Older cars you have seen

[thejuggler]

A very rare survivor because not many were sold in the UK, an almost 30 year old Toyota Camry.

 

[GusB]

A couple from our trip to northern Spain recently.

A very smart Alfa Spider parked up outside a golf course (we were only there for a coffee ).
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Not sure what age that would be. Would anyone know?

Seeing the Spider sitting next to that monstrous SUV illustrates how over-bloated modern cars have become. It looks like it'd be a lot of fun to drive, but I think I'd be a little scared now that I've seen how tiny it is in comparison.

Also, a very tidy Renault 11 outside a beach cafe near Santander.
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I thought it was a Fuego at first but I think it is an 11 isn’t it? I didn’t look at the back!

I always liked the look of the 11, more so than the 9. It looks in remarkably good condition.

 

[bspahh]

I always liked the look of the 11, more so than the 9. It looks in remarkably good condition.

My Mum had a string of French cars (a couple of Simcas, a Renault 14 and Fuego, and a Citroen BX and ZX and Xsara). She liked the softly seats and smooth ride.

My Dad hated servicing them. He would get scraped knuckles screwing in spark plugs which were buried and pointing against a bulkhead. The cylinder heads were made from aluminium which was great for the weight and handling, but had the durability of cheddar cheese if you cross threaded a spark plug.

On the plus side, I could hear the Simcas from a distance, from the rattling tappets, so often when I was walking back from school I could get a lift back home.

 

[Sun Chariot]

This 1985/C VW Jetta - albeit on non-OEM wheels and suspension - even smelled 1980s! It arrived at our local farm shop today.

 

[Bald Rick]

This 1985/C VW Jetta - albeit on non-OEM wheels and suspension - even smelled 1980s! It arrived at our local farm shop today.

Body work in good nick, looks resprayed.

But urgh, those plates.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Body work in good nick, looks resprayed.

But urgh, those plates.

I cringed at the reg plates too! Coupled with its wheels and suspension, I fully expected its driver to be a baseball-cap wearing yoof; but no - t'was a chap who looked more like a morris dancer.

 

[Cowley]

I cringed at the reg plates too! Coupled with its wheels and suspension, I fully expected its driver to be a baseball-cap wearing yoof; but no - t'was a chap who looked more like a morris dancer.

Body work in good nick, looks resprayed.

But urgh, those plates.

I do remember the Jetta as being a slightly more interesting car than the following mk4 based Bora for some reason.

Maybe it’s just that the name of the latter was, erm. Boring?

 

[Sun Chariot]

With its Golf Mk2 and (from 1988) Corrado cousins, the Jetta A2 (1984-1992) did not - based on my memory - see as many "breathed-on / modded" examples; compared to, for example, Peugeot's 309GTi (a truly wonderful car - my younger brother owned one - for more space and less cash than a 205GTi)

 

[Cowley]

With its Golf Mk2 and (from 1988) Corrado cousins, the Jetta A2 (1984-1992) did not - based on my memory - see as many "breathed-on / modded" examples; compared to, for example, Peugeot's 309GTi (a truly wonderful car - my younger brother owned one - for more space and less cash than a 205GTi)

I knew someone who had a GTi 16 valve Jetta. I don’t think I ever saw another one though.

I did drive a 309 GTi once. It was quick!

 

[ExRes]

Body work in good nick, looks resprayed.

But urgh, those plates.

Not just 'urgh' but surely 'your nicked mate' as well

 

[Bald Rick]

I do remember the Jetta as being a slightly more interesting car than the following mk4 based Bora for some reason.

Maybe it’s just that the name of the latter was, erm. Boring?

Jettas are quite popular in the US; satisfies that American need for a ‘sedan’. Lots of recent examples around (5-10 years old)

 

[dcbwhaley]

1953 Ford Prefect in Leicestershire. Excellent condition

 

[gpmartin]

I do remember the Jetta as being a slightly more interesting car than the following mk4 based Bora for some reason.

Maybe it’s just that the name of the latter was, erm. Boring?

Not to mention the Mark 3-derived Vento - evidently even more forgettable!

 

[Cowley]

Not to mention the Mark 3-derived Vento - evidently even more forgettable!

I had forgotten!