When I was young..............

[DAVID PATERSON]

it's often said that the music and fashions that prevailed when we passed from adolescence to adulthood stays with us for the rest of our life. Similarly, as we age we tend to look back fondly on what ever car was the latest and greatest when we started to drive.

I'm an example of this myself. The Holden VL Commdore SS Group A "Walkinsahw" was released the same month i got my driver's licence and as a Holden fan who lived and breathed V8 Touring Cars, i thought it was just the most awesome thing on wheels.

I went to the Holden dealer and just stood there captivated, swearing that one day, when i'm older and have enough money, i will buy one. In fact, i still have the publicity photo, block mounted, hanging on my wall.

How about you? Was there a now classic car released on the market at the same time you were released on the road?

[Truckosaurus]

I passed my 'test' in 1990. The King of the Road at that time was the Ford Sierra Cosworth and it is saddingly to think that the Volvo diesel I drive today has a similar amount of power. The Mazda Mx5 also was released that year, but was (and indeed, is) too girly to have been an object of desire. Also released onto the UK market was the re-born Rover Mini Cooper, an example of which was my first car after leaving college and I still own today.

[StuiE]

I've had my license nearly 3 yrs, didn't really have a dream car then, but back when I was little I loved VL Calais', still don't mind VLCT's but I wouldn't own one.

There is a Sierra Cosworth near me, looked brand new when I walked past it going to school years ago, I just went past it today and it's all dusty and now unlicenced, I don't think I've ever seen it move from the driveway, I'd love to own it.

[DAVID PATERSON]

Stu, maybe it's worth knocking on the door or leaving note in the letterbox.

[StuiE]

If all my money wasn't going towards a house that's what I'd be doing

[DAVID PATERSON]

Who else has a favourite classic car that was released the year they got their licence?

[Stephen Green]

I got my licence in the UK back in 1968 and have fond memories of the original Mini Cooper S and should be ever forget that old faithful, the Morris 1000 or jellymould as it is affectiuonately known.

[John Turner]

I've always thought that 'jellymould' was a more suitable label for the A30/A35 Austins than the Minor. It just seemed a more appropriate shape!

[terence]

Passed my test 14/4/67,the IN car [Dont tell Zef] was the MK1 Cortina GT,1yr latter I had one,it was probably one of the most fun cars I,ve owned.

[silver bullet]

I passed my test in 1982. The cars I learned to drive in were my fathers Toyota Carina 1600, and my first car a 1975 Honda Civic 1200. Both brilliant cars by the way.

The car I really wanted when I was young was a Chrysler Matra Rancho. It was so different to anything around at the time.

Most of my dream cars I have actually managed to own at some time, Escort RS, Capri S, Toyota Celica and a Fiat 131 Supermirafiori. (unfortunately not the abarth version)
There are still two cars I would love to own, if I could come across one when I have some spare cash. An Audi 'ur quattro' or one of these CLICK HERE

[touringlegend]

I passed my test 7/11/2002 makes me feel quite young compared to some of you!


At that time I wanted, and would still quite like an MG ZS 180. Insurance is a no no though, you won't find me paying over a grand for it! So at the moment no MG!

[Dennis.Doyle]

Tested in 1970 & Lancia won the RAC for second time in succession with the Fulvia HF. Got a 1.3 Fulvia ten years later & spent another ten putting paches on it & scavenging HF bits. Loadsafun for not loadsamoney.

[John Turner]

My Father taught me to drive in his 1964 Triumph 2000 (which made it easy with that lovely smooth 6 cylinder) and it was the car that I passed my test in, in January 1967. Even then I had been an Aston enthusiast for most of my life, but the current Aston model at that time was the DB6 which was, and is, one of my least favourite (but that is all relative, of course!) models of the marque. Without checking, I really cannot recall what other cars were being manufactured at the time which would have stood out for me.

[johnh875]

I got my licence in 1994, and was struggling to think of a car from that time that was the latest and greatest, then it struck me - the McLaren F1! Ok, it was 1993 I think, but close enough. I don't think there is too much danger of me owning one however.

On a bit more realistic front the VR model HSV GTS which was the first of the 5.7L stroker models, and the Falcon XR8 Sprint would both be a nice collectible.

[XRS]

When I was a lad the ultimate car was the Ferrari 500 Superfast.

Amazingly it turned out that a chap living near me had the ex-Peter Sellers car and insisted that I try it out. My wife nearly had a heart attack when she saw me getting in the driver's seat and setting off

[John Turner]

Welcome XRS, and a great first post. What an incredible experience that must have been.

[XRS]

Originally Posted by John Turner

Welcome XRS, and a great first post. What an incredible experience that must have been.

Thanks. It surely was.

I stalled it of course.

[johnh875]

Fantastic! It would have to be compulsory to stall a car like that first time out wouldn't it? How old were you?

[XRS]

Originally Posted by johnh875

Fantastic! It would have to be compulsory to stall a car like that first time out wouldn't it? How old were you?

At a guess I would have been around 40, so no age-related excuses. The torque of the car was amazing, hardly noticing the hills around where I live and which cause many cars difficulties.

I once took my brother round to the chap's house for tea. Of course, we took it in the garage

[johnh875]

Hmm, failure of reading & comprehension - oops! I had thought you had the neighbour "as a lad", but then the wife having a heart attack wouldn't have been a problem!

I agree that large amounts of torque is fantastic, I drove a Falcon a while ago that had a 460ci engine transplanted into it (7.5L), no wonder the Americans loved big block engines back in the 60s. Also my dads Typhoon, stock they have 550Nm, his is retuned and acceleration in 3rd gear is indistinguishable from 2nd.

[XRS]

Originally Posted by johnh875

Hmm, failure of reading & comprehension - oops! I had thought you had the neighbour "as a lad", but then the wife having a heart attack wouldn't have been a problem!

I agree that large amounts of torque is fantastic, I drove a Falcon a while ago that had a 460ci engine transplanted into it (7.5L), no wonder the Americans loved big block engines back in the 60s. Also my dads Typhoon, stock they have 550Nm, his is retuned and acceleration in 3rd gear is indistinguishable from 2nd.

I see where you're coming from - I should have said "many years later...."

I do love my torque, my current car enjoys 537Nm, but it's probably a little too modern for this thread

[johnh875]

Hmm, googling that torque figure brings up a Ford Galaxie, tweaked turbo Porsches or chipped Audis, am I warm?

[XRS]

Nowhere near. It is not quite as it left the production line, but it does come as a complete package over here. Mine is a 2005 version of this http://www.type-25.com/

[DAVID PATERSON]

Originally Posted by johnh875

I got my licence in 1994, and was struggling to think of a car from that time that was the latest and greatest, then it struck me - the McLaren F1! Ok, it was 1993 I think, but close enough. I don't think there is too much danger of me owning one however.

On a bit more realistic front the VR model HSV GTS which was the first of the 5.7L stroker models, and the Falcon XR8 Sprint would both be a nice collectible.

A recent issue of Australian Muscle Car Magazine rated the ED XR8 Sprint as a car that is vey affordable now but could appreciate handsomely in the next decade or so.