CliveP1
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i know seen some Lotus cortina's for over £70.000
Whats the most memorable cars/toys you've had?
- Thread starter kin
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i know seen some Lotus cortina's for over £70.000
conaero
Forum Owner
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Most memorable car, hum tough one.
I think its between 2
Alfa GTV 2L TS
Maserati 3200 GT
Alfa GTV
Whatever you think of the GTV they are truely a brilliant machine of their time. I think that this was Alfas best car since being taken over by FIAT. Now for me, I had a Renault thing going on and got a bit brand loyal as you do. After having a string of used ones, 2x14's, 2x11's, 2xMeganes I worked out that a Renault, no matter if new or old would always break so I looked for a new marque. As a lad growing up in the 80's the Alfa 33 always caught my eye and upon passing my test in 87 I was just not brave enough to commit.
It would be nearly 15 years till I took my first step. In 2001, after my final straw with Renaults Megane convertible, I got in contact with Simon Jordon in Bristol who at the time was running Specialist Cars Direct....importing Alfas direct from Italy and knocking about £5k off the dealer price.
I agreed £20k for a brand new Vela blue with black leather 2l TS with 6 stack CD and upgraded 17" teledials.
What I could not beleive was. How much better the GTV was finished than what I had been used to. I still remember clearly to this day driving off and hitting a set of light where I just sat and stared around the cockpit and just marvelled at how **** beautiful the thing was.
Quick, God yes. It had what I could only explain to be a power band at 4k rpm that was addictive to hit time and time again.
As an added bonus the reliability was bomb proof. I am trying to think of anything that went wrong and I can't. I had a 3.2 afterwards which was bonkers but the "Twinny" was like a first love
Maserati 3200 GT
Again, a most memorable drive home!
This was my first foray into the Maserati marque and one I think was instrumental to where I am today.
I was still in the 3.2 GTV and had no complaints but Alfa were at the start of ballsing up their product line. I did look quite seriously at a GT but after the GTV it was not the performance bump I was after. SportsAlfa.com or GTVV6.com as it was known saw a lot of talk about 3200 and after seeing one in a pub in Guildford I was sold. I knew little of the marque at the time. I did know what a Bora and a Merak was but all the Bi Turbo stuff I had just glossed over.
So after some searching I located a Nutello blue with tan leather 3200 Manual from a dealer in Newcastle. I had to fly up to view it but I knew I was going to buy it so only booked a one way ticket.
After some tyre kicking we did the deal and I set off on the long trip home.
As with any used car dealer car, it had no fuel in it so I pulled over at the first garage I saw and literaly had people circle the car....I felt so proud. The usual question was "What do you do" which basically translated into "how did you earn so much money, I want to do the same" but as we know this is a myth and you don't need to be a footballer to afford these things.
So I made my way home, engine light on of course, and this was to prove to be a roller coaster of a ride of stunning looks, insane power and an empty wallet
....and the rest they say is history!
I think its between 2
Alfa GTV 2L TS
Maserati 3200 GT
Alfa GTV
Whatever you think of the GTV they are truely a brilliant machine of their time. I think that this was Alfas best car since being taken over by FIAT. Now for me, I had a Renault thing going on and got a bit brand loyal as you do. After having a string of used ones, 2x14's, 2x11's, 2xMeganes I worked out that a Renault, no matter if new or old would always break so I looked for a new marque. As a lad growing up in the 80's the Alfa 33 always caught my eye and upon passing my test in 87 I was just not brave enough to commit.
It would be nearly 15 years till I took my first step. In 2001, after my final straw with Renaults Megane convertible, I got in contact with Simon Jordon in Bristol who at the time was running Specialist Cars Direct....importing Alfas direct from Italy and knocking about £5k off the dealer price.
I agreed £20k for a brand new Vela blue with black leather 2l TS with 6 stack CD and upgraded 17" teledials.
What I could not beleive was. How much better the GTV was finished than what I had been used to. I still remember clearly to this day driving off and hitting a set of light where I just sat and stared around the cockpit and just marvelled at how **** beautiful the thing was.
Quick, God yes. It had what I could only explain to be a power band at 4k rpm that was addictive to hit time and time again.
As an added bonus the reliability was bomb proof. I am trying to think of anything that went wrong and I can't. I had a 3.2 afterwards which was bonkers but the "Twinny" was like a first love
Maserati 3200 GT
Again, a most memorable drive home!
This was my first foray into the Maserati marque and one I think was instrumental to where I am today.
I was still in the 3.2 GTV and had no complaints but Alfa were at the start of ballsing up their product line. I did look quite seriously at a GT but after the GTV it was not the performance bump I was after. SportsAlfa.com or GTVV6.com as it was known saw a lot of talk about 3200 and after seeing one in a pub in Guildford I was sold. I knew little of the marque at the time. I did know what a Bora and a Merak was but all the Bi Turbo stuff I had just glossed over.
So after some searching I located a Nutello blue with tan leather 3200 Manual from a dealer in Newcastle. I had to fly up to view it but I knew I was going to buy it so only booked a one way ticket.
After some tyre kicking we did the deal and I set off on the long trip home.
As with any used car dealer car, it had no fuel in it so I pulled over at the first garage I saw and literaly had people circle the car....I felt so proud. The usual question was "What do you do" which basically translated into "how did you earn so much money, I want to do the same" but as we know this is a myth and you don't need to be a footballer to afford these things.
So I made my way home, engine light on of course, and this was to prove to be a roller coaster of a ride of stunning looks, insane power and an empty wallet
....and the rest they say is history!
rossyl
Member
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- 3,312
Great story Matt.
Mine has been a somewhat less interesting journey. After having my parents old family car, Peugeot 405, that I learnt to crash and rebuild, I got a Ford Fiesta when I was 19. It holds many memories, including one where I actually took flight overtaking a lorry... it was hilarious, but cost me £150 to fix the suspension.
Just before my 25th birthday I bought a 2.3k CLK. A smooth, easy, comfortable drive and the Kompressor made it quick off the lights. It was the first car that I actually really cared about.
I then got bored of Merc's useless bodywork that was slowly rusting away.
So before my 28th birthday I went looking for a car. To be honest, I was stunned I could afford a Masser. I'd known about the brand just by being a car nut the whole time I was growing up. The word itself meant: exotic, rare, beautiful and fast! I remember my first test drive. The salesman put Sport on, planted his foot and I was sold.
Other than that, favourite toys.
The Nintendo N64, I spent many a teenage year playing multi player Goldeneye and Mario Kart.
Mine has been a somewhat less interesting journey. After having my parents old family car, Peugeot 405, that I learnt to crash and rebuild, I got a Ford Fiesta when I was 19. It holds many memories, including one where I actually took flight overtaking a lorry... it was hilarious, but cost me £150 to fix the suspension.
Just before my 25th birthday I bought a 2.3k CLK. A smooth, easy, comfortable drive and the Kompressor made it quick off the lights. It was the first car that I actually really cared about.
I then got bored of Merc's useless bodywork that was slowly rusting away.
So before my 28th birthday I went looking for a car. To be honest, I was stunned I could afford a Masser. I'd known about the brand just by being a car nut the whole time I was growing up. The word itself meant: exotic, rare, beautiful and fast! I remember my first test drive. The salesman put Sport on, planted his foot and I was sold.
Other than that, favourite toys.
The Nintendo N64, I spent many a teenage year playing multi player Goldeneye and Mario Kart.
CatmanV2
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rossyl
Member
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You had to learn to crash, Ross? I managed without any tuition at all
C
I doubt you did it properly then, unless you're a natural.
After crashing, 6 weeks after passing, I was bought a Haynes manual and a set of tools that cost £15 from Halfords in 2002. I replaced the entire front end, back to the radiator. Changing a bonnet by myself was pretty tricky! But the car ran better than it had done for years!
conaero
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I see it as eating burgers then moving to steak!
conaero
Forum Owner
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N64.....got mine out the loft the other day, the kids were in stitches looking at the graphics.
Still good in its day. I drove a few laps round St Albert Park then put it back in the loft.
dickygrace
www.richardgracecars.co.uk
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N64, Mariokart, classic. I challenge anyone to beat me on Koopa Beach Now passing on the knowledge to my son who's 5 as he progresses through the ranks on Mariokart Wii.
Regards cars, tough one for me. My first decent car was a Lotus Elise at 25, went all the way round Europe in it, packed light but what a great trip. The one that stands out as the best I've owned would have to be me first Gransport. It was 6 years ago now, but they're that good, it takes something infinitely more expensive to trump it.
Now passing on the knowledge to my son who's 5 as he progresses through the ranks on Mariokart Wii. Regards cars, tough one for me. My first decent car was a Lotus Elise at 25, went all the way round Europe in it, packed light but what a great trip. The one that stands out as the best I've owned would have to be me first Gransport. It was 6 years ago now, but they're that good, it takes something infinitely more expensive to trump it.
Horse meat burgers?
CatmanV2
Member
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Oh, fair point, yes. It wasn't a very good crash. I'm sure I can do betterI doubt you did it properly then, unless you're a natural.
!
C
CatmanV2
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ManInBlack
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Mine was this 1970 Citroen DS. SOOOOOO comfortable & the turning headlights. Couldn't take a quick journey anywhere, always let out of junctions. Suspension was better than anything I've ever driven always had fun with the boy racers in their lowered saxo's taking speed bumps at 50 mph & watching in the rear view mirror for their sparks & bit S&F plastic falling off! AND the brakes NOTHING stops like them plus 34 to the gallon off a 44 year old car, but sadly I've got her no more!
Catalan3200
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