Everyday Classic

[Ian Smith]

I have seen quite a few classics beibg driven about lately and Melanie (MY Daughter) and I were saying what qwe would like to have as an everyday usable classic.
Me I would like a Morris Minor Traveller in Blue or white.
Melanie wants a Frogeye Sprite.
anyone else have a favourite?

[Maisie]

Morris Minor / Mini / most old Austin/Rover/BMC cars, Fiat 500.

[TimD]

Rover 3500 P6.

I had a blue 1973 one once upon a time, and it was one of the most pleasant cars I've ever driven.

I would have another in an instant.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally posted by TimD
Rover 3500 P6.

I had a blue 1973 one once upon a time, and it was one of the most pleasant cars I've ever driven.

My dad had one which I used to borrow. I'll never forget how much a certain young lady enjoyed that car. Must have been the leather upholstery.

I currently drive my 1965 MGB on my daily 100 miles round trip to work.

[Hobson]

Volvo Amazons are indestructable. My Dad boiled an engine and ran it for 10,000miles before realising it!

[Morris 1100]

My current collection:
1966 Morris 1100 (my everyday car)
1987 Ford Falcon (my wifes everday car)
1976 Ford F100 (tow car)
1986 Ford Econoline E350 (rare in Aus)
1972 Holden Kingswood (race car)
1968 Morris Cooper S (needs restoring)
1978 Leyland Mini 1275 LS (half restored)
1985 Austin Montego (may be the only one in Aus)

[Maisie]

Aussie Montego, eh? Any chance of some pics? We're trying to build an photo archive of all the Maestro and Montego models. How would you like to be the only Aus member of the Montego and Maestro Owners Club?

[TimD]

That's torn it! There's no escape for you now, Morrie!

[Maisie]

AND he has Min-Mins - a man of very good taste

[zefarelly]

Mk2 Cortina 1600E
Mk1 Cortina 2door, with tweaked 1700 crossflow

both these share my 65 mile daily work trip, as well as LeMans, and Spa trips this year to boot

also have a MK1 GT in bits to build and race

[Maisie]

Good choice too

[Morris 1100]

Maisie,
My Montego is a 1.3 Poverty model (no options) it was imported by a woman that bought it in England and then imigrated to Aus in 1988 and bought it with her, she drove the car until 1998 when she had a couple of little accidents with it and then left the car sitting.
Last month she advertised it "free to good home" and I drove 700km to pick it up and another 700km to tow it home!

[Amaroo Park]

Originally posted by Morris 1100
Maisie,
My Montego is a 1.3 Poverty model (no options) it was imported by a woman that bought it in England and then imigrated to Aus in 1988 and bought it with her, she drove the car until 1998 when she had a couple of little accidents with it and then left the car sitting.
Last month she advertised it "free to good home" and I drove 700km to pick it up and another 700km to tow it home!

Sad, very very sad

[Maisie]

Why sad?

Morris, if you want any mods for the car, like electric bits etc, they're dead easy to fit, and I could source the parts for you easily...

[zefarelly]

one (wo)mans trash is another (wo)mans treasure

Im just glad my vice is an Old Ford one ;-)

[Peter Mallett]

I had a mate who swore by his Montego. He used to get out and say things like !"£$%^g start you B!"£$%D.

[zefarelly]

ha ha, we used to have a diesel turbo Montego as a pool car

we called it the tractor, because it drove like one . . . .

it was the first turbo car I drove though ;-)

[TimD]

Okay, here's a defence of Montegos. I used to work for a Rover dealership when the last of the Montegos were rolling off the production line, and they were getting increasingly tricky to sell, so I've driven a lot....!

Last week, I tried a 2002 Vauxhall Vectra 1.8SXi, the much-vaunted "new piece of thinking". I can honestly say it was more sluggish, less engaging, and felt less well screwed together than the G-reg Montegos I drove on a daily basis. That new Vectra is a serious step back in my opinion from the pleasant driving machine that was - for example - a 2 litre Mk3 Cavalier.

So there.

[zefarelly]

Tim . . .Ive not driven the new vectra, but have been sufficiently scared in the wet by all the other models.

I dont recall the montego being a particularly bad drive, as long as it wasnt competition performance you where after, it got you from A-b ok

still a pig ugly grandad car though, Im suprised to see one in blue as well, I thought they only made them in Uncle Reg brown and werthers original beige, with biscuit interiors of course. :-)

[Vitesse]

Tim: there is no defence for Montegos. I had a maroon one for a short while - it cruised okay after you'd wound it up but the steering was a bit agricultural: it failed its MOT due to a fuel leak from the engine ...

My ex-boss had one too - he always reckoned it was a good thing it had a heated rear window, as it kept his hands warm while he pushed it.

[neilwaynesmith]

Having crossed swords with Maisie on the subject of Maestro's and Montego's in another thread, (and subsequently bumped into her in real life) I would urge you to give it up gentlemen

As for myself, I would be partial to a Reliant Scimitar GTC SE8

[Maisie]

I let you live, didn't I? What more do you want?

[zefarelly]

Ive been thinking about a scimitar for sometime now . . . .fuel economy isnt great though, even worse than my Cortina @ 23mpg

sounds good and fast though :-)

[simon drabble]

on similar vein what abt Sabre Six? I am interested in knowing more abt these cars - are they quick and fun to drive?

[903cc]

Fiat 124 Spider, just restored one. I have a FIAT 127 that is now a motorkhana car (hence my 903cc name) but fun to have on the road. But I imagine in the UK an MG would be a perfect everyday driver particularly a B or Midget just for the availability of parts etc. You can basically build a new B now by going to the parts shop.