Cars I Used to Own
Good member Ralph H of Saint John has put forward an interesting proposal. Let's invite our members to do a little reminiscing and tell us about the gems of cars they used to own, and also admit to the crocks they would simply like to forget. You can either make it a simple list or you can embellish a little with some interesting details. Don't be shy. Either post a comment here or send me an e-mail and I will post it for you.
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My list is pretty boring:
1966 Sunbeam Imp (new) (Maybe $1500)
1962 Morgan +4 four seater (used)(paid $600!)( It's mine again after many years.)
1968 Morgan +4 SS (new - $3575!)
1972 VW Beetle
Peugeots of just about every model that Ralph Dingee of City Motors brought in: 403, 404, 304 and 405. We were spoiled by beautiful seats, smooth ride and legendary service from Dingee.
1992 Honda Civic that gave us 500,000km of trouble-free service!!!
1998 Toyota Camry with 400,000kms coming up soon.
1976 Triumph TR6
1930 Bugatti Royale (Type 41)
Oops! Scratch that last one--I must have dozed off there for a moment. ;-)
Hi All
Thanks for posting this David, fess up everybody Lets have some winter fun.
1968 Rambler American Ex NBTel bare as a bone company car passed down from my father as it was not worth anything when he bought his next winner an ex NBTel Valient. sold and towed away for $50.
1972 VW Beetle everybody had one of these. best source of parts was the local dump.
1972 Mazda 1200 one of only 8 to make it to North America so my parts supply was cut off. rolled it twice but drove it all thru university after that. tough little bugger.
198? Renault 5 Le Car- pure fun
and we bought The first of three VW campers this one for a 6 week cross Canada Honeymoon from Nfld to Alberta. sold it right after
1988 Sabb 900 5 door wish I had kept this one.
Second VW Camper missed the first one too much
Sold all these and bought our
Third VW camper and the only new car purchase I have ever made
1988 Wesfalia Picked it up in Luxembourg and lived in it for a year in Europe and Asia. shipped back to Halifax in 1988
kept it for a long time wish I kept it longer.
1989 ford Taurus (for real estate)
traded this in for a spectacular
1988 BMW 735l and sold even more real estate. still keep a photo of this one over my desk.
Bought the first of three half tons
Moved back to New Brunswick so we sold out and bought a 1993 Ford Explorer but kept our first convertable fun car a 1986 Dodge 600 That set the stage for the 1961MGA
second renovation truck- a near classic 1978 Ford beater in bright orange was sold to a collector and restored after I knocked the crap out of it and picked up 1986 Dodge 3/4 ton plow truck and then this went for the current 2002 Ford supercab plow truck
Explorer was traded in on the current 2001 Subaru just in time. It died twice on the way to the Subaru dealer in Fredericton on trade in day. I practically pushed it into the lot.
And I thought I had the only Bugatti around here!!!!!!!!!
Ralph
1967 Grey Pontiac Parisienne
1972 Cream Pontiac Parisienne(Lemon)
1975 Silver Chevrolet Camaro
1980 Black Buick Regal T-Top
1984 Red GMC S-10 Jimmy
1987 Maroon Buick Electra
1993 White Jeep Grand Cherokee, 1997 Black BMW Z3
1998 Green Ford Explorer
2003 Pewter GMC Envoy
2007 Red Pontiac G5
2008 Gold CTS.
Every one assembled in North America. Can't blame me for the declining North American auto industry.
Stephen W.
1968 Wine coloured Camaro 327cu. My first and a most memorable car.
1972 Capri (the sexy European)
1974 Mustang II. The second coming of Mustang. Not at all a very good car.
1978 Nova. Good solid car.
1983 Subaru GL. Practical family wagon.
1987 Subaru GL. This car was one of the few lemons ever made by Subaru. Many, many problems.
1992 Toyota Camry. Boring, boring, boring.
1986 Pontiac 6000. More boring than above.
1992 Toyota Tercel. Blah.
1998 Accord – just turned over 350000 km last week. Just won’t quit. (That sound is me knocking on wood). Getting close to trading time.
2000 Civic - sold to make way for the 2-seater.
2004 Miata GS (the LBC pretender) – hands down the most fun of them all!!! And, it is what provided us with the opportunity to meet all you great folks.
Can anyone beat this for shortness?
1) Inherited a 64 Rambler Classic from my Grandfather in 1973
2) Bought the E-Type in 1976.
3) Used 1975 Datsun B210 in 1982
4) Used 1982 Civic in 1988
5) Used 1985 Civic in 1995
6) Used Accura Integra in 2004
**Have never owned a new car!**
Bob E.
1975 Dodge Dart which I put over the curb coming out of Ronalds House of Fine Foods on Prospect Street showing off for girls who attended high school with me. Cracked the sub frame and that allowed the torsion bars to unwind - dropping the front end about 6 inches and let both tires rub continually all the way home on the tops of the fenders. The next morning it looked like a jacked up sports model with burnt paint on the fender tops.
a late 1970's 2 door Ford Torino. Worst car ever!
1973 Fire chicken Rockford file gold with tan interior. Chick magnet lol
1980 Pontiac Pheniox 2 door X body car. 2.5 litre 4 speed. Not a chick magnet lol but a Tough car for a GM. I remember parking it in my driveway - going into the house and hearing my dog outside barking. I went to the window in the kitchen, opened it to hollar at teh dog to quiet down and saw the red blur sail past me heading for the tree line in the back yard.
During university in 1983 it stopped being able to start during cold weather. So I got up every 2 hours and sat in the car starting it for 10 minutes to keep it warm. Of course it was in the middle of exams so I had first handed knowledge of Sleep dep.
1987 Ford 150XLT PU. Worse truck ever! Found on road dead was an understatement. 3 motor jobs in less than 99,000 kms. It never made it to the road most of the time. It Just continually died in the driveway. Went to sell it and had lots of people come look at it. One guy showed up before I did nad actually stole the battery which was 3 months old.
1992 Hyundia Sonota withthe 1,000,000 km warranty. Plastic mouldings broke first 2 weeks. Water pump, head gasket, power steering rack X 3. Paint delamination at 20,000 and teh owner of the business accused me of washing the car with javex and Steele wool. during an oil change the service manager told the mechanic to take the car off the hoist and drive it out into the lot. WITH NO OIL IN IT!. Reason was because every time there was a problem o a noise we took it in under warranty for a repair.
Worse car ever. Wait I already used this line didn't I.
2 Saturns (gotta love the no rusting body panels.) 2 Austins a 60 and 69 and a 76 MGB in the garage.
ES
62 Ford Anglia bought in High School and driven till I graduated. Now made famous by Harry Potter movies (the flying car) Same colour as in the movie...my kids wouldn't belive me until I showed them a photo.
68 VW bug..great car, paid 600 in 1970, sold in in 73 for 650. Learned how to take the engine out in less than 10 minutes.
71 Mustang 351 Cleveland, bought when I was in Regina for training. I remember gas was .49 a gallon the day I left for home.
75 Chevy Vega....say no more...wifes car
76 VW Scirocco...loved that car and would like to buy another to restore.
71 Capri that I built up as a race car and raced for 3 years.
79 Datsun P/u...use to flat tow the Capri with it...drum breaks and all
82 Toyota SR5 Pickup...another great vehicle.
85 VW Jetta..bought new and drove for 13 years.
98 Accord
2002 CRV
2005 Subaru Legacy...still own
92 Toyota turcel sold with 300K
93 Ford Ranger P/u still own
2000 Civic...still own
53 Mg TD...
I would like to by something unusual like one of the early 70's TVR's with a small block ford V8. Something with a bit of go..the TD is fun but kind of anemic..
Good topic David!!
1) 1971 Triumph Spitfire
2) 197? Dodge van
3) 1977 Ford F250
4) 198? Ford Escort
5) 1985 Ford Tempo
6) 1988 Ford Ranger
7) 1992 Ford F150
8) 1992 Volvo 940 Turbo
9) 2000 Subaru Outback
10) 1977 MGB
and I still own #s 8, 9 & 10.
My first car was a 49 Ford purchased in the spring of 52. I was working then in Kapuskasing in the woods, gave this car to my father and got me a 52 Pontiac which I traded for a 56 Ford custom line, because of the bad roads could not keep the frontend aligned, I vent to Toronto and traded for a 57 MGA, I kept this car for two years, the heater was not the best so again beck to Toronto an traded for a VOLVO 544, in 62 again traded for a Volvo P1800, after an accident and my son was born I traded for a Volvo Station Wagon.
In 68 traded again For a Volvo 144. In 59 a women driver run into me in Northbay I had to buy an other car back to Toronto and purchased a Toyota Crown. In 1970 I came to New Brunswick working for St.Anne Co.
In 74 as a second car I got a Toyota Celica. In 79 I traded The Crown for a Toyota Corolla. In 1980I had a chance to get 1969 Triumph Tr-6, In 88 I sold The 74 Celica and purchased an 86 Celica. In 91 I traded the 86 Celica for an Isuzu Impuls, I traded this car for an Acura Sport in 1998. Sold in 2003 and got a Toyota Corolla, I have this car to date plus The TR-6. As you can see this partly the reason that I am destitute plus the company vent bust.
Just kidding!!!
Alex H.
Well, I resisted putting this list together for some time. It seems almost embarrassing now that I’ve looked it over. It’s the best I can do after much thought and consultation with my wife. The list is likely short by twenty to twenty five vehicles that are lost in the mists of my aging mind.
When living in southern Ontario in the sixties and seventies, our neighbour and close friend was the sales manager of a Chevrolet dealership. We were always playing with cars and motorcycles and he raced a C/Altered dragster with an alcohol-injected hemi. Lots of fun!
I used to buy some of the dealership’s “bargain” trade-ins, sometimes 2-3 at a time and turn them over. Some were very good, others were really rough and needed a bit of mechanical work and tarting up before moving them on. My wife used to complain that she never knew what I was bringing home; cars that is.
The most vehicles that I can remember having in the fleet at one time is eight. Times have changed! The fleet now consists of two long-term cars and one motorcycle.
Phil O
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First Car: 1955 Buick Special – v8, 3 spd standard, no power steering or power brakes. Bought it with heavy front-end damage and broken transmission (main shaft) and repaired it enough to drive. Installed front bumper from a ’55 Kaiser. I was 16 at the time and working part time at a Fina station.
1957 AJS 500cc motorcycle
1965 Ducati 450cc Sebring
1966 Sunbeam Alpine – bought new
1968 Firebird Sprint – OHC 6, 4 barrel, 4 spd. – bought new
1961 Mercury Meteor– owned about 2 days
1965 Ford Galaxie 2 Dr Hardtop
1963 MGB Roadster – bought in ’72, sold in ‘72
1963 BSA Gold Star 500cc. $800 bike then, $18-20,000 bike now!
1962 Royal Enfield Interceptor
1970 XKE Coupe – bought as a write-off and parted out. Was a high school graduation present for a friend’s sister. She had it about 2 weeks before totaling it and nearly killing herself.
1964 Chev Impala SS 2 dr Hardtop, 327 – 325 hp. Worth a fortune now it I’d had the foresight to hang onto it!
1966 Chev Caprice 400 ci small block
1972 Norton 850 Interstate
1967 Volvo 122 – was stolen and heavily damaged
1965 Pontiac Convertible – very rough, 4 spd,
1966 Chevelle Malibu 2 dr Hardtop
1966 Pontiac Grand Parisienne – 396 4 barrel, duals
1970 Mustang Mach I, 428…very fast; in straight line!
1972 Dodge Dart 340
1962 Pontiac 4 dr. – bought for $25.00 from neighbour after I ran into it. I offered to fix it. He had bought new car that week and dealer didn’t want his Pontiac. He wanted it out of his yard. Sold for $200.00 to acquaintance that wanted engine for a hot rod.
1968 Mercury Station Wagon
1975 Malibu Classic 4 dr
1975(?) Renault R12 – bought so cheap that I could overlook the fact that is was ugly and a poor excuse for a car. When we moved to NB from Ont. I loaded this car inside the tractor-trailer with all our possessions while my wife drove our other car and pulled the camper trailer. Drove as 2nd car for more than one year.
1973 Pontiac Parisienne Brougham – bought in April/78 for $500 as cheap way to get home from Ont. instead of flying home after returning the tractor trailer used to move to Fredericton – washed, waxed, redyed vinyl roof, sold for $1500. It paid for our move.
1976 Ford LTD II – bought very cheap in S. Ontario (Union Gas company car) instead of flying home from Ontario visit.
1973 AMC Ambassador – 390v8, ex RCMP car. I drove it as unmarked RCMP car for several years, bought it and subsequently sold to my sister. Enough stories here for a small novel.
1976 or 77 Chevette – very cheap at NB Power auction, not much of a car but got me back and forth to work
1982 Ford LTD – LARGE grey car….my son named it “The Whale”.
1974 (?) VW Rabbit Diesel – another auction buy. Tough old car that was cheap to operate!
1971 504 Peugeot 4 dr. – loved that car, solid & comfortable but had to give up on it after iron oxide took over.
1983 GMC Cheyenne Diesel pickup
1972 or 73 Toyota Tercel
1985 Mercury Marquis
1983 Plymouth Reliant
1981 Dodge Aires wagon
1986 Plymouth Reliant
198 Jeep Comanche 4x4 with Renault turbo diesel
1984 GMC 1 ton crew cab with Reading body
1977 (?) Plymouth Horizon
1981 Mercury Topaz – ugh!
1991 Plymouth Acclaim
1981 Honda CB900 Motorcycle
1984 Honda v65 Motorcycle
1983 Yamaha 850 Special Motorcycle
1983 Camaro 305 HO with lots of suspension mods, never winter driven – bought in ’98, son took to BC in 1999. I brought it back to NB in 2001. Sold it without the transmission. The car is still in Fredericton and the 5-speed transmission from this car is now in my MGB v8 conversion.
1977 MGB Roadster bought in VT for restoration/v8 conversion. Came with cockpit and trunk full of spare parts. Lots of rust in all the usual and some unusual places. Sold off unwanted bits, including header, dual throat Weber 45 DCOE’s with manifold, engine, extra starters and alternators, instruments, overdrive, OD switch and other parts. These parts went all over North America. The remains were sold to a teacher in Moncton after I found the next MGB. EBay is great!
1977 MGB Roadster. Found in Austin, TX. Not looking for a car at the time but couldn’t pass this one up. Had been in storage for over 12 years in a warehouse with 40+ other MGs. NO RUST! Now has Rover 3.5 v8, lots of custom parts and parts from various other brands including Kubota Tractor. It has been a long, long time in the building! Just waiting on final paint and re-assembly, looking forward to lots of drives this summer.
1999 Kawasaki Concours Sport Touring
2006 Kawasaki Concours Sport Touring
2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue
2006 Mazda 5
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