View single post by NJ_Brit
 Posted: 06-16-2016 07:48 pm
PM Quote Reply Full Topic
NJ_Brit



Joined: 06-16-2016
Location: Martinsville, New Jersey USA
Posts: 16
Status: 
Offline
Ok, here's my list.  Some of these weren't classics when I had them, but may be by now...  These were a mixture of practicality and necessity (at least in the early days).

As an Expat Brit, some of these are UK models.  A while ago I set out to see if I had pictures of all of them, and nearly succeeded, save for the first car!  They can be seen here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1570222463459.2073611.1472410485&type=1&l=0d3ab557c3

1984 Vauxhall Astra L.  1.3L 4 Cylinder.  4 speed manual box.  First car, so saw some youthful hi-jinks (like getting her up to 115mph...).  Traded for...

1990 Ford Escort L.  1.3L 4 Cylinder. 5 speed manual box.  First brand new car, and I basically thrashed it.  Made several trips to South of France in her.  Traded for...

1975 Triumph Spitfire 1500.  1.5L 4 Cylinder. 4 speed manual box with Overdrive.  First car I really worked on (new diff, overhauled air intakes, exhaust replaced, etc.).  Barrel rolled her in France avoiding a drunk French Farmer, and totaled her.

1990 Daihatsu Sportrak L.  1.6L 4 Cylinder.  5 speed manual box.  Bought to replace the Spitfire.  Had the bounciest ride ever.  Traded for...

1992 Daihatsu Fourtrak TDX.  2.8L 4 Cylinder.  5 speed manual box.  TurboDiesel, so an absolute sloth until the Turbo's spooled up.  Used to haul the wine an champagne for my wedding back from France.  Sold when I moved to the US.  Apparently still in use as a farm vehicle...

1995 Chevrolet Camaro Z28.  5.7L V8.  4 speed Auto.  First US Car.  Engine to die for, build quality to cry for.  Traded for the S2000.

1997 Ford Explorer XLT.  3.8L V6.  4 speed Auto.  Wife's first US Car.  Rear view mirror had a tendency to fall off.  Traded for the Escalade.

2003 Honda S2000.  2.0L 4 Cylinder.  Six speed manual.  240hp before I fitted the K&N Typhoon Air Intake.  Redlined at 9,000rpm and could do 65mph in second gear.  Should have kept her, but the arrival of a daughter meant she was traded for the Genesis.

2003 Cadillac Escalade.  6.2L V8.  5 speed Auto.  345hp and a thirst to match.  Quite a crappy interior all things considered.  Traded for the R350.

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe.  3.8L V6.  6 speed Auto.  A blend of the Camaro and S2000.  314hp before I fitted an Injen Air Intake.  Current car, and I see no reason to get rid of her.

2008 Mercedes R350.  3.5L V6.  6 speed auto.  Replaced the Escalade.  All the toys (power headrests anyone?).  Mercedes maintenance and repair bills are a bit of a shocker though...  Traded for the LR4.

2011 Land Rover LR4 HSE Lux.  5.0L V8.  6 speed auto.  Bought second hand, but more or less spotless.  375hp in sport mode is a bit of a handful.

2002 Subaru Forester L.  2.0L 4 Cylinder Boxer.  4 speed auto.  Bought when our aging labrador couldn't get into the LR4.  132k miles, absolutely everything works.  Now used for dog, building & garden supply hauling. Unbelievably good in the snow.

and finally

1974 Jensen Healey.  2.0L 4 Cylinder.  4 speed manual.  Just gone past 88,800 miles and the reason I am on this forum.  The engine makes it feel like an ancestor of the S2000...


 

Attachment: JH Side Smaller.jpg (Downloaded 100 times)