very expensive jaguar behind me who'd manager to stop in time and he was laughing.

My step dad sold her on again and last we heard she was sat somewhere in Wiltshire picking up parking tickets on a daily basis where she'd been abandoned.
The only issue was the log book was still in my step Dads name.
I think he managed to get out of paying this parking fines because he had some sort of receipt of sale.

minnieclaret · Post by **minnieclaret** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 6:42 pm

XAJ 673 K. A Mini 850, brand new. I was at work so my Mum did the order form and got it in blaze(orange) because I was in the fire brigade. I wanted the midnight blue but it was too late to change.
Loved that car but it was bloody awful to be honest.

HatfieldClaret · Post by **HatfieldClaret** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 6:43 pm

Datsun 120Y R Reg. 1978 or thereabouts.

Loved it, but some fool of an over confident boy racer wrote it off....

bob-the-scutter · Post by **bob-the-scutter** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 6:44 pm

1965 Mini 850, DHU 393C, cost me £50, £30 to insure.....brush painted black with a white roof.

Shore claret · Post by **Shore claret** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 6:44 pm

Mini metro, loved it but it was rubbish

The Enclosure · Post by **The Enclosure** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 6:48 pm

1954 Hillman Minx GHG154....bench front seat and column gear change.Was 7 years old and cost me 150 quid. Some great times as a teenager in that car.

Lowbankclaret · Post by **Lowbankclaret** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 6:49 pm

1972 russet brown Mk1 Ford Escort, cost me £15 with no MOT. By the time I scrapped it I think the only thing left of what I bought was the steel shell.
I had fitted a 1600E cortina engine, box and back axle.
Capri front struts and brakes.
Whole different interior, think from an xl.
Mexico dash

The rust beetle got it in the end, even I could not weld anymore rust to rust.

3putt · Post by **3putt** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 6:51 pm

For the slightly older fraternity, I passed my test in 1976 and went out and splashed £200 on a patched up wreck of a Morris 1100 from a dodgy private dealer.

It lasted about a month before having to be scrapped. Although very young. I needed a car for my job and found myself a Morris1300 GT which seemed like a flying machine at the time. Had that for about a year before upgrading to a much newer gold Vauxhall Viva which even then seemed sensible but boring. Seen an odd one at car shows and they actually look quite cool now.

Realise that these cars will be a foreign language to some of the younger posters.

ClaretEngineer · Post by **ClaretEngineer** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 7:12 pm

My mum gave me her V reg Peugeot 306 Meridian for my Birthday in 2005, swapped it for a '96 Peugeot 106 because I couldn't afford the insurance.

A long association with Peugeots eventually ending with children and marriage...

Loved all 5 of my Peugeots

lesxdp · Post by **lesxdp** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 7:18 pm

A 1949 Morris Minor convertible. Paid £25 for it in Weston Super Mere when I was a young lad in the Air Force down there. Cost me a fine for no handbrake so sold it back to the garage for £15. Would have been worth something now had I had a clue about cars at the time and kept it.

Claretmatt4 · Post by **Claretmatt4** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 7:36 pm

ClaretEngineer wrote:My mum gave me her V reg Peugeot 306 Meridian for my Birthday in 2005, swapped it for a '96 Peugeot 106 because I couldn't afford the insurance.

A long association with Peugeots eventually ending with children and marriage...

Loved all 5 of my Peugeots

5 cars in 12 years?

BennyD · Post by **BennyD** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 7:38 pm

In 1979 I got a 1971 Morris Traveller. Tastefully 'tuned' it and sold it on to my Dad. Wish I still had it in the condition it was in then. Happy days.

ClaretEngineer · Post by **ClaretEngineer** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 7:43 pm

Claretmatt4 wrote:5 cars in 12 years?

I'm sorry that should be 6 Peugeot's.

2 x 306's
4 x 106's

Followed by an 05 Astra diesel estate - my oh my that car tested my resolve. Finally died at 164,000, after keeping the thing going for 80,000.

Now onto an 06 Merc C Class diesel. Best thing since sliced bread. Likes a drink though.

wilks_bfc · Post by **wilks_bfc** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 7:48 pm

First car was a 1986 Peugeot 309 - D27 KUA - that I "inherited" from parents, until they traded it in without telling me.

First car that was in my name was a 1993 Nissan Micra -L840 ECW - that got me through uni and a few years of "adulting"

I actually saw it on the roads a few years after getting rid of it

Down_Rover · Post by **Down_Rover** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 7:49 pm

1970 Wartburg Estate. The sort of car that stood out in a crowd

k90bfc · Post by **k90bfc** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 7:50 pm

Morris Minor Traveller,£350,1973,went to Leicester,Filbert Street,drawed,1-1,Leighton James,got back to the car ,Burnley stickers etc,radio ripped out,ransacked,left a note on the dashboard,WITH OUR COMPLIMENTS LEICESTER CITY FC,this season could be SO sweet! Ive waited long enough!

FulledgeClaret · Post by **FulledgeClaret** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 7:53 pm

V765 UCW Vauxall Chevette

bfcmik · Post by **bfcmik** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 7:55 pm

A Fiat 124 (design and machines bought by Lada) which needed a new front spring. It also only had 2nd and 4th gears going forwards but it did me, the missus and our baby son for about 2 years. Trips around the Lake District and Dales galore.

BFCmaj · Post by **BFCmaj** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 8:01 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNCAcKybSfE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

normandeeley · Post by **normandeeley** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 8:10 pm

Ford Anglia.
Managed to get four of us to Boothferry Park in October 71. We won 2 - 1. As we were setting off back we saw Arthur Bellamy outside the players entrance - the team coach had set off without him. We offered to give him a lift back but he very wisely declined. He said he hoped they'd realise he was missing and come back for him. He turned out for us next week so presumably they did.

Gnulty · Post by **Gnulty** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 9:27 pm

VW Beetle 1958, Black and Beautiful, american style bumpers, engine from a 65 mod 1300 with 40 hp!

. Converted from 6 volts to 12 volts system..
I*ve had a few Beetles since then, all of them great, but you know, the first one and all that...Now I get my hands dirty and a bad back from a Land Rover Disco 2001 V8, and love evry minute of it!

Saxoman · Post by **Saxoman** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 9:45 pm

Ford Capri 1.6l midnight blue.

pureclaret · Post by **pureclaret** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 10:00 pm

hilman hunter vhg 39 L 5 years old when I got it (the car not me)

Steve1956 · Post by **Steve1956** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 10:01 pm

A Fiat Miafori..we pushed it more than we drove it

Claretincraven · Post by **Claretincraven** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 10:09 pm

Austin A35. XWY 331. Looked really good, no sign of any rust. I found out why when I rolled it over on the way back from watching the end of the RAC rally at York and most of both sides of the car dropped off onto the road as it was all filler.

Paul Waine · Post by **Paul Waine** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 10:43 pm

Mk1 Cortina, DHG 589D, took over from my Dad when I got my test in 1974. Bought from Skippers for Ford (is my memory right?) in Burnley. Colour was dark green (and rust). Stopped 3 or 4 times by police, when I was sure I was below the limit. Wrote it off a year later - in the middle of finals - small "shunt" but too much rust to be repairable - sold for £3 scrap. Learnt some time later that the IRA also used a dark green mk1 Cortina - which might explain why the police always seemed to be stopping me.

LoveCurryPies · Post by **LoveCurryPies** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 10:57 pm

Peugeot 1.9GTi.....how I am still alive I don not know!

Leeds to central London in 2 hours.

THEWELLERNUT70 · Post by **THEWELLERNUT70** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 11:02 pm

1983 Vauxhall Nova (A171FOY) in chocolate brown

RingoMcCartney · Post by **RingoMcCartney** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 11:19 pm

LoveCurryPies wrote:Peugeot 1.9GTi.....how I am still alive I don not know!

Leeds to central London in 2 hours.

1.9 had by far better alloys than the 1.6

My mate had a 1.9 that ended up upside down in a field near salmesbury hall, with petrol dripping on him. And he has the stars to prove it!!

LoveCurryPies · Post by **LoveCurryPies** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 11:28 pm

RingoMcCartney wrote:1.9 had by far better alloys than the 1.6

My mate had a 1.9 that ended up upside down in a field near salmesbury hall, with petrol dripping on him. And he has the stars to prove it!!

The stars to prove it?

How you roll one I don't know....mine felt like it was glued to the road.

RingoMcCartney · Post by **RingoMcCartney** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 11:45 pm

[quote="LoveCurryPies"]The stars to prove it?

How you roll one I don't know....mine felt like it was glued to the road.[/quot

Yeah sorry meant to be scars!

They WERE like they were on tracks.

My mate was daft. Very daft!

Amateur boxing made him a bit giddy!

It was a turquoisey blue one . Very easy on the eye.

Saxoman · Post by **Saxoman** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 11:52 pm

My workmate once drove from roman rd down into lower Darwen round blind bends at 90mph with me as passenger. Tit. Rolled his car not long after, rendering it a metal ball. Very luckily he survived.

strayclaret · Post by **strayclaret** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 11:58 pm

Wolseley Hornet, still got the number plate fixed on my garage wall, HVK410D. My uncle lent me £150, to buy it in 1973, it was Claret in colour and had to have a go faster blue stripe put on it.
Loved the car, water came in so had to drill holes in the floor to let it out, how it got us to Wolves via Spurs in 1973 and back home, only him upstairs knows.

Clarets4me · Post by **Clarets4me** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 12:45 am

A 1978 Chrysler Avenger 1.6 LS ( WBN 574T ), in a very vivid Green...

Aged 18, with 3 mates, drove it down to the Vendee coast of France and spent 2 weeks at a Campsite at St Jean de Monts...

We had four cassette tapes .. " Born to Run " Bruce Springsteen, " Bat out of Hell " Meatloaf, " The Pretender " Jackson Browne, and " Stranger in Town " by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band and played them over and over...

Whilst the car never let us down, we all now consider our musical taste superior to our taste in cars...

dermotdermot · Post by **dermotdermot** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 2:43 am

A Citroen Ami Super. A fun car. I wish I'd hung on to it. They're worth quite a fair sum now.

Suratclaret · Post by **Suratclaret** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 4:18 am

An ancient Ford Prefect bought for £25 in 1971 and sold the following year for £50..... Probably my most successful piece of business ever!

MillomClaret · Post by **MillomClaret** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 6:27 am

Ford Mk 3 Zodiac complete with record player in the glove box , 2.5 litre straight six , 2 years later ripped it out and fitted a rover V8 , fast as hell in a straight line but didn't handle to well

, never got round to informing the insurance company of the Changes

Pearcey · Post by **Pearcey** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 6:29 am

1987 Renault 9 1.4 GTL. Bought it in 1991 and I don't really know why. It was horrendous looking and a nightmare to start in the winter. Haven't bought French since and never will.

JohnMac · Post by **JohnMac** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 6:43 am

Passed my test in 1973 and drove various Army vehicles.
Borrowed a Canary Yellow Capri Ghia from a mate in London, very Del Boyesque years before he was ever heard of!

Bought my first car in 1979, a brand new Datsun Cherry in Red with Black roof. Went to collect it from the ship in Germany.
God it was awful but it got me around for 4 years.

Edit
My current car is a 57 plate BMW 118d. I bought this from a gentleman who was once married to Stirling Moss's daughter apparently.

His barns were full of real classic cars including a Frog Eye Sprite he owned from new.

Overthehill · Post by **Overthehill** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 6:49 am

When I passed my test at 17 (1988) my dad bought me a 1976 MG Midget 1500 twin carbs in British racing green.
It was the MG designed for the American market with rubber bumpers.
Great fun, great memories and I wish I still had it.

http://www.mgownersclub.co.uk/mg-guides ... t-car-1500" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Claretmatt4 · Post by **Claretmatt4** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 7:27 am

Some good posts on this thread, do keep them coming!

Inchy · Post by **Inchy** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 7:29 am

Got a 1l corsa. Was on sale for 3k, got finance because I could afford it, ended up costing 5k. Engine totally died one week after the final payment. Cost me a small fortune fixing it all the time. First insurance was £1800 a year

At the time I was an apprentice electrician in Manchester earning 200 quid a week. Finance was £50 a week, insurance was about £40 a week, petrol was £40 a week, board was £50 a week. Was a shite time

ashtonlongsider · Post by **ashtonlongsider** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 7:50 am

Austin 1100 was my first car after I passed my test in 1971. Still one of the best cars I've ever had only let down by the Hydrolastic suspension.

3putt · Post by **3putt** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 8:46 am

I've had a huge number of cars over the years from aged 17. Not my first car, but In the early 80's the Peugeot 205 GTI came along and became THE hot hatchback. I fancied one and was about to buy on in 1984 and then read that the Renault 5 GT Turbo was being launched as a competitor. I found as much as I could about them and ordered one from Kitchens in Burnley and had to wait about 6 months before they were released in the UK.

That was some car in those days, 1.4 turbo charged engine, 0-60 in 7 seconds and felt even quicker. Great fun, and would still seem quick today.

The Quattro · Post by **The Quattro** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 8:55 am

A Y reg 1.2 Corsa. Thought it was the mutts nuts when I got it. I learnt a lot about grip when I stuffed it into a wall at the bottom of Whitworth Road in Rochdale. I then got a Skoda Fabia, which I was really happy with because it had air con and a CD player, neither of which my Corsa had, though the Corsa did have a sunroof.

Had a few cars since, all of them much, much better, but I still have a soft spot for that Corsa.

Sutton-Claret · Post by **Sutton-Claret** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 8:56 am

Mine was a Ford Fiesta 1.1litre with an XR2 body kit and a 'Lombard RAC sunvisor sticker' - it used to stink of petrol, after a long journey my eyes used to sting and stream with tears.

MiltonKeynesClaret93 · Post by **MiltonKeynesClaret93** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 9:23 am

51 plate Toyota Celica in lagoon blue.
Spent so much time in the garage but I loved it. Head gasket went a month after I sold it.