What car triggered your obsession?

[67Dino]

Came across this rather tatty brochure the other day. It was given to me as a kid by an American friend of my Dad’s, and the minute I opened it I was completely hooked on Ferrari. Seeing it again 40 years later, I can see why…

Wonder if other PHers also experienced something that triggered a life-long love of a particular marque?







Note: wasn’t sure which thread this was best for. Mods, feel free to move it if I’ve got it wrong. Thanks

[V1nce Fox]

Lotus Esprit (original version).
Mad Max Falcon Coupe.

[austina35]

The humble Austin A35. Dad bought me one for my 18th. We restored it together. It later had a fight with another car and was declared dead at the scene.

I still own one today.

[Trevor555]

My Dad had a good year in business so he bought a new AE86



Tail happy thing as many will know lol

I've been a Toyota fanboy ever since.

My very last new car to myself, to keep until I drop, will be a Toyota.

[BigMacca]

It was a TVR Griffith for me. I must have been in the latter part of primary school. My mum took me into a local town to buy school shoes during the summer holidays. As we were walking down the high street, I remember hearing it before I saw it; this low, bassy burble as it moved with the traffic. Just as I turned around to see what was making the noise, he took off up a side street, with the noise bouncing off the walls of the buildings. I remember seeing this black silhouette coupled with the noise and just thinking "wow!".

That then led to my obsessing with the brand ever since. I did school projects on them, did a factory tour when I was around 16, even lucky enough to meet Peter Wheeler. I remember going to the NEC Motorshow in 2004- the lady who gave me and my dad the factory tour recognised us and we ended up having a drink in the customer lounge; I felt like royalty.

My car interest is much broader nowadays, but a TVR was the one that started it all!

[vixen1700]

Sitting in an SM on the Citroen stand at the 1972 Motor Show when I was six years old.

My dad was ordering a GS as the Vauxhall dealer had let him down for Christmas delivery on a Viva, so he went for a GS instead.

Wanted an SM ever since but have never been brave/rich/stupid enough to go for one.

That probably sparked my interest in cars from then on.

[Skyedriver]

Mid 60's, a Sunbeam Alpine, still never owned one.
Also a mini with a flip front. Had a load of minis never a flip front.

[Newscuttlepanel]

2 cars, both Lotus, first was a Yellow Europa that used to park on N. Castle Street in Edinburgh in the mid/late 80’s, other one was being overtaken in my stepdads Orion Injection Ghia by an Essex Esprit on the A832 heading to Gairloch.

[wpa1975]

Countach, Testarossa and 911 for me.

[Aventador 700]

My fathers 3.0 cs, most memorable thing about it? Folding down rear number plate to fill with fuel



After that, Rod Stewarts Countach in puerto banus..

[P5BNij]

Two for me as well - our neighbour's humble half timbered '65 Mk1 Morris Mini Traveller which kick started my lifelong obsession with Minis, and the '70 Rover P5B Coupe which belonged to my Grandad's cousin. It was the first of two he owned from new and oozed old world charm and gravitas. The latter was very subtle in the way it managed to get under my skin but having now had two Coupes myself I still yearn for another. The P5 / P5B thing was also driven along by the appearance of an Ardern Green 3 litre Coupe dressed up as a 3.5litre with a set of Rostyle wheels in the Mick Jagger / James Fox film 'Performance'...

[Aventador 700]

Saloon looks so much better than the coupe

[P5BNij]

Aventador 700 said:

Saloon looks so much better than the coupe

Each to their own but it's the other way round for me. That doesn't mean I wouldn't say no to a really good saloon, preferably in one of the darker colours

[Aventador 700]

P5BNij said:

Aventador 700 said:

Saloon looks so much better than the coupe

Each to their own but it's the other way round for me. That doesn't mean I wouldn't say no to a really good saloon

But we had picnic tables in the back of ours beauty is not skin deep !

[P5BNij]

Aventador 700 said:

P5BNij said:

Aventador 700 said:

Saloon looks so much better than the coupe

Each to their own but it's the other way round for me. That doesn't mean I wouldn't say no to a really good saloon

But we had picnic tables in the back of ours beauty is not skin deep !

I had a proper sniff of the Queen's P5B Saloon at Gaydon recently, not for the first time either, it just oozes class.

[Stick Legs]

Cars in general;

To lost in the mists of time but living around the corner from a BL garage in the age of Series 2/3 XJ’s, Rover SD1, Stags, TR7 & Triumph 2500 probably helped.

Curry Rivel in Somerset, Harry Ball? On the village green.


Of one marque?

Dad went to look at an XJ6 at Grange in Exeter about 1992 & they had one of these.



Wanted one since.

[moffspeed]

Showing my age….

The Spring of '64 and long before the LM winning GT40's of '66 (onwards) - the original prototype sitting on its skinny wires, devoid of Gurney flaps and other addenda - sublime.

[Mercdriver]

Motor dealer friend of mine, now deceased, pitches up at door in new Merc, imported from Germany when exchange rate was favourable. Oh I said have to drive this, friend just smiled and let me drive.

So I was well impressed until I noticed no tax disc so I asked if it was taxed no he says it’s not even registered. Screech of brakes and I run around car to other side.

Have had mercs ever since, 280 S class, c220, w203 diesel estate, SL, G wagen CL 500 and wife has had an A class

[dontlookdown]

I was a car mad kid. First word after Mum and Dad was Volvo apparently. We had one at the time. Not had one since.

My Dad's E30 320i led me to own a few 3 Series BMWs, but no one car did it for me, just cars in general.

[Rob 131 Sport]

My Dad’s Fiat 124 1600 Twin Cam Sport Coupe. It was a 1972 Series 2 model finished in Sunshine Yellow with a Black Interior, 5 Speed Gearbox and a wooden steering wheel.

It sounded great and I have many happy memories of travelling on holiday in this car with the family. When he wanted to replace it at the end of 1977, I wanted him to replace it with a Fiat Mirafiori or Lancia Beta Unfortunately he had different ideas that involved a sensible German Family Hatchback