What cars did you drive - when you were younger!!

[bulleidboy]

I'll start this, following on from the comments about cars in Steve M's Low Ghyll thread.

I had a couple of 105E's after passing my test, and still had one when I got married in 1972 - a 1200 Super - it was lowered and ran on 5.5inch Lotus Cortina rims. The second week of my honeymoon (supposed to be decorating) was spent fitting a 1500 Cortina GT engine into the car - it was a direct replacement, with the exception of a longer exhaust manifold, and it gave twice the power of the 1200. In 1973 we bought a brand new Ford Escort Mexico, it cost £1071 - Sebring red and fitted with twin Cibie Oscar fog lights and twin Cibie Super Oscars Spots(250,000 candle power - each), they turned night into day. In 1973 - with children on the way, the Mexico was traded in for a new Ford Cortina 2000E Estate - that as I've said before "got the treatment" - 3-litre engine, 5-speed box, gas filled shockers and competition brakes - I kept it for many years, that was followed by a Granada Ghia Estate and then Volvo's. I'm now on my second one, having had my 960 for twenty four years and one day! I now drive a Volvo XC70.

[Walkingthedog]

Learnt to drive in a Minor 1000 then an Austin Cambridge. My first car was a Ford 100E then a Beetle. My dad bought a Renault 4 and gave me his Hillman Minx, that was a good car, the year I got married. Then I bought a Renault 4, Allegro estate, followed by a succession of Astra estates, Nissan Primera estates, Almeras, then a couple of Ford Fusions, now a Ford Bmax.

[brian1951]

My first was 1956 moggy minor convertible in 1966, since then i have owned over 5000 vehicles. It would be quicker to list the models i have not had i think..

[footplate1947]

My first Car was a 1939 Morris 10. which I learned to drive in, at the Hornchurch Car Drome . I was only 15 then so not old enough to drive on road. Then it was Triumph motor bikes for next few years. Next car in 1970 was Austin 1100 many cars followed. I car I liked most was Citroen C5 2L.. I liked them so much had several. The Hatch was so good I got a fridge, cooker, and dishwasher, in the boot once when I was putting new kitchen into one of my houses. I still use a C5. Wonderful work horses and so comfortable too.

[cheshire lines]

May first car was a Singer Chamois, (a slightly higher spec version Hillman Imp), bought from a cousin of my dad's for about £80 in 1975.
That was followed by a Mini Van, Mini Traveller and Morris Minor 1000 all bought privately. The first car I bought from a dealer, though still second hand, was a Morris Marina.

[Mountain Goat]

Not actually sure how many vehicles I have had. When I was on the railway, due to shift patterns and days off dissapearing (Sometimes I would be phoned three or four times a day to get me to cover a shift on a rest day until one would eventually give in!) I didn't have the time to book things in for the MOT, so I bought a classic car (Volvo 131) so I could get classic car insurance as a second car, and ended up with others on the same insurance (I think at one time four cars).
My dad used to drive a 3 wheeler on his motorbike licence. He had three over the years. Two Reliant Regals and an early Reliant Robin. When he heard that I was going for my test, he quickly had a few refresher lessons and put in for his car test just befoee I did so I couldn't say I had passed my test before he did!
We both passed (He had years of driving experience so passed his first time. I passed on my third time. Strangely had an examiner of 24 stone sitting across the two rear seats of a brand new car (My instructor had just changed his car so I wasn't used to it) who was examining another examiner (18 stone) who was examining me. The little car was about two to three inches off the floor! I thought I had messed things up and failed after leaving the test centre as I stalled on the hill. The last examiner would have failed him. He had a reputation for failing young men but passing women and older men. When I stalled I asked "Can we do the hillstart here?" "All in good time came the reply?" After I assumed I failed I just thought "Oh well. Lets do the rest for experience" so I just casually went through the motions and took it like a driving lesson. Strangely I was then asked the highway code questions and my eyesight was checked as I aas asked to read a car numberplate which was not that far away (The previous instructor would pick a car right down the end of the street and I had exceptional eyesight so he was dissapointed that I could read them!) Then they said "I'm pleased to let you know it was a faultless test and you've passed". I was so gobsmacked I argued and said all the faults I though I had done, some of which were the reasons why I had failed the first and second time. He assured me they were not failures and I think something happened as the older man who took me the first two tests wasn't there long. He either retired or was taken off the job.
So when my dad passed, he bought a Renault 5 and when I passed a month later I had his Reliant Robin.
The Reliant was zippy and had brilliant acceleration (Certainly up to 30 mph), so much so that ones foot would be thrown off the accelerator and the car would then almost stop.. (Kangaroo action). It was not like driving a slow accelerating 4 wheeled car like a Renault 5 or a Clio that I had driven before. I hadn't realized this until after a month I was offered a Fiat. An extra 300cc's worth of engine later I assumed it would be quicker. What a dissapointment! Not only was it so slow compared to the Reliant, it couldn't corner at anywhere near the speeds I used to corner with the Reliant. (There is a technique). The Relaint was high milage and had patch over patch welded on the chassis. The Fiat lasted a few months then the main crankshaft snapped and I was carless for about two ears!

[IanS]

I passed my test on a manual Ford Escort in 1972 at the ripe old age of 17 1/2. Having passed I was then asked if I could ride a push bike. A strange question you may think!

Not so strange when you realise I have a prosthetic leg and he was checking to see if my licence needed to have the ability to ride a moped taken off.

The first car I drove regularly was a Austin 1800, it was my dads car. He drove a Morris Marina.

I traded the 1800 in to get a new Austin Allegro 1100 when I got a few wage packets saved up at the age of 22.

That went in 1981 for a Toyota Corrolla automatic. I had a string of Corrolas after that, then progressed on to the Carina and eventually the Toyota Avensis.
I've had a Honda HRV and a CRV since then. My dad passed on so I got to drive his S80 from 2005. In 2006 mam got a Volvo C70 convertible, I was the main (almost only) driver! An XC70 was purchased in 2009 and only sold in 2018. I've 2 C70's of my own since 2010.

My current car is also a convertible, purchased in 2018. It is a Mercedes 220d.
All the cars have been automatics since 1981 although I retain a full licence allowing my to drive a manual. The problem would be a) being able to fit into one b) being able to operate the clutch as now the cars have a great deal of clutter where my knee wishes to rest or move to when changing gear.

[Steve M]

Well I can’t beat Brian’s 5k. It my list is:
Mini mk1. Austin 1100. Sunbeam Imp
VW Beetle. VW Polo. Seat Ibiza
Ford Sierra Saphire. Seat Ibiza. Seat Córdoba
Mini Clubman 1100 (restored). Peugeot 205
Vauxhall Astra. TigerCat (kit built)
Vauxhall Vectra. Ford Focus. Mazda MX5 mk1
Ford Fiesta Zetec S. Mazda MX5 mk3. Ford Fiesta ST2
Triumph Spitfire 1500 (restored)

And along the way were a few donor cars for projects,
Mini 1000. MG Metro. Ford Sierra. Triumph Spitfire

[Forfarian]

Here goes-
Triumph Tiger Cub
Velocette Viper
Matchless 500
Now for the bird pulling cars!!!!!
Ford 100E
Morris Oxford
Ford Cortina Mk1
Ford Capri
Ford Cortina
3 x Renault 16
Company Cars-
Toyota Carolla x2 + numerous hire cars.
Ford Mondeo x2
VW Passat
Retired-
5 Honda CRVs
Without a doubt the CRVs are the best cars i have driven.

[Rog (RJ)]

Honda 90 Sport
BSA Starfire (brand new) and a Norton Jubilee (terrible bike!)
About half a dozen minis, only one of them was used regularly.
Triumph Herald convertible.
Ford Cortina 1300 MK3. These were said to be underpowered but mine came with a newly fitted recon engine and it was remarkably quick.
Honda CB400 Dream. Needed a motorbike to get to work.
Ford Escort MK3 1.3 New. My first new car. Had this for about 2 years
Renault Fuego - ex demonstrater. Had this for about 5 years
Mazda 626, 2.0- new. 13 years
Mazda 6, 2.0 - ex demonstrater. 15 years
Mazda 3, 2.0 - new, my current car. Just over a year old now.

Edit. Length of Renault Fuego ownership amended.