Old Cars in Your Area Used every day

Carson10

Thought this mite be interesting to see if anyone had any stories of old cars being used everyday in their area.

I have a 93 year old neighbour who still drives the brand new fiesta she bought new 25 years ago, keeps it in a garage and still has the old plastic black and grey plates that came out of the dealer.

Another neighbour still has the a 25 year 85 corolla he bought brand new as well. Red number plate on the back, never kept it in the garage so paint is all faded.

What stories have you got?

carchaeologist

A neighbour of mine had a '72 Superbeetle that he bought new,it was minty clean. It got scrapped in the '97 scrappage scheme when it was replaced by a new Polo saloon :mad:. He died recently and the Polo is still in the garage,and i know its in as new condition with hardly any miles up on it...:pac:

peasant

My camper turns 21 next month ...the daily driver will be 20 then

Max_Damage

My daily will be 16 years old next year.

Blue850

A few I see around Galway
1981 Merc 300D, one owner from new
1984 Merc 200D
1972 Merc W114 coupe with W124 250D engine
ZV reg Beetle, 70's model

_Conrad_

A few i see around or know of being in use:

renault 11, 88 i think
renault 11 , old style reg
toyota landcruiser, old reg
mercedes 200 1983
mercedes 240d zv plates
quite a few AE86 corollas, a corolla ke70 estate that used to see daily use before an AE86 took over

several ford sierras
4 different mk2 fiestas (one liemrick city, one kilmalock, one charleville, one tralee)
Mk2 escort 1.3, driven by an quite elderly man in co. cork
early 80s handa 90 just down the road
2 series 3 landrovers
a mk2 granada
mid 80s bmw 5 series (E28)
mk2 transit
VW t25 van
VW beetle (70s)
VW polo saloon, '88
90 corolla 1.8d xl
several carina 2s
nissan partol 3.3
nissan partol 2.8
about 10 or maybe more late 80s up to 91 pajero
5 or so 2.8 td isuzu trooper



lots more actually just have to think for a while to remember them, WAY more if you count tractors! the ones i've listed are mostly one's i'd be likely to see once every week ot two while just tippin around about my daily businees, and exclude ones i know through clubs or sites

alastair

My 'new' car - the 'daily driver' celebrated it's 21st at some point this year.

Gary ITR

In my little complex there's a minty mint E30 Convertible a 205 GTI and an 89 Honda CRX. All 3 are used as dailys

no1beemerfan

We've an '86 E30 that gets used nearly every day, my own daily is a 1997 reg.

Also a neighbour had a '70s beetle from new till he died about 3 or 4 years ago. Not sure what happened it.

manatoo

In my area

1986 Nissan Bluebird - around 190,000 miles on this one
1985 Honda Accord
1988 Carina 2

Most amazing one to me - 1987 Carina 2 (the square one) 2.0 diesel - 400,000 miles since new with one owner. Guy bought a nearly new Passat a couple of years ago though so the Carina isn't really a daily anymore. He was a salesman for an agri pharmaceutical company who gave him the car in 1987 as a company car. Every 3 years after that until he retired he had the option of getting a new car or cash. He kept taking the cash.... He never had any major trouble with it, gasket never went or anything. Got quite smoky in the last few years he was using it though. Probably failed the NCT eventually. Lives in the garage and goes for Sunday spins now...

Silvera

Great thread! Great stories!:)

It just goes to show how cars can be kept going for many years if looked after. Many Irish people have traditionally 'looked down their noses' at cars ten years old (or older), unlike in New Zealand (for example). I saw loads of older cars on the roads when I lived there in 2004.
My 'daily driver' there was a 1988 Bluebird auto.. with 130k!

G Luxel

Up to a few years ago, there was someone using a Hillman Minx Estate to go to the shops a few times a week. It was a Series 11 or 111 dating from the early 60s. TThere was also a Hillman Avenger Estate and a black Austin A50which were being used regularly. There is also a Mark2 Granada (irish), 1978 model being used every day near where I work...

Blue850

Rover SD1 2600 although I haven't seen it in a few months
79 Capri 1.6

shawnee

Not many of them around here since the NCT, Celtic Tiger and recent scrappage. I see someone around Adare driving a boxy starlet 83 or 84 to Mass on Sunday. There is also a square shaped Carina being driven by a farmer. Some years back it was common place to see people in the countryside driving 25 year old cars daily. Interestingly very few of them were involved in high speed crashes in the early hours of the morning:D:D Again I was in France recently and saw plenty Peugeot 305 vans and cars still being driven and many of the old Renaults and of course the 2CVS.:o:o

Max_Damage

shawnee wrote: »

Again I was in France recently and saw plenty Peugeot 305 vans and cars still being driven and many of the old Renaults and of course the 2CVS.:o:o

France is full of old cars. I was there aswell as Jersey a few weeks back and got a good lot of pictures of old machinery there:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48434822@N05/sets/72157624793006641/

There was lots of old stuff that I didn't manage to get a picture of.

Carson10

Plenty of good stories here guys. keep them commin..Just wonder how many good old cars are sittin un-discovered in garages. I had another neighbour who bought a brand new black 99 Nissan Micra and died about 2 years later in 2001. the car is still sitting in the garage at his house since the last time he parked it nearly 10years ago and has never been moved or started since. Could only be about 2,000 miles on it at the very most and would never have been NCt'd. His son who lives nearby got the house and let it become all overgrown. Grass is nee high and Its only a matter of time before the garage is goin to collapse in on the car. My dad asked him would he sell it and he said no. Wouldnt mind but it was the best kept house in the area and id say the car was never left outside once at night..Shame!

johnos1984

Blue850 wrote: »

Rover SD1 2600 although I haven't seen it in a few months

Was it Gold and in Nenagh? If so it was mine and has been sold. Now stored indoors and not out in public where it should be

Blue850

Red, Oranmore

johnos1984

Blue850 wrote: »

Red, Oranmore

I know that guy.

He had a 1983/4 one and now has an 87 Twin Plenum

kasper

this is a daily driver around mullingar

rugbyman

In Dundalk, theres a fellow driving an 82 merc,230 since new.

also a lady driving an 86 190 since new,looks good

rugbyman

The Express

Two old brothers go around Athenry in a gold '78 escort - owned from new and always happy to chat about it too.

Said they've been offered thousands for it but will never part with it.

Blue850

Just thought of another, a lhd bronze coloured Toyota Tercel, on an old *** YIM Galway reg

Max_Damage

Blue850 wrote: »

Just thought of another, a lhd bronze coloured Toyota Tercel, on an old *** YIM Galway reg

Did they ever sell the Tercel here? I only ever saw them in America.

salysol

i drive a 79 porsche 924 on a daily basis,much prefer it to the newer car,i am also in the process of restoring an 81 porsche 924, i am stripping a 85 porsche 944 and tansplanting into the 924,when finished hopefully april 011 i will then use that as a daily driver.

carchaeologist

Max_Damage wrote: »

Did they ever sell the Tercel here? I only ever saw them in America.

I remember at least one around these parts a few years back.

skyhighflyer

There's a light blue 86 corolla hatchback that's been going around Naas for as long as I can remember... has an NCT and looks in good shape.

Silvera

Max_Damage wrote: »

Did they ever sell the Tercel here? I only ever saw them in America.

Now there is a blast from the past!
Havent heard a Tercel mentioned in years!
Yes, Tercel's were sold here new iirc.

Silvera

salysol wrote: »

i drive a 79 porsche 924 on a daily basis,much prefer it to the newer car,i am also in the process of restoring an 81 porsche 924, i am stripping a 85 porsche 944 and tansplanting into the 924,when finished hopefully april 011 i will then use that as a daily driver.

Always liked the 924's.
Any pics of your car(s) on here?

salysol

Silvera wrote: »

Always liked the 924's.
Any pics of your car(s) on here?

will post some up in a while

salysol

afraid this the only pic i can find of the daily user 924,

and here's the one i'm restoring.


this is the donor car.


hope to have it on the road by april,finances and weather permitting.

Dades

The black 924 is a bit Mad Max (I have a black '83) !

Are you throwing the 944 engine into the 924? What other plans do you have for it? (Colour, alloys, interior etc).

antodeco

My mini is kind of a daily driver. If I get a stretch of good weather, ill drive it every day. Id say over the summer it was 50% of my daily driver. Turns 31 years in 3 months!

salysol

LIGHTNING wrote: »

I assume your are going to put the 944 brakes in too I wouldnt like to drive a 944 with 924 brakes!

Yes i am transferring every last piece,except for the back panels,i intend to put carrera arches on it,i wouldn't drive it with the 924 brakes either,especially with the difference in power.
i hope to have it ready by April.

salysol

Dades wrote: »

The black 924 is a bit Mad Max (I have a black '83) !

Are you throwing the 944 engine into the 924? What other plans do you have for it? (Colour, alloys, interior etc).

That was the look i was after,but when i get the other 924 finished i will strip the black one and do it.
i am putting all of the 944 into the 924 except the rear quater panels,i will fit Carrera arches,as for the wheels i think the wheels on the 944 are good enough they are boxer alloys,with 255/40/17 rear 215/45/17 front.
they just need a good clean

jimbooth

neighbour of mine has a mk1 escort as his daily driver from new, bought a micra a few years back but didnt like it so sold it again and used his escort once more

mondeo

A neighbour of mine had an old 83' Nissan Sentra until only recently. I remember him buying it in 85' when it was 2 yrs old. It was blue and in pretty good nick. I wish I knew he was selling it as their non existant on the rd these days. I would have took it off him no problem.

In those days I use to get around on a yellow and red tricycle, put alot of mileage on that thing going down to quinnsworth for a choc ice:D

junkyarddog

I often see a silver Toyota Tercel being driven by an eldely lady,
still has it's lovely red rear number plate.
Also a nice Mk1 fiesta owned by another little old lady,
both look to be in very good order,the cars not the little old ladies:D

bijapos

mondeo wrote: »

In those days I use to get around on a yellow and red tricycle, put alot of mileage on that thing going down to quinnsworth for a choc ice:D

Don't tell me... that one went on the scrappage scheme as well, traded in for a BMX no doubt.

Silvera

mondeo wrote: »

A neighbour of mine had an old 83' Nissan Sentra until only recently. I remember him buying it in 85' when it was 2 yrs old. It was blue and in pretty good nick. I wish I knew he was selling it as their non existant on the rd these days. I would have took it off him no problem.

In those days I use to get around on a yellow and red tricycle, put alot of mileage on that thing going down to quinnsworth for a choc ice:D

There's a Nissan Sentra parked up in Templemore village.
As you enter the village from the Mountrath road it's parked opposite houses (not far from the church).
IIRC, it's an 85-TN reg. It seemed to be in use a couple of years ago, but now its parked up and covered in dust.

junkyarddog

Not a classic,but spotted today a '91 Civic saloon(old shape)
totally original and unmodified in metallic grey driven by an eldely owner.

hoodie6029

rzu reg morris minor being used in Sandymount regularly. It looks like it still has it original paint and a few original dents!

Max_Damage

I've some guy in Dublin city centre a few times driving an '87 Ford Escort Mk4 (maroon colour).

galwaytt

Ok, not every single day - but 4 days/week at least, is mine.......

Do-more

Tons of older stuff kept running every day here in Sweden, apart from the usual


Saabs and....


Volvos, here are a few more from my patch.




was the two door Jetta ever sold in Ireland? I can't recall having seen one.


The owner of this 944 also has a de-commissioned Merc W124 ambulance which he uses as a van for his business.


Although even here you don't see many 480 Turbos running everyday.




This early Kadett is used daily, it's had a not very good re-spray in the past and some rust around the rear arches but seems sound.



These are just a few I snapped yesterday and on the way to work this morning, other that I see regularly are two Mk5 Cortinas, a Fiat 128 saloon, a Talbot Horizon, a Nissan Sunny Coupe (the really angular one) and an early boxy Carina estate.

Dades

^^ Liking that Audi 100 (and the alloys on the Kadett) !

MercMad

My semi daily turn 43 in February !

I saw an Ascona A on original Louth plates last Saturday being driven by someone who could have been the original owner, i.e it/he didn't look like a classic enthusiast.

I see an '87 305 van being used regularly too, and a friend who used a '65 Merc every day and has done for 15 years.

Do-more

Dades wrote: »

Liking that Audi 100

In that case here is a 100 saloon from the spin home...:)



And for the Ford heads a Mk2 Granada



And a hand painted Mk4 Cortina!



There is usually a RWD Starlet parked close to the Audi 100 estate, I'll get a pic if I see it again, but I fear it is not long for this life as it is red with rust.

There's a tidy W122 Merc floating around as well driven by a retired gentleman I'll see if I can nab a pic also.

Silvera

Interesting pics from Sweden!

Great to older cars still earning their keep.
Reminds me of older cars I saw in use in AUS and New Zealand when I was living there.

Is rust not a major problem with Sweden's damp climate, and (I presume) liberal use of road salt/grit?

As a matter of interest, what does road tax and insurance cost for an older Porsche 944 in Sweden?

...or for any of the older cars pictured?

Mahatma coat

Tis Comical sometimes the difference inattitudes between different countrys, There are people here reminiscing about cars from the late eighties :eek: Jaysus Lads I woldnt consider it old unless it was at least older than me (thats the Seventies)
My Current Daily Drives Dependin on the Humor I'm in

89 E34 535 BMW
84 60 series Landcruiser Wagon
86 SWB 78 Series Landcruiser
78 320 CL BMW
86 300SE Mervcedes

And of course there are the Work Utes which are quite a lot newer but look a lot older due to the abuse they recieve on a daily basis

Thing is tho, Here in Australia most of those cars wouldnt be considered old, the 320CL is something I get offers on whenever I take it out for a spin, Highest offer so far was $10K and if I'd a thought him to be seriously interested I'd a sold it

Do-more

Silvera wrote: »

Is rust not a major problem with Sweden's damp climate, and (I presume) liberal use of road salt/grit?

The climate here is a lot dryer than in Ireland, RH is considerable lower here in the winter than in Ireland.

They tend to use a sand/grit mix here more so than salt for environmental reasons, but corrosion is a problem, many cars here get extra paint and corrosion protection from new from companies such as Ditec who have centres in most larger towns.

Silvera wrote: »

As a matter of interest, what does road tax and insurance cost for an older Porsche 944 in Sweden?

...or for any of the older cars pictured?

Considering it's a high tax country in general, road tax here is quite low in general, the Porsche for example costs €155 a year to tax. The older stuff (30+ years I think) is exempt. Not sure on classic insurance here but standard car insurance is reasonable enough, I pay about €400 a year fully comp on a´06 2.0 Passat.