Your cars in the 60's and 70's?

[Buckman]

Following on from the thread regarding passing your test and what car, I thought it would be nice if members who were driving in the 60's and 70's could discuss their first, second and third cars bought after they had passed their driving licence.
My first car was the 1959 Ford Zephyr MK2 followed by a the Ford Cortina Mk1 and a Fiat 500 which I had at the same time to get additional petrol coupons. At a much later stage I had a 1966 Ford Corsair with column gear shift, but with a bit more luxury.

 

[Beachball]

Due to my poor memory I have problems being able to remember the order of cars I 've had, have good experiences with them but unable to put these in context like so many things in my life.

 

[otherclive]

Ford Zephyr 6, Humber Hawk, Mini Van. Then followed by AJS CSR, prior to son being born.

 

[Hutch]

Started with a Vauhall Victor Mk1, then two Austin A40s, cut and shut into 1 car, Rover 3litre, then a Rover 3.5 P5, and a Sumbeam Tiger 4.2 MK2.

 

[Jcloughie]

Anglia 100e, then 105e then 105e estate, Morris Marina, Mark 3 Zephyr, Mark 4 Zodiac. MG, ZA. Opel Record Coupe Fiat Mirafori 131.

John

 

[Buckman]

Anglia 100e, then 105e then 105e estate, Morris Marina, Mark 3 Zephyr, Mark 4 Zodiac. MG, ZA. Opel Record Coupe Fiat Mirafori 131.

John

If I remember correctly the Zodiac MkIV had the spare wheel in the engine compartment? Apparently they were not very nice to drive for some reason. Perhaps the rear end did not hold very well when cornering? Didn't the police in the UK use them for a short while?

 

[otherclive]

If I remember correctly the Zodiac MkIV had the spare wheel in the engine compartment? Apparently they were not very nice to drive for some reason. Perhaps the rear end did not hold very well when cornering? Didn't the police in the UK use them for a short while?

Yes, and we did for our wedding cars too.

 

[Beachball]

Started with a Hillman Imp, Renault 4 , Ford Cortina ,& Fiat Mirafiori

 

[Raywood]

Started with a 1947 Wolseley. It had been used by a funeral director for as a funeral car and seemed to have got used to the idea of travelling at 20 mph.
Its most useful accessory was a self jacking system. You lifted a hatch in front of the passenger seat and it would an hydraulic system to bring down four legs one behind each wheel. The heater was basically a fan in the front passenger well looking like the ones at the front of busses in those days.

 

[Kevin M]

I wasn’t driving until 1980 so can’t give any info.
My classic car was tho, I’ve had it for around 7 years now, first registered in 1965

 

[Jcloughie]

If I remember correctly the Zodiac MkIV had the spare wheel in the engine compartment? Apparently they were not very nice to drive for some reason. Perhaps the rear end did not hold very well when cornering? Didn't the police in the UK use them for a short while?

Mine drove OK, strangely can’t remember where the spare was, but people used to say it had a football pitch for a bonnet. It had a floor change but would jump out of gear every time the accelerator was released. I managed to fit a second hand box. It suffered from the Ford ‘V’ engine problem of, catching fire. A friend had a Corsair that it happened to. He was a learner diver and I was sitting in with him. We stopped in traffic on a slight hill and he asked, “what do we do now” I said “get out, it’s on fire”! A small stream of water ran down from under the rear. The cars behind panicked thinking it might have been petrol.

On my Zodiac. I parked outside the house, 2 mins later a neighbour was knocking on the door to tell me it was on fire. The fire brigade said it was common. This is because the distributor is mounted in the V with the carburettors, fumes will settle in the V and there is sometimes a latent spark.

John

 

[Thingy]

First ever car was a Morris Traveller. Then Vauxhall VX4/90 and followed that up with Mk 1 Escort.

 

[Gabsgrandad]

My 1st. car paid 29 quid for it ran it a year, bought 1963, think it was a 53. 1172cc side valve engine. Ran it for a year +, got more for it than I paid for it. (Only time ever!) Wipers stopped when going uphill, worked on manifold vacuum. Cranking handle came in handy a few times! -- Back seat a 'fair' courting size though!
r

 

[Beachball]

My 1st. car paid 29 quid for it ran it a year, bought 1963, think it was a 53. 1172cc side valve engine. Ran it for a year +, got more for it than I paid for it. (Only time ever!) Wipers stopped when going uphill, worked on manifold vacuum. Cranking handle came in handy a few times! -- Back seat a 'fair' courting size though!
r View attachment 1433

Nice Car

 

[Hutch]

My 1st. car paid 29 quid for it ran it a year, bought 1963, think it was a 53. 1172cc side valve engine. Ran it for a year +, got more for it than I paid for it. (Only time ever!) Wipers stopped when going uphill, worked on manifold vacuum. Cranking handle came in handy a few times! -- Back seat a 'fair' courting size though!
r View attachment 1433

Rear seat must have been huge then. 😂 Those were the days eh. All good fun.

 

[PTA]

1968 Mini, 1970 Vauxhall Vive, 1972 Austin Allegro 1500 (which, unusually, was quite reliable).

 

[PaulT]

1st car was a Ford Prefect 107E (558 AXP) then a Ford Corsair 2000E (RYP 480E) then a Ford Cortina 1600E (CYX 419H). I could carry on but OH will think I'm sad for remembering not only the cars but the reg numbers as well!!

 

[Dustydog]

1963 Bond Mk G Twin Estate, 1964 MG1100. 1967 Triumph TR4A, 1963 Austin A35 Van, Ford Cortina MK 1 1200,. Got married and went downhill😁😁😁

 

[Beachball]

1963 Bond Mk G Twin Estate, 1964 MG1100. 1967 Triumph TR4A, 1963 Austin A35 Van, Ford Cortina MK 1 1200,. Got married and went downhill😁😁😁

DD What went downhill the Cars ?

 

[Dustydog]

Women and aborted engagements!

 

[Beachball]

Women and aborted engagements!

DD unsure what that means !

 

[Dustydog]

Misbehaving but fun😜😜😜

 

[otherclive]

DD unsure what that means !

It took him a long while to find the right one

 

[Mel]

Too young to drive in the 1960s ( smug emoji). But my parents had one of the first baby Fiats. They packed me and my brother and about 4 of our friends and cousins in it. The sunroof was a major novelty and we took turns standing up in the middle with our heads out through it whilst my Dad was driving. No seatbelts of course.
My first car in the 70s was an Austin Allegro. Loved it. Gearbox was like stirring porridge.
Held together with plastic padding (remember that?) and chicken wire because in them days the sills all rotted.
Mel

 

[Thingy]

DD unsure what that means !

He may prefer Werthers Originals but theres nowt like a good root round in a tin of Quality Street.

Does it need explaining?