Your first car.

[Ahalfa Carling]

Just a shitty Mk1 Escort estate.

It had been hand painted (ie using brushes) a shitty burgandy, but yhe inside was still the original white!!!

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[winkywanky]

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!

I took a few lessons in a Mini but the pedals were too small for my enormous feet 

[SierraBravo]

I shared a DAF 55 variomatic with my brother. Sickly brown in colour and using two elastic bands in the gearbox. 

I'll leave now.

[chrishornx]

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".

fully respect that there is a risk even if small

[Blackpool Rock]

fully respect that there is a risk even if small

Yeah I don't think I ever saw another one of the model I had in the same colour etc so it would be a giveaway, in a similar way thinking about the 2 best cars I ever had would be obvious as they were limited editions with only a couple of hundred being sold in the UK

[winkywanky]

I shared a DAF 55 variomatic with my brother. Sickly brown in colour and using two elastic bands in the gearbox. 

I'll leave now.

Yes, that was the somewhat curious idea of whatever speed you were going at, the engine would always be in its 'sweetspot' in the rev range. I believe it was elastic bands travelling up and down a cone shaped cylinder, which effectively altered the gearing? You put your foot on the gas and as the speed increased (incredibly slowly it has to be said  ) the bands would work their way up the cone where the larger diameter would increase the gearing.

Or were the two bands for two actual gears (both with their own gearing range)? Or perhaps you only had one gear and two bands, in case one of them snapped? 

[Blackpool Rock]

Yes, that was the somewhat curious idea of whatever speed you were going at, the engine would always be in its 'sweetspot' in the rev range. I believe it was elastic bands travelling up and down a cone shaped cylinder, which effectively altered the gearing? You put your foot on the gas and as the speed increased (incredibly slowly it has to be said  ) the bands would work their way up the cone where the larger diameter would increase the gearing.

Or were the two bands for two actual gears (both with their own gearing range)? Or perhaps you only had one gear and two bands, in case one of them snapped? 

While I agree the DAF was pretty shit it's actually a really good idea, i'm assuming it was refined but believe a similar system or at least idea was later used by Audi for their Multitronic system
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[David1970]

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

Is this your first car?

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[winkywanky]

While I agree the DAF was pretty shit it's actually a really good idea, i'm assuming it was refined but believe a similar system or at least idea was later used by Audi for their Multitronic system
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The basic premise is sound, and yes other car firms have adopted a similar approach (but without the elastic bands AFAIK), but it's a very curious and slightly uneasy sensation when you put your foot down and you go faster, but the engine note stays the same. It would do my head in    .

If you keep the engine at the 'correct' revs all the time, independent of speed or engine load, you can maximise efficiency to the max, but it would be an incredibly bland drive.

[Blackpool Rock]

Is this your first car?

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Nah



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[lostandfound]

I shared a DAF 55 variomatic with my brother. Sickly brown in colour and using two elastic bands in the gearbox. 

I'll leave now.

I remember one of those driving past me in the street and I just stared in disbelief - it sounded like a giant sink waste disposal! 

[scutty brown]

Yes, that was the somewhat curious idea of whatever speed you were going at, the engine would always be in its 'sweetspot' in the rev range. I believe it was elastic bands travelling up and down a cone shaped cylinder, which effectively altered the gearing? You put your foot on the gas and as the speed increased (incredibly slowly it has to be said  ) the bands would work their way up the cone where the larger diameter would increase the gearing.

Or were the two bands for two actual gears (both with their own gearing range)? Or perhaps you only had one gear and two bands, in case one of them snapped? 

It was one gear and two bands
I inherited from an uncle a Raleigh Ultramatic (aka UK built Mobylette) moped that used the same concept. The whole engine was hung from a swinging spring and pivoted backward as you accelerated, forcing the primary drive belt up a cone shaped "gear wheel", increasing gear as the diameter got larger. Bloody disconcerting to ride with the engine swinging to and fro.

[scutty brown]

While I agree the DAF was pretty shit it's actually a really good idea, i'm assuming it was refined but believe a similar system or at least idea was later used by Audi for their Multitronic system
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Hondamatic was much the same and both Fiat and Ford used a similar system for a while

[lostandfound]

Hondamatic was much the same and both Fiat and Ford used a similar system for a while

And Toyota / Lexus. Possibly the best implementation? And being rendered irrelevant in the eco stakes by gearless EVs.

[Private Parts]

WW
Only needs weight on rear wheelers. 2 bags of cement in my RS2000.
But this was my first Skip

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[winkywanky]

WW
Only needs weight on rear wheelers. 2 bags of cement in my RS2000.
But this was my first Skip

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Viva la Vauxhall!!

[lostandfound]

WW
Only needs weight on rear wheelers. 2 bags of cement in my RS2000.
But this was my first Skip

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HB Viva estate? - didn't realise they made an estate!

Friend of mine in 6th form had an HA Viva. Amazing it still worked. HB Viva was a pretty car in its time.

[mr.bluesky]

Looking at all the cars listed so far tells me what a bunch of old farts we all are. 

[Samg1984]

2002 Renault Clio.......bought brand new for the free insurance deal they had in those days 🤣🤣

[scutty brown]

Puegot 205 xs with go faster stripes down the outside   

Better than a Zastava with brown go-faster stripes on the seats. They were branded as "Yugo" for a reason

[robsmith149]

1st car in 1988 was a 10 year old Fiesta which lasted 2 months before i wrote it off, currently driving a 15 year old Fiesta.

[mr.bluesky]

Better than a Zastava with brown go-faster stripes on the seats. They were branded as "Yugo" for a reason

Only better than the Lada. It was said that the Lada's best feature was the heated rear window. This was because it kept your hands warm in the winter when you had to push it 

[Thephoenix]

Only better than the Lada. It was said that the Lada's best feature was the heated rear window. This was because it kept your hands warm in the winter when you had to push it 

My old Welsh pal asked me years ago...."What's the difference between a Lada and a sheep?"

.........."It's less embarrassing getting out of the back of a sheep!"

Also known as skips on wheels

[Private Parts]

Gentlemen
I’m jolly impressed that all these submissions are pristine models
Straight out the AutoGlym catalogue.
Must have been Bob-a-job week.

Best thread for a long while

Bit like show me yours and I’ll show you mine.

We have no shame here
 

[berksboy]

A MK2 tina in which i learnt to opposite lock which come in very handy when i got a 3L Capri that went through rear tyres and petrol at a alarming rate but then i did cane the nuts off it. Once got it down to 8mpg over a tank full.

[catweazle]

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1965 Hillman minx gifted from my Dad when he bought a Datsun Bluebird. Like this one in the pic, but this is a stock photo.

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[jazzyx]

2002 Nissan Micra 

[Bogof60]

Like a few others mine was a Viva HB that eventually rotted away.
Replaced with a similar.one not so rotten.
That was sold and i began a bit of a love affair with Audi that culmanated with the fire breathing Quattro.
Yes the original Coupe Quattro that would fire flames out of the back when changing gear at max revs 

I still like something a bit on the wild side

[RLondon99]

A knackered 1.6l Mark 1 Ford Capri. Good for sitting in but nothing else. Was a great day I scrapped that pig and got a BL Mini, the worst-built most-fun car ever.

[Private Parts]

Like a few others mine was a Viva HB that eventually rotted away.
Replaced with a similar.one not so rotten.
That was sold and i began a bit of a love affair with Audi that culmanated with the fire breathing Quattro.
Yes the original Coupe Quattro that would fire flames out of the back when changing gear at max revs 

I still like something a bit on the wild side

I used to get that exhaust fun lighting the pigs’ farts on the farm.
Swan Vestas best value. Minimum 50 matches
 

Edit. By the age of 10 I’d found where the pigman hid his passing clouds.

[Jimmyredcab]

Looking at all the cars listed so far tells me what a bunch of old farts we all are. 

I knew that from the Covid thread, almost everyone has had their first jab.   

[Paris69]

Black/Gold stripes: JPS Ford Capri

[Bogof60]

Black/Gold stripes: JPS Ford Capri

What an outstanding colur scheme and l9oked fantastic on The Capri

[Bogof60]

A bit off topic here but didn't the racing fag packets of F1 look fantastic as well.
JPS Lotus
Marlbro Malaren
And was it Rothman Williams?

[lostandfound]

Does remind of the JPS ground effect cars and the Brabham fan car - full circle with the Gordon Murray fan car. Looking forward to vids of that which is the closest I will ever get to one.

[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.

Am I the only one who gives my cars nicknames?

[wombat]

Ford Escort Popular - it had a spoiler on the back and everything....

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[anotherwoody69]

What an outstanding colour scheme and l9oked fantastic on The Capri

I loved my one of these, for the very short period I owned it (see my previous comment).

I think the only thing that came close to this in my first 10 years of motoring was when I bought an ex-demo Escort RS Turbo, the MK1 in white. Even today I get a mild stiffy at the sound of the old fashioned turbo whine..... Mind you, the tax man owned a third of it and the time duly came it had to go to pay that tax bill. Gutted.

[anotherwoody69]

All this talk of early cars and a bit of reminiscing made me think. What would we all be worth now if we'd hung on to some of these motors, just mothballed them and tucked them away?

Like somebody else here I had an RS2000 for a while, they are a bit of a classic now. Also in the peak of the Cosworth insurance issues I picked up an Escort version, red, with I think from memory around 10k on the clock for peanuts. Don't recall exactly how much, possibly about £10-12k. A year on I put it in the auction  over at Blackbush and it made I think close to £18k. Same car now in good condition £45k plus.

I've had my eye on a Ford Focus RS500 black model. A good one is around £45k. It will relive my "yoof" a little and quite possibly I think over the next 10-15 years return a tidy little investment.

[berksboy]

Its the cost of keeping them good , you cant just park it up for years on end and do sod all. I think my old 3L Capri maybe 25K+ now but how much would you have to spend to stop it rusting away ?

[threechilliman]

Its the cost of keeping them good , you cant just park it up for years on end and do sod all. I think my old 3L Capri maybe 25K+ now but how much would you have to spend to stop it rusting away ?

I considered this with a previous car and whilst it would be worth good money now, the cost of keeping it in decent order made no sense. Buy 'em, enjoy 'em but get rid.

[toon972]

Dark green Cortina mk 1, bench seat, column gear change and a handbrake that you pulled out from under the dashboard. I am positive it had one of those crank starters that was under the front bonnet as well, happy days.

[anotherwoody69]

Its the cost of keeping them good , you cant just park it up for years on end and do sod all. I think my old 3L Capri maybe 25K+ now but how much would you have to spend to stop it rusting away ?

I guess its that nostalgic thing then, sometimes we forget the buggers refusing to start or the electrics just failing  I think I'm probably just spoilt now with new cars and almost nothing ever going wrong, even on things that historically you would say could be temperamental at best.

I still ponder over getting an original Escort Mexico with the 2.1 pinto lump and a nice fat cherry bomb exhaust, but you guys are right. I'd spend more time keeping it on the road and looking sharp than driving it.
Still, we can all dream.

[Bogof60]

Yeah agree with that.

Some time ago i went to a Marque owners club meet for my Classic.
Too much polishing and posing for me.
Not enough about the pure pleasure of driving these things.
When you drive them things get dirty and if you drive them hard things break. Would prefer this than a pristine garage queen.
Love the sound of a V12 @ 6000 rpm 

[boardyhell]

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.

mine was 1967 as well but convertible, had electric windscreen wipers, manual choke, manual windscreen washer bottle
an 1147 engine ,top speed of 78 mph and very attractive previous owner left a very racy pair of black knickers on the back seat
fun car
the vitesse was the one to buy with dual headlights and bigger engine

[boardyhell]

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.

the vauxhall viva was the worst car i ever had ,drove up onto a kerb gently and the fan blade went through the radiator
my mechanic told me to get rid even though i had just bought it off his brother inlaw,moved onto an escort
little did i know, the first of many

[Murray Mint]

A 1959 Frogeye Sprite. It cost me £250 ten years later and I then ran it for 5 years until it rusted away!

[Murray Mint]

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.

I don't agree. Had a 2litre one in about 1980 and thought it was a great car. Far better than the MkII (Which I also had.)

[scutty brown]

I don't agree. Had a 2litre one in about 1980 and thought it was a great car. Far better than the MkII (Which I also had.)

And don't forget that was basically the same car as the Opel Manta
I always thought they were a pretty solid, reliable and easy to drive design

[Dave33ws6]

Blue Ford focus