Your first car.

[Jimmyredcab]

Most of us will remember our first car, this was mine, 1961 Ford Consul 375, bench seat and column change, in good condition it would be worth quite a bit now.
Not the actual car but identical.



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[scutty brown]

One of these - Volvo 144 Grand Luxe
remarkably quick for a Volvo

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[mr.bluesky]

A mini - great little car. Not very fast but stuck to the road like glue. Could corner like it was on rails.No wonder it was such a successful rally car .  Best car British Leyland ever made.  (Which was not hard considering some of the shit models they did churn out)
Never felt the same effection for any car I have had since as I did for my mini.

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[timsussex]

ford escort mk1 daytona yellow 1300L with optional reflex pack ( front disc and seat airbag )

Bought new discounted to £1300 as the new mk2 had been out for 2 months but they were  £1750


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[David1970]

Renault 12, pile of shit cost £350

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[lostandfound]

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What was I thinking? Absolute money pit. 3rd party fire and theft insurance was ruinous. And the fuel consumption. Beautiful car though. Sometimes I would lean back and look out the back window while driving on the motorway because it looked beautiful and I knew no better.

[winkywanky]

Triumph Herald 13/60 estate. Rusty as fuck and I did all the required mechanical work myself, as it gradually fell apart during my two years of ownership.

On one occasion with a fully-loaded rear, it nearly turned over on a fast sweeping bend because there was a simple, single leafspring across the rear of the car. I shat myself as I felt the inside wheel leave the ground by about 12". Very gently easing off the accelerator averted certain death, but it wasn't enough to save my underpants which were promptly thrown into a bush after wiping my arse on the grass verge.

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[FLYING BLUE]

Vauxhall Ventora 3.3 circa 1975

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[scutty brown]

Triumph Herald 13/60 estate. Rusty as fuck and I did all the required mechanical work myself, as it gradually fell apart during my two years of ownership.

On one occasion with a fully-loaded rear, it nearly turned over on a fast sweeping bend because there was a simple, single leafspring across the rear of the car. I nearly shat myself as I felt the inside wheel leave the ground by about 12". Very gently easing off the accelerator averted certain death, but it wasn't enough to save my underpants which were promptly thrown into a bush after wiping my arse on the grass verge.

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And they supposedly had the improved "safe" suspension from the Spitfire mk4
The original 1200 model had no restraints on the suspension and the outside real wheel could tuck under.
Once came across an open top Vitesse which had flipped because of it on a  tight bend exiting from a railway bridge. Windscreen had collapsed and both occupants decapitated. That whole family of cars was lethal

[winkywanky]

And they supposedly had the improved "safe" suspension from the Spitfire mk4
The original 1200 model had no restraints on the suspension and the outside real wheel could tuck under.
Once came across an open top Vitesse which had flipped because of it on a  tight bend exiting from a railway bridge. Windscreen had collapsed and both occupants decapitated. That whole family of cars was lethal

Perhaps it was my driving?  Being a first car and all, and of course rear wheel drive (a very different experience from FWD).

Or maybe the restraint you mention had been removed by a previous owner for some reason? 

[winkywanky]

Once came across an open top Vitesse which had flipped because of it on a  tight bend exiting from a railway bridge. Windscreen had collapsed and both occupants decapitated. That whole family of cars was lethal

Jeez!! 

[lostandfound]

And they supposedly had the improved "safe" suspension from the Spitfire mk4
The original 1200 model had no restraints on the suspension and the outside real wheel could tuck under.
Once came across an open top Vitesse which had flipped because of it on a  tight bend exiting from a railway bridge. Windscreen had collapsed and both occupants decapitated. That whole family of cars was lethal

With the Mitchelotti rear end styling. Very pretty car. Mate of mine had a GT6 with a Rover engine transplant - the 6 cylinder, not the V8. Still talks about it to this day.

Mk3 Spitfire owners used to put a bag of concrete in the boot in an effort to stabilise the rear.

[Jimmy83]

Well, this thread is making me realise how my age makes me in the minority here...

Also hoping no one has put an actual picture of their car?

2008 Ford Mustang for me. Originally my dads but he gave it to me after he upgraded. Tried to upload an image but on phone and it doesn't appear to be working.

He and I are fans of the Knight Rider TV show, both the original and the 2008 sequel, hence the reason why we got an American Muscle Car that drinks petrol like a WG drinks cum.

I'm actually happy with my Peugeot right now. The Mustang wasn't exactly discreet but luckily it was before my punting days.

[scutty brown]

Perhaps it was my driving?  Being a first car and all, and of course rear wheel drive (a very different experience from FWD).

Or maybe the restraint you mention had been removed by a previous owner for some reason? 

They were always a bit dodgy to drive - lightweight body, manual steering which went from understeer to oversteer in half a turn, crap brakes, live rear suspension, cross-ply tyres.

[winkywanky]

They were always a bit dodgy to drive - lightweight body, manual steering which went from understeer to oversteer in half a turn, crap brakes, live rear suspension, cross-ply tyres.

Thinking back, I think the first thing I did was to fit radials?

[Sexpest]

Puegot 205 xs with go faster stripes down the outside   

[Davey Dykes]

First car Hillman Imp.

First vaguely legal and usable car Vauxhall Viva HC Estate in maroon.

[winkywanky]

First car Hillman Imp.

First vaguely legal and usable car Vauxhall Viva HC Estate in maroon.

With, appropriately enough, the famous Climax engine 

[Davey Dykes]

Indeed, and I have never been to Coventry. It certainly wouldn't have gotten me there either.

[scutty brown]

First car Hillman Imp.

Imagine what all that 5-star 100 octane high lead near-AVGAS did for your brain...

[Jonestown]

With, appropriately enough, the famous Climax engine 

Which was put to good use in the Ginetta G15 and the Davrian, one of the nicest 70's/80's kit cars, both with an enviable competition record.

[Davey Dykes]

That wasn't too much of an issue, it never ran and was mainly used as a greenhouse to grow tomatoes for a few years before my mum got sick of the sight of it.

[lostandfound]

Vauxhall Ventora 3.3 circa 1975

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Sometimes got a lift home from school in a Ventora. As a kid I thought I knew my cars, but I was surprised / gobsmacked by a luxurious vauxhall?!

I miss those days of abundant cars from UK brands, with character. The variations on Mini - the Hornet, the Elf. The Austin Westminster Vanden Plas with a 4-litre Rolls engine. Although someone down the road had a Citroen CX which was so futuristic by comparison ...

[anotherwoody69]

Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1 in white with red vinyl seats.
Truly shite car, but chosen under the tutelage of my father, never a man to go for style over practicality.

Swiftly replaced a few months in by a Ford Capri "S" with the black and gold styling, called the John Player Special by dealers (after the cigarette sponsored racing cars). Of course I went through the run of "told you so" comments from the old man when I wrapped it round a tree two weeks after taking delivery. Great cars, but you needed a breeze block or two in the boot to keep the dam things on the road.



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[Thephoenix]

My lovely little 1948/9  Morris Minor Convertible,

Split windscreen, side valve engine, top speed about 58mph (downhill with following wind),

How is it possible to still have fond memories of a car, which in Winter would never start without creeping up to it with the starting handle, and nearly breaking your wrist turning it over.

A car with no heater, no demister, gaps between the old hood and the tops of the doors....so freezing cold that you had to wear a thick balaclava and gloves.

A car with little flip out indicators that kept getting stuck, so you had to thump the inside of the door frame.

And best of all, a car which along with others of that era, had a rather unfortunate reputation of the odd front wheel suddenly coming off.
There's nothing quite like the experience of seeing one of your wheels parting company and trundling off down the road ahead of you.

And yet the memories of showing off in my 'sporty' convertible in the Summertime, far outweighed the odd mishap and discomfort.

I saw an immaculate example, similar to the one shown, at a vintage car rally, a couple of years ago and it brought back some great memories.

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I later went very upmarket and bought an old Morris Oxford as shown.
Apart from all the holes in the floor, it was much more luxurious...(no MOT in those days)

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[smiths]

A Triumph Toledo was my first car and I had learned and passed my test in a Triumph Dolomite. The Toledo wasn't a bad car but my next, a Vauxhall Chevette was, a pile of shit that kept overheating.

[Cupid Stuntz]

ford escort mk1 daytona yellow 1300L with optional reflex pack ( front disc and seat airbag )

Bought new discounted to £1300 as the new mk2 had been out for 2 months but they were  £1750


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Same here but not bought from new. Got mine sometime just before I passed the test in late 89.

No idea what it cost but it was in very good nick. Remember it was a bronze colour.

[gonewest]

A 1967 Triumph Herald 1200.  It had 47K on the clock when I bought it and well over 90K when I sold it.  It used to wear out tyres at an astonishing rate due to the incredibly tight turning circle and the ridiculous rear suspension. 

[oldmanking]

1973(M) Vauxhall Viva 1256HC, in Polar White; followed swiftly by a 1972(L) Volkswagen Type 3 Fastback in VW Baby Blue.

Loved them both at the time; the VW in particular.  But then moved onto the first of many varients/marks of Cavalier.
Like others, also had my fair share of silly gas guzzling motors; 84/B plate Granada Estate 2.3V6, & 82/X plate Granada 2.8i GhiaX.

True tale... I was running an E plated Cavalier 1.6GL while travelling between Bham & Luton daily; using around £20 at the time; 20yrs back.  Then purchased that Granny Estate, only to find it cost me closer to £30 a day; & went through tyres like they were on special offer.  Borrowed the old man's H plated Carlton 2.0GL, to only have to pay £18.

I sold the Grannie shortly after, then put the Cavalier back on the road, while looking for a similar Carlton of my own; but ended up with an F plated BMW520i instead.  Crazy crazy days.

[Blackpool Rock]

Some of the stuff mentioned such as Jag and Ventora are high end for 1st cars, not sure how old people were when they got them but the insurance must have been eye watering 

Not going to state exact details of my 1st car as it would probably out me but it was a VW and I bought it for all the right reasons such as the adverts at the time "If only everything in life was as reliable as a Volkswagon".
Well the ad was certainly right as something literally went wrong with it every few weeks 
Reliable eh, I lost count of the number of times I went in the VW garage to get a spare only to be told Ah yes that's a common fault with these 

Think I hung onto it for about 4 years and ended up scrapping it as no fucker wanted to buy it partly due to the colour

[ik8133]

Mk 2 Cortina for £30 was my first jalopy!  Ran for a few months then suddenly wouldn't go, never did find out what was wrong with it.  Had guys look at it as well and they were stumped too! 

[standardpostage]

Austin 1100. Nice car. Hydrolastic suspension. Very comfortable.

[mh]

Lancia Delta but not a fast one. Looked the part and had a halo effect from the rally heritage and the Integrale at the tope end. Rusted to nothing in the end. Insurance was a bit of a struggle even on a 1301cc engine from a Fiat Strada I guess mainly due to the boy racers like me choosing to drive them!

A friend had a Lancia Beta, my goodness that was a shocker. Bits fell off that all the time even while driving along.

[lostandfound]

Lancia Delta but not a fast one. Looked the part and had a halo effect from the rally heritage and the Integrale at the tope end. Rusted to nothing in the end. Insurance was a bit of a struggle even on a 1301cc engine from a Fiat Strada I guess mainly due to the boy racers like me choosing to drive them!

A friend had a Lancia Beta, my goodness that was a shocker. Bits fell off that all the time even while driving along.

But what a looker. At the time I though it was one of the most beautiful cars ever made. IIRC the rust made it the car which destroyed Lancia in the UK.

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[FLYING BLUE]

Some of the stuff mentioned such as Jag and Ventora are high end for 1st cars, not sure how old people were when they got them but the insurance must have been eye watering 

The Ventora originally belonged to my father as a new company car & was given to me after 4 years, as my very 1st car aged 17 - insurance was also paid for by my father.
The 1st car I actually paid for was much more modest 

[lillythesavage]

First car Hillman Imp.

First vaguely legal and usable car Vauxhall Viva HC Estate in maroon.

Lol, I had an Imp too, ruined my sex life so soon went for a MK1 Cortina, I have one of those now, Imp was second car but first I could drive, first was a Renault 16 but back in the late 70,s Foreign cars were a bugger to insure and no way a 17 year old could insure one.
Now just about every car is foreign even if it was built here.

[Doc Holliday]

Not going to state exact details of my 1st car as it would probably out me

Yes there is potentially quite a bit of personal identifying information here. I assume everyone has considered that risk, albeit for most small?

[WASA38]

1936 Morris Eight. Smashing car. Quite avant garde in some respects -had hydraulic brakes - but only a 6v battery

Took it on a camping holiday over the 2506 m high Grossglockner pass in the Austrian alps.

 By the time I sold it on (!) there was so much cylinder wear and consequent exhaust blow-back that I resorted to connecting a vacuum cleaner pipe to the breather so as to divert the exhaust fumes and prevent them from entering the cab.

[Horizontal pleasures]

I was late to learn and pass my test.
firstly my mum's Triumph Herald

Then my own car in the late 1960s, a bright yellow Renault 4 known as Lumpy Custard. When it failed a large Merc known as Mister Toad.

[Followyourdick]

First car was a Mini 1000, was a bit of a shed tbh, not proud to admit to doing quite a bit of drinking and driving in that car, it was of course before it was frowned upon so much and I wouldn’t dream of doing it now.

[mh]

But what a looker. At the time I though it was one of the most beautiful cars ever made. IIRC the rust made it the car which destroyed Lancia in the UK.

I preferred the looks of the Delta but I was a rallying fan at the time, enough to watch in person in the forests of Wales at 3am etc!

My mate had the gearstick of his Beta come out (not the knob, the whole stick) at 50mph, seat mounting break while on motorway, petrol drain from the tank. Unusable, but nice to look at when standing still!

[mh]

Yes there is potentially quite a bit of personal identifying information here. I assume everyone has considered that risk, albeit for most small?

My other half wouldn't recognise any of the cars mentioned here. She doesn't recognise her own car in a car park... 

[Jimmyredcab]

Yes there is potentially quite a bit of personal identifying information here. I assume everyone has considered that risk, albeit for most small?

Paranoia, unless you still own the car. 

I only used a stock photo because I have no pictures of the original car.

[mh]

Paranoia, unless you still own the car. 

I only used a stock photo because I have no pictures of the original car.

You weren't always so keen on posting photos of your own vehicles. Isn't there one of you with your cab online somewhere? 

[yandex]

I had one of these - it was shit in the wet, shit in a straight line and shit in the cold (wouldn't start). It wouldn't stop in less than 100 yards and took about a mile to get to 60mph. It stuck like glue around the corners though.



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[winkywanky]

I had one of these - it was shit in the wet, shit in a straight line and shit in the cold (wouldn't start). It wouldn't stop in less than 100 yards and took about a mile to get to 60mph. It stuck like glue around the corners though.



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Was that because you had the back full up with shit to weigh down the back wheels?

[Thephoenix]

Austin 1100. Nice car. Hydrolastic suspension. Very comfortable.

I had 3 Austin/Morris 1100's in the 60/70's.

As you say they were one of the most comfortable little cars with the hydrolastic suspension and soft sponge filled seats.

The Riley and Van den Plas versions were quite luxurious for smal cars.

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[Gordon Bennett]

Hillman Imp, £90 and had full year MOT and tax!

Nevermind that though, my first wheels were a Raleigh Dido....



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[Blackpool Rock]

I preferred the looks of the Delta but I was a rallying fan at the time, enough to watch in person in the forests of Wales at 3am etc!

My mate had the gearstick of his Beta come out (not the knob, the whole stick) at 50mph, seat mounting break while on motorway, petrol drain from the tank. Unusable, but nice to look at when standing still!

I was a car fan as a kid so anything with a rear wing or that was rallied was naturally brilliant.
Remember seeing a Lancia (can't remember exactly what) and pointing it out to my dad who replied something along the lines of "Load of fucking shit, rust buckets", he also at some point read me a newspaper article where someone had one and the engine actually fell out due to the mountings etc rusting, apparently the thing was less than a year old 

[yandex]

Was that because you had the back full up with shit to weigh down the back wheels?

  yes, several sense of humour failures with that particular car. It was my first though, and you always remember your first with a tinge of nostalgia!