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[Andy B]

my mum and dad had this in the 80's..............

My dad, in the 1970s, had a Citroen DS Safari

Was it the Maserati version 

That was the SM

See reply #31 

[chalcroft]

My dad had a Dolomite sprint back in the late 70's. I never drove it as i was only a child but loved it.

 We were a bit of a Triumph family As my nan had a GT6 and my mum a Vitesse convertible later replaced with a stag. That little fleet kept my dad busy most weekends with running repairs!

Since passing my test I have had several rover SD1's. Think they are great cars and the sound of that V8 is music to my ears.

Never had a princess. Don't think I have ever even been in one. So cant really comment on them.

Do remember the marina though. A friends father had one. Even though I was only about nine at the time I could tell it was rubbish. Even as a child I could not understand why the design team though it was a good idea to curve the dash away from the driver so the radio faced the passenger seat! Probably the same person who thought it was a good idea to use the front suspension from an ancient morris minor.

[Andy B]

... Probably the same person who thought it was a good idea to use the front suspension from an ancient morris minor.

 ..... and to put a square steering wheel in the AllAgro  :-?  :-?   

[henryd]

... Probably the same person who thought it was a good idea to use the front suspension from an ancient morris minor.

 ..... and to put a square steering wheel in the AllAgro  :-?  :-?   

My ex wife had a 1973 aggro with the said "quartic" wheel,when you let it slip through your hands it looked from outside like you were conducting a band .it did'nt stay on long :-/

[Andy B]

... when you let it slip through your hands it  ....

which was exactly what it was designed to prevent       

[jimac]

Funny how people would criticise the quartic steering wheel in the Allegro but hardly anyone remembers the oval wheel in the MKIII Cortina 

[P_Russell]

I find this discussion very entertaining as an owner of a BL 1500 Spitfire.  I'm under no illusions, the thing rusts away in front of your eyes and has loads of weird quirks.  It's 33 years old so is probably better built now than when it left the factory.  But for me, this is the fascination - all of the cars mentioned here are cult cars (allegros, marinas, SD-1's etc) and the fact that they are so badly designed, awful to look at and dreadfully put together makes them interesting.  A big part of our motoring heritage.

Driving a reliable, well built and designed car is boring.

And despite what my elder sibling may say, I'd love to have an SD-1 on my drive for this very reason....

[albitz]

It would probably be fun to have one as a hobby, something to keep yourself out of mischief on the days off work etc. And would probably be fun to drive on sunny Sunday afternoons etc.
To have one as everyday transport that you depend on to get to work everyday etc. would be a living nightmare imo.

[P_Russell]

It would probably be fun to have one as a hobby, something to keep yourself out of mischief on the days off work etc. And would probably be fun to drive on sunny Sunday afternoons etc.
To have one as everyday transport that you depend on to get to work everyday etc. would be a living nightmare imo.

Completely agree...... my spitfire was bought as a daily driver but it was soon realised it wasn't practical or dry.....

[Andy B]

Funny how people would criticise the quartic steering wheel in the Allegro but hardly anyone remembers the oval wheel in the MKIII Cortina 

I remember them, more so of the earlier 'tunnel dash' cars, but the oval was less noticable when it self centred than the quatic was 

[TheBoy]

And despite what my elder sibling may say

We all know if you cut him in half, there would be a Vauxhall badge through him, like a stick of rock

[P_Russell]

And despite what my elder sibling may say

We all know if you cut him in half, there would be a Vauxhall badge through him, like a stick of rock

 

[mantahatch]

You all moan about the old Rover SD1 and turns out it can do something all our Omega's can't do. Run on coffee !!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-14917496

[tunnie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1BnhZsS8a0

SD1 with a Spitfire Engine 

[Elite Pete]

I've always fancied one of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/austin-morris-2200-0-previous-keepers-1973-L-reg-land-crab-wolseley-/280737418202?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item415d410bda#ht_924wt_1137