Jump to content

Car influences from school


dollywobbler

Recommended Posts

Well, a separate thread seemed like a good idea.Probably the most important moment from my schooldays is seeing two kids arriving at my primary school in an orange 2CV, with square headlamps and the roof back. They seemed to be having so much fun! Even then, when I was probably seven or something, I must have decided that I WOULD own one. (I've since owned about 14 2CVs, but not had an orange square headlamp one yet...)I do remember once being picked up from school in my Dad's boss's XR3i Cabriolet. In white. I felt like the coolest kid in town! Right up to the moment that I caught the bottom of the door on the kerb as I opened it...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One of my school run memories is being picked up by a friends mum to go swimming - parents used to do a rota. Anyhow, the other parents had much newer cars than us (Volvo 340 rings a bell?) and I always found the new-car smell absolutely sickening. Still do. Maybe that helped send me in the direction I've gone...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oooh, that reminds me of a girlfriend, also when I was quite young. Think I was only with her because her Dad had a bright yellow Citroen GS break. That was one of those pivotal moments too. I must own one!Another girlfriend's Dad (I was a right tart as a nipper!) owned a sweet shop and a Mk1 Cortina, done up in full Eighties style. Honestly, this thing had huge tailfins with circular lights, painted wiper arms and fat arches - probably wearing white Weller eight spokes. Not sure I ever saw it move...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When I was about 11 years old (summer of '76) my "Uncle" Stan came down for a visit to see my dad in his Plymouth (or was it Dodge?) Scamp.

 

Cruising around the local area with the windows down in that (at the time) monster sized car I was the envy of my mates :D

 

He bought the Scamp as an economy car for coming back to Scotland from the USA :roll:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Vividly remember the Negative Creep-spec green Datsun that one of my sister's friends travelled to school in, and how the engine caught fire one day :lol: Obviously nothing too serious and it continued its duties for some time after that, seemingly no worse for its ordeal except for the red oxide on the leading edge of the bonnet applied over where the paint had been burned off :lol:Later, being impressed by another of her friends' parents' nearly new high-spec Tempra. I think that was the first car I ever sat in with electric windows in the back :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My mate's mum had a Matra Rancho thingy, I thought it was so cool looking even when it was 'used'.My cousin borrowed my dad her brand new C reg Capri in red. This was my favourite car of all time when I was 8, better than Ferrari's or Porsches and having to go to Blackpool in it and having my dad pick me up from school was excellent. My dad had a mk1 Escort van painted in Dulux blue with a fitted webasto sunroof that was always breaking down.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Used to get a lift to school in one of those old Fiat 500 based mini mpv [Giardinera?]things, struggled to get up any sort of incline with 5 kids plus driver aboard.........................

Fiat 600 Multipla? The Giardiniera was a 500 estate
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Used to get a lift to school in one of those old Fiat 500 based mini mpv [Giardinera?]things, struggled to get up any sort of incline with 5 kids plus driver aboard.........................

Fiat 600 Multipla? The Giardiniera was a 500 estate
You're right, it WAS a 600 Multipla, probably worth eleventy million lira now..............................
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Being dropped off at school in a bright red 2CV 6 spécial and all the kids running out to see it - I was mortified! that was THEN - if only I had the love for them then that I have now. It was the late 80s.I was then picked up from school in it (it was rare for my sis and I to be picked up by the parents as we actually got a paid- for taxi to school) and it could be seen out the classroom window. A girl in the class asked "is that wee box your car"? "yes it is" Then, the taxi we used to get was a wedding white Mercedes w123 that we reckoned had the bounciest rear seat ever! We got a taxi to school because we lived on the outskirts of town - too far for primary kids to walk but not on the school bus catchment area. It was the same taxi co. but the taxis changed over the years. The Mercedes became a series of diesel Sierras. I still remember my first memories of the Sierra dashboard with the center console turned towards the driver. I recall the door card design with the grab handle and door handle combined and tapered with an upholstered panel. I always though that was cool - I remember there being 2 Sierras - one had a different sort of door card construction to the other although they were both the same design - one looked decidedly cheaper than the other.... The sierras gave way to an Orion - also liked the interior of this - I liked the circular push buttons with the little greed light in the center and the Ford hifi. I recall how the dashboard and door trims sort of joined up - It was the first time I'd seen that in any car. That was our regular taxi for several years with the occasional later Sierra Chasseur type. I never liked this one as much as the earlier Sierras because there were differences to the cool door trims and dashboard that made it less pleasing to an 8 year old.Our daily taxi ride also picked up my best mate at school and his bro, they lived on a farm which was very cool but it was along a very long and rough track - those Fords got a pounding - I wonder if the taxi co. charged the school for that!?I used to see a Saab 900 turbo come out a side street next to the playground and drive off. I would always hear that NOISE they made. it was like a jet plane to me and I had no idea why they sounded so cool! i was of course the turbo I was hearing.. One day on the way home in the Taxi, the Saab was seen along the road with one wheel hanging off! it was the lower ball joint. A Citroen CX Estate used to whoosh past every day - I was captivated by the shape and the shape of the dashboard that even from a distance I could see how sci fi it looked. Quite a lot of kits at school their parents had Mk 1 Sierras - I recall them more than anything else.Lastly, the traffic cops came to our school to give us a lesson in road safety with a film etc but everyone was more interested in the CAR they came in! It was a Rover SD1 with the full blues and twos and all the mad gear on the dashboard (another of my favourite dashboards btw) - they put on the blues but wouldn't put on the twos for us :cry: Ah, the memories - thanks for starting this one Ian :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I dont know where to start with what cars influenced my favourites today -even though I've never owned any of them yet.From the square-lights Simca 1000 my elderly neighbours friend used to drive down my street in about 2nd gear, to my aunt and uncles ancient Victor FE with slidey vynl interior.My favourite memory is probably discovering a bright orange Volkswagen Type 3 fastback next door to my Granny's new house. It was abandoned, parked in an abandoned garage, and stuffed full of parts, but I remember it looking pretty solid. I remember being far more interested in 60's and 70's Eurpoean cars when I was young, and there seemed to be a good number of them decaying in driveways near me. As Mum_L didnt have a car at that time and we used to walk everywhere, I got a good chance to spot ( I was only 4)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I went to a 'public' (i.e. private) school, so lots of posh 80's executive motors driven by the dads (some of whom made their wives drive right old rubbish).Audi 100, Audi Coupe, Renault 25, Saab 900 Turbo, Rover SD1 Vitesse, various Granada Mk2 and 3s, Toyota Supra like Regie's mums (driven by a classic Arthur Daley type bloke who made a shed load with a building firm in the 1980s boom) and of course loads of Volvo 200s and 700s. Also the ubitiquous Cortinas, Sierras, Montegos and Cavaliers. Peugeot 504 estates were favoured by the Catholic parents, as they were the only thing pre Espace that could carry more than 3 children!One bloke had a Capri 280 Brooklands (or whatever the last 1000 or so were called), loved it to bits but it got nicked and burnt out only a year or two after purchase.Interesting stuff included a Morris Traveller, MGB, Rover P5, proper Mini Cooper, Mini Moke, Matra Rancho, Honda Integra, and a fantastically unreliable Fiat Croma which was abandoned on the forecourt of the respective dealer, in front of the workshop doors. The bloke got special deals on Fiats, he ran a company in Worcester making engine testing machines that were used by Ferrari.Some poor wives had to make do with old bangers (maybe because the father's posh car was a company car and the cost of school fees precluded wifey having anything decent). Such bangers that caused their children major social embarrassment included a lemon yellow Mazda 1300 estate, K reg Mini Clubman, maroon Hillman Hunter, a knackered N reg Golf, a very battered Renault 12 estate, and the piece de l’ resistance, a 1977 Marina van!Luckier wives got Metros (very popular choice, this was the West Midlands after all), Fiestas (I remember an XR2 in particular, accountant hubby had a Saab Turbo, a real yuppie family), Fiat Unos, Renault 5s.A friend's dad ran an electrical supplies company and had a Mercedes S class (W126 type).This was the poshest car anyone’s dad had, unfortunately the father died in middle age and the mother then had two Mk2 Golfs, a GTI for about 9 months and then a Driver or GL. Even as a 11 year old, I could see the economies the family had to make after the father passed away.Notable teacher’s cars included a Hillman Hunter Renault 16, Fiat 127, Reliant Rebel (poor Mrs Jackson :) ), two Rover P6s including an early V8, Spitfire and Mk1 Starlet. A very old lady (wife of an antique maths teacher) was seen in a brand new RS Turbo, salesman must have emphasized the nice seats or something! A very devout Christian Maths teacher had a FWD Camry, registration A‘666’ something!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used to get picked up by my Mate's Mum in her Fiat 500 known as "Bumble" (it was orange with the full black roll back roof.)His Dad had a Rover P6 3500 Estate IIRC...............They lived in Staines, we went from Slough to the railway station. I then went on to Sunningdale.Another schoolmate's Mum had a Chrysler Alpine, PLA 45R, her fella had a Rover 2300 I think......might have been wrong.They moved to Devon, the Grandfather had a Marine 1300 Auto which cracked it's block on the M5 where the fuel pump bolted on!In Bracknell, our neighbours had a P5 3 litre in green, there was aMk2 Cortina in sable, and a Renault 16, a PC Cresta, a Morris Mini with a reg ending in MPG! (3 numbers 3 letters) It went for scrap one day!!! Up the road was a Dodge Charger.........A Series 1 Land Rover further up the street. We had Mk4 Cortins for a few years, an odd Mk3 and then a Mk2 Granada. A W plate Capri came along, the a Volvo 240 DL on the X, then an Opel Senator. Blimey....I have been educated!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was fortunate to be picked up from school on occasion by two relatively wealthy uncles - uncle number 1, who we'll call Paul, had a succession of top flight German motas due to being a solicitor in the 80s. A pair of UR Quattros were followed by a pair of E30 M3s, the last one an Alpina wotnot which got written off in bad snow back in about '92 (IIRC)Uncle number two, who we'll call Imre Varadi (as that was his name) was a 1st Division footballer with (again, IIRC) a sponsorship deal from Toyota. Free leeta Celica Supras with leather (gasp) and door puddle lights (oooo!) were the norm. Both enjoyed driving fast, which is the win when you are a little boy and your mum drives a boggo stock 1968 3 door Mk1 Escort 1300. Which ironically is now worth more than all the other cars put together.My grampa and nan always had good cars too - gramps had a (again free leeta) Scimitar in Gold and Brown with red detailed polished Wolfies - it was a monster! I used to ride on the boot looking backwards on a bed of cushions! Nan always had MGs after a succession of unusual Jap sports cars in the 70s (S800, etc). When I was little she was rolling an Orange Midget, the rev counter of which is etched into my mind with the little colour coded quadrants in it. I can still remember being allowed to leave school early because my parents had procured a 6 month old F reg BX 1.4 (F was even just still the current reg letter!) and had stopped by on the way home from the Citroen dealer :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oddly, I can't remember that many 'influential' cars from my school days. When I was very small it was all Marinas and Cortinas which were pretty mundane then. If it was rainy or something I'd get to go to school in my dad's Renner 6, which was a pretty unusual sight even then. Later the usual parade of dullness through sierras and mondeos etc. Then the ultimate joy when my dad got a 1981 V8 Rover in 1989, because it sounded the donkeys knob and could beast everyone elses dad's cars (in a straight line at least). Sadly I was then packed off to 'posh school', where EVERYONE's folks had a Volvo 760 / Mercedes / Range Rover etc, coinciding exactly with the point at which my parents decided to invest £4995 in a brand new FSO Polonez. This is exactly the point at which I became a cynical, misanthropic bastard.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can well remember the white Fiat 500 my mother owned during the early to mid 70's, and the epic school runs the poor car used to undertake with my brother me and two neighbours kids peering out through the condensation as the thrashing little engine and mothers deft double de-clutching skills got us to school on time.......A few years later, during the early 80's and at a secondary modern, I used to be quite envious of a classmate who was collected from school in a black Vauxhall PC Viscount.......

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just remembered the one lad whose parents had taste.They had a Metallic Blue 130 Coupe. followed (or run concurrently) a Lancia Gamma Coupe!!!!! There was another kid whos 'rents had a SEC Merc with bodykit, in JRG, It might have been AMG, but more likely Lorinser........Private School in the 80s was fun. Funnily enough, most of the lads in my year lover my Mum's Capri 2.0GL. We even gave a lift to the heir to the Marks and Spencers fortune...............Do I get free socks for life Neville?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Another Negative-Creep spec Datty that used to visually tease me on the way to school. Being car mad I'm sure there are many others that I've forgotten about but one that sticks in my mind is when the face-lifted Sierra came out, the old man had a mk1 Ghia estate which was nice but one day I saw a Mercury Grey mk2 Ghia 2.9 4x4 Estate and was smitten...odd because I don't normally like Fords and have never owned a blue ovaled mota.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Uncle number two, who we'll call Imre Varadi (as that was his name) was a 1st Division footballer with (again, IIRC) a sponsorship deal from Toyota. I remember him, he was a good player, of Hungarian extraction I believe, one of the few players to play for both Sheffield Wednesday and Sheff Utd. Very quick, but a bit prone to forgetting he had another 10 blokes playing on the same side!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not school, but definitely school time in my life - my Aunt had a Morris Minor convertible - all shonky and covered in primer - which came off the road when I was about five to be replaced by a Morris Oxford Series VI. This was the mid-Eighties so neither car yet had a following. This gave me my general love of classic cars I think. That and the fact that my Aunt had, in the Seventies, been a female mechanic, working on XK140s and the like! She was only a van driver when I was a child, but still had loads of classic car magazines lying around when I visited, and I had an old Allegro gearbox (well, the gear selector) to play with.I can't remember ever being taken/picked up from primary school in a car but for my last year at primary school, we moved and the headteacher had the holy grail - a Citroen BX! Often had rides out in it (sounds dodgy but wasn't - long story) and it was amazing. Electric windows, trick suspension, single wiper. Major cool points!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I always remember my Grandads VW Beetle, being sat on the scorching vinyl seats in the summer with the quarter light windows open, and the smell of that car. I own it now, although it needs a lot of work..

 

Another one that majorly infuenced me was a bloke down my streets Y reg sierra, with a whale tail on that ran a rover V8. to a young lad it sounded IMMENSE! I can remember hearing it start up from down the road. DBY 78Y where are you now?! I know it was built by John 'Burgerman' Williamson, who still lives not too far from me, but i never knew what became of it.

http://www.burgerman.info/sierra.htm

 

Posted Image

Link to comment
Share on other sites

School? Mr Garton the Physics teacher had a Capri 2.8i Special in metallic blue. Never ever saw that dirty. Mr Donlan, the excessively large history teacher, had a red facelifted SD1 Vitesse with the spoilers and alloys. Turning more to shite, Mr Kennedy (english) had a gorgeously 80's Mini with a whaletail spoiler, RGA-style bodykit and tinted windows all round. And Mr Watson the supply teacher had an orangy-yellow Mk1 Astra estate with various shades of primer on the arches, gaffer-taped rust holes and a coathanger aerial.My mate's brother inherited the family Mk3 Escort 1.3GL, and bought a crashed XR3i to go with it. A few afternoons swapping the interior and sporty bolt-on bits followed by a weekend with an engine crane and I was promptly invited onto the test run. I saw with my own eyes the speedo hit 125mph..... totally unmatched to either gearbox or wheel size mind ;). Moving to college and the kids started getting their own motors. My favourite was a Nova 1.0 in my-eyes-are-burning yellow. This was 1995, full-on Max Power era so it had dodgy home tints, baggy 'leather' seat covers, a stereo that was worth more than the car and sporty wheeltrims (only two mind, so always look at it from the right side). Oh and a spoiler that was quite clearly not made for a Nova but was butchered to fit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Must admit my school haunt was my Brothers car, he was a lifeguard at the swimming pool atached to the school, and use to have IMPS, the lift home was always fun. He always insisted in making sure the red line was broken in as many gears as possible. I still hanker after a nice 998cc imp saloon, so one has to ask what the heck am I doing with a shitter escort TD and a pile of vivas?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When I was at school: My parents had an embarrassingly uncool C-reg Metro and a mega-cool white '68 FD Ventora, which is still my favorite car and when I can afford it I WILL buy it back.The teachers generally had boring cars, although there were a '72 Land Rover Safari, 90's Mini Cooper, Citroen LNA, Early Nissan Prairie and an Early Sunny containing about 10,000 fag butts.None of my peers had any interesting cars, my Mini Mayfair was probably the most interesting, although there was a D reg Toyota Corolla saloon.One of my friends (whose dad had a new Ferrari 355 amongt others) was bought a new V reg (but with a private plate) Jaguar S type for his first car. It had everything on it, plus a slight and pointless stretch, electric rear seat, DVDs and other screens and electrical stuff, a bigger engine (6 litre i think?!!) and pretty much everything you can imagine. The most expensive S Type cost less than 40k IIRC. This one cost nearly £200,000. The last I heard he still had the S Type but he hardy ever used it, preferring a T reg Nissan Primera! He'd also bought a povo-spec BMW 520e and a rusty giffer-owned Porsche 944, in white with a passenger seat covered in foral curtain material...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My hazy collections invariably recall the cars as opposed to the owners better. My earliest recollections would be that of my parents cars but I remember being distinctly being impressed with a ride in a Manta A. Even as a 3 year old, I saw the connection between that and the Corvette. I also prefered cars with interesting smells, a bit like a dog I guess. My infant and junior schools were nice little 15 minute walks, but on occasion (usually rain or snow) I'd get rides in a assortment of tasty tat, including a vinyl roofed Chrysler 180, lime green Marina TC, Colt Sigma, a multicoloured Maxi, Riley Elf and a white Simca 1501 estate driven by an exceptionally ugly woman. On school trips we would be asked to jump into a lovely green Peugeot 504 estate which as I recalled would have had my entire class of 10 kids in it. I still recall most of the cars up our street from the late 70's/early 80's yet I have problems to remember to wipe the tables and make the bed.Things changed at secondary school, and as it was the mid 80's car snobbism came in, a variety of swish but utterly forgettable german cars became my occasional ride. My mates dad used to use his builders VW transporter with a buggered tailgate to take us back and forth to play footy. Great dangerous fun.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...