Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

.... do your interests go, re old motors etc?

Is there a point in time going back that you begin to "switch off"? Personally although I usually like something about most eras, I'm not that big a fan of pre-1920 brass-era cars, veterans too I'm not all that mad on although again there are exceptions, and I doth my cap to people who manage to keep them running

When is "old" just a little "too old" for you?

RJ
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[emmerson]

I'd agree with you Rick. Anything pre 1930 is getting a bit too basic for me.

[Riley Blue]

My interests go back to the 1880s when Karl Benz built his first car but I wouldn't want to drive one as a daily driver. The earliest car I'd like to own would probably be a Riley 9 from the late 1920s though I'm not sure I would find one sufficiently accommodating for my larger than average frame - it had better be something larger, like a Speed Six or Woolf Barnato's Blue Train Special.

[peter scott]

I couldn't justify owning a vehicle that I'd seldom drive and I don't see me making much use of something that can't hold its own in modern traffic but I still find early machinery fascinating.

Peter
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1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Scotty]

My interests are in two periods, one being 1950's American and the other is Scottish veteran / early Edwardian cars.

Until I joined Glasgow Museums as a volunteer researcher I had no background in 1900's vehicles, now I'm completely immersed in the period. This was 'seat of the pants' designing, no-one had great preconceptions of customer preferences - the customer bought what the maker produced. It can be overwhelming the number of patents taken out relating to motor transport in the veteran period, some are beyond belief.

[welshrover]

im into anything going back in time ,but are'nt really bothered about cars of the future .unless they start to build anything with any style and without all the electronics .and dont all look the same as they do now..

[clan chieftain]

I am the same as you Welshrover. I am interested in anything old. As for owning something really old like a Model T then I dont think so. I would want something I could use when I felt like it.
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The Clan Chieftain

[Ellis]

The first classic car show I attended was locally in May 1971. It had been organised by the North Wales Vintage Car Club and it's difficult to believe that is now 42 years ago when I was 16.

The entrants were Bull Nose Morris', early Austin 7, early Motorcycles - Brough, Indian and a few ex World War 1 military vehicles. Whilst I did enjoy the day, I was more interested in the visitor's vehicles in the car park.
There were all types 1950s and 1960s vehicles. I remember thinking then that while the show exhibits were interesting, they were in some way anachronisms. Curiosities if you like with little relevance on 1971 roads.

Even in 1971 early Mark 1 Ford Zephyrs and Zodiacs were becoming rare. The lady owner of the the local prestige hotel had an early Mark 1 Zodiac in cream over green and I liked looking at it.

My interest cut off in cars from the 50s/60s stems from that (I think) but I thought now how many cars produced 40 years ago can be regarded as classic?
Whatever the number, are they thought as anachronisms by today's teenagers?

I wonder.
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1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[roverdriver]

All cars, from the very first, interest me. As Scotty said, the earliest days were full of inventiveness and innovation, unlike later years when it largely became 'follow the leader'.

Peter is also wise, I believe that owning a vehicle that one cannot use on some regular basis is a waste, but there are several pre-1930 cars that are quite capable of use in modern traffic. I owned and operated Model A Fords for many years, and drove in heavy city traffic quite easily, as well as motorway and country road driving.

If I lived in an urban situation, where speed was limited, then a Model T would manage rather well, but of course the low open road speed would be a difficulty.

With the P4 Rovers, I have something old enough to be interesting, yet fast enough for modern traffic, and also good for long distance touring.
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Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking.

[Roger-hatchy]

Flame tube ignition fascinates me but I doubt I would have the patience to run one.
Also goes for veteran cars, but as I say patience might start to wear thin.

So suppose about 1920 might be my cut off date, but if I had the money I'd even go back to the beginning of the adventure.

[falconriley]

I don't have a date for too early, when my interests end is the thing.

For example with Riley it is 1938, after which they became Nuffield Riley's, of which I have owned a few and still feel that they are one of the better cars of their time. I have no axe to grind here as the Riley spirit lived on in the cars. BMC on the other hand.......

With Sunbeam it is 1935, after which they became rebadged Humbers and Hillmans. My interest is in Sunbeams, not Hillmans etc.

MG on the other hand was always a Morris car with the early cars first using the side valve Morris engine, later with the Wolseley OHC engine, later again with OHV Wolseley engines, then Austin engines, besides which the MGB is fun. I think that is always important. If its not, why do it?

Twenties and Thirties cars are enormous fun for me, giving a challenge with the crash box which provides satisfaction when it is mastered. Plus the simplicity is refreshing.

Matthew

[Salopian]

I'm with Roverdriver here as there are many pre 1930 cars capable of modern traffic albeit not motorways really unless an overdrive equipped 4.5 or 6 litre Bentley or such like. I happily use the Alvis 12/50 for shopping trips to travel to work and generally although prefer warmer weather for open top motoring now. Have never used it with hood up.
Actually with Falconriley as well and having run a proper Wolverhampton Sunbeam for 22 years (now sold) I jolly well should be! (1928 20.9 hp 2 seat and dickey well able to be used in modern conditions with standard servo brakes etc).
Alvis guaranteed 80 mph for the SD 12/50 new and it will cruise easily at 55-60 in standard form.
Coincidently both the above being Australian contributors my 12/50 was shipped to Australia as a new Carbodies beetleback in 1928 and returned here in 1999 having spent most of its time in Victoria.

Edited on further thought - the cars referred to above were the more expensive in their class and better engined etc (all OHV 4 speed boxes decent brakes) than perhaps the more every day cars - certainly much as I love them I cannot fancy driving an unmodified Austin 7 or similar in heavy traffic!
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Jonathan Butler
Alvis SD 12/50 1928 MG TD 1950

[Keith D]

My interest in cars includes Veteran, but I would not like to operate a turn of the century car. My preferred dates start in the mid twenties, but even this must be put into perspective. A mid twenties car when new, had tyres that would last only 5000 miles (if you were very careful!) and daily punctures were the norm. Fuel was indifferent, dirty and came in cans that had to carried on the running boards. Fires were quite commonplace with the cotton or rubber insulated wiring and lights were attrocious!
Most twenties cars on the road now are using modern made components and as such are much more user friendly and safer. (Tyres, brake materials, light globes, PVC wiring, safety glass etc).
Salopian made a comment about using an Austin Seven in modern traffic. I do just that, and heavy traffic is not a problem. (provided one leaves a decent gap in front because of indifferent braking!) Driving on the open road is more of a worry with high speed modern traffic sitting on your back bumper. I usually tend to drive rather close to the kerb to allow others to pass easily.
My mid twenties Chrysler is exactly the same. Although that is faster than the Seven, and has four wheel hydraulic brakes, it will not cruise at 50-70 mph with the modern traffic.

Keith

[Salopian]

Fully agree Keith - mid 20's takes us as well into well base wheels and wired beads a vast improvement over the dangers of beaded edge tyres (yes I had a car on them). Not sure which Chrysler you have but thought most of those were mid 50's cruisers but perhaps that would need to be a model 70 or 75? I've no real experience of them.
Most Austin 7s I see now are modded to be more road friendly. The only ones I have driven recently are my brothers Speedy 75 models (always pull his leg over the model name!) as he has 2 one being CZ 6324 the 1935 Le Mans Carr/Barbour entry and the other AOG 278. The latter has phoenix crank etc and is happy to cruise at 55 much to my surprise. The Le Mans cars performance is better although the engine was extensively rebuilt for reliabilty before its appearances at Classic Le mans. I'd love a nice black rad Chummy for pottering locally!.
I like reliable usable cars which means four wheel brakes sufficent performance well based rims decent possibly improved lights and able without prior notice to be driven anywhere. The Sunbeam met and now the Alvis meets this demand with cross country journey times not significantly different from my modern.
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Jonathan Butler
Alvis SD 12/50 1928 MG TD 1950

[JC T ONE]

I like to see & hear about other peoples cars/projects, no matter how old it is, especially if there is a nice story to go with it.

My own cars are 60 & 70ies models, as thats what I grew up with, but I like old British Coachbuilt type of cars too, as my Uncle use to visit us driving his Gandparents old Austin Princess.
that was one BIG car, and to this day I still remember the smell of Connolly leather & Wilton carpets, I belive this car was from the 50ies, but it might have been older ?
I tried to google for a picture, but couldnt find one that looked like the one my family had.
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