My first was a red mini metro - numberplate had a 747 in it, so it was always affectionately known as Jumbo. Bought it second hand from my Mum - I paid in instalments ....their interest rates were better than the banks. I loved that car
Fairygirl - (you may remember) when visiting car showrooms, a oil drip trays were always in evidence under every car......it took the Japanese to show us how to make cars.
My idea of a nightmare would be to take my Marina through a car wash.
The thought of Hillman Imp has brought back tragic memories for me, in an accident, the petrol tank at the front explodes, will say no more.
i had a Mini Traveller, I used to put the back seats down flat, sit the baby in his pushchair then put the brake on, no seat belts or car seats in those days, that car went on and on, we did some miles in that.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
The Hillman Imp was an unmitigated disaster for the Rootes Group.....unproven design and lack of production capacity.
The aluminium engine (Coventry Climax) was originally designed as a lightweight, water pump engine intended for fire-fighting during WW2 and was always prone to overheating and consequently distortion of the cylinder head.
I used to own one and experienced loads of trouble with it, hence familiarising myself with its history.
David - I think the Imp was really good when it was good - and a disaster if you got one of the Friday models! OH used to rally his Imp (the one I borrowed to get to college) and it had some real acceleration - which pi...... off ummmm annoyed a lot of drivers that I sat alongside at traffic lights on the North Circular and pulled away and left them standing!
Probably if you managed to get a good one, it would obviously influence your opinion....mine was second hand and really (to put it mildly) not very good. I visited Coventry Transport Museum earlier this week, where the sad history is recorded.
I can well understand why your OH would choose the Imp for rallying, the engine had (beyond its original use as a water pump engine) had been developed as a racing engine.
I've had three Fiestas. The first one I mentioned earlier F647 SLE called Baby, followed by a dark green one S127 SOV called Dorothy and then a blue one V619 POG called Blue Boy. After that it was a Focus KL05 XVB called Silver Lady. Next it was a C MAX (the baby car) LS59 CWR called Jet and now I have a brand new Citroen C3 Picasso, good mpg.
I also used to drive my OHs company car. The first one was a Citroen ZX Volcane. The thing used to drive itself. It could go from 0 - 60 in what seemed like 3 seconds.
Next he got a Ford Mondeo Ghia X with heated leather seats. The paintwork was the colour of a tench, that metallic looking khaki green with gold tones. Only saw two others like it. Loved that car. Always borrowed that on a girls night out.
Followed by a Rover which he got from his brother. To say that car was long was an understatement. sister in law didn't like driving it. I loved it.
After that is was a black Ford Mondeo, again a good car, never had anything major go wrong on it. Now on a VW Passat estate. Very good on long trips, great mpg.
Fairygirl. I was once in charge of 10 managers, eight of whom were men. I took one of them to a trade show. The salesman spent 20 minutes selling something to him, only for him to say he would have to ask the boss. When is he coming , asks the salesman. Well actually, you've been ignoring her for the last 20 minutes. Oops.
and yes, I get treated the same in car showrooms if I have a male with me.
Posts
My first was a red mini metro - numberplate had a 747 in it, so it was always affectionately known as Jumbo
. Bought it second hand from my Mum - I paid in instalments ....their interest rates were better than the banks
. I loved that car
Fairygirl - (you may remember) when visiting car showrooms, a oil drip trays were always in evidence under every car......it took the Japanese to show us how to make cars.
My idea of a nightmare would be to take my Marina through a car wash.
The thought of Hillman Imp has brought back tragic memories for me, in an accident, the petrol tank at the front explodes, will say no more.
i had a Mini Traveller, I used to put the back seats down flat, sit the baby in his pushchair then put the brake on, no seat belts or car seats in those days, that car went on and on, we did some miles in that.
David - my memory of car showrooms was the salesman speaking to my boyfriend and ignoring me, until he told him 'it's not me that's buying it mate'.
Salesman was suitably embarrassed. I wasn't amused
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Serves him right.....sexist pig!
The Hillman Imp was an unmitigated disaster for the Rootes Group.....unproven design and lack of production capacity.
The aluminium engine (Coventry Climax) was originally designed as a lightweight, water pump engine intended for fire-fighting during WW2 and was always prone to overheating and consequently distortion of the cylinder head.
I used to own one and experienced loads of trouble with it, hence familiarising myself with its history.
David - I think the Imp was really good when it was good - and a disaster if you got one of the Friday models! OH used to rally his Imp (the one I borrowed to get to college) and it had some real acceleration - which pi...... off ummmm annoyed a lot of drivers that I sat alongside at traffic lights on the North Circular and pulled away and left them standing!
Hi, SV....great to see you posting.
Probably if you managed to get a good one, it would obviously influence your opinion....mine was second hand and really (to put it mildly) not very good. I visited Coventry Transport Museum earlier this week, where the sad history is recorded.
I can well understand why your OH would choose the Imp for rallying, the engine had (beyond its original use as a water pump engine) had been developed as a racing engine.
You may be interested in this if you find time to watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWqRzz2eNiw&list=PLH33rUi5JWMvZ_g_0IHGmF23Y2g36pELV
I've had three Fiestas. The first one I mentioned earlier F647 SLE called Baby, followed by a dark green one S127 SOV called Dorothy and then a blue one V619 POG called Blue Boy. After that it was a Focus KL05 XVB called Silver Lady. Next it was a C MAX (the baby car) LS59 CWR called Jet and now I have a brand new Citroen C3 Picasso, good mpg.
I also used to drive my OHs company car. The first one was a Citroen ZX Volcane. The thing used to drive itself. It could go from 0 - 60 in what seemed like 3 seconds.
Next he got a Ford Mondeo Ghia X with heated leather seats. The paintwork was the colour of a tench, that metallic looking khaki green with gold tones. Only saw two others like it. Loved that car. Always borrowed that on a girls night out.
Followed by a Rover which he got from his brother. To say that car was long was an understatement. sister in law didn't like driving it. I loved it.
After that is was a black Ford Mondeo, again a good car, never had anything major go wrong on it. Now on a VW Passat estate. Very good on long trips, great mpg.
Fairygirl. I was once in charge of 10 managers, eight of whom were men. I took one of them to a trade show. The salesman spent 20 minutes selling something to him, only for him to say he would have to ask the boss. When is he coming , asks the salesman. Well actually, you've been ignoring her for the last 20 minutes. Oops.
and yes, I get treated the same in car showrooms if I have a male with me.