Mostly OT but there is a picture of an MGA dash.......
I was mostly into LBCs then, MG TD and later XK140 but most guys I knew were into this.
http://thefiftiesandsixties.com/CarsWeDrove.htm
Even if it's off topic might be fun to find out what folks here drove back in the day. For my part, first car was a Morris Minor 1000 (my very first 'conversion') that received a small block following a blown motor. Then, in no particular order, Triumph TR-3, Jaguar MK1 sedan (a beast but I loved it), race-prepped 'bugeye' Sprite, AH 3000 and, finally, a '71 MGB. That's it for the British stuff. American iron included a '71 Z-28 (all Herb Thompsoned out), various hotrods from mild to wild, '53 Pontiac station wagon (complete w/indian chief that lit up and 'wood' sides), '49 Willys Overland (would go anywhere), '57 Dodge Power Wagon (former Forest Service vehicle bought at auction), and one of the first Ford Contour SVT's. Current ride is FFR Cobra w/small block (no side pipes, no roll bar, no hood scoop - strictly street) and, of course, the 'B' project (still in the building the motor stage).
71 Valiant with a 318... After a few years, I added my 71 MGB-GT. Then, I owned a 63 Buick Special for about one week... but I only drove it once. (I was being towed at the end of a long chain, because the transmission was shot.)
A '67 LeMans that I shared with my brothers. Bone stock but it was a nice car. Then a '70 Cutlass Supreme that became a W.Va. road burner and which I would still have today if not for my first wife who shortly thereafter became my ex. There followed a motley assortment including 2 Toyota Landcruisers (one with a drop tailgate), a Datsun 1100 jungle pickup, a pair of Corvairs (one turbo'd convertible), a Galaxie 500, a push button Belvedere, a Toyota Tercel, and finally a '71 MGB followed by several other B's, all roadsters. For most of them the experiance wasn't a good one and they ended up as parts. But one moved on to a new home and one is still with me. In the meantime I also acquired a I-H Travelall for a beater which eventually was replaced by the Lincoln Blackwood pickup and that pretty well brings us up to date. Motorcycles filled in the gaps as well, including two Bonnevilles, a Tiger, an Atlas, a Water Buffalo, a 350SL, a DT400, and now an ironhead Sportster. That will continue to evolve.
I had many favorites. The MGB, the Travelall, the Cutlass, and the Blackwood being at the top and all for different reasons, though when it came to driving style the Cutlass and the V8-MG were the most similar. Though the MG is considerably faster, the Cutlass was great fun drifting through the turns on mountain roads. In fact, most of them were fun cars in one way or another, except the Plymouth, which was as dull as dirt (and repeatedly tried to kill me), and the Galaxie which was very forgettable. I wouldn't mind having another Cutlass, but I'm perfectly happy with what I have now. Or will be once the 340 swap is finished.
Jim
My first car was a 1964 MGB that my sister gave me. I fell hopelessly in love with it the first time I rode in it and she gave it to me for Christmas 4 years later in 1975. She's responsible for my present affliction.
After that, a base model '76 Rabbit that was light and quick, '78 Scirocco special that was neither. A '74 Super Beetle, '68 Beetle, '58 Beetle, '56 Beetle, '84 CRX ($6200 brand new and was lighter and quicker than the Rabbit. Great car), '66 Chevy II 6 cyl, '81 Monte Carlo, '71 MGB, '67 MGB-GT, '66 MGB (still own it), '68 MGB, another '71 MGB, '73 MGB, '93 240SX (another great car), '71 MGB-GT (ex-turbo then NA, now Buick 300 and still in the garage), solid '76 Mini pickup that I've only driven around the neighborhood and still own but needs a total refurb, '05 Ford F150 Lariat that I loved for about a week then grew to hate. (Put about 4k on it then parked it and later traded it.), '06 Subaru Outback XT (modded ecu, catless up and down pipes. Went like stink but my wife hated it so I traded it for an....) '06 Honda Ridgeline, '95 Honda Accord wagon still in the driveway with 78K on the odo (bought as a DD to save miles on the Ridgeline). I've flipped 20+ other MG's and small Healey's, a couple of TR7's (one with a 3.8 Buick) that I either drove very little or not at all. '72 Norton Commando, '71 Triumph Bonneville, '75 Triumph Bonneville, stripped '75 Honda Gold Wing, '72 Honda CB 350, '82 Yamaha Maxim 400, '62 Honda Cub 50, '03 Honda VTX 1800C. Oh yeah, living in the garage there's a really nice '75K original mileage '78 Midget that I refurbed 6 years ago for my father in law. He put about 600 miles on it and gave it to my wife last year. And about 10 company cars. One of the most enjoyable cars that I've ever driven is my wife's '04 MINI Cooper S. if you haven't driven one you should. One of the least is her '05 Durango. What a pile.
Edit: Ed's post reminded me of a few that I forgot.
'52 Chevy 4 door, '59 Bugeye with a factory hard top that I sold to pay attorney fees for a divorce, 1959 BSA Gold Star (Dad bought it for me when I was 16 and sold it 6 months later when he saw a kid hit a tree on a dirt bike), 1969 BSA B44 441 single, 1959 16' Fabuglas, 1975 Hydrostream Vandal w/135 Evinrude (14.5' long and the hull weighed 350 pounds. It would literally jump out of the water with a 19" prop), 1995 Bayliner 2050 LS with a Chevy 305 that I still own. It has less than 60 hours on it and I should probably sell it.
First was a 1957 Chevy (high school) then a 1970 Nova to my 1972 MG Midget to 1977 Pontiac Grand Prix.
Next was my 1978 Datsun 280Z, traded for a 1989 Nissan 200SX (mistake) which was soon sold for a 1990 Nissan 300ZX.
Sold it for a 1992 Jeep Cherokee Sport (got married). Traded it on a 1995 Nissan Pathfinder. Then Jean let me buy the 1996 Nissan 300ZX that I still have. I also drive a 2004 Ford F-150 heritage.
Add to this a 1969 MGB (sold after a year)...my 1978 MGB bought in 1986 (still have it)...my 1969 MGC bought in 1992 (still have it)...my 1974-1/2 MGB/GT bought in 2000 (still have it and SLOWLY converting it to a V8)...and my 1968 MGC (still have it).
In the interim, I've also had a 1986 Honda CRX and a 1990 Honda CRX (both used for winter cars)...and Jean has had a 1990 Nissan Maxima and currently drives a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer. She has developed "new car fever" over the past couple of weeks and I think I'll probably be buying another SUV for her in the near future.
I miss the 1957 Chevy, the 1978 Z-car, and the Midget. The CRX's were fun cars and I had badged them as MGs.
I hated the Nissan 200SX. The Grand Prix was a land yacht. My ex-wife rolled the Nova in a snow storm. I bought her a 1980 Honda Civic to replace it.
So...that's the "stable" and its empty/full stalls.
Neat stuff all.
Ok, I'll play also, being older has given me a long list. In order of purchase..........starting 1959...every one a story, may have forgotten some. God help us if someone looks over our life-time carbon footprint.
1954 Ford -6 cyl 3 on the tree
1952 MG TD -rebuilt motor myself, sold for $450 in good shape new owner totaled in 2 weeks hitting a cow
1949 Austin Devon A40 -1100cc series "B" block - bought for $40 drove to work until it didn't go anymore
1956 Jaguar XK-140 DHC -drove for a long time rebuilt motor started restoration that never got done
1960 Morris Minor - bought for $30 with bad rod bearing drove until it didn't go anymore
1956 Pontiac Star Chief -bought for $15 drove until battery stolen wasn't worth putting a new one in
1970 Opel GT 1900 -good car until the diff went out
1960 Bugeye Sprite -bought for $100 w/o engine or trans restored from various bits and below
1962 Sprite -driver while restoring Bugeye, then parts donor, gave rust-free body away for a 6 pack of beer
1965 Ford Econoline van -work truck bulletproof but ugly sold with business
1972 Lotus Europa Twin Cam -neat scooter but hated sealed Strombergs
1972 Datsun 240Z -back-up for Lotus
197? Pontiac -grey 4-door something company car
1981 Porsche 928S -company car when we started making more money
1982 Jeep Cherokee -full size 4wd -mountain car to cope with snow in SoCal
1984 Porsche 928 S4 -another company car
1990 Blazer -full size 4wd -replacement mountain car totaled when daughters boyfriend hit pole no one hurt
1956 Willys 4wd Wagon -390ci AMC V8 conversion -off road grunt
1992 Ford Bronco -full size 4wd -replaced Blazer
1968 Chevelle SS396 -LS6 454 Muncie 4-speed 4.11 diff -est 500hp w hefty cam solids Barry Grant 850 carb
1994 Cadillac NorthStar ETC -retirement car pos
1965 Mustang Fastback -6 cyl project was going to build very light weight version w Aussie turbo'd 6 at 300 hp
1977 MGB -Rover 3.5 EFI V8 chrome bumper conversion
2006 Dodge Magnum 3.5 HO
1965 Honda 305 Scrambler -first motorbike
1966 Honda 305 -street version
1956 BSA Goldstar Catalina Scrambler DBD-34 -desert sled rebuilt it sold it for $450 want to see me cry
1970 Honda SL-350 Scrambler -50,000 street and desert miles
197x Norton 850 Commando -hated the isolastic swing arm nearly killed me twice
1979 Honda CBX -bought new still have it and it runs great
1984 KTM 504 -MX Senior race bike, being morphed into cafe' recer
1946 Aeronca 7AC Champ 65 hp
1946 Globe Swift 125 hp
1976 Rockwell Commander 114 260 hp
1968 Cessna 310 Colemill conversion 2 x300 hp
1965 Piper Cherokee C 180 hp
1972 Starduster II homebuilt aerobatic biplane 150 hp
1971 Beechcraft Bonanza V35B 285 hp
1978 Cessna 340A 2 x 335 hp turbo/intercooled
1955 Beechcraft T-34B Mentor 285 hp
1956 16' Glaspar 90 hp Evinrude
1978 19' Cobalt 351 Ford OMC outdrive
1983 33' Wellcraft Scarab III 2 x 330 hp 454ci Mercruisers TRW outdrives
I started with a 1967 Karman Ghia, then a 1970 Lotus Europa, then 1n 1977, a 1972 Honda 600 when I moved to Texas. The Honda was my only car for 3 years (4 speed nonsyncro shift on the dashboard) and was used through a 6 month stint in Chicago and two NJ winters. Later I got a 1963 Mercedes 190 Sedan with a bad engine and put a 200 diesel engine in it (4 on the column gear shift). A few years later I got a 1979 Mercedes 240 D and then I restored the 190 and put in a twin carb 200 gas engine. The interior was from a junked 1964 300, and included red leather seats and door panels, accented with a wood dash, wood windshield trim, wood trim on the doors, and extra interior chrome trim; still with a gray (non-metallic) plain 190 exterior. I finally sold the car but wish I kept it.. I moved to Holland in 1989 and while there I had 50% interest in a Citroen 2CV. This had the high performance engine (relatively speaking) with a 2 barrel carb and would do 70 mph; though the tops of the doors started separtaing from the body at speeds above 60. It also had a 4 speed dashboard shifter, though a different pattern than the Honda had. I also had a 50% interest in a 1951 DAF army truck. This was the size of a full size pick-up, but was very heavy duty- weighing about 7,000 pounds. It had 4 wheel independent suspension with each wheel supported by its own trailing arms, and no cross axles. There was a cross shaft in the middle of the chassis, and each wheel was driven from it by means of its own drive shaft with right angle bevel gear boxes at each end. This gave amazing ground clearance. It was powered by a Continental flat head 6. We could not afford the dual batteries (24 volt) so we always started it with the hand crank. This was easy, though intimidating because the crank came out at about chest height. The only bad design feature was that the twin fuel tanks served as the driver and passinger seat bases. I also got a 60,000 original mile 1966 Morris Minor Traveler in Holland, and that I still have (original paint, wood, interior). I also acquired and restored over the years a 1958 Alfa Romeo Veloce Spider, and a 1966 Lotus Elan (I still have those). I bought these cars when I was living in Colorado before the move to Holland, so the Alfa was virtually rust-free. I finally replaced the 240 D in 2002 with a Subaru WRX wagon. Note that the WRX is the only car I have ever owned with any sort of exhaust emission controls and the only car with AC. I have never owned a car with an automatic transmission...
Well, let's see...
1960 Saab 93
1962 Volvo 122S
1962 Jaguar 3.8L MK2
1964 Volvo 122S
1963 MGB
196? Karman Ghia Coupe
1970 Fiat 850 Coupe
1959 Triumph TR3
1969 Rover 2000TC (Arden Green)
1969 Rover 2000TC (April Yellow) (plus several parts cars)
1969 BMW 2800CS
1952 BMW R68
1982 Alfa Romeo Spyder
1970 Rover 3500S (Tobacco Leaf)
1970 Rover 3500S (Davos White)
1970 Rover 3500S (Arden Green)
1970 Rover 3500S (Zircon Blue) (parts car)
1970 Rover 3500S (Zircon Blue)
1982 Porsche 928
1933 Franklin Olympic Convertible Coupe
Still have the white Rover 3500S, the 928, the BMW R68, and the Franklin.
The Franklin is the only American car I've ever owned! 8)
James
Here goes:
53 Ford 6 cyl
53 Chevy 6
51 Crosley wgn
52 Crosley Super
55 Hillman Husky
57 Chevy 6,265,283,3 speed, overdrive
63 Chevy Impala
58 Hillman Minx
60 Hillman Minx
63 English Ford Cortina, Auto
71 Merc Comet
63 English Sord Cotina wgn
59 Sumbeam Alpine
76 Maxda 808, wgn
68 Rover Sedan (2TC?)
74 MBGT, still have it
86 Peugeot 505 STI, first new car
83 Jag XJ6
70 MGBGT, Now a V6
02 Toyota Avalon
All were fun at the time.
Steve
This must be one of those "He who dies with the most toys wins" type of threads. Like my fantasy football league, I just can't compete. But I did share the LeMans with Jim, but I thought it was a '66. He also failed to mention the Mercury Marquis and the Crack 'em Up truck.
I really liked his 62 Plymouth. You could not kill that car. I remember him running it up the side of roadbank to where the driver door mirror picked up gravel from the berm. Maypop tires helped with the bat turns consistently made in that car. I was following Jim in my 78 Magnum out a dirt (clay) road when it started to rain. The voice on the CB came in loud and clear, "It's getting slick....we're not going to make this curve....we're going over the hill...OOOH NOOOOOO..."
I had a hard time keeping from following them over. We had to get Dad's MF tractor to retrieve the Plymouth. Do you count tractors in the list?
I drove the LeMans, a 67 Impala 283 2speed, 69 Galaxie, 72 Toyota Corona, (all bought by parents for us to share?) We also drove the farm pickups.
When I started paying, it was a 78 Magnum, the 66 TR4A we just fuel injected, a 83 Dodge Rampage, 78 Datsun 510, 85 Daytona, 83 Colt, 86 Ranger, 87 Caravelle, 90 Ranger, 91 Explorer, 89 Grand Am, 91 Spirit ES, 94 Aerostar, 95 Ranger, 96 Aerostar, 90 F150, 92 Corsica, 92 Shadow ES, 98 Explorer, 2000 Sienna, 2002 Explorer and the latest addition, 1980 TR7. That is the chronological order, of course. Only the TR4A and the last three on the list are still around my place.
My first 2 cars: a '64 MGB & a '65 Stingray...sure wished I had kept both of them.
100_3363_1099x718.JPG
100_3368_1080x674.JPG
1957 Ford Fairlane 4 dr
1957 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1960 Dodge Senaca 4 dr
1959 Cadillac Coupe Deville Convertible (wish I had held on to that one)
1960 Cadillac Fleetwood
1966 Corvair Corsa (140 HP 4 1bbls)
1963 Ford Galaxie XL 500 Convertible (390 V8 Police Interceptor Hurst 4 speed)
1964 Chevy Impala SS Convettible (327 V8 power slide transmission)
1966 Yamaha 305
1971 BSA 650cc Lightening (I still have her but she was chopped/customized in 1976)
1965 Corvair Monza
1966 Ford Econoline Van
1969 BSA Rocket 3 (Still have her)
1971 Volvo 144
1980 Mercury Wagon (company car)
1978 MGB (still have now with Stroked OldsmobileV8 and Nitrous)
1980 Mercury Maurder Wagon (company car V8)
1981 Mercury Zepher Wagon (company car)
1983 Mercury Zepher Wagon (company car)
1983 Olds Cutless Wagon (company car)
1969 BSA Rocket 3 (second one still have her too)
1985 (?) Ford Wind Star Van (company car)
1985 BMW 325e (still have her)
1995 Ford Explorer Sport 2 dr 5 speed stick
1994 Volvo 960 Wagon
1998 Ford Ranger 4x4 Off Road Sport Pick up truck (rolled her but still sitting in my yard)
2001 Lexus IS 300
2005 Subaru WRX STi (still have her my daily driver)
1967 Chrysler Newport Custom 4 dr (my other show car still have)
1987 Dodge Dakota 4x4 Pick up truck (w/snow plow keep her upstate just to plow the driveway that is 1/4 mile long)
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited (trail rated my wife's daily driver)
In that order and I don't think I left any out (edited for corrections).
Cars we drove, not parted out right?
Okay, cars I owned and drove:
(NOT including cars that were purchased for my wife, but mainly just for me)
1977 Dodge 318 4 dr (free- fixed and sold right away)
*1961 Sprite MKII (was Dad's car, still undergoing restoration)
1972 MG Midget
1968 MGB convertable
1972 Datsun 510 station wagon
1984 GMC S15 2.8L V6 T5 long box
1984 Chevrolet S10 2.8L 4 speed short box
*1959 Austin Healey Bugeye
1982 BMW 320i
1983 BMW 320i
1982 BMW 528
*1982 Chevrolet S10 Longbox (was 2.8/ 4 speed, became 3.4L L32 V6 w/ T5)
1968 MGB GT green, shag (almost) interior
*1959 Austin A40
*1980 MGB 3.4L V6
1991 Mazda MPV V6 auto
*1994 Saturn Sedan DOHC 5 speed (owned for 6 months. Total 1 mile driven- winter car)
(I may have forgotton one or two)
NOTE: * = Cars I still own.
This list does not include cars I never drove, that were purchased as Jennifer's primary transportation and others. If it did, the list would grow to 2 or 3 times as long.
Can I include the John Deere Garden tractors? They have been fun toys too!!? We have a 1972 Deere 140 H3 with all steel cab, blower, tiller, belly blade, narrow belly mower, wide belly mower, intrical hitch (with a receiver hitch that I added to it for hydraulically lifting the trailers) and a bit more. We move the boat, car trailers and drag cars into the shop with this stout little thing. I could care less about the three wheeler and other toys I have owned, this one is practical and fun that those who live in town miss out on...
-BMC.
Graham, is there much of a story to that '64 MGB? Looks like the wheel arch has been cut and big wheels/tires fitted. Stock engine?
Here's mine:
1959 Bugeye Sprite (first car in 1967)
1962 Volvo 122S
1967 Firebird 'vert 326 4spd
1970 Fiat 124 Spider
1962 VW Convert.
1972 Fiat 124 Spider
1959 Bugeye Sprite (still have)
1979 Fiat X1/9
1986 Saab 9000 Turbo
1963 Austin-Healey 3000 (still have)
1980 BMW 320i
1995 Camaro Z/28
1983 BMW 323i
2006 Chrysler 300C SRT8 (still have)
1996 Chevy Caprice LT1 (still have)
Seems like the Bugeye Sprite is a common denominator with more than few here. Was also pleasant to see I wasn't the only one who had the pleasure to own a Morris Minor. I'm begining to think that cars are like dogs...you can tell a lot about a fella from what he drove/drives (just like dogs and owners seem to go together). Fun thread.
Curtis, the 6" chrome reverse rims came off a friend's Mustang which necessitated the wheel arch radius job. Powertrain was stock and the only other modification was an egg crate grille fabricated from a '70 Vega - could I have beaten Ken Costello to the punch?
100_3371_922x690.JPG
Here's a few of mine - as reported in the Newsletter a few issues ago.
http://www.britishv8.org/Articles/Canadian-Corner-XV-3.htm
Dogs now? Well, OK somehow we ended up with this guy named Dingo who is half black and tan coon hound and half Manchester Terrier, which incidentally looks almost exactly like a black and tan and very similar to a Doberman. Half the time he acts like a hound dog and half the time he acts like a terrier. Loves to run, howl, and dig holes. As well as being a total maniac about half... no make that 3/4 of the time, Dingo is a thief. He absolutely delights in sneaking off with small items that you've just set down and chewing them up and is totally incorrigible. Luckily he is not my dog. I do worry that he belongs to my boy, he could be a bad influence. Maybe he'll grow out of it.
Jim
Well, my main transportation from 14 to 16 was a 100cc Honda motorcycle. I've owned 8 or nine motorcycles & a number of boring cars, a couple of fun cars ('68 Chevelle SS, '68 Camaro), 5 trucks (including a big block '72 El Camino SS), but the car I got to drive when I turned 16 was my Dad's 1963 MGB:
(http://www.britcars.net/FloydH1.jpg)
We both still drive it.
Ask Jim about cutting doughnuts with a Farmall tractor......
Don't try that one at home. HEY, hold my beer and watch THIS s&!^!
Great stuff and a lot of variety in addition to the common LBCs.
Good thing we're not all sitting in a comfortable bar with a beer in hand. Telling the stories would keep us there 'til closing time and not done yet........
Making the list brought up a whole bunch of memories, some good, some not so. And a wonderment about where a lot of the good stuff went and what shoulda been kept.
Dan B Wrote:
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> Ask Jim about cutting doughnuts with a Farmall
> tractor......
A tractor is NOT the right vehicle to cut donuts with. Especially something like a Farmall Cub with a high center of gravity. The older I get the more I realize just how lucky we were that any of us made it to maturity. Now it may surprise you to learn that donuts actually can be cut with such a vehicle, but trying it on blacktop is a very very bad idea, as the tires get far too much traction and the whole thing wants very badly to tip over. That right there is something that could ruin your whole life.
The whole business was Dan's fault anyway. He was the one who discovered that it could even be done. I didn't see it of course but from his description he locked up one brake at full speed while simultaneously turning the wheel hard and the tractor slid around the corners. He thought it might make mowing the yard a little quicker so I decided to give it a try. Then for some reason probably only known to the gods of perdition I decided to try it on the driveway. Very bad mistake. Yep, the tractor came around allright, and at the same time this big ole' tractor wheel headed up for the sky. I don't know what I did. Whatever it was it was purely instinctive but it must have been the right thing since I'm still here now. The tractor straightened out and came back down and I spent a few minutes getting my wits back about me. My brothers got me into more trouble...
But hey wait. I'm starting to notice some sort of a trend here.... Tell 'em about the tractor Jim... Tell 'em about the bat turns.... Tell 'em about driving on the door handles.... Tell 'em about driving off the mountain....
Seems awful similar to old times.... Now did he REALLY lock up the turn brake on that tractor?
Jim
LOL!
Knowing you, I can see all of the above happening, Jim!
Jim, by now you should know that there are too things that cannot be combined, siblings and secrets! Dan will sooner or later pass on hints about all your exploits. And don't try to say it was all your brothers' fault for getting you into such fixes, some of us know that you are entirely cabable of getting yourself in without anyone else's help. LOL
I'm with Edd on the good/bad memories as well as the "wonderment". Also like Edd, I've been around a little while and have had plenty of time to commit some heinous automotive mistakes. Some rides I left out of my first post (I'm not proud of some/most of these). So in the interest of full disclosure: a VW 411 (yes I know, total piece of junk) that I owned for nearly 2 weeks before an electrical fire completely consumed it in my driveway, No tears were shed in its passing. A Lancia Beta coupe - an awesome little car that had the unfortunate habit of spitting out the bottom half of the engine on a semi-regular basis. A '72 VW bus that may be the only vehicle I lost any serious money owning. A '69 Benz 250 sedan (Euro version with 4-speed on the floor) - it wasn't much to look at but was a real goer when you got it in the gas (for the size of the motor). A '69 Datsun (wasn't Nissan yet) pick-up purchased with a blown motor that received a Capri V-6 transplant and would light 'em up in any gear. Sold it to the first guy who offered me a ridiculous sum of money for it. Still didn't make up for the stupidity of the VW bus. Honda 500cc (bored out to near 550) cafe racer (before you bought them like that). Raced one season in TT and sold it before I died on it. 1970 Nova SS. Homely as the day is long but faster than all get out (in a straight line). Renault R-14 that made me wonder who pissed Robert Bosch off and why he thought creating fuel injection would be a good way to get back at people. And my all time favorite - I don't remember of the year of this beast but it was some kind of 2-door early 70s, late 60s Plymouth in the most awful shade of mint green (factory) complete with tail fins and - the reason I bought it in the first place - push button drive. Mercifully, someone rear ended me in the thing, totaling it instantly. I never did get to thank the guy properly for salvaging my self-respect. Okay, confession over. Let's see who else is man enough to own their mistakes.
BlownMGB-V8 Wrote:
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> ...how lucky we were that any of us
> made it to maturity.
Let's not start making statements that can't be proven now :)
Didn't say it was me did I?
Well, there was the "Crack 'em Up Truck", so named because the first time we got it running we nearly died laughing. It was a Flintstones car too, with brakes to match. Lost track of all the details but about a '54-'56 Chevy 3/4 ton pickup with the straight six that we found for Dad so technically it was his truck. He'd driven one for the Mill when he was younger and this one completely destroyed all those dreamy ideas of "best truck ever built". It actually was a pretty good truck but needed a lot of work, starting with the engine, which on an irregular basis would just start popping back through the carb for no apparent reason. Dan fixed the brakes, Dad got a buddy to make up this really nice stainless steel battery box, and I drove it to work until it just died one day. Dan and his buddy Tom brought a chain and towed me home with " Killer" the old green Plymouth (on which the brakes has catastrophically failed yet again with calamity narrowly averted), and going down Ona hill I got "Crack 'em up" to start and proceeded to pass Tom on the left. Of course the chain was still attached so I only managed to get up alongside before both vehicles started handling a little funny, but you sure should have seen the look on Tom's face when "Killer" just suddenly went sideways for no apparent reason! Naturally, Dan was just laughing his ass off over in the passenger seat.
That's about all the rumination I think I can handle right at this moment. A guy came along right after that and offered us twice what we had in it and I sold it. Probably a good thing too, dead from laughing is dead just the same.
Jim
So it goes to show that it doesn't matter as much what you drive, but how you drive it and HOW MUCH FUN can be had!
It is good to have a couple of LBCs now for the fun part.
Well the 63 Ford Galaxie 500 XL convertible (390 w/Hurst 4 sp) I owned was bought for $300.00 (in 1968) and towed 140 miles from Rochester NY to Watertown NY with just a tow strap by the PO and his brother at night. I drove it in Watertown NY for 2 winters (100+ inches of snow per year) without snow tires and only got it stuck in a snow bank once where I needed a farmer with a tractor to pull me out.
The 65 Corvair Monza used more oil then gas.
The Volvo alternator died on the way back from Florida and I unplugged one headlight and would stop about every 200 miles or so at a gas station and get the battery recharged.
I only had the 69 BSA Rocket 3 to get me back and forth to school and rode it all winter long (in NJ), even in the snow one year.
I put the 83 Mercury Zepher on 2 wheels for a couple hundred yards at 65 mph one night after almost missing my turn off and riding partially up a center divider while heading towards the Delaware Memorial Bridge by mistake with a co-worker on board. I didn't even slow down and wound up back on all 4 wheels with nothing ruined but our underwear and a great story to tell the people we were meeting..
Memories! lol
78 vette
66 healey
79 mgb
64 triumph TR4
70 bmw 2002
73 bmw 2002
73 ford bronco
72 mgb gt
68 pontiac firebird
73 chevy monte carlo
86 audi quattro coupe
70 vw beetle
85 porsche 911 targa
86 porsche 911 coupe
05 jeep wrangler
58 ford pick up with ma bell utility bed (and original ma bell sticker on dash "don't back into trouble")
67 ford pick up
99 dodge durango
07 toyota 4-runner
02 triumph daytona
plus several misc. awful commuter cars (including a ford pinto wagon 4 cyl/auto with wood grain stickers on the sides)
The above lists of cars are impressive. i do not remember most of my "Basic Transportation" autos due to having to commute to school and work about 40-50 miles daily since early 70's. I worked with cars every day and paid little attention, but did own 2-3 early model Ford Broncos and had a 1963 Chev Impala SS HP with 4 sp. I bought the MGB in late1991 and began to re-learn to pay attention to autos again. My list may be incomplete.
63 SS Impala
Ply Duster
Pont Firebird
Ford F-100
Ford Torino w/ Cleveland
Ford LTD
Chev Impala, UGH
Datsun 200SX
Subaru
Subaru
Toy. Cressida
Subaru
Toy. Camry
"
"
"
1978 MGB with 4 cyl.
Toy Corrola
1998 K-1500 Chev Trk.
"Nissan Maxima
Toy. Camry
"
Same 1978 MGB, V8 5.0 Ford EFI
Toy. Camry
Next will probably be a Toy Camry. 4 cyl., they just WORK!
Several "B" parts cars, on "The Back 20"
Tom
What color was your Pinto Wagon mine was yellow with the "delux" wood grain.
I will have to work on my list, way to many to list off of the top of my head.
Joe
MGB SS Wrote:
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> What color was your Pinto Wagon mine was yellow
> with the "delux" wood grain.
I think mine was green (V6, straight drive).
I had to do some thinking to remember all of them, I think this list is pretty complete. My dad was a car dealer, so I got the opportunity to drive a lot of cars from the used car lot along with my normal high school car.
47 Packard Clipper (my first car)
56 Ford, 2dr ht (main high school car)
56 Ford PU (small window)
59 Ford panel van
59 Ford station wagon
60 T bird
54 Caddy
59 Studebaker Lark
Cars I bought after high school.
60 Bugeye (chevy V8)
59 Corvair
60 Corvair (shortened 4 dr to 2 dr, dune buggy)
65 Corvair
69 Camaro
69 AMX
69 Opel wagon
63 Chevy Impala (2dr ht)
30 Model A coupe (street rod, small block chevy)
69 Corvette coupe
69 Firebird Convertable
67 Camaro
67 Ford pickup
38 Ford coupe (chevy engine)
75 Chevy Monza (V8 4 speed)
82 Subaru Brat
30 American Austin Coupe (street rod, hemi)
87 Fiero GT
90 S-15 Jimmy
73 Midget
89 Ford van
95 Pontiac Bonneville
76 GMC pickup
03 Subaru Baja "Screaming Yellow Zonker"
Current project 59 MGA six.
Ok, let me at it. Let's see
'55 GMC truck
'64 GTO
'65 El Camino
'65 Ford Falcon
'67 El Camino
'67 Lemans
'69 Chevelle
'70, I think Volkswagon Beatle, man it's been a while
'71 MGB GT
Ford Maverick, can't even remember what year that was
'74 MG Midget
'75 Ford Granada
'76 MGB
'77 MGB
'78 MG Midget
Dodge Charger, later year car, gas guzzler
'80 MGB
Jeep CJ5
Jeep CJ7 Renegade
'95 Ford F150 truck. My current parts hauler, tow truck, well you know
Ford Cortina
Opel Cadet
Kawasaki KZ 600
Honda VF1000F
'89 Harley Davidson Softail
I still have the '78 Midget,
'76, '77, '80 MGBs
'71 MGB GT
'95 Ford F150
I fell in love with MGs in 1981. I took a '77 MGB over to England with me
in 1982, I was in the Air Force at the time. Lived there from 1982-1990
My wife and I both loved England, we didn't want to come back. Beautiful
country, charming people, great roads for sport driving, so so weather,
high taxes.
My brother and I are currently putting V-8s in the '71 GT and the '77 MGB.
The Midget is getting a non standard conversion. All three cars are in
different stages of build at the moment. The '76 and '80 MGBs are in line,
we just haven't decided what we want in them yet. We live in Jacksonville,
Florida and have tons of spare parts we're never ever going to use. If we can
help anyone with something to get your car on the road, please contact me.
Fly low, safely!
The List (what I can Remember):
71 Ply 4 Door (first car)
70 Formula Firebird Ram Air
74 Cuda
70 Chevelle SS
71 Chevelle
67 Buick skylark?
71 Firebird
79 Trans Am
86 Z28
75 Monte Carlo
78 Monte Carlo
86? Toyota Celica Gt
85 C-4 Corvette
71 MGB
79 Olds Toronado
80 Olds Toronado Diesel
85? Merc Capri
76? Ford Pinto Wagon 4cyl 4sp Yellow with Wood Grain
71 Chevy Blazer 4wd
78 S-10 Blazer 4wd
81 S-15 Jimmy 4wd
85 T-Bird Turbo
I am not going to list all of the boring commuter cars, Family cars that my wife drives including Mini-Vans:(
Also the half dozen 2wd Pickup trucks or the no less than 15 4wd pickups some Gas some Diesel and some with snow plows.
My present Vehicle is a 03 Dodge 4 door truck with the 5.7 Hemmi 4wd
Joe
Ok let me at it:
Let's see, life as a driver started in a......hmmm
Ford Falcon
'65 Mustang
Ford Maverick
Ford Granada
Dodge Charger
Then life started anew, I bought my first MG in 1981, a '77 MGB
Moved to England with MGB in tow, then we have lets see
Jaguar XJ6
'74 MG Midget
Ford Cortina
Opel Kadet
Kawasaki KZ400
Honda VF1000F
'89 Harley Davidson Softail
Jeep Renegade
Ford Escort
Let's see, it's now 1991 and we're moving back to the states
with the Harley and the Ford Escort. Then comes a hmmm, oh yeah
'69 Chevelle
'65 El Camino
'67 El Camino
'55 GMC truck
Jeep CJ5
'75 Mustang II which later became a mini stock race car
'74 260Z
Then we get back on track, so to speak, and we get a
'71 MGB GT
'74 MG Midget
'76 MGB
'77 MGB
'80 MGB
Through in a '95 F150 to move toys and parts around with and
wa la. Still have all the last six vehicles listed. All the MGBs are
under different stages of modification.... uhh that would be V-8
mods of course, except for the Midget, which did have an Olds
V-8 make a momentary stop in the engine bay but thought better
of it. Always plenty going on in the garage. Wife calls the GT the other
woman, since I spend most of my spare time on it right now. My
brother and I have tons of Mg spare parts. We live in Jacksonville,
Fla. More than happy to help someone out with parts needs if
you're willing to pay shipping to your area.
Ahhh, the memories!
Tracy
ive got a much shorter list than most of you, although im only 19
1972 lemans with a 400
2004 gto that put down 392 at the wheels
a few lifted trucks
and soon to add a mgb on the list.
Drove back in the day?
An MGA of course - and I still have it, 39 years later.
Plus 3 jaguars, 4 Jensens, 23 other MGs, 11 Triumphs, 17 Britihs saloons, 2 Austin Healeys, a TVR, 1 Lamborghini and 9 various US vehicles used for driving around picking up parts, towing British race cars etc.
http://thefiftiesandsixties.com/CarsWeDrove.htm
Can't say I've ever driven any car with fins on um.
A car I wouldn't mind just cruising around in once in a while would be my dads bugeye sprite!