Older cars you have seen

[Bald Rick]

I saw one near me last weekend. Still.made me go "Oooh"*

*'And that comes from a chap who owned and loved his 2006 290bhp Saab V6 Hirsch 9-3 Aero convertible...

Yes, a great car. I had a MkI Golf Convertible, and an A4 Cab (V6 3.0, Multitronic), but like you still love the 80.

I was at the traffic lights in Torquay one afternoon and some girls in the car next to me were visibly laughing at it…

Now, @Cowley, are you sure they were laughing at the car

 

[Sun Chariot]

For punishment I was given their spare car to use for the rest of summer - An original X reg (1981) Volkswagen Derby (a mk1 Polo with a boot). In faded black.
I was at the traffic lights in Torquay one afternoon and some girls in the car next to me were visibly laughing at it…

South Devon ladies: no respect for a future classic.

 

[Bald Rick]

South Devon ladies: no respect for a future classic.

car or the driver?

 

[SteveyBee131]

Saw a very handsome looking Ford Sierra estate on D prefix reg plates this afternoon. Sadly I couldn't get any pics as I was driving. Even though it's (only just) older than me, and was fighting drag from a roof box (!), it overtook us as we were stuck behind a convoy of lorries on the A1(M) near Doncaster.

 

[Cowley]

car or the driver?

I was looking cool (apart from the car) I’ll have you know!

 

[Sun Chariot]

evidently Fridays too.

View attachment 211440

I've never seen one with a LWB + high-roof. I wonder if it's OEM, or a later mod?

 

[dgl]

Something I bet you don't see many of, a Volvo 480, spotted in Wareham. Looks like someone might be using it to learn to drive, certainly a more leftfield learner car!

 

[telstarbox]

Very nice!

 

[Bald Rick]

Something I bet you don't see many of, a Volvo 480, spotted in Wareham. Looks like someone might be using it to learn to drive, certainly a more leftfield learner car!

It must be 1990s Volvo day today….

In great nick, clearly used regulalry, and look at those headlamp washers!

 

[dgl]

It must be 1990s Volvo day today….

In great nick, clearly used regulalry, and look at those headlamp washers!

View attachment 211529

I do like headlamp washers! My Grans F reg (F202DYA to be precise) 340GLE had them.

 

[Cowley]

I saw this old clonker parked up outside our local petrol station the other day. Can’t be many mid 90s Astra’s still around?


I had a quick peek inside on the way past and the interior looked like a failed state.

 

[WesternLancer]

Something I bet you don't see many of, a Volvo 480, spotted in Wareham. Looks like someone might be using it to learn to drive, certainly a more leftfield learner car!

I always think these are stylish Volvos.
As you say not often seen nowadays.

Nice to see the picture

 

[Sun Chariot]

Picking up on the headlamp wiper posts from @Bald Rick and @dgl - I'm trying to recall which cars had 'em. Starter-for-ten, based on my memory and my /others' photos*:


BMW 3-series E21 + E30 (top trim-level)
BMW 5-series E28 (top trim-level)
BNW 6-series E24
BMW 7-series E23 + E32

Saab 9000
Saab 9-5

Volvo 240-family
Volvo 460, 480
Volvo 740, 760, 940, 960

[I've no recollection of seeing headlamp wipers on Mercedes-Benz, Bentley, Rolls Royce, AUDI -but do say if those did. ]

* OK, I could just trawl online pics - but that isn't half as fun as doing it this way!

 

[KT550]

A few from Belfast yesterday
May 1955 MG
Mar 1972 VW 1302S
Jun 1972 Escort
Dec 1976 Transit
Mar 1978 Viva 1300L
Dec 1979 Datsun 280ZX
Aug 1985 Austin Metro 1.3L
Aug 1986 Capri
D prefix MG Metro (when did you last see two Metros parked together?)
Jan 1988 Range Rover
Jun 1992 Mazda RX-5

 

[birchesgreen]

Picking up on the headlamp wiper posts from @Bald Rick and @dgl - I'm trying to recall which cars had 'em. Starter-for-ten, based on my memory and my /others' photos*:


BMW 3-series E21 + E30 (top trim-level)
BMW 5-series E28 (top trim-level)
BNW 6-series E24
BMW 7-series E23 + E32

Saab 9000
Saab 9-5

Volvo 240-family
Volvo 460, 480
Volvo 740, 760, 940, 960

[I've no recollection of seeing headlamp wipers on Mercedes-Benz, Bentley, Rolls Royce, AUDI -but do say if those did. ]

* OK, I could just trawl online pics - but that isn't half as fun as doing it this way!

Was a Lada Riva option apparently, though mine didn't have them. Can't say i ever saw one with the wipers to be honest.

 

[dgl]

Was a Lada Riva option apparently, though mine didn't have them. Can't say i ever saw one with the wipers to be honest.

I've seen an advert with a car fitted with them, also potentially the Samara as well.

 

[WesternLancer]

Picking up on the headlamp wiper posts from @Bald Rick and @dgl - I'm trying to recall which cars had 'em. Starter-for-ten, based on my memory and my /others' photos*:


BMW 3-series E21 + E30 (top trim-level)
BMW 5-series E28 (top trim-level)
BNW 6-series E24
BMW 7-series E23 + E32

Saab 9000
Saab 9-5

Volvo 240-family
Volvo 460, 480
Volvo 740, 760, 940, 960

[I've no recollection of seeing headlamp wipers on Mercedes-Benz, Bentley, Rolls Royce, AUDI -but do say if those did. ]

* OK, I could just trawl online pics - but that isn't half as fun as doing it this way!

We had an early 1990s build Volvo 340 that had headlight wipers.
They included pipes connected to the windscreen sprayer tank and operated at the same time.

 

[dgl]

We had an early 1990s build Volvo 340 that had headlight wipers.
They included pipes connected to the windscreen sprayer tank and operated at the same time.

Yes, they were an option/part of a trim level on the 300 series. As I have previously said my Grans 340GLE (GLE luxury!) F202DYA had headlamp wash/wipe, not sure if they worked though. Even had heated front seats!
You could tell it was a fancier model as the clock was in the centre console instead of the instrument cluster, and you got a rev counter where the clock was on lower models. Noting that some lower models got a gear change light in lieu of a rev counter, it's what my uncle's C reg 340GL, at least I think it was a GL, had.

 

[OuterDistant]

I saw this old clonker parked up outside our local petrol station the other day. Can’t be many mid 90s Astra’s still around?
View attachment 211536

I had a quick peek inside on the way past and the interior looked like a failed state.

Bizarrely, I saw one just this afternoon. The same colour, but a hatchback.

 

[WesternLancer]

Yes, they were an option/part of a trim level on the 300 series. As I have previously said my Grans 340GLE (GLE luxury!) F202DYA had headlamp wash/wipe, not sure if they worked though. Even had heated front seats!
You could tell it was a fancier model as the clock was in the centre console instead of the instrument cluster, and you got a rev counter where the clock was on lower models. Noting that some lower models got a gear change light in lieu of a rev counter, it's what my uncle's C reg 340GL, at least I think it was a GL, had.

Thank. Interesting info.
We got ours second hand in about ‘95. Kept it until 2006.
So the features were the original owners options.

Had heated seats and a rev counter but thankfully manual window winders.
One thing I notice today in comparison with our more modern car is that the 340 didn’t have air con but had superb natural air vents which kept it fresh with windows up in all but hottest weather.
Current car gets stuffy when just using its interior air vents.

 

[dgl]

Thank. Interesting info.
We got ours second hand in about ‘95. Kept it until 2006.
So the features were the original owners options.

Had heated seats and a rev counter but thankfully manual window winders.
One thing I notice today in comparison with our more modern car is that the 340 didn’t have air con but had superb natural air vents which kept it fresh with windows up in all but hottest weather.
Current car gets stuffy when just using its interior air vents.

My Gran's had electric windows in the front but manual ones in the back, the same as her later Focus. Also had what wouldn't be allowed now, a lap belt in the middle. For me she also had a proper Volvo car seat, and a big thing it was too.
The car stayed in the family until 2006 with my Auntie who replaced it with her worst purchasing decision a new Ford KA. It was only on the road for 10 years and she had gotten rid of it in 2014 due to the rot. It's amazing to think that other than RDS on the tape/radio, power steering, immobiliser (mandated), ABS and fuel injection the Volvo had more features! The 2014 K13 Micra that replaced the KA was worlds apart!

As for fresh air vents it seemed quite a common feature back in the day.

 

[birchesgreen]

I've seen an advert with a car fitted with them, also potentially the Samara as well.

Yes mentioned in my Haynes manual.

I wasn't high enough up the Party hierarchy to get one like that.

 

[GusB]

What is it with headlight wipers? A certain car-related YouTuber also has a similar fascination!

They were available on the second generation Ford Sierra too. I've done a quick search and it would seem they were on the higher-spec models such as the Ghia and the Sapphire Cosworth. I don't recall my dad's Sapphire having them, but it was only a lowly GL.

 

[Strathclyder]

It must be 1990s Volvo day today….

In great nick, clearly used regulalry, and look at those headlamp washers!

View attachment 211529

What a beauty.

I love boxy Volvos of that era. Something about them is just 'right' to me. Don't get me wrong, my #1 dream Volvo is and likely always will be a 240 estate, but I wouldn't pass up the chance to own one of these. Nor would I turn my nose up at a 90s V70/850 estate; in fact I'd leap at any such oppurtunity.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Higher-spec Austin Montegos had headlamp wipers... and they were a popular extra in Scandinavia in the 70s and 80s (based on the number of imported Fords so fitted, which were in a big auction that took place over the weekend).

Used to get very jealous of the kids that got to sit in the rear-facing third row of seats in Montego Countryman estates, as it looked great fun from the car behind... Not particularly safe though!

 

[Cowley]

Higher-spec Austin Montegos had headlamp wipers... and they were a popular extra in Scandinavia in the 70s and 80s (based on the number of imported Fords so fitted, which were in a big auction that took place over the weekend).

Used to get very jealous of the kids that got to sit in the rear-facing third row of seats in Montego Countryman estates, as it looked great fun from the car behind... Not particularly safe though!

A British racing green Montego Countryman was the first car I ever drove with power steering, just after I’d passed my test.

I nearly drove it into a hedge, the steering was so light!

 

[thejuggler]

I'm currently touring Scotland.

Yesterday it was a mid 70s Hillman Imp on the A9, bowling along at about 65mph.

Looking how small it was amazing to think some friends with two children would use one for two week summer holidays. Roofrack and cases on roof, but with tens of horsepower amazing it moved at all.

Also saw MGB and an Aston DB5 near Brechin. Weather was great for a Sunday run out.

 

[telstarbox]

1999 Subaru Impreza in Kent.

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

A couple of interesting Nissan's (if that's possible?!), though sadly no photos.

Firstly a D-reg (1987) car-sized pickup in Grimsby yesterday; possibly a Nissan 720 although it had a chrome grille and circular headlights, not the black grille and square lights that internet photos show.
And then a 1988 E-reg Bluebird in Cleethorpes today.

 

[birchesgreen]

Spotted an MGB earlier today, mostly in a dirty grey though some panels were blue. Pre-A registration. Sounded decent even if it looked a bit tired.