Classic cars/Bikes you owned

[John S]

Haven't owned any classic cars, but I've driven or been driven in :-

 

1920's Bentley 3-litre

Late 40's Armstrong-Siddeley

Triumph Herald; Spitfire; GT6; TR2 & TR6

Ford Consul Classic & Capri from the early 60's(dad owned the Classic); Mk1 & 2 Capri; Mk1 Escort XL; GT40 replica (with a Renault engine ) and a 67 Mustang that was so awful it was dangerous stood in the garage!

Rover SD1 V8 with a manual box

Mini Clubman

Aston Martin DB6 and 1982 AM Lagonda (it broke down on a roundabout)

Austin Healey 3000 Mk2

Lotus Esprit

 

A few others, but those were the highlights....

[Vagabond]

Started at age 12 with a one-eighth share in an ancient Calthope (eight of us chipped in half-a-crown each to make up the price of £1) Our syndicate learnt a lot by stripping it down, decarbonising it, re-grinding the valves. .. AND it went afterwards, round and round an overgrown field in which we established a rough circuit.

 

Made a fair bit of cash when I left school in 1950 by buying wrecks, doing them up and re-selling at a profit - a lot of vintage bikes passed through my hands that way - Vincent Comet, a 700 Norton side-valve, "The Famous James", a pre-Dragonfly "Duggie flat twin", but just as in angling, the big prize got away!

 

That prize was the one motor cycle I coveted above all others - the twin two-stroke water-cooled Scott Flying Squirrel. Built to last, fast, and definitely a "cult" machine.

 

"Dinkus Iscariot" (don't ask me the origin of the nickname!) a local farm labourer, owned one, and it acted as my alarm clock each morning. The noise of the Scott engine is as distinctive to the motor cyclist as the clarion call of wild geese to the wildfowler. I would awake to a distant wail as Dinkus descended a hill half-a-mile away flat out, then a rising mezzo-soprano scream as he came along the straight stretch below my window. He then shut off and changed down for the double bend at the end, after which a full animal howl would echo and slowly die along the valley as he climbed in second gear up the hill towards the Ashdown Forest.

 

I approached Dinkus and got first refusal of the machine should he ever part with it - offering to outbid any other would-be buyer. I sensed then that this machine was an historic one, and I intended to keep rather than trade it. Imagine my chagrin, two years later, and half-way through my National Service, to learn that Dinkus Iscariot had parted with his Scott for thirty pounds (how appropriate his nickname sounds in that context) :mad: :mad: :mad:

 

His excuse was that he thought I had been posted to Cyprus. He had heard that servicemen were getting killed there, I might never return, and he needed the money urgently. That was the one occasion I came VERY near to committing homicide, but had to be content with informing Dinkus that he was seven sorts of a fool, as I would have given him twice what he sold it for.

 

A well-maintained Scott Flying Squirrel these days might command a five figure sum...... :mad:

[MJB]

Talking to my dad about this. Amongst the various old bangers were a Hillman Minx, Singer Vogue estate, Ford Zodiac and one of these until it caught fire on the way to school :

[n4lly]

MJB the roof spoiler is up the wrong end

 

Looks alot like a BMW 2002 Ti, what is it?

[Dan]

Spoiler at the wrong end? Not when you can reverse that quick!!

 

I'd have loved a flying squirrel, had a similar experience with a Mini Cooper. A friend had one (an S too) but it was inneed of some serious TLC, it also had the number plate DAN 324 or similar, he was emigrating to set up a fish farm in S Africa, he wanted £350, I think I offered £200 which was all I had and told him to come back to me if he couldnt sdell it, but oh no, he sold to a scrap yard for £50!! :mad: I Still havent forgiven him, so if any one knows Keith Leeves tell him I havent forgotten!!

 

Dan

[Dan]

n4lly I think its a Singer/Hilman Imp, its obviously not running because theres no steam coming from the boot!

 

Dan

[MJB]

It's not an Imp......It's a Singer Chamois!

 

I find it quite amusing that my 2 brothers and I used to pile in the back, but nowadys folks feel the need to buy a mini-bus if they have more than 1 kid.

 

[ 29. September 2005, 09:30 AM: Message edited by: MJB ]

[Dan]

Singer chamois? 'ilman imp? c'est la même chose n'est pas?

 

Dan

[MJB]

Dan:

Singer chamois? 'ilman imp?  c'est la même chose n'est pas?      

 

Dan

I love it when you talk dirty

[northern mark]

Raliegh runabout - ex GPO cost the princely sum of £1.50

 

BSA bantam 125 & 175

Honda CD175 twin

 

MK 1 Escort

MK 2 Escort ghia

Vauxhall Firenza

MK III Cortina 2000E, 1600L & 2000XL

 

Ma and step father have an '65 Mustang and a lovely Dodge Charger.

 

We used to get nine of us in the back of an Escort van but that was before people carriers