What was your first car. Tell us your story

[Niko]

My First Car was a 1959 VW beetle.

It now sits in the Birdwood Motor Museum.

I was there early last year, and being an old VW fan would have checked it out. Agree with Chris that it would be great to know it is preserved and on display.

My vehicular history in chronological order:

1965 VW Beetle

1971 VW Beetle Super Bug

1974 VW Passat LS

1974 Alfa Romeo Alfetta

1985 Citroen 2CV6 Special

1992 Subaru DL Wagon

2005 Subaru Forester XS (current)

2003 Porsche Boxster (current)

Interesting group of cars there David, German, Italian, French and Jap and back to German. I am a huge Sooby fan.

[myred911]

not game to!

'cos you will all roll around laughing

[Uncle]

I am having serious trouble relating you to that one Uncle.....

I was young and needed the money.

Although since then I think at last count I've had 35 cars and prolly twice that in motorbikes.

[SteamWolf]

LOL I always assumed you owned it as some sort of bait or trap.

Technically, my first car was a Hillman Minx wagon that was in a paddock up the road from me. I asked the owner if I could have it and pull it apart. I was 12 at the time. They said ok as long as I didn't make a mess. Well, I stripped that thing to its singular components using a $12 k-mart spanner set, one screw driver, a shifter and believe it or not an army tin opener. That car ended up all over the paddock.

My first actual car was an LC 1300cc torana, after learning to drive in the old's VW Kombi campervan. My parents wouldn't let me buy the six cylinder one as they felt it would be too powerful (lol). Hence all other purchases after my first were done prior to telling them any of my intentions to do so.

I have no photos of it as I didn't own a camera until many years later, but it looked just like this one, except it was white and a 2dr coupe:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/1969-1972_Holden_LC_Torana_4_sedan_01.jpg

I was an apprentice back then and the cnuts at TAFE would carry it across the car park. With 3 people in it, it wouldn't go up some streets in Newport until they got out and walked, and I'd wait for them at the top. Paid $1600 for it back in '88 (my life's savings at the time). Sold it for a devastating $900 a year later if I recall correctly. I had repainted it, recarpeted it (loungeroom offcut lol) and fitted a stereo (Sound4 head unit, and two 15in speakers from Dad's shed that were from the 50's which I installed behind the back seat - actually sounded great and many passengers commented how good the cheap and nasty stereo sounded)

My second car was a Renault 16TS, ( http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Renault_16_TS_001.JPG ) and that kooky car is remembered much more fondly. Especially when the TAFE guys tried to do the same trick. They lifted it to chest height and it still had all four wheels on the ground.

I've had a stupid number of cars since then and while most are forgettably ubiquitous, a number of them were either odd or strangely cool.

[CarreraG50]

Ahh my first love car,

1971 XY Ford Ute (maroon) 302 V8 4speed (toploader) 115MPH in 3rd with 2 trail bikes & a mate in the back.

1977 SL/R 5000 (Purple)

1967 MGB roadster (Blue re painted it Black)I will never buy another one.

1974 SL/R 5000 L34 (White)

1973 GTR-XU1 (White) how sad is this, I can remember the engine number, JP390021.

1977 A9X Painted in, yep wait for it, Peter Brock HDT colours (Bought it with 18000kms for $18000 sold it with 22000 kms for $22000)

1970 MGB (White) I will never buy another one.

1969 Porsche 911S Targa (Red)

1971 Porsche 914 (Yellow)

1987 Porsche 911 Carrera (Marine Blue Metallic) Current.

Where are they now.

[Coastr]

Well, I posted in another thread once about my early vehicle days.

My first car was a 1973 Toyota Celica LT. Chocolate brown with a beige vinyl top. I only owned it for a year, though, and sold it to a friend who rolled it two weeks later.

The next car was a 1971 Toyota Celica GT. This was a grey import from Japan before such a thing was considered cool.

I bought it off a guy who gave me a pile of receipts for a 'new engine'. However, after about 600 km, it was seized shut. My guess is that he did a backyard rebuild by putting in new parts without having anything machined. It received a new import engine from a later model toyota, but same basic engine (2T-G). I tore off all the fuel-injection that was on the import engine, refitted the dual sidedrafts and off I went. I eventually fitted the three-piece wheels you see, recaro seats, as well as questionable mods like the rear power aerial and replacing the original JDM mirrors with the 'supercheap' ones shown. Eventually it ate too much of my money and had to go.

This was replaced by a later model 1980 Toyota Celica with the 18R motor in it - a terrible mistake quickly rectified. It wasn't long before I slotted in a 1986 Toyota Corolla 'twin cam' with the 4AG motor. My first car with AC - bliss. It was rockin' some Auscar 15 inch wheels and a CD player as well. Unfortunately the torquey little motor and grippy tires started to play havoc with the econobox chassis and the interior light would come on if you went around a left hander quickly. It eventually developed cracks in the chassis which I welded up and moved on. Probably the car that got driven the hardest of my life, but it never missed a beat (apart from the chassis damage, that is)

Shown here at Mt Glorious with a friends Golf GTI, which he still has amazingly.

After that it was turbo-time (but still on the small cars) - so next up (some years later) was a 1988 Mazda 323 Turbo 4wd. Not a grey import but one of the official Mazda imports, very rare I've only ever seen two others on the road. Unfortunately a blown heater hose meant a cooked motor, but I had it rebuilt and it ran better than ever. Sadly it also cracked the exhaust manifold so it made a terrible noise until the exhaust heated up and closed the crack. I bought it off a student out of visa who had to depart in a hurry, and it was lowered with Konis and had a microscopic Momo steering wheel and a rock hard ride. But it did handle like it was on rails and was a pleasure to hurry along.

Next up after this was a 1995 Chevy Camaro Z28. Tastefully fitted with Chrome wheels and a large rear wing, naturally.

Photographed here in Malibu Canyon in LA, which is where I owned it. What can I say about this car but lead-tipped arrow. Handled like crap but made a glorious noise and could do very nice number 11s wherever you felt like it. In the wet it would actively try and kill you. Panel fit was horrendous but it did cost less than the Mazda listed above, so there is that.

There was also this, which was not only car, but also house for a while...another story..quite a long one

Then I got onto the BMWs, first this one:

1989 525i

..then this one

...which is still with me to this very day, and sits not 5 metres from where I type. It has new wheels now:

The next one will hopefully look something like this:

(apologies if this is yours and you didn't want it photographed - I'll buy it off you in compensation though)

I feel rather exposed now with a history like this laid out - if anyone who knows me comes across this thread they wouldn't take very long to id the perpetrator!

[Niko]

Well done Coastr, good story and some interesting cars as well. Lets hope the next step won't be that far down the track.

[Niko]

Ahh my first love car,

1971 XY Ford Ute (maroon) 302 V8 4speed (toploader) 115MPH in 3rd with 2 trail bikes & a mate in the back.

1977 SL/R 5000 (Purple)

1967 MGB roadster (Blue re painted it Black)I will never buy another one.

1974 SL/R 5000 L34 (White)

1973 GTR-XU1 (White) how sad is this, I can remember the engine number, JP390021.

1977 A9X Painted in, yep wait for it, Peter Brock HDT colours (Bought it with 18000kms for $18000 sold it with 22000 kms for $22000)

1970 MGB (White) I will never buy another one.

1969 Porsche 911S Targa (Red)

1971 Porsche 914 (Yellow)

1987 Porsche 911 Carrera (Marine Blue Metallic) Current.

Where are they now.

Ha ha the two Bees sort of just don't fit in with the rest of the stable, which is very impressive.

Guess you fell for the old..."I might just try another one" re the Bees. Can't say I've ever been a big fan of MG's.

[CarreraG50]

Thanks Niko,

As is usually the case, had to sell one to fund the next. If only could have afforded to keep them all.

Have a mate who's first car was a 1967 Ford XRGT he had a small accident, hit the gutter and damaged the front suspension. Bank would not lend him money to fix it, but would lend for another car, so he bought an XYGT, once

the XR was fixed he intended to sell the XY.

34 years later he still owns both.....

[wasserkuhl]

Gee what an amazing feeling to be able to walk into the museum and say that was my car......

I haven't been there since I was quite young, with my parents. Must get back there were day.

C

It is a Bit Freaky actually. I wish we hadn't donated it now as I'd like to restore it. It was my Mothers first car as well.

Heres my list :

1959 VW Beetle

1981 Holden WB Ute 6 Cyl Auto (Stolen)

1972 Holden HQ Wagon 6 Cyl Auto

1983 WB Ute, 5.0 Auto with Caprice Front and interior

1976 HJ Monaro 350 Chev

1990 Toyota Celica

1989 Subaru Liberty Wagon

1992 Subaru Liberty RS Turbo Wagon (Still Have it)

1998 Subaru WRX Club Spec

2000 Subaru WRX Hatch/Wagon

2004 VY Commodore Wagon(Still have, er indoors drives it)

1989 944 S2

1964 356 SC(Still Have it)

1992 968CS M030 M220

1977 Carrera 3.0(Still Have it)

2011 Camry Hybrid(Company car, its actually very good, no really it is)

and

The Next one......

[Niko]

Thanks Niko,

As is usually the case, had to sell one to fund the next. If only could have afforded to keep them all.

Have a mate who's first car was a 1967 Ford XRGT he had a small accident, hit the gutter and damaged the front suspension. Bank would not lend him money to fix it, but would lend for another car, so he bought an XYGT, once

the XR was fixed he intended to sell the XY.

34 years later he still owns both.....

The problem I guess is when we are younger and stretching the dollar, and we get the first car, we don't realise that one day...one day... Of course the first one goes for the next step up or whatever else it is a young bloke (or girl) needs and no further thought is given to that piece of your history or life until times like now. I would really love to have the old Vanguard back, great memories and I did get up to a lot of no good in the back with my old accomplice mr BEN EAN.

Glad your mate hung onto both of them GT's they are both my favourites when it comes to GT's. He can laugh at the bank now with those two possessions sitting in the shed.

It is a Bit Freaky actually. I wish we hadn't donated it now as I'd like to restore it. It was my Mothers first car as well.

2011 Camry Hybrid(Company car, its actually very good, no really it is)

Nice variety of cars again, looks like your also a sooby fan.

And yeah sure we really do believe you about the Hybrid, sure we do. Although if it is a company car who cares.

They probably do serve the purpose but they lack something. "Character" Thanks for sharing Wasser and G50 these posts make great reading in my opinion, and although we were only after the first car, the thread is even better looking at the other cars that were part of peoples lives.

[Niko]

not game to!

'cos you will all roll around laughing

Promise we won't. This has got to be a ripper, but seriously it can't be any worse than a 58 Vanguard with a 4cyl MASSEY FERGUSON tractor motor in it. Come on FESS UP.....

[withers]

My first car was a TE Cortina Ghia with the 6cyl engine and extractors. It was a dark green with tan vinyl roof. It was a quick car! My Dad found it at the local Ford dealer in Kilmore, it had just been traded in. So he asked how much for it and they said $3000. So he had a quick convo with my Mum and they agreed to buy me the car, providing I paid them back. So I started paying them back a certain amount every fortnight.. till one day my Mum sneakily said 'don't tell your dad but you've paid enough now' thanks mum!

That car was fast and it was lovely. My younger brother once decided he'd check the oil (before he was a mechanic) and put too much oil in it. I started her and she she blew soooooo much smoke it covered the entire front of the house! I ran inside to tell Dad that my car was blowing some smoke... hahahah later on, they drained some 10 litres of oil out of it

Now this is funny....

Driving home from work one day, down the Hume Hwy... at Kalkallo, this guy in a massive Land Cruiser towing a Caravan pulls out in front of me. I'm doing 100km as that was the speed limit back then. I manage to avoid the caravan but hit his rear quarter panel, I then lost control, jumped the curb and crashed into a guide wire off a electricity pole.

I get out.. he gets out, am I ok.. yes I am. Do I need a lift.. not sure let me ring my Dad... phone my Dad, explain what happened, he makes sure I'm ok, car isn't driveable... give him the licence plate, he checks him out and says its ok let him drive you home. So I get in the back seat of these older peoples car... so where are we taking you too? The Kilmore Police Station.. errrr ok, my Dad is Officer in Charge! I see the couple give each other a nervous glance.

So my Dad manages to charge him with a few offences and tells him off.

Bye bye TE Cortina... she was well and truly a write off.. the impact twisted the chassis and the rear window popped out in one corner by about 3 inches!

[Russ]

my first car on the road was a '73 Kombi Microbus - I had a country buggy before that (until i decided i didn't want it anymore and dad took it back)

since then i've had a '60 Beetle, Mercedes 250CE, 450SEL, and ended up with an AU falcon and my 911

[Coastr]

my first car on the road was a '73 Kombi Microbus - I had a country buggy before that (until i decided i didn't want it anymore and dad took it back)

since then i've had a '60 Beetle, Mercedes 250CE, 450SEL, and ended up with an AU falcon and my 911

450SEL : Awesome. Was it the 6.9?

[Airhead]

looking forward to the photo of the FE, $120.00 can't complain at that price.

It was quite a bit at the time as I was a student only working part time in a servo for something like $12 a week.

These lists have got me thinking. I'm up to about 30 so far but I shouldn't bore you all with that. Should I? There's some clangers in there.

[Niko]

It was quite a bit at the time as I was a student only working part time in a servo for something like $12 a week.

These lists have got me thinking. I'm up to about 30 so far but I shouldn't bore you all with that. Should I? There's some clangers in there.

Clangers are the best part. Happy to be bored, but I bet I/we won't be. Go for it Barry.

You think you've had some clangers, my list would include a SIMCA ARONDE (some car that Simca..as the ad would say)

A SINGER GAZELLE, with a front pulley that kept falling off because of a worn key way, so I kept welding it back on until it would break and fall off again. I also had a black VW with the sliding vynil roof. This car had the same experience as the 911 in a thread about the rear whale tail, that car burnt down. Well my cackle wagen was driving on St Kildare Rd near the Arts Centre, when I looked in the mirror. There was a line of flames way back on the road, leading to my engine compartment.

I had two tall American blokes in the back, my very young daughter on my wife's knee in the front passenger seat.

I stopped the car and gave the order to abandon ship... All very good except because I was in the process of doing the car up there was only one door handle which was not attached to the door. So in the panic, I found the handle opened the passenger door, to let everyone out. It was like a scene from the titanic. Two big Lanky yanks scrambling over the seat to get out. I then escaped thru the same door. Took off my shirt and wrapped it around my hands opened the lid WHOOSH..trying to put out the fire.

A kind chap in a dinner suit appeared with a fire extinguisher and finished the job. A pipe had popped off the fuel pump (again) and caused the drama. I jammed it back in (again) turned the key and Presto...ready to go again.

I don,t know why but everyone refused to get back in with me. I ended up coming back next day and picking it up.

I bet the yanks will remember that day, I know my wife and daughter often remind me of it.

Whoops sorry Barry, nicely hi jacked your thread there.

[Russ]

450SEL : Awesome. Was it the 6.9?

nope, did drive 3 6.9's and i was unimpressed. i thought the 4.5 V8 i had was better

until i drove a friends immaculate one, and noticed the extra power

[Russ]

two people sitting in the back, did you have your battery cover on?

[Airhead]

There was a line of flames way back on the road, leading to my engine compartment.

Ha Ha Burning VW's There's a whole other thread right there.

[Airhead]

OK. You asked for it.

The list - with reflections of memory

1950ish Prefect bodyless paddock basher - Taught me the meaning of oversteer.

1948 Standard 8 Roadster - Cute but useless.

1952 FJ 3 door panel van – ex ambulance. Wish I still had it.

1957 FE Holden – 1^st Registered road car. Hotted up with a Red motor.

1970 HG Holden – Ex police car. Hotted that up too.

3 VW Beetles – 1 oval and 2 x 1960’s

1984 VW Golf - Turned it into a GTI look alike.

1970 Porsche 911E – Wish I never sold it.

1968 Series 2 Land Rover – Short wheelbase, Holden engine. Absolute hoot in summer with the roof off and screen folded flat.

1966 Alfa Romeo Guilia Sedan – Light, delicate, handled great, rev crazy. Loved it.

1970 Subaru 4WD Leone Wagon – What a hoot of a car with wider wheels and a weber fitted.

1984 Volvo 240 GT – Don’t laugh. Good touring car.

1981 BMW320i (E21) – Quick and agile.

1984 Range Rover 3 Door - Tow car

1976 HX 253 V8 Wagon – Tow car

3 Co Cars inserted here. Collolla, Datsun Sunny, Volvo Wagon - None of my choosing unfortunately

1979 924 Porsche – Hotted up. Faster than 944s at the time.

1985 Saab Aero Turbo - Fast & Scary

1990 BMW 318i Sedan (E36) - Boring

1992 BMW 318is Coupe (E36) – Much better car.

1968 Holden HG – Dear old Dad’s 3 on the tree 186

1974 P6 Rover V8 - Classic for a Tow car

1991 VP SS Commodore 5 litre V8 – Good daily and tow car. Written off sadly.

1992 Land Rover Discovery – Good tow car but thirsty.

1991 Ford Capri Convertible – Yes – I know!!!

1980 Triumph TR7 – Interesting daily driver.

1998 Jeep Cherokee 4ltr – Good Tow car

And that doesn't include the current fleet.

[Niko]

OK. You asked for it.

And that doesn't include the current fleet.

Some great cars there...still like your 914 the best.....

[Niko]

two people sitting in the back, did you have your battery cover on?

That thing always gave me problems, shorting out and sparking, I did have heaps of packing around it, but your right, pushing the

Limit with two tall yanks sitting on it

[withers]

"1991 Ford Capri Convertible – Yes – I know!!!"

Yes I know - went there myself TWICE!

[withers]

1979 Ford TE Cortina Ghia

1971 XY Falcon Replica in Pink

1991 Ford Crappy ooops I mean Capri

A Ford Falcon S pack of some sort (can't remember)

Another Ford Crappy - sold it privately

Went overseas had no car

Got back with no $ bought a really sh!tty Ford Escort

A new Hyundai Excel sold it 3 months later YUCK

Honda Integra the squarish one

1990 MX-5 NA6A - Loved it owned it for 3 years

MY06 Subaru RS Impreza

A crappy Mazda 323

2002 MX-5 NB8B

Mk 4 GTI Golf

Another MX-5 this time a NB8A

2006 Subaru Forester XS

2008 MkV GTI Golf

2006 SLK 350

And I had a Sigma at some point and also had a MGB in the garage whilst I was overseas

This is the only place I can share this and not be embarrassed (much)

EDIT: I also had a lowered hot little BMW 318i and an XT Falcon that I bought on behalf of my younger brother until he could buy it off me! I can't even remember where both of these cars fit in.