Memory Lane

[240Z Man]

Memory lane started for me back in 1976. After saving up my Saturday money, I purchased my first machine.

Yamaha FS1E
Yamaha RD250 - upgrade at 17 years old. Didn't last long after getting two speeding tickets in a week by the same copper, then getting a smack around the ear by my old man.

Ford Capri 1600 GT. This was the late 70s, and customising was all the rage. My first efforts in to doing bodywork, my father wasn't impressed.
Nova kit car. Decided I wanted a car looking like a Ferrari but couldn't afford one, so I decided to build a kit car (couple of words describe this car, bag of shit). Lucky enough I found someone willing to take it in exchange for a Honda Prelude.
Honda Prelude.
Ferrari 308GTB (lucky enough I was starting to earn some money). I owned this car for over 25 years.
Ford Capri RS 3100.*
Mini Cooper S Mk III.*
VW Golf GTI Mk I.
VW Golf GTI Mk II. (GTI engineering).
Peugeot 205 GTI.
TVR 3000S.
Ford Escort Cosworth.
VW Corrado VR6 Storm.
VW Golf GTI convertible.
Peugeot 306 XS.
Porsche Boxster (the original 2.5 one, couldn't skin a turd).
Porsche 911 C4S (the last air cooled one probably registered, and it was a cancelled order from the Sultan of Brunei, the only car I regret selling.
Suzuki GSXR 750 (I returned to my biking career).
Triumph Tiger.
Ducati 888 SP5 racer.*
Landrover Freelander.
Renault Clio Cup Sport.
Mini Cooper S new style.
Ford Focus RS Mk I.
Peugeot 205 GTI Limited Edition Model inherited from my mother who bought it new.*
BMW X5.
Ford GT Heritage.*
Ford Mustang '65 Fastback.*
MV Augusta 1000R.
BMW M3 E90. (one of the most thirstiest cars I have ever owned). Great engine, too expensive to run.
BMW 118D.
Harley Davidson Springer 2008 150th anniversary model. (sold this bike five years later for more than I paid for it new).
Datsun 240Z.*
BMW 1 series coupe.
Jaguar F type.
Toyota GT86.
Mini Cooper S.
VW T6 caravelle.
BMW M3 (the latest version). I can afford to run this one*
Corvette C3.*
Mercedes Vito. *
VW Up.
Rolling death 240Z inbuild.*

ALL VEHICLES MARKED WITH AN * I STILL OWN.
Spent most of my life wasting my money on cars.

 

[johnymd]

Most of my cars, and bikes, have been of the extremely low value variety as I've never had any money. I've put a few rough values beside them so you can guess the general condition of them.

RD250 - £120
RD250 - £50
RD400 - £90
Mini cooper 1960 - £400 which I borrowed the money for then sold the number plate (4136TW) immediately for £450 and paid him back.
240z - £1900
Mk1 escort - £40 So I didn't have to use the zed in the snow.
Mk2 cortina with a tuned engine £350
Ford pop 100e black windows and Mk1 escort buble arches - £600
Selection of really boring cars I'd prefer not to mention.
then back to the 240's
240z
240z
240z
240z
240z
260z
240z
...
...
...
...
280z
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Datsun roadster

I've owned over 20 s30's. Starting in '89 but most have been in the last 5 years.

 

[Farmer42]

My first car back in the mid 80s was a 75 Toyota Celica 1600ST TA22. kept that until 1991 and sold 3/4 of it for £125 (the other 1/4 stayed as a pile of rust on the driveway!) regretted selling it immediately. Then came

77 Triumph dolomite 1300HL
84 cavalier mk2 GL
85 Nissan sunny coupe
88 Cavalier mk3 2.0cd (pile of poo)
86 cavalier mk2 1.8cd
88 astra mk2 GL (wife's car)
99 Toyota Avensis then bought a 77 Dolomite 1.5 SE twin carb as a toy as well.
99 Mondeo Ghia
05 Peugeot 407 SW

Current cars are
05 Nissan Xtrail
57 Hyundai coupe sIII
And lastly the Zed!

 

[peter_s]

The thing that amazes me, and so even more than the very cool cars some of you have owned, is the fantastic variety of makes and models!

This is important for me, I'm not a BMW or Datsun guy, I'm a car guy.

I was a member of the MG owners club in Sweden a few years ago, they scoffed at all other cars. I just don't get it. My "choosing" one brand, I think you limit yourself, and there is no point of that.
I feel many owners clubs are like that sadly. The BMW club here is also hopeless.... Elitistic..

That's what I like with the racing community, they are car guys through and through. I was so pleasantly surprised about that after I started going to trackdays and the Nurburgring. I'm very glad to see the same spirit here!

 

[IbanezDan51]

1st car was my 1970 Chevelle SS but I couldn't use it till I was 25!

So my first real car was my golf...

Chevelle SS (Still got)
Golf MK4 1.4
Golf MK4 1.9tdi
Golf MK4 1.8T 4motion conversion (380bhp)
Golf MK4 R32 (Shouldn't have sold)
Audi A3 8P 2.0tdi (horrid thing with over assisted steering and the most dull 140hp diesel engine ever made)
1971 Datsun 240Z (the one I stuck in a lamppost)
Audi S3 8L
Audi RS3 8P
Corvette C5
Golf MK4 Anniversary TDI
Golf R32 MK4 (Still got)
1973 Datsun 240Z (shouldn't have sold)
Mercedes C63 507 Edition
1970 Datsun 240Z (current project)
Golf MK5 Tdi
Mercedes C63 507 Edition (Still got)
Audi A6 Avant (current daily)

 

[Makesy]

1st car was my 1970 Chevelle SS but I couldn't use it till I was 25!

So my first real car was my golf...

Chevelle SS (Still got)
Golf MK4 1.4
Golf MK4 1.9tdi
Golf MK4 1.8T 4motion conversion (380bhp)
Golf MK4 R32 (Shouldn't have sold)
Audi A3 8P 2.0tdi (horrid thing with over assisted steering and the most dull 140hp diesel engine ever made)
1971 Datsun 240Z (the one I stuck in a lamppost)
Audi S3 8L
Audi RS3 8P
Corvette C5
Golf MK4 Anniversary TDI
Golf R32 MK4 (Still got)
1973 Datsun 240Z (shouldn't have sold)
Mercedes C63 507 Edition
1970 Datsun 240Z (current project)
Golf MK5 Tdi
Mercedes C63 507 Edition (Still got)
Audi A6 Avant (current daily)

C63 is smart!

I love Hoovies Garage review of his C63 Wagen...

"It's green!"

 

[IbanezDan51]

C63 is smart!

I love Hoovies Garage review of his C63 Wagen...

"It's green!"

That’s an E63 but still a similar variant of the M156 engine to what’s in the 507 (minus all the forged bits!)

It’s a VERY addictive car to drive, in fact I’ve driven a lot of cars, McLaren’s, Ferrari’s, GTR’s and more, but the W204 C63 is intoxicating, really everyone needs to drive one at least once in their life.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Hey Dan, fancy a nice BMW 335i Touring in rare Imola Red. Lee is selling his, you bought his last German red car ha ha! He needs something more economical for his new job.

 

[Sam_C]

Lambretta SX200 x 2
Lambretta GP200 x 2
Reliant Regal 21E
Rochdale Olympic Phase 1
Frogeye Sprite
Sunbeam Stilleto
Matchless 350
Triumph Vitesse 1600 convertible
Alfa 1750 GTV
Triumph Stag no 1
Datsun 240z no.1
Escort RS turbo Mk1
Cortina Mk 2
Mini
240Z no.2
Rover 90
VW Beetle
Honda Civic
RS2000 Mk 2 shovelnose
Range Rover
Fiat Miriafiori
Rover SD1
Triumph Stag no. 2
Yamaha 650 Midnight Maxim
Sierra 3 door 1.3 (I converted it to 2.9i 4x4)
Peugeot 205 Turbo Diesel
Honda Civic no. 2
VW T2 camper (7 yr restoration)
240z no.3
Honda CRV
BMW 2 series coupe
240z no. 4
Superlight Cars K200 (electric prototype)
Lambretta SX200
Lambretta GP225
Lambretta 150 Special

I still have the last 6 on the list plus the VW camper.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Some great machines there Sam.

We have some in common:

Stiletto
Type 2 Camper
Beetle
240Z
Reliant
I also know what a Rochdale Olympic is - 1172?

 

[Sam_C]

Quite a few “snaps” there Rob! My Rochdale was a Riley 1500 twin carb jobbie. Knowing nothing in those days, I decided it would be more economical if I took one one carb off, so I got a single carb manifold and did just that. It probably was more economical, but I doubt that it did much for the performance...

 

[Geoff-R]

Hard to remember all the cars I've had, I've slowed down a lot since I had company cars, from memory I've had...

1996 Vauxhall Corsa Vegas
2001 MG ZR
1992 Honda CRX SiR
1992 Honda Civic LSI (stuck a VTI lump in that one)
1995 Honda Civic ESI
1985 BMW M535i
1999 Honda Civic Coupe
1999 Honda Civic Coupe VTI
1991 Mercedes 190e
1992 Mercedes 190e
2002 Audi A3 Quattro
2001 VW Golf 25th Anniversary
2007 Nissan 350z
2006 Yamaha R6 (one and only fling with a bike)
2010 Nissan 370z
2004 BMW M3 CSL (current)
1974 Datsun 260z (current)
1974 Datsun 260z (current)
1995 Honda Civic ESI (current - inherited from a friend who moved away)

There are probably cars I've forgotten and I'd have probably had a lot more if it weren't for my wife, probably for the best really.

 

[Sam_C]

And here she is, my very first “car”. Complete with racing stripe and bullet wing mirror. And a very youthful looking me.

 

[Woody928]

Well this will be short and sweet as I've never sold a car. I've also never owned anything with more than two seats.

1997 Toyota MR2 Mk2, Rev4, UK GT NA (given to my dad who regrettably later crashed it and I broke it for parts)
1996 Toyota MR2 Mk2, Rev3, JDM GTS Turbo
1970 Datsun 240Z

Honda Win Detech 127cc (Sold)

Currently aspiring towards a Royal Enfield Himalayan in India for my next motoring fix, completely sold on two wheels!

Version 2 by Mark Woodrow, on Flickr

DATSUN240Z_06 by Mark Woodrow, on Flickr

 

[yellowz]

Puch Maxi

Honda CD175

Yamaha RD 250

Mk1 Escort

Hillman Hunter

Triumph Spitfire

Colt Lancer

XT175

Triumph GT6

MK1 Celica

240Z

Eagle SS Jeep

Z750

XT660 Tenere

Mini 1400

XR2i

Escort Estate

ZZR1100

Lada Riva

XR250

CR250F

Shogun Pinin

Shogun (still got)

BMW 330D

Renault Megane

240Z

Mitsubishi Outlander

Freelander 2 (still got)

Currently Z less but working on it

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Two Wheels:

Cyclemaster (engine in rear wheel of pushbike) when I was 15.

Also petrol engine that fitted to the seat tube and ran a knurled wheel on the rear tyre (like a dynamo) when I was 15

Steyr Puch scooter.

Triumph Cub (200cc)

Kawasaki Z200 new

Honda 400N new

Suzuki GSX 750 new

 

[Rob Gaskin]

My 2nd car, which I still have is my mothers 1972 MGB GT. I used that as a summer car for a few years. Looked like it was in a great condition, untis I dug deeper into the sills...

So one thing led to another....

The Mini was replaced in 2012 with a 2009 370Z which I used all year for three years. I loved that car:

Hi Peter is the 'wide' B finished Yet? Have you seen the latest book about the lightweight 'works' MGCs ?

Also you must be a useful driver - I found my 370Z useless in snow or ice and that prompted me to buy an Xtrail.

 

[peter_s]

Hi Peter is the 'wide' B finished Yet? Have you seen the latest book about the lightweight 'works' MGCs ?

Also you must be a useful driver - I found my 370Z useless in snow or ice and that prompted me to buy an Xtrail.

Hi Rob,

no sadly the MBG is a long term project. Started with it in 2008, so it's pretty depressing Found more rust than expected and things took a lot of time. After stripping and doing a lot of work myself I've had a hard time finding dependable shops/people, and in the interim periods two years can go by quickly between shops. There are a lot of "serious" people who say things like: "Yeah, in the next month I'll have a spot for it". Then it goes on and on and on.

It's however finally at a proper dependable shop that is working on putting it together. So it's not so much left to do on it. But while it's in the state it's in, might as well seam weld it too. Got this picture recently from the shop:

The 370Z in the snow, what a car! Such a hairy car, could let the back end go without any warning what so ever, in any corner when slippery! Did you have the sport pack with the LSD?

I found it easy to drive though, but I had proper wither tires on it for the winter. I think it's a matter of experience, driving on slippery surfaces is different. And I get a lot of training living where I do, although this year has been terrible...

370Z on ice

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Hi Peter, that shell looks nice and rust-free and strong.

My 370 didn't give me any confidence to let it go sideways. Completely different to an S30, no winter tyres and nowhere to practice like you. Yes LSD. I had winter tyres on my 350 and they made a big difference however the 370 wheels were just too wide for anything but a dry racetrack (which I never tried).

 

[peter_s]

The shell is great now, I had a local guy who has restored several MGBs do it in his spare time. Took three years, but he repaired all the rust and fitted the new drive train. He did a great job.

Looking back at the 370Z, it was pretty hard to drive. Snappy and nervous on the limit. Although, it was a good car.

I think also, when you drive in real snowy conditions you never have to worry about changing grip levels, like patches of ice or so. It's just consistently bad. That means you dare putting the car into a slide on every corner. So it makes for great practice.

I haven't had the chance to drive my S30 in anger, how would you compare it?