Thanks Owen, it looks Very interesting, will have a proper search through it later. That was my first SAAB got it off my brother, as I have with my present one. I took these at the Bicester Airfield Heritage Centre 2023.
Realistically speaking, it's actually a motorcycle with too many wheels At least a crate of beer just fits in the trunk - otherwise the type would not have been certified in Germany
Not my own first or favourite cars, but my brother, Paul’s. I call him the family car guru. There’s zero he doesn’t know. I apologise if some of the photos aren’t super clear, they are photos of old photos, which is always difficult with reflections and shadows. First, his 1962 Anglia 105E, in 1972. This was his very first car. It turned out to be quite rusty. That’s him sitting on the roof, and it is the only photo of that car. It was snapped after it had been stolen in Lewisham, so no hubcaps! This is his “Purbeck Grey” Cortina Mk2 1300. The damage you can see to the door is after it got hit when he took it on a track evening at Brands Hatch. I quote Paul’s own words “a twat in a Morgan sports car lost control coming out of a bend, got on the grass and came across and T-boned my car, which greatly upset me. He wasn't even very apologetic.” Apparently it got stolen three weeks after he sold it and was never seen again - my brother did tell the guy who bought it to put a Krooklock on it, but he didn't and… His next car was this, another Anglia 105E, a green big-wheeled rally type, which he tells me was a pain. He put two engines in it and it ate batteries. Then his 1960 Mk2 Ford Zodiac that he bought in 1997. He had it until about 2005. He was its third owner, it had done about 40,000 miles and he tells me it was lovely to drive. Smooth 2553cc straight six engine with three gears on the column (aka “three on the tree”). He currently has a 1959 Chevrolet Impala and a 1959 Ford Anglia 105E. The Anglia he believes likely to be the oldest of its type still on the road here in the UK, as it was bought by its original purchaser just one week after the model was introduced. It is completely original, unrestored and has only 32700 miles on the clock. Paul is its third owner. He has showed his pride and joys at car shows for many a year now. Here they are in all their glory: More of his Impala next.
My brother loves cars, especially American cars of the 1950s. This is his first, bought in 1976 for a princely £35. It was a right-hand drive 1959 Chevrolet Impala that was sold new here, hence the RHD. Smooth 3858cc straight six engine with a two speed automatic, registration WXT4. This is his 1963 Ford Galaxie sedan with 6.4 litre V8. The not very expert photos were taken by yours truly: He has also owned a couple of Pontiacs, a red Buick, but cannot currently find his photos of those and I told him not to go to any trouble looking on my account, he has other things to do. Finally, here are more photographs of his current ‘59 Impala as I promised above. They were taken in Danson Park at the Bromley Pageant of Motoring, late 1990s. That’s our late mum and dad. The Chevy has a 348ci 5.7 litre V8 engine with triple carbs and four speed manual transmission. It had 280hp when new, but should have way more when the current rebuild that it is undergoing is done. He’s had it for 36 years. I confess that all the technical info here about the cars is from Paul, not me, I know nothing.
Photos of my own cars are likely stored away in boxes in the loft, but I do have some of my Dad’s. The first is my dad’s Morris 10 or 12, circa 1938. I already posted this one in another thread here… …but it belongs here really. My brother tells me dad liked the old Morris, first one he bought, in 1957, was a 1933 Morris 8. In the next photo, the lighter car on the left is dad’s yellow Ford Anglia 100E, probably the later 1957/58 version as it appears to have the mesh grille that was only introduced in October ‘57. The car on the right is my uncle’s grey Ford Popular 100E. The Anglia is the newer car mum urged him to buy instead of the Morris’s: Paul reckons my dad bought that Anglia in 1961. He ended up trading it in for a maroon Ford Cortina Mk I in, he thinks, September 1963. The Cortina is the first of our family cars I actually remember, but unfortunately I can’t find a photo of it. Apparently Dad had two maroon Mk I Cortinas. Next is his 1966 Mk3 Zephyr 4 in Purbeck Grey. I really liked the Zephyr. That’s dad and me in the photos: This is our 1971 Ford Cortina Mk III, 1600L, red with its black roof. The photo may have been taken at Butlins on a family holiday. Of my own cars, this is my absolute favourite, my 1981 blue Datsun Violet. Just never let me down, and a fantastic heater - funny the random things you remember! The last two photos I also posted already on the other thread, but, again, they really belong here. Managed to find photos of two other of my cars. First is my BMW435i, sold her last year, but she was a beauty, lovely to drive and very quick indeed. One of them is from the Ring doorbell, hence not great! I can’t believe I don’t have more of her. I was very sad to see her go, but that’s life. Last but not least, Sue’s and my 2003 Honda Accord I-VTEC Sport. We have only just sold her, a week ago, but what a car, one of the most comfortable I’ve ever been in and so reliable. She just kept going, we called her our battle bus. We miss her, but we just don’t have the money for two cars anymore.
My two 'keepers' - A 1950 Mercury that I cut a few inches out of the roofline, as is traditional with these cars - And my 1939 Ford Tudor which can either be an old ARP car or a Moonshiner's hotrod, depending on my mood! - Always loved old American cars and traditional hotords. Here is My Model A Ford I built some years back on Pendine Sands - And my 56 Ford owned 28 years!- Had many old British cars too, my first car being a black Mk2 Ford Consul in 1983, then Anglias, Victors, Wyvern, sit-up and beg Pop, Austin A35, etc.
The predecessor of my Roadster: ‘Tante Käthe’ (Aunt Katie) On the outside, an ordinary bread and butter Cinquecento with ‘without everything’ basic equipment. Under the bonnet was a souped-up 55 hp 900 OHV engine, plus a short 4-speed gearbox, shorter gearshift travel, shorter steering travel, 20% differential lock, wishbone struts, strut braces and a rock-hard sports suspension. On the straights, every housewife in a hurry would leave me standing with her VW Polo Diesel. But on narrow, winding roads, you were only in competition with courageous motorcyclists Unfortunately, the chassis became weak at some point and the vehicle went to a car mechanic friend as a spare parts collection
Most fun I've ever had in a car. Alas, got nicked (Apart from that time in the car park with Di) Much more fun than the MGB I later had.
I too love the BIG old Yank Tanks from the 50s and 60s also various types from the 30s and 40s. Often see plenty at our local Car Fete's during the Summertime.
I always wanted a Golf GTi and finally got a Mk IV in 2005. Standard, 1.8 turbo.....which then had a larger turbo fitted, and I had remapped. Came in at just under 280 bhp....on a relatively small car, was ridiculously quick.
Triumph 2.5 pi Smooth straight six cylinder engine automatic 3 speed box. Took off like a rocket, fast in its day. Sold to buy the carpets for our new house in 1979. Rover 825 Quick and comfortable but cost a fortune in repairs. Sold when a front wheel came of when going over a speed bump. Bottom ball joint had corroded the day after a mechanic told me it would pass the MoT. Skoda Fabia 1.2 automatic has supercharge and turbo, acceleration is a bit of a surprise, nearest to my old Triumph 2.5pi Useful for taking rubbish to the tip and a myriad of family jobs.
Fairy bike with solid tyres: went over handlebars ( only front-wheel brakes ). Three stitches in chin, Leeds General Infirmary, 1955 ish. Not the best bike, might suit child riding over carpet, very gently. Hercules boy's bike in pink. Gravel rash after cornering on fresh gravel. Short trousers. Good fun. Triumph Palm Beach. 3 speed Sturmey Archer. No mishaps. Moulton with 4-speed Sturmey Archer, which was a hopeless hub, always finding the gap between gears. Rear suspension broke. Not a classic, modern ones cost a fortune. Front spring not that good an idea. A Taiwan built folding bike - interesting design, very low crossbar, very cheap materials indeed. Kansi - Taiwan built folding bike - arched crossbar, rear wheel rim fell apart, may rebuild one day. Shimano hub very good, 9 speed would be better than 3 speed I've got. Brompton 3 speed with 2 speed derailleur and minus 12% chainring. Reinforced tyres very hard to change. Excellent brakes, never bind, Sturmey Archer change never missed, too expensive to leave locked up, so not a "pub" bike. Handling so-so. Vespa 125 cc bought for £7 in blue. Took off "blister" on nearside, engine cover, leg guards - handy bit of metal to rest foot on for foot brake. "Mods" and "Rockers" idea - we lived in Brighton in the 1960's. Had "motorbike" handlebars, no fairing, so early one - example in light green was in old Museum of London before they started refurbishing museum. Never ran properly but learnt a lot from it. Passed test on a borrowed NSU scooter. Strange thing. Was I insured properly - "owner's consent" ? Honda 100cc (?) belonged to my late sister's boyfriend. Lent it to me to keep me out of the way. Had an electric start. Only used off-road. Great fun. Honda 90cc. Borrowed again, tremendous.. Good handling, I thought, if locked up rear brake just went sideways a bit. Honda 90cc much later bought for 50 pence. Had been very badly maintained. Fell off it, more gravel rash, applying front brake too hard. Never roadworthy. 1961 Anglia 997 c.c. Super car, but carburetor had a "flat-spot", so if you negotiated a simple turn in town in 2nd gear it would take two or three seconds to pick up again. No synchromesh on 1st gear. Suitable for mild tuning. Very predictable handling. Cross-ply tyres. Learnt how to drive on packed snow, rear-end stepping out, front wheel slides, on local streets. 1968 Ford Escort 1100 c.c. Gear change a revelation. Handling very predictable. Early mini with wandering stick gear lever, enormous fun. BMC minibus.. No oomph with choke out. Would struggle up Bear Hill, Brighton. Driven regularly in this century, Saab 95 - a Vauxhall-based Saab, handling ok, no turn-in, Volvo S40 ( very expensive diesel emissions thingey-me-bobs ) based on a Ford Focus chassis, good turn-in. Both diesel, economical. Honda S that looked like a Rover 400, superb engine. Honda Jazz, excellent car but chassis jiggles. Handling unpredictable, don't seek the limit. Atkinson-cycle engine very economical. A van. Like it a lot. Standard 8 - had a problem ( bought from a medical student): nice car, Triumph Toledo, nothing special, Allegro 1100 c.c., very predictable handling, really needed oil changes at 3,000 miles but a very good car. Allegro 1500, gear change a nightmare, Mini Metro - told you exactly where the limit was - exhaust valves burnt on unleaded despite alleged hardening. Mini Metro with Honda engine held top to bottom with four bolts, handling good, safety in bodyshell appallingly bad - front end knock at 7 mph wrecked it. Cylinder head gasket problems. Cortina Mk. III 1300 c.c. Needed bigger engine. Vauxhall Corsa cabriolet - T registered.. Very few in UK, probably converted in Holland but old Holden company in Australia made the "Barina" lookalike. Bought in 2006 on 27,000 miles and covered 90,000 miles in it. 1400 c.c. engine. Needed a gasket from E Bay to keep it going. Doesn't go above 70 mph, doesn't stop that well, very bouncy, handling predictable, not very economical but the E Bay gasket improved it, Tachometer often doesn't work, appearance very tatty inside and out. Great car. I had a Mk II Golf that suffered from carburetor icing but the handling was unfathomable. Citroen BX with 1.9 diesel was a very good car indeed. Everything rusts. I prefer trains and bicycles. I would like a Fiat Topilino, and an early Fiat Panda 4wd. I don't like large cars much. Triumph 2.5 pi automatic was o.k. but large. Best car ever driven a friend's very light conversion of a 1935 Lagonda Rapier with blower, pre-selector gearbox, accelerator and brake pedals in swopped places. Very fast, but terrible ex-Austin 7 seats. Handling a bit wobbly: a later rebuild revealed large crack in the chassis. Keep safe on the roads, chaps, that mad bloke going slow on a Brompton may be coming around the next corner.
My Austin Healey Sprite Mk III I loved that car. It must have hit a tree in an earlier life; hence the fibre-glass front and the Austin 1100 grill. It would have benefited from a 5th gear or over-drive, as it was easy to red-line in 4th at 90mph.
My first car was one of these, but in Grey. A Great little ''First Car'' for any new driver. Got mine a couple of months before passing my test, Second time though. In 1974 there wasn't much waiting between failing, and getting another date set. Not long after passing my test in November, four of us went out on a Foggy Saturday night, after a few beers, and on our way to Oxford we hit a large muddy bank and rolled over ... before any Police arrived we got it back on it's wheels, but Both door handles had been knocked off, so I managed to break-open the small window to get in, got it started, and drove home ! After that I quickly bought a Ford Anglia, with the sloping rear window, a Very Basic Model. The one with the front grill as part of the body, not a shiny chrome one, but it lasted qiute a while. On our way to the Pictures one wet Saturday night, my mate in the front said his feet felt wet, we stopped to have a look, sure-enough there was about 2'' of water on his side Home we went again ! Next car was a Wonderful Austin A40
