I owned my first car for 20 years. I only sold it earlier this year. It was a 1200 1972 VW beetle, but that I used to drag race. Various 2276 and 1915 engines in it over time. Gutted i sold it, but being realistic old cars are horrible to drive.
I’d have another mini, or a 205gti, and maybe even another Defender (assuming it was on a galvo chassis).
Not owned one (yet), but have always wanted one of these. Helped no doubt by their racing performance. I was reasonably youthful when they first appeared too.
I saw a Citroen AX GT at a recent classic car show that was exactly the same* as the one I had back in 1995.
I got all dewy eyed over it for a minute or two before remembering the following:-
The ride was like going down the side of a quarry in a tin bath.
The handling and especially the braking in the wet was terrible.
Bits constantly fell off it.
It broke down frequently. I had my RAC 3 call outs every year that I owned it. In contrast The Mighty Vectra only required rescue once in 5 years (alternator) that wasn’t entirely down to me. The other two were as a result of parking facing up a slope with no diesel in the tank and ripping the under tray off the engine in a massive pot hole (on consecutive days). My SMax hasn’t so much as burped in 3 years / 40,000 miles.
There is no way that I would put my family in it. Even if I didn’t crash it myself I wouldn’t want to get rear ended by somebody in a bigger and more rigid vehicle.
After doing a thousand miles in it over the course of a week’s holiday in Cornwall me and the missus bought a new car the day after we got back. Unfortunately it was a Fiat Bravo.
It was a hoot to own though. Something I’m glad I did when I was in my 20s but I’d not one to have one now.
*Apart from this one was mint and mine was ruined… by me.
Me and a mate bought an escort Mexico for £250, guy wanted £500 but the exhaust was really rattley, on our second visit, amazing what a handful of gravel can do.
We eventually broke and sold it for bits, made a profit, last part was the scrappy taking the shell for £50.
First car was one of these, J reg. Cost me £200 and I put nudge bars front and back and lots of spot lights on the front. You could open the door and start it with a flat head screwdriver. Think I managed 75mph out of it one day.
Then one of these when I was 19, both drove like go-carts, corned very well, both very underpowered. I had 3 of those X1/9s, liked them for some reason … would I have any now, NO
Not mine but my grandad had a blue Vauxhall Viva, a HB I think, we loved that car… I’d not want to recreate it though- I want a 2 door, maybe a HC or a (non-droop) Firenza/Magnum coupe. Little tiny pony car. (there was a factory smallblock v8…)
By the time I have space and money to build this stupid dream car, they’ll all have crumbled to dust though
I did and after a 5 year restoration I’ve never looked back. I just love the smell of the cheap vinyl as things start to get warm – it takes me back to my youth! Yes breakdowns aren’t fun but it is usually obvious and can be mended at the roadside. I will be buried in my golf if my son doesn’t want it!
Here it is obscuring the view of my mates mexico 😀
Bought one in 1987 when I started work and it’s the one car I have always regretted selling, (for an XR2!). Did a search last year and it’s still ‘alive’ but now painted white.
A friend of friend has one and I’ve told him to come and see me first if he ever wants to sell it.
A lot of love for Mk1 Golf’s, here is my old one. Built up almost 20 years ago to exactly what I wanted.
It was my dream car and everything done to exactly my way of thinking. Single wiper, relocated mirrors, flush rear end with Zender 3 piece spoiler. It had a perfect grey and black interior and tinted glass all round. Best of all, 2ltr 16v engine and cable change box. Wheels have changed as I had G60 BBS wheels but not far off.
Let it go at the time for a Mk3 VR6 (which was faster and sounded better) but have missed it since the day it went.
Had the chance to buy it back last year as it came up for sale on Ebay. Now I love this car, it was my everything for 18 months when I was 19/20.
Sadly the owners since have destroyed it. Turned into a track car so the interior was stripped, roll cage installed, big bucket seats and cut out parts of the dash meant that to restore it back to its former glory would have meant too much. I was gutted!!
Owned this for a little while before realising it was going to end up knackered if I kept it. Such a shame I didn’t just garage it!! I think it’s still around somewhere, would love to know what state it’s in
My first car was a 1961 mini, I bought when I was 16 (in 1977) from a car mechanic. It had an MG 1100 engine, wide wheels and flared arches. I had it sprayed black, but not before I drove it around (illegally) for best part of a year with its red oxide primer coat.
Anyway, despite now owning some great cars since, inc my current RS4, I had more fun in that car than any other. I’d love another one.
Loving looking at the pics of the old Polos, Golfs and of course the lessor Hot Hatches 😉
My Kid Brother had a G40, I was always pretty envious of it, my Golf was slightly quicker, but pretty run of the mill compared to that, but I still think nostalgia is best left in the past.