Jaymo Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 (edited) Last night whilst watching yet another re-run of Wheeler Dealers it got me thinking about my first two cars. It was 1987 and I had a Triumph Spitfire, followed by a TR7 for my sins. Both were rotten to hell which at the time was the norm and for some reason ---expected To think that at the time they were aged 13years and 10years old. Now, present day- take a 10 year old car and apart from Merc Sprinters and Vivo's ( pet hate of mine these Mercs) and Morgans/Tvrs, then would you expect the same levels of corrosion? Thank god for progress and manufacturing standards....but I guess the share value of Isopan has gone down considerably Edited October 27, 2016 by Jaymo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adge Cutler Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 (edited) I was reminiscing similarly the other evening looking at some old photos...I had a Herald that was held together with Isopon and a Dolomite similarly.. they both must have weighed 1/2 a tonne more than when they came out of the factory, with all the waxoyl, filler and underseal on them. My mate had a Zodiac with so much underseal on it he had an oil fire on the way to Devon one day with 6 of us in it. Within 10 minutes it was like the final scene from the wicker man.. luckily we all got out in good time but his gonk got fried sadly. ! When I was left my aunts old Morris 1000 my mates and I stripped it down, put some carpets in, walnut dash ( hand made) new diff, back axle and brakes and slipped a V6 Cortina engine in. You wouldn't know to look at it but away from the lights used to leave everything for dead. Those days you could go to Halfords on Saturday Morning and get any part for the engine, within reason, get the Haynes manual out and fix it up Sunday morning. The most difficult operation was possibly changing the rear shoes.. ! Sunday afternoon a nice drive around the countryside ! Car owners these days don't know they are born...every car is supremely reliable in comparison to those old gals. ! Happy days Edited October 27, 2016 by Adge Cutler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaymo Posted October 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Halfords.... How many of us in the 70' and 80's had to go and buy the obligatory 'Spot lights' Was it Tetraseal that was bitumen like substance that covered many a rotten Sill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuji Shooter Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Or chrome sill covers - still see them on most MGBs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 (edited) agreed, any with 80,000 on the clock was rarity, saw someone driving a restored Vauxhall the other day and thought why ! still each to his own i suppose Edited October 27, 2016 by islandgun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaymo Posted October 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 My father still has the philosophy that if a car has more than 30,000 on the clock then it's past its best..... Adage has got me thinking---- windscreen tints ( even with the names of your loved one on), traffic light air freshener, seat covers, giant whip aerials, CB radio installs. What's your memory of 'Sunday morning' car add-on's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simjakcal Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 rubber static strips hung off the back bumper of me mk1 escort ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenlivet Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Vinyl roofs, the dog's danglies!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondoggy Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Don't forget the fury dice on the mirror and seat covers. The older generation and taxi drivers had those bead seat covers on the front seats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-wheel-drive Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 (edited) It realy used to get me back in the day I had a 1960 Vauxhall Cresta engine was I never forget 2262cc but it was only 4 years old when I got it and if you opened the rear doors the body there had rusted through I had four of them starting with a 56 then 60 then 61 that had the 2561cc engine and the last one I had was a 65 that had the 3.3 enging and that thing would move. all except for the last one had bad rust problems I only sole the 65 as it was costing me to much to run so I changed it for a 1972 ford capri 2ltr oring with a black vinyl roof I really wanted a 3ltr but could not find a good one at the time I had that car for about 8 years and loved it it had the transit V4 engine in it but it was still quite fast at the time. Edited October 27, 2016 by four-wheel-drive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondoggy Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Also, if you dug the filler out carefully, you got a free news paper to read. Page three, if you were lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondoggy Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 I used to get a lift to work with a guy who had a Morris Marina. The windscreen seal leaked, hence, he had no carpets in it. There was always an inch or two of water in the bottom. Accelerating and braking used to create mini tsunamis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adge Cutler Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 My father still has the philosophy that if a car has more than 30,000 on the clock then it's past its best..... Adage has got me thinking---- windscreen tints ( even with the names of your loved one on), traffic light air freshener, seat covers, giant whip aerials, CB radio installs. What's your memory of 'Sunday morning' car add-on's The plastic rear screen heater kit , Leather driving Gloves with perforated backs. Headlight dye. Bolt on reversing lights with dash board switch... you always got flashed when you left it on.! and my most favourite of all the original 70's air horn quintet..." la Cucaracha" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaymo Posted October 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Yep Totally forgot about the 'hanging anti vomit' straps and separate reverse lamps. The trend of painting bulbs yellow for those 'daring' foreign trips. Air horns on escorts and cortina's having seen Dukes of Hazzard ( wasn't allowed to put one in my mothers car i seem to remember. Chucking Redex in the tank too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Vauxhall Chevette, with grip on head rests that used to slide off i i went round a corner to fast. I got a load of brown fur and clued it onto the roof lining,door pillars, door card, dash board ect. Couldn't wait for it to dry(really sticky stinking evostick glue)and me and my mate nearly got killed when the road turned into a rainbow and i put it through a hedge.When i hit the brakes the fur fell of the roof and covered our heads so we couldn't see the bend in the road, hedge the connection with said hedge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-wheel-drive Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Vauxhall Chevette, with grip on head rests that used to slide off i i went round a corner to fast. I got a load of brown fur and clued it onto the roof lining,door pillars, door card, dash board ect. Couldn't wait for it to dry(really sticky stinking evostick glue)and me and my mate nearly got killed when the road turned into a rainbow and i put it through a hedge.When i hit the brakes the fur fell of the roof and covered our heads so we couldn't see the bend in the road, hedge the connection with said hedge. I do not now what to about that one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 (edited) A set of Minilite wheels cost me almost a months wages, but put the finishing touches to the sump guard, race tuned 998cc engine, bucket seated partially stripped and repainted in Abingdon Red with white doors aka Paddy Hopkirk, Wolseley Mini. Wood rimmed ally steering wheel, Halda map light, Lucas 'Flame Thrower' spots mounted high on the bonnet front. AND a 2 inch custom made straight through comp exhaust box, tucked up out of harms way in the centre. Used to enjoy rattling the pens on the Supers desk as I left the police station through the archway ..his office was directly above Happy days. The very first add on though was fitting a totally useless seat belt to the farms Ford 8 van in 1957-58, I swear it made that van go 5mph faster Edited October 27, 2016 by Walker570 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuji Shooter Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Fitted a black louvered rear window blind to my Dolly Sprint. Thought it looked the dogs, thinking about it now I must have looked a right tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaymo Posted October 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Fitted a black louvered rear window blind to my Dolly Sprint. Thought it looked the dogs, thinking about it now I must have looked a right tool. Yep, body kits of skirts etc were the rage-- weren't they from a company called Kamei? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db135 Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Remember when I was a kid my mam bought a brand new metro on a E plate 3 years down the line the wings were rotten and so was rest of the car realy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guzzicat Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Remember the tiger tail you hung from your filler cap "I,VE GOT A TIGER IN MY TANK "? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaymo Posted October 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Remember when I was a kid my mam bought a brand new metro on a E plate 3 years down the line the wings were rotten and so was rest of the car realy In 88 I was working for a Rover dealership and wings and front x-members were the norm. Awful cars and wasn't until the 'k series' arrived with the new models that I wasn't so embarrassed to say who I worked for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bb Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Watney's Red Barrel key fobs, a "must have"! 8 track tape players. Manual chokes and petrol soaked speak plugs. Still, at least we knew something about mechanics and could do basic remedial engineering, unlike today's sealed electronic units. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaymo Posted October 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Was given a lift to school by one of the teachers who lived in our village- remember his Jag having an 8 track player but he only had a few tapes... Still, Neil Diamond wasn't all that bad to put up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenlivet Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Watney's Red Barrel key fobs, a "must have"! 8 track tape players. Manual chokes and petrol soaked speak plugs. Still, at least we knew something about mechanics and could do basic remedial engineering, unlike today's sealed electronic units. If (when) it broke down you could usually fix it without a degree in computer science, just a few spanners and a Haynes manual. Although most of the jobs I embarked upon required a 'special tool'.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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