The joys of the older motor

Blame @Sheal , it was her idea

http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/hot-weather-and-fans.53405/page-3#post-709894

Here's my dear old Gothilde.

Gotty is a lovely car. At 15 year old she is just a we bairn for a 940, but still old for a car. She's accumulated nearly quarter a million miles and still runs sweet as a nut. She has a 2.3 litre turbo charged petrol engine, going through an automatic slush box to drive the rear wheels and she has a split personality. Upto about 3/4 throttle, she is a luxury, smooth, quiet mobile living room. Squeeze a bit harder and things happen under the bonnet, and she flips her lid, knocks down a gear, spins up the turbo, and bounces your head off the head restraint then goes like stink. All the power going to the rear wheels can be fun at times, especially if you forget and the road is wet, when she can attempt to flick her tail out a bit, and driving her home in unseasonably cold weather sometimes involved driving sideways, but she doesn't mind. She's very well behaved really.

So who else has or had a really lovely old motor with a personality?

 

My Opel "Babe" was purchased by my O.H. and I in Eire in 1999, Astra T.D.1600cc, she has still done less than 100,000. despite being "imported" to U.K., shipped to Malta, and being driven back, fully loaded. Went for MOT end of June "Pass" never had a fail yet, despite some computer problems she is mechanically sound. Every time we go for any problems, alternator over new year, caused by computer, I have to remind my regular mechanic it is a "German" engine, "God" forbid I have to go to the Vauxhall dealership, I tell them the rubber things I want, which go regularly on the injectors so I keep a few, and it`s a "German", "No it`s not, it can`t be" is the same response every time, I tell them to look for themselves, same response every time " Oh it`s German"
But as long as she keeps starting first turn of the key, and burns no oil, I see no reason to upgrade or retire her.
She has to be "run" at hills ,but with a fair wind and not much hinderance, she gets over without coming down the gears too much, she can still do 70+ on a good run , so plenty of life in the old gal yet..

Managed to add a photo...

 

I've just typed out a huge post here and tried to attach a picture that failed. It's so annoying, I'll give it another go tomorrow.

 

Some of you have seen my old Triumph before. We only had her a few years back in the early '80's and bought her second hand. The cost of keeping her in good condition took it's toll when we started to rear our young family of three so we had to part company. 2000cc engine, automatic gearbox and what passed for power steering back then.

She went through a bout of stalling on me in exactly the same place which was pretty hair-raising. This was approaching a very busy T-junction in the heart of town where I had to stop at traffic lights and traffic was crossing in front of me. Opposite the junction was a huge window in a supermarket that I was facing as well. Now imagine this heavy old car giving up on me, no brakes, no gearbox, no power steering. She was so heavy, and all that left me with was a handbrake to pull her to a stop! How I managed it I don't know, but I was inches from disaster. She did that three times!

We sold her to a friend of my brother who intended to show her and I believe she is still around.

 

I loved Triumphs . From the Herald , Vitesse , through to the Dolomite Sprint . Spitfire , GT6 , TR6 , forget the TR7. I am struggling to remember the 2000. What year was it made Sheal ( approx )

 

Now you're asking something Harry!

The car was an 'N' registration and I've just checked it out on the web, it came up with 1974, so she would now be nearly 40 years old!

 

Steady If she was born in 1974, she would be either 38 or 39. Not nearly 40. Not for another year yet

 

I was married in 1974 Clueless and it's my Ruby wedding anniversary next year, 40 years!

 

Congrats on your upcoming Ruby Sheal. My Spitfire was XTJ 85L that was 72 73, so N was 74-75. But I cant place Triumph 2000's , very worrying , that part of my brain must have clocked off

 

I was born in 1974 and I think I'm still only 38

 

Thank you Harry. It looks like you were more into the sporty side of the Triumphs, so perhaps that's why the 2000 isn't ringing a bell. I will say though that most of them at the time were 2500cc, the 2000's weren't so popular possibly because of the weight the engine had to pull.

 

Well the month and time of year could make a difference Clueless. I was married in January. I think the new registrations at that time were released in September/October.

 

I know, I'm just desperately clinging on as long as I can to being this side of 40

 

If it's any consolation Clueless, I'm doing a bit of clinging too! My Ruby wedding isn't the only big landmark next year, I'll be 60 as well!

 

Anyway...

That is a lovely looking motor Sheal.