cfz2882
Well-known member
Anyone have/had any beetles,FIATs ,SAABs,Opels,Jaguars,ETC.from the olden days?
I had a 1971 SAAB 99 for 20 years- was a great car
I had a 1971 SAAB 99 for 20 years- was a great car
old foreign cars-1975 and earlier
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stricklybojack
Well-known member
.
1971 Toyota Celica ST / mustard yellow
1974 Renault R17 Gordini /white
Saab 99 2 door and 99 EMS three door / mint green and maroon
1968 Mercedes 250s / green
1974 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe (?) color
Phew...prolly more that escape me.
Green Saab 99 two door I miss the most.
1971 Toyota Celica ST / mustard yellow
1974 Renault R17 Gordini /white
Saab 99 2 door and 99 EMS three door / mint green and maroon
1968 Mercedes 250s / green
1974 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe (?) color
Phew...prolly more that escape me.
Green Saab 99 two door I miss the most.
Ohh yeah
Had many pre 1975 diesel Mercedes and also lots of Opel Kadetts. Last Opel Kadett I had was a 69 wagon from Oct 1983 to 2006. I currently own a 1960 Mercedes 180Db I bought in Nov 1983!
Had many pre 1975 diesel Mercedes and also lots of Opel Kadetts. Last Opel Kadett I had was a 69 wagon from Oct 1983 to 2006. I currently own a 1960 Mercedes 180Db I bought in Nov 1983!
arbilab
Well-known member
64,65,67,68 bugs. 59 and 62 bus. Juzbout do points and carbs in the dark. 75,80,82 Rabbit. Anyone else notice VWs got less reliable the newer they got? I sure did. Couldn't give me another one unless it came with A) lifetime warranty and B) a spare to drive while the other was broken.
brainardcooper
Well-known member
Old Foreign Cars
I just purchased a 1970 Volvo P1800E. Has been locked in a garage for most of the past 30-40 years. Only has 44,000+ miles on the original engine. Still in the shop being prepped to drive. My father and I have been fantasizing about having one of these cars for years and years. It just fell in my lap and I had to jump at the chance to buy it!
I just purchased a 1970 Volvo P1800E. Has been locked in a garage for most of the past 30-40 years. Only has 44,000+ miles on the original engine. Still in the shop being prepped to drive. My father and I have been fantasizing about having one of these cars for years and years. It just fell in my lap and I had to jump at the chance to buy it!
Pic 1 the Renault 17 Gordini
Is the same shape body as the Renault 15 TS I had back in mid 80's it was a 1977 car and the first Automatic I had. What my parents said about me buying an auto was no bodies business until mother took it for a spin and after than most mornings my car was gone so I had to use her Austin Metro.... I have had mostly autos since then and so did my parents after realising how much easier it is to drive especially where we lived there was lots of hills.
Happy days and thank you to the OP those cars are amazing and what memories they created....
Austin
Is the same shape body as the Renault 15 TS I had back in mid 80's it was a 1977 car and the first Automatic I had. What my parents said about me buying an auto was no bodies business until mother took it for a spin and after than most mornings my car was gone so I had to use her Austin Metro.... I have had mostly autos since then and so did my parents after realising how much easier it is to drive especially where we lived there was lots of hills.
Happy days and thank you to the OP those cars are amazing and what memories they created....
Austin
I had a '72 Celica almost identical to the photo but in a brighter yellow. The 18RC motor was garbage and constantly burnt up the valves. Toyota finally agreed to replace the motor under warranty. It spent most of the first year in the dealership and they refused to give me a loaner. Last Toyota I will ever own.
I had a '70 Opel GT for a while. It was fun to drive, and the manually-operated hidden headlights were quite satisfying to activate by thrusting the big hand lever in the console forward.
I just saw one parked on a local street about a week ago. I can't remember the last time before then that I had seen one out on the road.
I just saw one parked on a local street about a week ago. I can't remember the last time before then that I had seen one out on the road.
justjunque
Well-known member
Arbilab
Owning a vintage Bug is on my bucket list.
Back in the 70s sometime, our neighbors bought a VW Rabbit. I don't remember if it was a diesel or not.
They'd all take off in it, and more times than not, a few minutes later, they'd come back up the street...pushing it. Maybe it's wrong, but I always found it funny.
Barry
Owning a vintage Bug is on my bucket list.
Back in the 70s sometime, our neighbors bought a VW Rabbit. I don't remember if it was a diesel or not.
They'd all take off in it, and more times than not, a few minutes later, they'd come back up the street...pushing it. Maybe it's wrong, but I always found it funny.
Barry
arbilab
Well-known member
Owning a vintage bug will impart the skill of driving manual without benefit of clutch. Every single one failed at some point. One, shortly after I had replaced what I thought were all the wear-frangible parts. Only to find the once cast throwout fork had been superseded by a welded one which of course broke. VW did the same thing with the brake pedal, of all things.
The new 80 Rabbit wasn't that bad but it wasn't 100% either. 82 Rabbit took 12 returns to the dealer, a call to and visit from the chief engineer of VWoA, to fix 3 things. And it never did stop overheating on the freeway with the AC on.
I'm only gullible up to a point and that was it. The 86 Celica I replaced it with still works fine. Only in the last decade have a few small things like power antenna and windshield squirter quit. No 'major' failures ever, although some routine frontdrive maintenance like replacing cam belt cost $900, mostly labor as the whole side of the engine has to come apart like any frontdrive.
The new 80 Rabbit wasn't that bad but it wasn't 100% either. 82 Rabbit took 12 returns to the dealer, a call to and visit from the chief engineer of VWoA, to fix 3 things. And it never did stop overheating on the freeway with the AC on.
I'm only gullible up to a point and that was it. The 86 Celica I replaced it with still works fine. Only in the last decade have a few small things like power antenna and windshield squirter quit. No 'major' failures ever, although some routine frontdrive maintenance like replacing cam belt cost $900, mostly labor as the whole side of the engine has to come apart like any frontdrive.
I had an 82 rabbit that was indestructible. I drove it to the junkyard. I also had an 85 scirocco, 78 trans am, and a few 80’s Mercedes. I still own a 93 Mercedes wagon.
warmsecondrinse
Well-known member
My parents had two Renault 16's, a '69 and a '71. They were great cars.
I had an '81 Rabbit that had a split personality. Above freezing it hated any kind of humidity, dampness, or water. It ran rough and frequently refused to start.
Below freezing it started on the first try no matter how cold. It ran smooth as silk and was nearly silent. A blast furnace of heat appeared faster than any other car I've had. It was unstoppable in the snow... never came even remotely close to spinning out or getting stuck no matter what I did.
I had an '81 Rabbit that had a split personality. Above freezing it hated any kind of humidity, dampness, or water. It ran rough and frequently refused to start.
Below freezing it started on the first try no matter how cold. It ran smooth as silk and was nearly silent. A blast furnace of heat appeared faster than any other car I've had. It was unstoppable in the snow... never came even remotely close to spinning out or getting stuck no matter what I did.
I’ve owned three Volkswagon Beetles, two 69’s and a 70, and my Mom had a 67’ when I was a teenager. They had the most temperamental clutches, and they were gutless wonders, but they did get me from point A to B. The first 69’ I owned, I drove 100+miles every day when I commuted to Beauty College, and work after school. In eleven months I put over 36,000 miles on it. Then I totaled it, driving too fast, losing control and going up an embankment on the lefthand side of a two lane country road. I went through a barbed wire fence, one of the fence posts went through the windshield, straight for my head, I could hear in whistle past my right ear while the car rolled three times ,and landed on the drivers side. The impact spun me around in the seat, even though I was belted in, the key broke off on my wrist, and I couldn’t hear for about a minute, like I’d been in an explosion. Then I heard the radio blaring, “ You’re Mama Can’t Dance and You’re Daddy Don’t Rock and Roll”. The engine was still running and I had a full tank of gas that was pouring all over the dry field I landed in. I couldn’t turn off the engine, because the key had broken off.
I managed to climb out the passenger door that was facing up at the sky. Aside from big bruise all across my back from the steering wheel and some minor cuts on my face the only real injury I had was a broken big toe on my left foot, probably from trying to gear down when I realized I was losing control,and my left shoe was nowhere to be found. The rear window had popped out in one, unbroken piece from the fence post that went through the windshield. Years later this injury to my left foot progressed to arthritis in that hip, probably from the joint being jammed during the impact, at least thats what my doctor theorized.
The accident happened less than a mile away from home, and there was a young couple picnicing on the side of the road. They gave me a ride home, where Mom, who was hanging out the laundry began shrieking when she saw me, then proceeded to berate me for driving too fast. Then she and my stepfather drove me the 45 miles to the hospital for x-rays and for the doctor to tape up my broken toe. I was 19 years old.
Volkswagons don’t hold any fond memories for me. But they were dependable and inexpensive cars to own. Good times, huh.
Eddie[this post was last edited: 7/24/2019-23:37]
I managed to climb out the passenger door that was facing up at the sky. Aside from big bruise all across my back from the steering wheel and some minor cuts on my face the only real injury I had was a broken big toe on my left foot, probably from trying to gear down when I realized I was losing control,and my left shoe was nowhere to be found. The rear window had popped out in one, unbroken piece from the fence post that went through the windshield. Years later this injury to my left foot progressed to arthritis in that hip, probably from the joint being jammed during the impact, at least thats what my doctor theorized.
The accident happened less than a mile away from home, and there was a young couple picnicing on the side of the road. They gave me a ride home, where Mom, who was hanging out the laundry began shrieking when she saw me, then proceeded to berate me for driving too fast. Then she and my stepfather drove me the 45 miles to the hospital for x-rays and for the doctor to tape up my broken toe. I was 19 years old.
Volkswagons don’t hold any fond memories for me. But they were dependable and inexpensive cars to own. Good times, huh.
Eddie[this post was last edited: 7/24/2019-23:37]
cfz2882
Well-known member
R 16s
-have an interesting drivetrain arrangement:aluminum block engine mounted way back with flywheel facing forward,then clutch,differential,and finally tranny at front of car underneath the 3-lug spare tire.Radiator at very front with a little electric fan on it.A pulley on the end of the camshaft driving the Motorola design S.E.V.brand alternatorI think Lotus used the R16 engine in one of it's cars and ice racers loved the FWD,low weight and balance of the 16.Closest I came to owning a Renault was a 1982 fuego seen for sale in 1995-'82 Fuego old enough to still be a delightfully "froggy"Renault Loving all the replys guys-especially reply #1 list-those are all great,especially that '74 FIAT-but I would be seen as a "rabid foreign car nut"in my area if I had that
-have an interesting drivetrain arrangement:aluminum block engine mounted way back with flywheel facing forward,then clutch,differential,and finally tranny at front of car underneath the 3-lug spare tire.Radiator at very front with a little electric fan on it.A pulley on the end of the camshaft driving the Motorola design S.E.V.brand alternator
I think Lotus used the R16 engine in one of it's cars and ice racers loved the FWD,low weight and balance of the 16.Closest I came to owning a Renault was a 1982 fuego seen for sale in 1995-'82 Fuego old enough to still be a delightfully "froggy"Renault Loving all the replys guys-especially reply #1 list-those are all great,especially that '74 FIAT-but I would be seen as a "rabid foreign car nut"in my area if I had thatrabid foreign car nut here too...
I am assuming that "foreign" in this context means non-American, as most of my "foreign" cars were made or assembled here in Australia...
Well here goes...
1967 Austin 1800 was my first car, bought an old bomb from a neighbour, fixed it up, enjoyed it but a blue cloud followed me everywhere...
1967 Morris 1100 in burgundy, 1 previous little old lady owner...
1970 Morris 1500 Nomad wagon (unique to Australia version of Austin/Morris 1100 with 1500 OHC engine and 5 speed gearbox from UK Austin Maxi which wasn't sold here...the Nomad was a dog...)
1978 Leyland Mini 1275 LS, 1978, the last Australian Mini
1974 Leyland Marina 2.6 litre 6 cylinder, unique to Australia version
1974 Leyland P76, Leyland Australia's last and arguably best car
then the French cars...
1974 Renault 12GL sedan, previously my Mum's car...
Simca 1100 Special hatch 1974 (A one-off car imported by Chrysler Australia as an evaluation car, they decided to sell the Mitsubishi Galant instead, I bought this lonely orphan)
1973 Citroen GS 1220 convertisseur (semi auto trans - manual gearchange but no clutch pedal, it declutches electrically when you touch the gear lever) Loved that car, but it gave me grief...
1986 Holden Gemini sedan, my first new car and oh, what a dog of a car...
1980 Renault 18GTS wagon, destroyed in a rollover accident after only a few months ownership, sob....
1980 Renault 20TS hatch (All my Renaults were Australian built cars, the 20 was possibly my favourite car I have ever owned, did 485,000 km and still going strong when I sold it, it fitted me like it was custom made for me...
1985 Toyota Corona wagon... What a horrible, horrible car
1992 Mitsubishi Magna wagon (Australian 4 cylinder manual version of the Diamante)
Peugeot 307 1.6 Diesel manual wagon 2007 - Loved it!
VW Golf 1.4 TSI wagon 2017 to now - very nice, but not as much soul as the Peugeot.
I Love my European cars...
Have never owned a Renault 16 but I might one day, I have ambitions of owning a classic funny little European car, and R16 is on the list...
Other maybes include:
Hillman Imp
NSU Prinz
another Citroen GS, hopefully a better example this time
Austin Kimberley
Leyland P76 again, a V8 this time
dreaming is free....
I am assuming that "foreign" in this context means non-American, as most of my "foreign" cars were made or assembled here in Australia...
Well here goes...
1967 Austin 1800 was my first car, bought an old bomb from a neighbour, fixed it up, enjoyed it but a blue cloud followed me everywhere...
1967 Morris 1100 in burgundy, 1 previous little old lady owner...
1970 Morris 1500 Nomad wagon (unique to Australia version of Austin/Morris 1100 with 1500 OHC engine and 5 speed gearbox from UK Austin Maxi which wasn't sold here...the Nomad was a dog...)
1978 Leyland Mini 1275 LS, 1978, the last Australian Mini
1974 Leyland Marina 2.6 litre 6 cylinder, unique to Australia version
1974 Leyland P76, Leyland Australia's last and arguably best car
then the French cars...
1974 Renault 12GL sedan, previously my Mum's car...
Simca 1100 Special hatch 1974 (A one-off car imported by Chrysler Australia as an evaluation car, they decided to sell the Mitsubishi Galant instead, I bought this lonely orphan)
1973 Citroen GS 1220 convertisseur (semi auto trans - manual gearchange but no clutch pedal, it declutches electrically when you touch the gear lever) Loved that car, but it gave me grief...
1986 Holden Gemini sedan, my first new car and oh, what a dog of a car...
1980 Renault 18GTS wagon, destroyed in a rollover accident after only a few months ownership, sob....
1980 Renault 20TS hatch (All my Renaults were Australian built cars, the 20 was possibly my favourite car I have ever owned, did 485,000 km and still going strong when I sold it, it fitted me like it was custom made for me...
1985 Toyota Corona wagon... What a horrible, horrible car
1992 Mitsubishi Magna wagon (Australian 4 cylinder manual version of the Diamante)
Peugeot 307 1.6 Diesel manual wagon 2007 - Loved it!
VW Golf 1.4 TSI wagon 2017 to now - very nice, but not as much soul as the Peugeot.
I Love my European cars...
Have never owned a Renault 16 but I might one day, I have ambitions of owning a classic funny little European car, and R16 is on the list...
Other maybes include:
Hillman Imp
NSU Prinz
another Citroen GS, hopefully a better example this time
Austin Kimberley
Leyland P76 again, a V8 this time
dreaming is free....
cfz2882
Well-known member
British cars
I have one vehicle made in England(03 LR disco II)but it is so "American"it doesn't seem "foreign"at all-kinda "mid atlantic"possibly I did consider buying a 1975 Austin Marina that appeared on a local used car lot(!)this was in '95 and someone bought it right away!I do not recall if it was RHD -just a regular mid-70s English shopping car in brown paint
I have one vehicle made in England(03 LR disco II)but it is so "American"it doesn't seem "foreign"at all-kinda "mid atlantic"possibly
I did consider buying a 1975 Austin Marina that appeared on a local used car lot(!)this was in '95 and someone bought it right away!I do not recall if it was RHD -just a regular mid-70s English shopping car in brown paint 
My neighbors had two Rabbits...a yellow gasoline one and a green diesel. He worked at Brown's Ferry Nuclear Plant that was about a 40-45 mile drive every day. I wish I knew how many miles he put on that diesel before he replaced it. It was bullet proof. I've wanted an old Beetle since I was a teenager but my parents and grandparents (who were paying for half the car) wouldn't allow it...so when I turned 30 I bought a New Beetle...not the same but still a beetle and I'm still driving it 18 years later. Maybe I'll find an old one when I hit 50 in two years.
I have been driving a little over twenty years so I never had any vintage foreign cars, although I currently drive a VW Passat that I love. My brother on the other hand had a 1978 Audi 5000 that was burnt orange with orange leather seats. It was not reliable and was in the shop quite often. He ended up with a more reliable Chevy Malibu.
