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Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: ronnyd on 25 January 2016, 00:23:21

Title: Victor 101
Post by: ronnyd on 25 January 2016, 00:23:21
Saw one in Stowmarket in Suffolk this weekend. Engine running sweet as a nut but, o my God, the bodywork was shite. Think only the paint was holding it together. But still on the road so must be better than it looked. E suffix plate so 1966?
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Andy B on 25 January 2016, 00:57:08
....
 o my God, the bodywork was shite. Think only the paint was holding it together.  ....

The same as when they drove off the forecourt  ;)
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Keith ABS on 25 January 2016, 07:34:21
   Had one of those when I was a teenager. Also had its predosesor, the FB which was a far better car all round

Keith ABS
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 25 January 2016, 09:03:07
Real shame the FC, nobody wanted it, inspite of having a few nice features, pressed alloy instead of chrome plating and various other rust-beating methods, plus the 'space curve' which all cars have now. (curved side glass and doors, added torsional rigidity and increased shoulder room) It should have been the best Victor yet.. but just didn't sell.  :(

And, carried the name 'Victor' which meant, in the public's eyes, 'oooh, rusty rusty rusty!' they really should have canned the name after the F Series.

Rarer than pretty much anything, now I'd say. Rarely see more than one or two at Billing.

Absolutely fascinating site - vauxpedia - and its entry for the FC 101....
http://vauxpedianet.uk2sitebuilder.com/vauxhall-fc---victor-101-vx490 (http://vauxpedianet.uk2sitebuilder.com/vauxhall-fc---victor-101-vx490)
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Terbs on 25 January 2016, 11:38:15
Had all the Victor series....B C D E.....thought they were great. Never had rust on mine, must have been lucky. :)
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 25 January 2016, 11:42:12
Saw one in Stowmarket in Suffolk this weekend. Engine running sweet as a nut but, o my God, the bodywork was shite. Think only the paint was holding it together. But still on the road so must be better than it looked. E suffix plate so 1966?

Yep...or 1967.

1st August 1966 -31st July 1967. :y
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Nick W on 25 January 2016, 11:44:13
....
 o my God, the bodywork was shite. Think only the paint was holding it together.  ....

The same as when they drove off the forecourt  ;)

Which makes them no different to any other sixties car. Or much later ones for that matter.
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 25 January 2016, 13:35:01
Have to say I was chatting to an owner of an F series at a classic car show a while back, he told me straight re: rust reputation 'rubbish' he said words to the effect of 'I'm not saying they didn't rust, but they weren't any worse than any other car of the time. The doors leaked, because of the dogleg pillars, and you smacked your knee every time you got in/out, that was it, really.

Good engines and box.' Reading up on that same Vauxpedia site you discover there were internal politics between Luton and Detroit which meant that GM 'improved' the design for Vauxhall, and forcibly pulled forward the launch date to the point Vauxhall very simply unable to get the problems they knew were there sorted. The almost universally loved PA Cresta/Velox was made without GM interfering, and was an unqualified success, often called (Chief Designer) David Jones' masterpiece, launched just a short time after the Victor - but with adequate testing and refining of the details.  :)
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: 2boxerdogs on 25 January 2016, 16:43:52
The first car I bought after passing my test in 1971 was a 1owner 3.3 Vauxhall Velox 3.3 litre Hydramatic 1964 model reg CLF 410B totally immaculate no rust at all , thrashed the boll**ks off it, traded it in in 1974 for a brand new Escort Mexico.
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 25 January 2016, 17:08:56
The first car I bought after passing my test in 1971 was a 1owner 3.3 Vauxhall Velox 3.3 litre Hydramatic 1964 model reg CLF 410B totally immaculate no rust at all , thrashed the boll**ks off it, traded it in in 1974 for a brand new Escort Mexico.

Worth a pretty penny now. :y

The Mk 1 Escort Twin Cam is worth a fortune.
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: 2boxerdogs on 25 January 2016, 17:41:32
The first car I bought after passing my test in 1971 was a 1owner 3.3 Vauxhall Velox 3.3 litre Hydramatic 1964 model reg CLF 410B totally immaculate no rust at all , thrashed the boll**ks off it, traded it in in 1974 for a brand new Escort Mexico.

Worth a pretty penny now. :y

The Mk 1 Escort Twin Cam is worth a fortune.
.         


The Mexico cost me £1030  , probably would be worth ten times that now !!
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: BazaJT on 25 January 2016, 18:24:39
Had an FB once,think it was the only car I made a profit on!Bought with a blown head gasket for £3 :o sold it two weeks later with gasket fixed for £40 :y
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: EMD on 25 January 2016, 18:37:21
Some information for DBG   :)

V 101 (https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=6&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj6go3azMXKAhVIvhQKHUGIDlcQtwIILjAF&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dbufz_1DWV8s&usg=AFQjCNF1LF0vP93AZqmeAoE6zIijNmnWHw&sig2=-9wFVOhJvZKbW22CuSJPeQ)
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: flyer 0712 on 25 January 2016, 21:11:24
I worked at Vauxhalls in Luton making those and can tell you that if you had seen the state of some of the sheets of metal that were used to make them you would have never had bought one.....ha ha the good old days..
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Vicar on 25 January 2016, 22:24:07


1st August 1966 -31st July 1967. :y
1January -31 July 1967.
It was this year they changed to new registrations starting in August.
Prior to this they were all new plates on 1St Jan. :y
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: henryd on 25 January 2016, 23:20:40
Saw one in Stowmarket in Suffolk this weekend. Engine running sweet as a nut but, o my God, the bodywork was shite. Think only the paint was holding it together. But still on the road so must be better than it looked. E suffix plate so 1966?

Yep...or 1967.

1st August 1966 -31st July 1967. :y

No ,E was a short one Jan 1st 67 to July 31st 67 when they changed from January to August new car reg
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Terbs on 26 January 2016, 00:54:14
Yep, mine was an 'E reg'....1967
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: dbug on 26 January 2016, 01:11:45
Saw one in Stowmarket in Suffolk this weekend. Engine running sweet as a nut but, o my God, the bodywork was shite. Think only the paint was holding it together. But still on the road so must be better than it looked. E suffix plate so 1966?

Yep...or 1967.

1st August 1966 -31st July 1967. :y

Yep my TR4A is on "E" plates and is a '67
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 26 January 2016, 09:01:40
Some information for DBG   :)

V 101 (https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=6&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj6go3azMXKAhVIvhQKHUGIDlcQtwIILjAF&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dbufz_1DWV8s&usg=AFQjCNF1LF0vP93AZqmeAoE6zIijNmnWHw&sig2=-9wFVOhJvZKbW22CuSJPeQ)


Thanks!  :) Speakers are broke on my work computer, so I'll just enjoy the visuals!  :)
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Shackeng on 26 January 2016, 10:59:51
I enjoyed the Vauxpedia rant below more then the vid. :y
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 26 January 2016, 11:43:48
Saw one in Stowmarket in Suffolk this weekend. Engine running sweet as a nut but, o my God, the bodywork was shite. Think only the paint was holding it together. But still on the road so must be better than it looked. E suffix plate so 1966?

Yep...or 1967.

1st August 1966 -31st July 1967. :y

No ,E was a short one Jan 1st 67 to July 31st 67 when they changed from January to August new car reg

So an 'E' plate was 1967 only?....not 66 and 67?

I thought the August change date was from 1965.

When you think about it the old January 1st - December 31st system seems the most sensible. Why did they change to August 1st?
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Andy H on 26 January 2016, 20:34:46
Saw one in Stowmarket in Suffolk this weekend. Engine running sweet as a nut but, o my God, the bodywork was shite. Think only the paint was holding it together. But still on the road so must be better than it looked. E suffix plate so 1966?

Yep...or 1967.

1st August 1966 -31st July 1967. :y

No ,E was a short one Jan 1st 67 to July 31st 67 when they changed from January to August new car reg

So an 'E' plate was 1967 only?....not 66 and 67?

I thought the August change date was from 1965.

When you think about it the old January 1st - December 31st system seems the most sensible. Why did they change to August 1st?
The motor trade wanted it so that that they could spend September drumming up interest in the new registration. December isn't a great month to be trying to sell major purchases like cars, houses or household appliances.

(then 15 years ago they thought it would be a good idea to have two new registrations each year in the hope it might sell more cars)
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Nick W on 26 January 2016, 20:45:54
The motor trade wanted it so that that they could spend September drumming up interest in the new registration. December isn't a great month to be trying to sell major purchases like cars, houses or household appliances.

(then 15 years ago they thought it would be a good idea to have two new registrations each year in the hope it might sell more cars)


We needed a new system because they had run out of numbers. So they came up with a system that would last half the time the old one did. And the only reason to have the year of registration stuck on the front of your car is snobbery: so that your neighbours know your car  is slightly newer than theirs.
You wouldn't make up this sort of asinine crap for fiction.


Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Andy B on 26 January 2016, 22:04:22
....
So an 'E' plate was 1967 only?....not 66 and 67?

I thought the August change date was from 1965.
 .....

 :y :y
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/car-buyers-guide/cbg_numberplates.html
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 26 January 2016, 23:05:39
....
So an 'E' plate was 1967 only?....not 66 and 67?

I thought the August change date was from 1965.
 .....

 :y :y
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/car-buyers-guide/cbg_numberplates.html

I stand corrected.......1967 it was then. :y
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: 78bex on 27 January 2016, 01:27:21
HTP 5E - 1967  My SX200 Lambretta I loved that Scoot, about the same time my Dad bought a FB victor anyone else remember the steering wheel boss on those cars  :y
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: 2boxerdogs on 27 January 2016, 09:56:04
All 3 of our cars have cherished plates, bought the first one in 1987 , our elderly neighbour cannot understand how our numbers stay the same whenever we change a car.My wife's best friend is a real number snob always lusting after the latest reg, first thing she asks when we change a car is "what reg is it ?" Always quote her the same number  , not bright enough to use the DVLA site if she really wanted to know !
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 27 January 2016, 10:16:37
Maybe it's my upbringing, but I've always hated the snobbery of the latest reg plates. Across the road's when growing up was always no more than a 2 yr old car. Seeing them go from, at one time, a black Golf GTi on BBSs, to a Civic, to a base model Polo and now a little korean thing, you think - why ?? - that Golf was the best car you owned. They've effectively traded down every few years to go from 'the' hot hatch to a car so indistinct I don't even know what it is. Strange.

I still 'feel' like I'm riding around in a £25 grand car. I am. Doesn't matter what the parkers says my car is worth, to me she's a great big lovely luxury bargey beast  :) Never been one of those people who could go out and spend say £10k on a Fiat 500, when that same £10k could get you a classic 500, restored, with an old Astra as a runabout with the change. Not that I have   £10k, but, eh!!!  :D :D
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: 2boxerdogs on 27 January 2016, 10:23:12
Maybe it's my upbringing, but I've always hated the snobbery of the latest reg plates. Across the road's when growing up was always no more than a 2 yr old car. Seeing them go from, at one time, a black Golf GTi on BBSs, to a Civic, to a base model Polo and now a little korean thing, you think - why ?? - that Golf was the best car you owned. They've effectively traded down every few years to go from 'the' hot hatch to a car so indistinct I don't even know what it is. Strange.

I still 'feel' like I'm riding around in a £25 grand car. I am. Doesn't matter what the parkers says my car is worth, to me she's a great big lovely luxury bargey beast  :) Never been one of those people who could go out and spend say £10k on a Fiat 500, when that same £10k could get you a classic 500, restored, with an old Astra as a runabout with the change. Not that I have   £10k, but, eh!!!  :D :D
.       


Exactly how I feel , so many bargains to be had  with large engined cars by one with a good history & low ownership & you can't go wrong. 😀 😁 😂
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 27 January 2016, 11:23:13
Maybe it's something in the lincolnshire water.


Chemical waste from the southbank factories, in my case.  :D
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 27 January 2016, 12:02:09
A fictional, or perhaps factual conversation.


Husband says to wife........" Darling, Is it really so important to you that when you look out of the bedroom window each morning you see a brand new latest registration car on the drive"?

And his wife indignantly replies.........."No of course it isn't. Just how shallow do you think I am. What is important to me is that our neighbours look out of their bedroom window each morning and see a brand new car on OUR drive". ;)
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Andy B on 27 January 2016, 12:11:36
...

And his wife indignantly replies.........."No of course it isn't. Just how shallow do you think I am. What is important to me is that our neighbours look out of their bedroom window each morning and see a brand new car on OUR drive". ;)

The woman from across the road said more or less that to us a few years back ....... she wasn't bothered what the badge was as long as it was only a few years old. And she worked at the school around the corner .... it's that close you can hear the kids in the playground .... but she drove there.
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 27 January 2016, 12:35:50
...

And his wife indignantly replies.........."No of course it isn't. Just how shallow do you think I am. What is important to me is that our neighbours look out of their bedroom window each morning and see a brand new car on OUR drive". ;)

The woman from across the road said more or less that to us a few years back ....... she wasn't bothered what the badge was as long as it was only a few years old. And she worked at the school around the corner .... it's that close you can hear the kids in the playground .... but she drove there.
[/quote

Speaking of old cars lowering the tone of the neighbourhood.......have you sorted the saggy suspension of the Merc yet? ::) ;)
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Andy B on 27 January 2016, 12:38:50
.........
have you sorted the saggy suspension of the Merc yet? ::) ;)

It's in hand .......  ;) ;)
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 27 January 2016, 12:41:20
.........
have you sorted the saggy suspension of the Merc yet? ::) ;)

It's in hand .......  ;) ;)

Expensively in hand......I imagine. ::) ;)
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Andy B on 27 January 2016, 12:52:11
.........
have you sorted the saggy suspension of the Merc yet? ::) ;)

It's in hand .......  ;) ;)

Expensively in hand......I imagine. ::) ;)

the lazy ...... but warm & dry option  :-[ Needless to say I got a phone call yesterday morning .... I dropped it off Mon tea time .... to say they caouldn't find a problem, though when I started it after it'd sat for a week, it was as low as it could be on the FOS.
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 27 January 2016, 12:55:31
.........
have you sorted the saggy suspension of the Merc yet? ::) ;)

It's in hand .......  ;) ;)

Expensively in hand......I imagine. ::) ;)

the lazy ...... but warm & dry option  :-[ Needless to say I got a phone call yesterday morning .... I dropped it off Mon tea time .... to say they caouldn't find a problem, though when I started it after it'd sat for a week, it was as low as it could be on the FOS.

This scenario never ends well. :D ;)
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Andy B on 27 January 2016, 14:18:55
...

This scenario never ends well. :D ;)

or ends expensively  ??? ;)
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Andy B on 27 January 2016, 16:12:30
....
This scenario never ends well. :D ;)

They've phoned me ..... apparently it does drop over night  ::) I did offer the photo of it on its bump stop  ;D

It's 'only' the valve block ......... it's only 3/4 of the original guestimate  :y :y
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 27 January 2016, 16:20:56
....
This scenario never ends well. :D ;)

They've phoned me ..... apparently it does drop over night  ::) I did offer the photo of it on its bump stop  ;D

It's 'only' the valve block ......... it's only 3/4 of the original guestimate  :y :y

A little.

I can vividly remember when I saw my CLS sagging at one corner.

'I can really do without this shit right now'....was my first thought.

Still, it's only money Mr B...eanz, and £1000 is back of the sofa money for a man of your wealth. :) :)
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: 2boxerdogs on 27 January 2016, 16:31:29
....
This scenario never ends well. :D ;)

They've phoned me ..... apparently it does drop over night  ::) I did offer the photo of it on its bump stop  ;D

It's 'only' the valve block ......... it's only 3/4 of the original guestimate  :y :y

A little.

I can vividly remember when I saw my CLS sagging at one corner.

'I can really do without this shit right now'....was my first thought.

Still, it's only money Mr B...eanz, and £1000 is back of the sofa money for a man of your wealth. :) :)
.     



Know the feeling, read an article about Mercedes having problems with coolant leaking into the auto box wrecking it approx £3000 to repair mostly C classes but some E class around my year can be affected, the suspect cooling system are Valeo , the Behr system is fine what a feeling of relief when I found the Behr logo on mine.
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Andy B on 27 January 2016, 17:31:01
....

'I can really do without this shit right now'....was my first thought.
My first thought too. At least it's not my only car & I'm not stuck for getting to work.



Still, it's only money Mr B...eanz, and £1000 is back of the sofa money for a man of your wealth. :) :)
I wish  ;) ...... but as said, it'll 'only' be about £750  ::) ::)
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: 05omegav6 on 27 January 2016, 17:59:39
Two nights overtime then... :D
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: Andy B on 27 January 2016, 18:04:46
Two nights overtime then... :D

what are nights?  ::) ::)

Maybe a couple of week ends ........ but Sundays are a rarity these days  :(
Title: Re: Victor 101
Post by: BazaJT on 27 January 2016, 18:32:53
Must admit dad always had a new car every two years-Humber Super Snipes from the late '50s to '67-but then they were company cars.Last company car he had was a Ford Mk4 Zodiac Executive which lasted him to early retirement when he went out and bought his own car a 65 Silver Cloud III. :y