zroadster.net

by **John1950** » Tue 28 Feb, 2012 20:08

orange wrote:First Registered - 26.01.64

First car - 1974 Mini Clubman in blue and rust. I bought it in 1982. Fun to drive around the country lanes. Pity the body work did not like our British climate.
If you can drive a Mini whilst wearing wellies and still smile, then that's a good car in my book!

Isn't that how all farmers travel?

by **orange** » Wed 29 Feb, 2012 08:58

John1950 wrote:
orange wrote:First Registered - 26.01.64

First car - 1974 Mini Clubman in blue and rust. I bought it in 1982. Fun to drive around the country lanes. Pity the body work did not like our British climate.
If you can drive a Mini whilst wearing wellies and still smile, then that's a good car in my book!

Isn't that how all farmers travel?

It's the only way to travel when your Mini floor is an inch deep in water :-)

by **sando** » Sun 04 Mar, 2012 13:34

Does the oldest member get a prize?or something???????

by **John1950** » Tue 06 Mar, 2012 16:35

sando wrote:Does the oldest member get a prize?or something???????

Prizes!!
Fat chance, we're all skint these days - but you would be showered with glory. You would be asked to recount stories of the days when cars had running boards and all were painted black. Breath would be bated throughout the forum as you regale us with tales of semaphore signals, vacuum wipers, cross-ply tyres and very young policemen on point duty. You may even be asked how long touring journeys were undertaken with the ministry man walking in front of the vehicle with his red flag.
The 'yoof' of today - they don't know they're born, you'll amaze them. :lol:

by **sando** » Tue 06 Mar, 2012 19:42

Only trouble is John as you get older your memory is not as good, but when cars had running boards we never saw any but now of course they are an exspencive extras on 4x4s.and you dont see many black carssome even change colour depending on the light,and even have brains ecu.but i must admit it must be an improvment.

by **John1950** » Tue 06 Mar, 2012 20:17

sando wrote:Only trouble is John as you get older your memory is not as good, but when cars had running boards we never saw any but now of course they are an exspencive extras on 4x4s.and you dont see many black carssome even change colour depending on the light,and even have brains ecu.but i must admit it must be an improvment.

Far too much in the way of 'brains' in modern cars for my taste. I like to feel I'm in control and in tune with the mechanical bits.
My Zed - well, after all my years of driving (44 years) this is the first time I managed to get an open two seater like I always wanted - and dammit all, I've become invisible as far as the ladies are concerned! How does one pose at 60 odd?

by **sando** » Wed 07 Mar, 2012 14:33

your right these days you have to have a certificate or nvq to show you can mend cars but even this is not good enough without the diagnostic kit if it shows no codes they are stumped i no people who put car in main dealers paid a big bill but it was no better and were told it may be something else because it showed no codes.the old days with carbs and points you could play about till you got it something right.but with the price of fuel the modern cars prove to be better and the mot well would our old cars ever pass?

by **sando** » Wed 07 Mar, 2012 14:35

[quote="sando"]your right these days you have to have a certificate or nvq to show you can mend cars but even this is not good enough without the diagnostic kit if it shows no codes they are stumped i no people who put car in main dealers paid a big bill but it was no better and were told it may be something else because it showed no codes.the old days with carbs and points you could play about till you got it something right.but with the price of fuel the modern cars prove to be better and the mot well would our old cars ever pass? when im out in my zed other zed owners wave.i get looks from youger people but i wonder what they are thinking?

by **John1950** » Wed 07 Mar, 2012 19:01

sando wrote:
sando wrote:your right these days you have to have a certificate or nvq to show you can mend cars but even this is not good enough without the diagnostic kit if it shows no codes they are stumped i no people who put car in main dealers paid a big bill but it was no better and were told it may be something else because it showed no codes.the old days with carbs and points you could play about till you got it something right.but with the price of fuel the modern cars prove to be better and the mot well would our old cars ever pass? when im out in my zed other zed owners wave.i get looks from youger people but i wonder what they are thinking?

Is that because you drive naked old bean?

by **sando** » Fri 09 Mar, 2012 19:03

not naked my biggest bits are round the waist although the heated seats would be usefull.

by **sando** » Fri 23 Mar, 2012 18:55

WELL WHO IS THE OLDEST :head:

by **John1950** » Fri 23 Mar, 2012 19:10

sando wrote:WELL WHO IS THE OLDEST

Well, so far, from my 'deepest research' it seems you might well be the forum 'elder statesman'.
I'll put out a message (by the way, when is your birthday?)

by **sando** » Sat 24 Mar, 2012 19:35

Well John 1950 i was born 29th april 1938 dixon street.but i thought there were older members than me?

by **John1950** » Sat 24 Mar, 2012 21:06

sando wrote:Well John 1950 i was born 29th april 1938 dixon street.but i thought there were older members than me?

I'll put out a message asking if anyone is older - I know there are one or two from the 1930s so it's going to be a close call.

by **Badman gee** » Sat 24 Mar, 2012 21:54

can't believe this thread still running.

I've aged reading it :evil:

by **John1950** » Sun 25 Mar, 2012 09:16

Badman gee wrote:can't believe this thread still running.

I've aged reading it

Do your bit then - go on, just for we old farts, tell us about how driving was in the days when you passed your test.
Oh - and a picture of your grey hair (or bald patch) :lol:

by **Franco** » Sun 25 Mar, 2012 10:50

Well done Sando your 11 months older than me my dob 26 March 1939. I can remember spitfires,doodle bugs and v2's first car 1934 MG PA cost £100.

Alan

by **John1950** » Sun 25 Mar, 2012 11:20

Franco wrote:Well done Sando your 11 months older than me my dob 26 March 1939. I can remember spitfires,doodle bugs and v2's first car 1934 MG PA cost £100.

Alan

Ah - the ball might be rolling at last - so now we have some info to find out who really is too old to be driving a Zed:

Sando: 29/4/38
Franco: 26/3/39 (Happy 73rd old chap)
Me (John 1950): 23/12/50

Any more to add?

by **sando** » Sun 08 Apr, 2012 18:54

I dont believe it i cant be the oldest of all the members,come some more birth dates please we need to know???

by **John1950** » Sun 08 Apr, 2012 19:34

sando wrote:I dont believe it i cant be the oldest of all the members,come some more birth dates please we need to know???

We have far too many coy old lady killers here - come on, out with you - we know who you are. Come clean (as they used to say when I joined the RAF and they issued us with 'johnnies') or the rest of us will 'out you'.

by **John1950** » Sun 08 Apr, 2012 19:35

John1950 wrote:
sando wrote:I dont believe it i cant be the oldest of all the members,come some more birth dates please we need to know???

We have far too many coy old lady killers here - come on, out with you - we know who you are. Come clean (as they used to say when I joined the RAF and they issued us with 'johnnies') or the rest of us will 'out you'.

And while I'm thinking of 'johnnies' - what about the girls - who's the oldest of them here?

by **Badman gee** » Sun 08 Apr, 2012 20:35

so after many weeks of this thread running,
the question is,

who is the oldest fart on here?

by **John1950** » Mon 09 Apr, 2012 09:21

Badman gee wrote:so after many weeks of this thread running,
the question is,

who is the oldest fart on here?

Looks like Sando will claim the prize at 73 years of experience.
He has a mountain of driving and car stories. Stories which will make the hair of you young sproggs curl.
Just think - the days before reliable batteries - having to hand crank the car on a cold February morning - after coming out of a house with no central heating. Men were me in those days - go on, ask him.

by **Badman gee** » Mon 09 Apr, 2012 10:06

they were better days, from what i can see.

id love to turn the clock back to how it was in this country 30 years ago.

its a cold, unskilled country now with bad times ahead.

by **Frank.A** » Mon 09 Apr, 2012 10:50

Badman gee wrote:they were better days, from what i can see.

id love to turn the clock back to how it was in this country 30 years ago.

its a cold, unskilled country now with bad times ahead.

I think that turning the clock back 50 years would be nearer the Mark. :roll:

by **John1950** » Mon 09 Apr, 2012 12:04

Frank.A wrote:
Badman gee wrote:they were better days, from what i can see.

id love to turn the clock back to how it was in this country 30 years ago.

its a cold, unskilled country now with bad times ahead.

I think that turning the clock back 50 years would be nearer the Mark.

Well, I started driving in 1968 - and believe you me, it was very different then - lots more manners, very few women and very few of the absolute hoards of chavs and oiks which have now spilled into all parts of life. There was a time when they were kept where they belonged - out of site. It was a much nicer country then.

by **sando** » Mon 09 Apr, 2012 15:24

Well john i can remember putting sump heaters under your cars sump to keep oil thin it give you a better chance starting this was done even when car was parked outside,garages was for the rich people.the engines were mainly side valve,some cars as you said John had crank handles by gum you had to keep your thumb out the way in case it kicked back,we used to buy half a gallon of petrol,
i had a ford 100e which for the time seemed a modern shape,2 doors black was the colour of most cars,i think the 100e followed the anglia,there all had 3 gears.along as they started and stopped you never bothered,but mot cured that which i think was a good thing
of the cars them days were death traps,i had a vanguard pickup which had a radio with vaives in you had to waite for the valves to get warm before it came on,i knew a lad who had a piece of wood holding the back spring up as they was jiggered and before the wood the body caught the wheels,

by **John Wilson** » Mon 09 Apr, 2012 16:35

Im a bit confused in what is being said here. The argument seems to be that the country was a better place when women werent on the roads and cars were unreliable and dangerous.

by **John1950** » Tue 10 Apr, 2012 20:11

John Wilson wrote:Im a bit confused in what is being said here. The argument seems to be that the country was a better place when women werent on the roads and cars were unreliable and dangerous.

Hmmm, strange, but true.
You should have been there, it was great.

By the way, I well remember all those things Sando our esteemed elder statesman was talking about.
Even summer was longer then.

by **sando** » Wed 11 Apr, 2012 12:44

i was not arguing john wilson i was telling how it was,as i said cars are much safer and i also said the mot is a good thing,sorry if you thought it was some kind of argument it was not ment that way,anyway john 1950 i think if you aggree we could end this post,

by **sando** » Wed 11 Apr, 2012 12:54

sando wrote:i was not arguing john wilson i was telling how it was,as i said cars are much safer and i also said the mot is a good thing,sorry if you thought it was some kind of argument it was not ment that way,anyway john 1950 i think if you aggree we could end this post,

Just one final bit of useless imformation i am also the oldest licenced taxi driver in my home town where i drive my taxi
regulary.

by **mwpe** » Wed 11 Apr, 2012 12:55

Don't end the post, I am enjoying it

by **sando** » Wed 11 Apr, 2012 13:03

i think its up to john 1950 i myself also like it?and i thank him for starting it,mind you i was really hopeing not to be oldest member.

by **John1950** » Wed 11 Apr, 2012 13:30

sando wrote:i think its up to john 1950 i myself also like it?and i thank him for starting it,mind you i was really hopeing not to be oldest member.

End it!
End it?
Certainly not - it's both humourous and educational.
Stories can be told of the dark days of motoring, the days before starter motors, alternators, radios and heating were standard items. The days when cross-plys and punctures were a monthly jolly - of orange headlights, semaphore indicators and oils that solidified in the sump if a cold snap caught you without an undercar paraffin heater (yes, undercar paraffin heaters believe it or not!). There's so much to dredge up - keep it going, I insist....

by **Badman gee** » Wed 11 Apr, 2012 13:41

Its run its course lets put this rubbish to bed

by **sando** » Fri 13 Apr, 2012 17:17

Well thanks john 1950 your post has had 135 replys it must be good rubbish

by **Badman gee** » Fri 13 Apr, 2012 17:56

sando wrote:Well thanks john 1950 your post has had 135 replys it must be good rubbish

good while it lasted,

by **John1950** » Fri 13 Apr, 2012 19:39

Badman gee wrote:
sando wrote:Well thanks john 1950 your post has had 135 replys it must be good rubbish

good while it lasted,

infamy, infamy...
Badman gee's got it in for me!

by **Badman gee** » Fri 13 Apr, 2012 19:48

of course i haven't john.

its a great informative thread

by **sando** » Sun 29 Apr, 2012 06:50

One more thing remember to put a tiger in your tank,or esso sign means happy motoring?shot of redex.

by **John1950** » Sun 29 Apr, 2012 08:41

sando wrote:One more thing remember to put a tiger in your tank,or esso sign means happy motoring?shot of redex.

Ah - the 1970's - the decade that standards forgot. Coincidently the BBC's showing some cringworthy programmes of reminisces from the era. They're worth watching, just to remind yourself of how bad it all was. 1972 was covered last night - the year I came out of the RAF - but can anyone remember the cars of the era - the Allegro's 'quartic' steering wheel, the Austin Princess, the land crab, Red Ken of British Leyland - god it really was bad - but everyone seems to have fond memories (probably because we were all young enough to be innocent).

by **sando** » Mon 30 Apr, 2012 15:01

Well John i was 74 yesterday i do remember the square steering wheel and the marina.they were popular at that time.

by **John1950** » Mon 30 Apr, 2012 18:03

sando wrote:Well John i was 74 yesterday i do remember the square steering wheel and the marina.they were popular at that time.

But fell apart quite frequently. It was the pinnacle of quality car building by British Leyland with the 'help' of the unions. As a result we now have virtually nothing.

by **Del** » Mon 30 Apr, 2012 19:57

I had a casual weekend job in a garage when I was a teenager as a garage forecourt attendant. This was before self-service and I had to wear a blue FINA jacket and rush out of the forecourt kiosk to serve petrol etc. This was in the days of 2, 3, 4 & 5 star petrol.
I can still remember the price of 4 star around 1972 being 36p per gallon. The question always on my mind is what happened to the great British tradition of producing sports cars? I can remember regularly serving Austin Healy Sprites and 3000s, Triumph Spitfires mk 1, 2, 3 & 4, GT6 & TR6s, Triumph Vitesse 1.6 & 2 litre, Triumph Stags, MG Midgets, MGBs, MGBGTs, Lotus Elans and Europas, not to mention the odd E Type.

by **John1950** » Tue 01 May, 2012 18:23

My first car was a 1953 Ford Prefect - the sit up and beg type. It cost me all of £7 10s (second hand of course). It was 1968 and I'd just joined the RAF. That car did wonders for my pulling power - with the girls. But, the lusting never stopped - for the cars this time. I had my eyes on such exotics as the Morris Oxford, this type if the link works: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Morri ... V_rear.jpg not that I ever got one.

Then there was the Ford Capri: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ford_Consul_Capri.jpg - a failure here too.

So, I turned my attention to the Ford Cortina GT Mk1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Corti ... 750pix.jpg - now this one I did get. It was my pride and joy - in a way only a young man with girls on his mind can have.

Oh the memories.......

by **Robert T** » Wed 02 May, 2012 10:19

Speaking of memories.... what did blokes wear in the fifties? We're supposed to be doing period dress for the Jubilee celebrations, and I need to dress appropriately for 1959 when my car was built. Apparently it's too early for Teddy Boys. I could go as the bloke from the Austin Healey poster I have, but I only have a month to grow a massive bushy beard and learn how to smoke a pipe.

Cheers R.

by **John1950** » Wed 02 May, 2012 11:52

Robert T wrote:Speaking of memories.... what did blokes wear in the fifties? We're supposed to be doing period dress for the Jubilee celebrations, and I need to dress appropriately for 1959 when my car was built. Apparently it's too early for Teddy Boys. I could go as the bloke from the Austin Healey poster I have, but I only have a month to grow a massive bushy beard and learn how to smoke a pipe.

Cheers R.

Hmmm, let me think. Austin Healey drivers, 1950s - ah, yes, remember them well. Open necked shirts, tweed jackets, pipe (as you say), baggy trousers with turnups, fingerless gloves and quite often, a flat cap: http://theselvedgeyard.files.wordpress. ... 897841.jpg

Or, try here for inspiration: http://www.vintagefestival.co.uk/blog/g ... ns-fashion

Make sure to post some pictures of the event...

by **sando** » Wed 02 May, 2012 15:37

I remember my first decent car was lotus cortina the white one with green stripe down really fast and i did a stupid thing traded it in for my first new car a mk 3 cortina which as you will know the worst ford that was ever made rot buckets.to think what a lotus is worth now.

by **Bonzo** » Mon 04 Jun, 2012 23:38

John1950 wrote:
mwpe wrote:Born in June 1943, neither the Zed nor I will be laid up for the winter. Must get around to getting that bus pass

I have an idea - why don't we form a sub-division of ZRoaster - the OFS (Old Farts Syndicate) for those born up to 1950. We could have a separate entry in the Forum next to The Beauty Parlour perhaps? I'm already thinking about the subjects we could write about - driving in the '60s, the days before motorways, road manners in the pre-industrial era, war time rations and baby boomers, red driving licences, power slides and cross ply tyres, vacuum windscreen wipers, 6 volt electrics.... the list is endless. Just think of the envy from the sprogg members!!

So, 1st three members:
John1950
Oldposer
mwpe

Any more want to join?

Yes me, Bonzo! 63.5 years young and still playing drums in a Classic Rock band!

by **Bonzo** » Tue 05 Jun, 2012 00:33

Sorry, I forgot to mention my first car. A green 1958 (I think ) Austin A35. I bought it in 1967 for £125. The engine oil was castrol mixed with sawdust and the bodywork mainly filler. I proudly took my new girlfriend out in it to Boxhill in Surrey for a picnic, and on the way back down went off on one of the tight bends, rolled down the bank 2.5 times before being stopped by a handy tree. The driving mirror in the A35 did not have a surround to the glass and my girlfriend cut her forearm on the glass. We were rescued by a passing motor caravan and were driven to a phone box to call an ambulance. We were whisked off to hospital for some stiches to her arm. I watched as she lay on the bed having the stitches and made a mental note that her legs were very shapely and how wonderful mini skirts were combined with stockings! We phoned her parents and said the car had broken down and her mum came and collected us, the stitches explained away as being from broken glass. We were found out however as the person following us at the time of the accident worked with her father, and told him about "Some youngsters in a green A35 going too fast round a bend and going off the road." The car was repaired. and lasted until the next accident, (not my Fault) again with my girlfriend in it. Her parents forgave us for the first shunt. We have been married for 41 years, and her legs are still lovely. Ahh.... memories!

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