Father's Day is just around the corner. So let's talk about dads' old cars.
Think back to those weekend road trips, grocery runs, and the daily rides to school. Those cars hold the sounds, the laughs, and the simple moments that made us who we are today.
What did your dad drive when you were growing up, and what's the one memory that still stands out to you?
It would be great if you could share a photo of that old ride!
A1930s Morris 8, a Ford Popular and a Renault 5.
We once went from Huntingdonshire to Anglesey on holiday in the Morris. Spent the night en route in a layby at Shrewsbury. Visited by the cops , I don't suppose my parents got much sleep.
Austin A30, Ford Anglia, Ford Cortina MkII (my carriage from hospital), Triumph 1300 (I remember him buying it, when I was about 4, dad still misses it),, Vauxhall Viva (terrible car), Hillman Avenger (terrible car), Ford Fiesta x 7, Honda Jazz x2.
Reason for so many Fiestas is he was a driving instructor for 25 years - all but the first one (the car I learnt in) he kept for about 3 years, which was about 100,000 miles.
He was looking at replacing his Jazz as it is now 10 years old, but now he is in his 80s and doing barely any miles it made no sense. He couldn't understand half the bings and bongs in the new vehicles!
My dad had a Rudge pedal cycle with a saddle fitted in front of him on the crossbar. As a very tiny infant I got an occasional ride to school. Mostly we had to walk everywhere or take a bus.
I don’t know what he had before I was born. Jowet Javelin briefly when I was 3, I think.
However, his first campervan was a VW splittie, in the mid ‘60s. Bought new so we could go with him on weekends working in Argyll. Raising roof. 850cc engine so it toiled up The Rest & Be Thankful. Quickly became a rust bucket in our coastal conditions, sold for a huge drop in price 2 years later when we moved abroad. I was 10-12 years old & loved it. We’d always had a tent before (Cyprus, Canada etc).
Their second campervan was a standard conversion on a Bedford base with the engine in the cab, I wish I could remember the name. Early ‘70s in (then) pretty boring Bournemouth (I’m sure it’s wildly exciting now): it took us to more interesting places like Germany.
So it’s for the introduction to camping that I thank my dad on Father’s Day, and my mum on Mother’s Day.
The first car I remember my dad having was a Standard 16. It was obviously pre-war, I would imagine something like 1936. It was HUGE! Leg room in the back was like a London taxi, and if the whole extended family went out in it my sister and I used to sit on camping stools in the back just behind the front seats. I have never seen another one, despite looking specifically for one in every car museum I visit. He later had an E93A Anglia (the sit-up-and-beg one), a later 100E Anglia, (I had one myself soon after), and an Austin Cambridge. My first driving experience was with dad's 100E Anglia. He rented a garage to keep it in from a local shop, and it was down the end of an alleyway. When I turned 12 he used to let me get the car out of the garage and drive it to the end of the alley where it met the road, then he would take over.
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 19/6/2026
Their second campervan was a standard conversion on a Bedford base with the engine in the cab, I wish I could remember the name.
Do you mean one like this? I borrowed this one from a friend for my first holiday in married life back in 1969.
We never had a family car, sometimes when he had a holiday Dad would borrow his sister's Austin A40 for days out. He was a farmer so drove tractors, where I learnt too age 14. He was one of the generation who had a provisional licence before WW2, and apparently they were authorised to drive without a test.
Quote: Originally posted by franbee on 19/6/2026
We never had a family car, sometimes when he had a holiday Dad would borrow his sister's Austin A40 for days out. He was a farmer so drove tractors, where I learnt too age 14. He was one of the generation who had a provisional licence before WW2, and apparently they were authorised to drive without a test.
My dad learnt to drive in the army too. I don't think he ever took a test in civilian life. We didn't have a car all the time but my dad had a knack of picking up old bangers for a song. He'd run them until they broke down seriously then get the scrap man to take them away. some time later he'd pick up another one from somewhere and begin again. Once I was old enough to have a car of my own I learnt how to fix them, so I'd keep both our cars on the road for as long as I could. That knowledge got me a job in a garage when I was 17. I don't know the first thing about modern cars though, they are far too computerised.
My dad worked as a coalman when I was little so on the rare occasions we needed transport, it was in the coal lorry!
I don't know the make of his first car, but I remember the registration number was PND 46 - and it was black!
In the 1950s my gf (later my wife) and I bought our first car, a 1932 Austin 10 tourer. I used it to go up and down to university. It lasted well until the suspension gave out when we had 14 students in it.
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 19/6/2026
Their second campervan was a standard conversion on a Bedford base with the engine in the cab, I wish I could remember the name.
Do you mean one like this? I borrowed this one from a friend for my first holiday in married life back in 1969.
This was a Bedford Dormobile camper.
That’s it! Thank you. Ours was maroon, with a tall pop top roof. The rear passenger seats made into 2 singles (apart) or one double bed (together) & could be used as a bench seat or 2 seats for travelling; they had a habit of rocking together or apart if the van cornered too sharply. No seat belts, of course.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: What Was Your Father`s Old Car?
via mobile 17/6/2026 at 1:39pm
