18 years previous we had to reluctantly sell an almost identical car when we started a family. We needed to replace it. The timing of the car coming up for sale was bad as we had just built a new house and had spent all our money. Even back then these cars in this condition were few and far between so we found a way to get the money and bought it.
The initial thoughts were that it may be more fun to drive as it has a manual gearbox rather than automatic as the previous car had been. We were right. The gear changes are smooth as silk and the ratios are very close, just over a thousand revs between each change. These cars have pretty nice lines, drive well and have a very distinctive exhaust note. For someone who has only driven modern cars, this car, like a lot of older cars, would be a be a bit of a challenge. Once mastered though it is pure joy.
Time travel is possible with these cars. It is not about going fast but just getting up to open road speed is a driving experience that takes you back in time. In modern cars you hardly hear the engine at all but in this car you have to turn the radio up a lot higher if you want to hear it at 100kph. The other thing is getting parts. We have been fortunate in not having to many items needing replacing but you need to keep your ears open and acquire bits when they become available, not wait until you need them.
It is hard to find a dislike with this car as the ride, mediocre comfort and driving noises are all part of the charm of driving a 48 year old car. As you get older though, things like power steering and an increased ride height would be a bit of an advantage as getting weaker and struggling to get up from a low seat become more of a challenge.
Any other comments on the car?
One regret is not having bought more of these cars 20 years ago. With three children and only one classic that is two cars short to pass on. One thing I did not foresee back then was the astronomic increases in value that nearly all classic cars have undergone. It has been especially rapid over the last five years but I do see an end coming as electric cars become the norm and driving an old ICE car becomes a very expensive past-time. Hopefully that is still a good few years away from happening and in the meantime I will continue to enjoy driving my little piece of motoring history.
Star ratings:
- Reliability - 5/5
- Features/technology - 2/5
- Performance/economy - 3/5
- Value for money - 5/5
- Overall rating - 4/5
Lastly, would you buy this vehicle again?
Yes
Yes
Why would/wouldn't you buy it again?
As mentioned earlier, I wish we had bought more of this car years ago so yes, I would buy it again. On the other hand, I have been considering getting an even older car, 1930's or thereabouts to experience an even more basic form of driving that our parents and grandparents knew as being normal. Watch this space!