Are you drawn to a certain type/era of classics
Discussion
I was pondering this last night. I suppose it will be a case of each to his own.
Some people own a range of classics from over the eras and different marques.
Others have a fascination with cars of the same mark. I can think of several people who have more than 1 MG. (Guilty of this - at one stge had MGB GT. GT V8 and Midget).
I can also see a practical side in having cars with interchangeable parts eg A-series.
Personally I love late 50s 60s and 70s cars. FHCs preferred and sporty type cars. But that's not to say I wouldn't buy something else but I find myself drawn to certain types of car.
Some people own a range of classics from over the eras and different marques.
Others have a fascination with cars of the same mark. I can think of several people who have more than 1 MG. (Guilty of this - at one stge had MGB GT. GT V8 and Midget).
I can also see a practical side in having cars with interchangeable parts eg A-series.
Personally I love late 50s 60s and 70s cars. FHCs preferred and sporty type cars. But that's not to say I wouldn't buy something else but I find myself drawn to certain types of car.
I too like MG's and own three - BGT, Midget and Sebring roadster (current project), but this is mainly because for me MG is an affordable marque. I wonder how many MG or Triumph fans would prefer to own Astons or Lagondas or Jaguars but can't justify (or indeed like me, afford) the costs associated with indulging in such expensive vehicles.
It depends on what you were raised on and what got you interested in cars and what used to excite you. I still lust after a Droop Snoot Firenza and still think that when I bought a 3rd gen Camaro Z28, that's subconsciously what I was doing as the two have similar visual traits.
So mainly 70's cars for me. Espada, Citroen SM. It's not just the cars, it's an emotional attachment to the era and the 70's were great.
So mainly 70's cars for me. Espada, Citroen SM. It's not just the cars, it's an emotional attachment to the era and the 70's were great.
For me it's mainly 60s vehicles from BMC or its constituents - by "60s vehicles" I mean those that were produced during, not designed in, the 60s, so Morris Minors, Minis and the like come under my primary interest. I also include 60s (by the same definition) Volvos and the Volvo 164 within the primary scope, and Jaguars of any age.
Affordability - I keep arguing with myself over whether or not I should buy an XJ-S (V12, of course). As a secondary vehicle (so not doing many miles) I reckon I could afford it, but OTOH it would take money away from other projects, and I have nowhere to keep it under cover.
Affordability - I keep arguing with myself over whether or not I should buy an XJ-S (V12, of course). As a secondary vehicle (so not doing many miles) I reckon I could afford it, but OTOH it would take money away from other projects, and I have nowhere to keep it under cover.
Pigeon said:
For me it's mainly 60s vehicles from BMC or its constituents - by "60s vehicles" I mean those that were produced during, not designed in, the 60s, so Morris Minors, Minis and the like come under my primary interest. I also include 60s (by the same definition) Volvos and the Volvo 164 within the primary scope, and Jaguars of any age.
Affordability - I keep arguing with myself over whether or not I should buy an XJ-S (V12, of course). As a secondary vehicle (so not doing many miles) I reckon I could afford it, but OTOH it would take money away from other projects, and I have nowhere to keep it under cover.
I have an xjs (3.6 not v12) which covers about 4000 miles a year, not used every day, it lives outside and has done for 3 years. It lives under a cover and suffers no ill affects. I thought I wouldn't be able to afford to run one, but I would try for a year. I did, I can afford it and it is still here 3.5 years later. Buy a good one, find a good parts supplier and give it a go. parts are easy to fix, and cheap enough if you go for a pre facelift model. It costs less than the cavalier sri it replaced.
Have to agree with the nostalgia thing,
'Cause I'm old, I love anything from the MK1 escort through mkIII mustang through
Maserati Ghibli spyder,
-Bora
DeTomaso pantera
Oh, there's just so many, the above is nowhere near a list of what tickles me... - I also remember the rather hirsute young ladies and adverts for watches in the same copies of playboy and mayfair...
interesting browse though this for de tomaso fans!
>> Edited by scruffy on Wednesday 13th July 08:53
'Cause I'm old, I love anything from the MK1 escort through mkIII mustang through
Maserati Ghibli spyder,
-Bora
DeTomaso pantera
Oh, there's just so many, the above is nowhere near a list of what tickles me... - I also remember the rather hirsute young ladies and adverts for watches in the same copies of playboy and mayfair...
interesting browse though this for de tomaso fans!
>> Edited by scruffy on Wednesday 13th July 08:53
For me it’s the type or individual design rather than a particular era, although in general it seems people get drawn to whichever era associated with their formative years of being a junior petrolhead....
If you looked down my ‘lottery win classics wish list' you would see at least one thing from every decade from the 30’s through to the 80’s....
If you looked down my ‘lottery win classics wish list' you would see at least one thing from every decade from the 30’s through to the 80’s....
Everything from Veteran to Modern for me - I can see the interest in a Panhard or De Dion Bouton as easily as I can see the interest in a GT3RS or an Exige.
Particular areas would be sporting cars of the 20`s (bugatti, bentley, alfa etc etc) and exotica from the late sixties and early seventies - possibly the greatest era for car design ever!
Particular areas would be sporting cars of the 20`s (bugatti, bentley, alfa etc etc) and exotica from the late sixties and early seventies - possibly the greatest era for car design ever!
I've always had a real soft spot for cars from the 20's and 30's, I think the reason for this is that my father always used to take me to the VSCC meetings when I was younger 
You really cannot beat the whine of a Rootes supercharger, the clunk of a pre-selector, the engineering artistry of a 35B engine.........the list goes on
Although saying that the yowl of a 750 Monza at full chat is someting to die for too
If only I had the money to fulfill my fantasy garage
oh well I have always fancied an Austin 7 Ulster replica, could probably stretch to one of those
You really cannot beat the whine of a Rootes supercharger, the clunk of a pre-selector, the engineering artistry of a 35B engine.........the list goes on
Although saying that the yowl of a 750 Monza at full chat is someting to die for too
If only I had the money to fulfill my fantasy garage
oh well I have always fancied an Austin 7 Ulster replica, could probably stretch to one of those
70s for me - I wasnt alive then so nothing to do with growing up with them or anything.
I just find that 70s styling is much more to my taste, aerodynamic and efficient whilst still retaining individuality that is lacking on modern cars. Also, the factor that pretty much everything from the 70s onwards is still viable to use today is a factor, and also the technological innovations.
I mean, you can take the specifications of several 70s cars and they dont look out of place next to modern ones. Plus many of the engines still to be found in todays cars had their early versions in the 70s.
I just find that 70s styling is much more to my taste, aerodynamic and efficient whilst still retaining individuality that is lacking on modern cars. Also, the factor that pretty much everything from the 70s onwards is still viable to use today is a factor, and also the technological innovations.
I mean, you can take the specifications of several 70s cars and they dont look out of place next to modern ones. Plus many of the engines still to be found in todays cars had their early versions in the 70s.
60s to early 70s for me. Era of Muscle Cars in USA, most gorgeous sports prototypes (Lola T70, Porsche 917K), birth of Lamborghini, peak of Italian coachbuilders... and mini-skirts.
Pre-war Paris Salon years gave us most beautiful cars ever though IMHO. Great to see the great Boyd Coddington's Viper-engined Whatthehaye 'rod (a) get recognised as a real Delahaye by the Delahaye historians and (b) make over half a million bucks at auction.
Pre-war Paris Salon years gave us most beautiful cars ever though IMHO. Great to see the great Boyd Coddington's Viper-engined Whatthehaye 'rod (a) get recognised as a real Delahaye by the Delahaye historians and (b) make over half a million bucks at auction.
70s for me too, though probably because I have so many spares and bits I couldn't change now.
You're right about usability though. I hadn't quite realised how much until I went to the VBOA Rally last weekend, in Northampton. Hour and 40 each way (about 115 miles) and just over 30mpg. Not bad for a 2.3 with twin 48 Dellortos, all about 30 years old.
Pic is here: www.bizlitetest.plus.com/vboa0501.jpg - mine is the second snoot from the right.
You're right about usability though. I hadn't quite realised how much until I went to the VBOA Rally last weekend, in Northampton. Hour and 40 each way (about 115 miles) and just over 30mpg. Not bad for a 2.3 with twin 48 Dellortos, all about 30 years old.
Pic is here: www.bizlitetest.plus.com/vboa0501.jpg - mine is the second snoot from the right.
I love certain OTT '80s stylings.
Zagato's work for Aston Martin, and the SZ for Alfa spring to mind.
The sheer balls of the Testarossa (possibly the most undervalues car of the moment) says a lot about that decade.
I'm reasonably sure it's the only time we shall see aerofoils at the base of windscreens, a la Maserati!
Zagato's work for Aston Martin, and the SZ for Alfa spring to mind.
The sheer balls of the Testarossa (possibly the most undervalues car of the moment) says a lot about that decade.
I'm reasonably sure it's the only time we shall see aerofoils at the base of windscreens, a la Maserati!
droopsnoot said:
70s for me too, though probably because I have so many spares and bits I couldn't change now.
You're right about usability though. I hadn't quite realised how much until I went to the VBOA Rally last weekend, in Northampton. Hour and 40 each way (about 115 miles) and just over 30mpg. Not bad for a 2.3 with twin 48 Dellortos, all about 30 years old.
Pic is here: www.bizlitetest.plus.com/vboa0501.jpg - mine is the second snoot from the right.
I bloody love those cars...as I've said above. This car was, for me, the ultimate car in the 70's. It blew away all the exotica in the looks departent and ity was something you could both relate to and aspire to...and then they stopped making it and gave us the feeble Chevette HS which looked like a chavved up base model. Look after it, it'll be priceless one day.
droopsnoot said:
You're right about usability though. I hadn't quite realised how much until I went to the VBOA Rally last weekend, in Northampton. Hour and 40 each way (about 115 miles) and just over 30mpg. Not bad for a 2.3 with twin 48 Dellortos, all about 30 years old.
Pic is here: www.bizlitetest.plus.com/vboa0501.jpg - mine is the second snoot from the right.
Nice....nearly bought one once about 20 years ago, still wished I had.
And a very nice bunch of chaps the DSG are as well....bunch of p***heads, especially the dynamic duo Terry and Steve....have great memories of many joint DSG/Sunbeam-Lotus OC 'bar raids' at the NEC Classic Car show about 15 years ago..:-)))))
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