What have you driven in the past?

[cfesmire]

As an adjunct to "what do you drive" I wanted to hear about the vehicles you all have owned in the past. Now that I am older and have more pressing demands on my financial resources, I drive less interesting (read-more practical) vehicles. But in the past I have had the opportunity to own:
1949 Hudson Ambassador
1955 Ford Fairlane (a screamer 2 dr. with a 289 c.i. V8)
1958 Corvette
1962 Jaguar XK120 (yep, if I had it today, I wouldn't work)
1964 Triumph Spitfire
1967 Triumph GT6
1964 Jeep CJ 5 (believe it or not another screamer with Buick alum block V6)
1972 Lincoln Continental (bought new, big mistake, owned for 5 months, hated it)
1972 Mercury Montego
1971 Ford Pinto wagon (best car I ever owned, 13 yrs)
1976 Dodge Ram 4x4
1981 Chevy C30 pu 4x4
1949 Dodge pu
1984 F100 pu
1985 Ford F350 pu 4x4 (300K miles plus!)
1986 Chevy C10 4x4
1989 Ford Ranger pu 4x4 (also 300K miles)
1989 Chevy Suburban 4x4 ( bought new, worst car I ever owned)
1999 & 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee (all wheel, like track machines in snow)
2002 Dodge Ram 1500 pu 4x4
Sadly, the Spitfire is the only one I have in a model and it is in 1:43.
I particularly want to hear from our European members on this one. Thanks.
Chester

[stanhas87]

Dear Sirs:

I drove-rather,learned to drive with that vehicle-1969 Chevrolet Kingswood wagon.Since I do like Station Wagons (not SUVs) I got a 1975 Dodge Coronet wagon.It was a very sweet drive,but not reliable (Chrysler notorious electrical problems).Next,I graduated to a 1970 Buick Le Sabre (sweet in the freeway,excellent brakes).Finally,it was the 1988 Aries.

[only87]

I do not have a car at this moment because I don't need one. But in the past I was a Mercedes guy:

'75 Mercedes 200 Diesel (dark blue)
'72 Mercedes 200 Diesel (dark green with beige roof)
'68 Mercedes 200 Diesel (light blue)
'84 Mercedes 190 E (grey with light blue front bumper!)
'69 Mercedes 220 Diesel (grey)

I loved these cars, except the 190, which was horrible. All were cheap, rusty and reliable, except the 190, which was expensive and good looking but IT broke down.
I have made miniatures of them in 87th scale, perhaps I put them on my site.

But right now I'm a bit annoyed by Mercedes cars after having five of them.
I catched a virus for italian and french sportscars from my brother who owns a Lancia Beta Montecarlo (and had other italian stuff). But should be a sedan for me. I'm quite excited about my next car...

[h0collector]

I have not owned many cars in my past. New cars are very expensive here in Norway due to import taxes etc. and those new cars I would like buy, are just unrealistic from my point of view (unless I should think of the smallest sub-sub-sub compact you can imagine , OR I can get a well paid, steady job
This also have some influence on the used car prices, and many of us with a rather poor economy have their cars for many years, often until it more or less falls into pieces or the rust has eaten up most of it. With an average age of more than 10 years, I think Norway must have Europe's oldest car park.

Here are the few cars I have owned in the past, before my current '86 Honda;

1968 AMC Rambler Rebel 4-dr (main problem with this car was the engine exchange (from a straight 6 to a V-8) by the previous owner, causing a lot of problems with the registration) - no model (any scale) yet, but I'm thinking about a 1/87 project.
1973 Peugeot 404 4-dr (I still have this one, but there is a lot of work to get this back on the road again, I will probably let this one go too) - excellent 1/87 models from Brekina (they even makes it in Bordeaux wine red, just like my 1/1 404, thanks a lot Brekina, I just love you ! )
1975 Datsun (Nissan) Cherry 100 A 2-dr (a very economic and relaiable car) - I have made a 1/87 model based on a Eko Fiat 850).
1979 Plymouth Volare 4-dr (Of those I have had, this is the one I have been most satisfied with, but problem with the rust, so I let it go a few years ago) - as with the Rebel, no model (any scale) yet, but I'm thinking of a 1/87 project of this (and the Dodge Aspen equivalent) too.

In addition I have owned several motorcycles (no Harleys), and I really like this new trend with many nice MC's in 1/87 also. I just hope somebody will make a Kawazaki in 1/87, my only real big motorcycle so far.
At the moment I have only one motorized two-wheeler;
a small Vespa scooter. This is very convenient for city use (covered engine, small wheels, rapid accelerations, very fuel-efficient, no toll-pass fees in our city) - and I have it in 1/87 also (Preiser model).

[stanhas87]

Dear Sirs:

I forgot-again.I also had a 1991 Caprice for a short while,black on black.I swear you,this is a baby Cadillac and at the time when you go by,the cops will not give a second glance.I swear you,it beats the heck of any Taurus or Aries.........................

[superba]

You asked for it:

Old cars driven as everyday cars from the 70's todate

1956 DeSoto Firedome V8
1958 Dodge Coronet
1963 Plymouth Belvedere
1968 Chevy Impala
1958 Plymouth Suburban Wagon
1967 Oldsmobile Delmount 88
1977 Plymouth Fury
1960 Hillman Minx
1960 Studebaker Lark VIII
1977 Dodge Diplomat

New Cars since the Eighties

1979 Dodge Omni
1980 Chevy Impala
1980 Dodge Aries
1981 Dodge O24
1982 Camaro
1983 Chevy Celebrity
1983 Ford Crown Victoria LTDS Police Package
1986 Dodge Omni
1987 Dodge Shadow
1991 Plymouth Acclaim
1995 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon
1998 Lincoln Town Car
2000 Ford Excursion
2003 Jeep Liberty

Fed up with new cars and depreciation

1962 Plymouth Savoy
1962 Dodge Dart

Play things

1960 Vespa 2 stroke
1962 Studebaker Lark Daytona
1964 Studebaker Marshal
1957 Checker Drivermatic Special
1958 Checker A9
1960 Checker A9
1956 Checker Standard

32 cars over twentysix years. I still own seven of them.

Joe

[skunk]

Some comments on your own cars first:

Superba, I have never met anyone who owned, by their own volition, a Dodge 024. I don't really know why, it wasn't too bad looking.

I myself have only owned four cars:

Chevrolet Turbo Sprint (1st gen Suzuki Swift, 1.0 Turbo. Lots of fun)
Peugeot 505 Turbo S
Jeep Wrangler
Mazda Protégé5 (= 323F 2.0 Sport)

Due to wallet limitations I can have much more fun in smaller scales!

[stanhas87]

Dear Joe:

I just loved your selection of cars.Dodge Diplomat.Plymouth Fury.Roadmaster (the new ones;I did loved these,too;Collectable automobile had an article on these).Ford LTD police car,and Checkers.Just perfect,I swear you.By the way,if you do not mind:which are the seven ones that you still have?

Nick K

[superba]

Skunk:

The Dodge 024 was actually a Charger 2.2, I used to autocross it, it was a great car

Nick

In terms of what I still have:

1962 Dodge Dart Original great shape
1964 Studebaker Marshal Restord
1962 Studebaker LArk Daytona Restored
1956 Checker A8 Standard stored for future restoration
1957 Checker A8 Drivermatic Special restored
1958 Checker A9 almost restored, should be finished this summer
1960 Checker A9 Stored for later restoration

I forgot to mention the 1977 Fury was a Police Pursuit with a 400 Cubic inch V8

I made national news with the 1983 Ford LTDS, but that's another story for another web site.

Joe

[tdawk]

This is where you have to confess your age !

1963 Ford Consul Classic 315 (Eko/John Day)
1963/4 Triumph Herald Saloon (Driving instruction)
1964 Triumph Vitesse (my father's car) - my joint favourite car and sadly written of in an accident with a milk tanker on my way back from school. - EFE in 1/76
1965-7 Hillman Imp (my mother's car) - minix
1965-72 Bond Equipe GT 2 + 2 (my father's car)
1964-67 Mini Van (good for snogging - if you had cushions in the back) Springside (a dreadful model to make) - and ,yes, Jens I would be interested in one.
1967 VW Beatle
1967/70 Mini
1970/74 Triumph Herald 1360 Convertable
1972/85 Alfa Romeo GT Junior (my mothers)
1974/1986 MGB GT ( the other joint favourite)
1972/1980 Bedford TK (driven from time to time and worth a mention) - my favorite Commercial.
1980/1985 I used to hire a Bedford Van from a local hire firm on many occasions (Wiking)
1970/7 My wife's 1100 (minix)
1977/80 My wife's Escort (Herpa) - an written off in another accident with a lorry.
1980/85 Ford Fiesta (my wife) the correct one is a BS Design kit
1984/ 1985 Ford Orion / Sierra (Company Cars)
1985/89 Volvo 360 GLT
1985/2003 2 Volvo 340s (my wife again)
1989/96 BMW 325i SE (Wiking and Herpa but not in the correct colour)
1996/2004 BMW 328i ( I have the correct shape and colour at last !) Herpa.

1974/1980 Various Tractors and Fork Lift Trucks from time to time.

Also various others that I did not drive for any length of time.

- And you must have deduced my age by now. -

[cfesmire]

tdawk,
You could be very young, driving a lot of old cars but my guess is you may be starting on a grey hair or two. Last Herald I saw was in the late sixties with a surfboard sticking straight up in the air (thought perhaps the driver was trying to catch a backdraft)
What is "snogging"?
Chester

[tdawk]

cfesmire said:

tdawk,
You could be very young, driving a lot of old cars but my guess is you may be starting on a grey hair or two. Last Herald I saw was in the late sixties with a surfboard sticking straight up in the air (thought perhaps the driver was trying to catch a backdraft)
What is "snogging"?
Chester

Hello Chester,

A grey hair or two would be quite accurate. I 've also got one of those dreadful grey beards persons of ' a certain age' tend to spout.

I should emphasise that dates were the dates I drove the cars not the actual date of manufacture of the cars.

It looks as though we may have driven similiar cars for a while in the 60's if you haven't been driving a lot of old cars. The Triumph Herald Convertable was a fabulous car to look at and drive, however, it had no performance compared with either the Vitesse or the Bond. I proceded to flog it to bits, my father had previously banned me from driving the VW Beetle for much the same reason.

I have been trying to get together a collection of all the cars / lorries my family / friends / our business owned over the years in model form. - my normal hobby is a model railway which is suffering a bit as a result.

Tom Dawkins


'Snogging' is the kind of activity that my wife would not approve me doing with anyone else. :-)

[cfesmire]

My father also put a ban on driving several of his automobiles. He owned a 1968 Chrysler 300 that had the most impressive 440 cu in Magnum engine. I tried often to compete on par with late 60's 'muscle cars' with it.
My Hudson qualified for snogging, if I read that correctly, in the U.S. the drive-in movie theatre was popular for this activity.
I grew up in a very rural area and was candidate for a drivers license at 14 yrs. of age. I also was banned that young from much of the farm equipment (specifically a International R190 dump truck) as I treated most of what I drove as if I were at sanctioned racing competitions. The local police had an extensive file of my antics.

[Cor_DutchArt]

I'll give it a try:

I started with a
1956 V.W.1200 Beatle Export
Then followed a
1961 Fiat 1500
1973 Sunbeam 1250 TC (Hillman Avenger Estate) NEW
Fiat 850 Sport Coupe (After 2 months hard work on it he was stolen and parked in a telephon Box.
Morris Mini 850 (2x)
Peugeot 204 Station wagon
Citroën 2 CV
Citroën Dyane
Citroén AZU 250
Citroën AK 400
Citroën Ami 8
1981 Citroën 2CV Club (With square headlights) NEW
Peugeot 104
1972 Toyota Corolla
V.W. Jetta II One of the few German Cars of wich is no model available
Renault 5 Express (Present car)
DAF 44 (2x)
DAF 55
DAF 66
Volvo 66

I think some cars are forgotten but this is already my first list

Keep them between the lines!

Cor

[50scars]

Cfesmire: are you sure that the Hudaon you had wasn't a Comodore? Nash had Ambasador and Statesman in those years, They were great for killing mail boxes when I delivered Newspapers to rural Boxes. 55 Ford Fairlane had either a 6 of about 232 CI, I don't recall exactly, or the V-8 of 272 or 292. The 289 didn't see light of day until 1964, and it was a totally different design from the Y block 272, 292, 312.
Jaguar CK 120 ended about 1954, when they came up with the XK 140, then the XK-150 about 1958. I had all of them but got rid of them when the value of my 3 parts cars exceeded my annual income.
Cars I have had, and got rid of, mainly because they were junk: At the time, they were called kid's cars--the car your daughter's date drove:
47 Ford Convertible
49 Mercury Coupe
50 Ford Club Coupe
51 Pontiac Catalina
50 Dodge 4 door sedan
48 MGTC
50 Nash Statesman
48 Dodge 8 Passenger sedan
55 Mercury Monterey 4 door sedan
55 Chevy Bel Air 2 door sedan
56 Chevy 2 door sedan
57 Chevy 2 door sedan
56 Mercury 4 door hardtop
57 Mercury 4 door hardtop
58 Edsil 4 door hardtop
57 Ford Ranch wagon
58 Ford Ranch Wagon
60 Valiant
63 Falcon Convertible
66 Old 98 Luxury Sedan
68 Chevy Nova 2 door sedan
69 Chevy Biscayne 2 door sedan]
70 Chevy Bel air 4 door sedan
71 chevyBel Air 4 door sedan]
72 Chevy Bel Air 4 door sedan
72 Chevy Impala 4 door hardtop
76 Suburu. Guess what--Impala works best going backwards in the snow--Suburu is frontwheel drive--works best going frontwards We lived in Michigan.
73 Chevy 4 door sedan airbag experimental car
73 Chevy 4 door hardtop -non air bag car
75 Chevy Chevelle 4 door sedan
77 Chevy Nova 4 door sedan
79 Chevy Mailbu 4 door sedan
78 Ford LTD 2 door
79 Ford Grenade ( couldn't avoid that, most unsatisfactory car I ever had)
80 Ford Foulmount (Couldn't avoid that either, second most unsatisfactory car I ever had)
80 Fiesta. We moved to Illinois. In MIchigan, the Suburu dealer was there, and the car was under guarantee. In Illinois, there was no Subaru dealer. Try drioving at night when the headlight switch is broke. Trouble it, it was another Ford--a four letter word for piece of ...
81 Ford Escort station wagon Actually a heck of a great car. It only needed 3 wheels on the ground to go where you intended it to go. If you drive Illinois secondary roads, you know what I am talking about.
83 Escort. This one had EFI. In additon to only needing 3 wheels on the road, to go where you pointed it, it would go like H-e double toothpicks. I had a drinking buddy who was a state cop. We got on the freeway one night and played fast car--I got off the freeway at the exit 10 miles from where we started, and he didn't see me leave. He was driving a LeBaron.
85 Crown Victoria I brought this car home, and realized I had made a mistake--Escorts didn't recognise side winds, but the 85 reincarnation of the 65 Ford Fairlane sure did. I battled that car 130,000 miles, until the it threw the engine damper through the underside of the hood, really messing things up.
87 Crown Victoria .They didn't learn anything, but it was about all that dealer had on the lot that said Ford, so I took it, since I was on foot, and the fleet manager told me to go to the local dealer and get me another Ford. He wouldn't let me get a Mercury, where I would have had some choice, and for less money. At 120,000 miles, I had another engine damper come off the end of the crank.
89 Taurus. 50,000 mile fleet throwaway car. Had they tossed the car at 50,000 miles, it would have been a good car. At 75,000 it was time to get rid of it because it was troublesome. At 100,000, simply taking the plates off and leaving it on the side of the road would have been a profitable idea. To keep it running to 125,000 cost more than the blue book value of the car.
92 Taurus I do not understand why they continued to buy Tauruses. This one burned up in my driveway because I pushed it out of my garage one night and let it burn. One of our adjusters had an identical one, and it burned down her garage with a $24,000 GMC pickup in it. Most of the 92 Tauruses my company bought burned. I did a paper for a maintenence of certification class, using actual company statistics, and determined that that if you intend to drive a car past 80,000 miles, the Crown Victoria is the Ecomomy car. The truck based SUVs are even better because people will pay real money for one with 150,000 miles on it, where they shy away from a Crown Vic with 150,000 miles on it. I know for a fact that Crown Vics will go 250,000 miles before they get costly. We don't buy Focus or Taurus anymore.
93 Crown Victoria got it off a home office exec--had it a couple years, wanted a different color. Gave it to my teen age son as his first car.
94 Crown Victoria another used executive car. Daughter got that one.
94 Crown Victoria Another used executive car Love that leather interior. Gave it to #1 son and sold his car for more than I had it in.
96 Crown Vic Gave #1 daughter this one, and gave #3 kid her's. The kids get the car at 150,000 miles+, and drive them to around 200,000, then we sell them off as running cars for p[retty much what we have in them as depreciated company cars.
Number one son is now in San Diego, and he has a market for Old Crown Victorias among San Diego cab drivers. They love getting a Crown vic with a leather interior with 200,00 miles that is not a clapped out cop car. they pay what we consider premium prices for them.
That is where the 97, and the 98, and the 99 went.
Wife had an 80 Pontiac Bonneville, an 88 Chevy Astro, a 95 chevy Astro, a 2000 GMC Siera, and a 2003 Kia Sorento.
The collector vehicles currently here are 31 Franklin, 49 jeepster, 50 Ford, 51 Pontiac, 53 Chrylser, 55 mercury, and 56 Imperial. I have recently sold 57 Mercury, 54 Pontiac, 63 Falcon, 63 Meteor, 61 Pontiac.