My Cars 1958 to 2022

This is the story of the cars that have been part of my life which shows the design technology change over the past 64 years and the types of car I have been fortunate enough to have had the pleasure of driving, in order, from a young teenager to a senior citizen.

Austin A35 1956  to 1959

The Austin A35 was the first type of car I drove when I was 17 years old (1958) learning to drive at the Driving School in Keighley Yorkshire. There was a 2 and 4 door version.  The 2 door de-luxe saloon had a 948 cc engine with a manual gearbox having a top speed of 71.9 mph and could accelerate from 0-60 mph in 30.1 seconds. The fuel consumption was around  41.5 miles per gallon. This was a rear wheel drive.

Ford Consul Mk1 1951- 1956

 Image: Redsimon at English Wikipedia

The Ford  Consul Mk 1 was the first type of car I owned albeit a used one. It had a 1500cc engine with a 3 speed manual gearbox operated by gear lever on the steering column allowing for a bench front seat. It had a top speed of 72mph and could accelerate from 0-60 mph in 28 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 26 miles per gallon. This was a rear wheel drive.                                

Morris Minor Traveller  1966 to1971

After the Ford Consul I had a used Morris Minor Traveller that some of the wood frame on the back needed to be repaired which I did. It had a 1098cc engine with a 4 speed gearbox having a top speed of 77 mph and could accelerate 0-50 mph in 15.5 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 38 miles per gallon. It was a very reliable car. This was a rear wheel drive.

Austin A40 Farina Mk II 1961 to1967

Image:Oxyman

The A40 had two passenger doors and a tailgate door. It had a 1098cc engine with a 4 speed gearbox similar to the Morris Minor having a top speed of 75 mph and could accelerate 0-50 mph in 17.5 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 37 miles per gallon. This was a rear wheel drive.

Austin 1100 Mk II 1967 to 1971

Image:Charles01

The Austin 1100 Mk II had many variants with a 1275cc engine but the one I had a 1098cc transverse engine driving the front wheels and 4 speed gearbox. Driving a front wheel drive car was slightly different to a rear wheel drive car especially when cornering. It had a top speed of 78 mph and could accelerate 0-60 mph in 19.5 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 32 miles per gallon.

Ford Zephyr  Mk IV  1966 to 1972

Image: Charles 01

The Ford Zephyr Mk IV  had 2 variants one with a V4 1996cc engine and a V6 2495cc engine with a 4 speed manual gearbox operated by gear lever on the steering column allowing for a bench front seat. Mine was the V4 version .This was a larger executive car with a long bonnet which housed the engine and spare wheel which made it nose heavy that effected the handling sometimes.

Ford Anglia 105 E 1959 to 1968

The Ford Anglia 105E  had a 997cc engine was a 4 cylinder in-line overhead valve with a 4 speed synchromesh gearbox. It had a top speed of 74 mph and could accelerate 0-60 mph in 26.9 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 42 miles per gallon. Although this was a stylish car it was a bit sluggish.

Triumph Herald 12/50 1963 to 1967

 Image: Bryn Pinzgauer

The Triumph Herald was designed by an Italian car designer. I had the 2 door version. It had a 1147cc engine with a 4 speed manual gearbox. It had a top speed of 80 mph and could accelerate 0-60 mph in 20.5 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 29 miles per gallon.

Hillman Minx  Series V 1963 to 1967

Image: Redsimon

This was a very popular modern looking family car with a reasonably high quality interior. It had a 1592cc engine and a 4 speed gearbox. The gearbox could be automatic or manual via floor or steering column change. Mine was a floor change and it had a top speed of 70 mph and could accelerate 0-60 mph in 32.5 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 27 miles per gallon.

Humber Sceptre Mk III 1965 to 1976

I bought a new Humber Sceptre whilst serving in Royal Air Force Germany (colour as image). This was the top of the Humber range of cars at that time with a very high quality interior including wood-veneer dashboard and trim, leather seats, adjustable steering column with a vinyl roof. It had a 1725cc engine and a 4 speed gearbox with overdrive. It had a top speed of 95 mph and could accelerate 0-60 mph in 12 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 28 miles per gallon. I added a towing attachment to tow my caravan which it did very well. One of the best cars I have owned.

Rover 3500 V8 P6 1968 to 1977

Image:Charles01

The Rover 3500 was the top of the range Rover P6 series giving high quality in all aspects including vinyl roofing. Mine was coloured Blue as the image. It had a 3528cc V8 engine with an automatic gearbox. It had a top speed of 115 mph and could accelerate 0-60 mph in 9.5 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 22 miles per gallon. I owe this car my life as it reacted instantly in a very snowy condition avoiding a head on collision with a lorry on an English country road although I ended up in a hedgerow at an angle of 45 degrees. This was the last car I had whilst serving in the Royal Air Force.

BMW 518i L E34 1987 to 1996

Image: Mic

Now a civilian the first new car I had was a BMW 518i L E34  having right hand steering and rear wheel drive. It was a luxury car with leather seats and wood-veneer trim. It had a 1800cc 4 cylinder petrol engine with a 5 speed manual transmission. It had a top speed of 123 mph and could accelerate 0-60 mph in 12.3 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 27 miles per gallon.  Only days after receiving my brand new car I went to Sweden via North Sea Ferries on business and it was snowing and freezing in Sweden but the car performed very well.

BMW 730iL E32 1986 to 1994

Image: Charles 01

The BMW 730iL (Long wheel base (L)) I had coloured black was a larger luxury car with typical BMW very high quality interior with a Petrol 2986cc 6 cylinder in line engine and 4 speed automatic gear box. It was also the one of the first BMW’s to have traction control to the rear wheel drive. It had a top speed of 138 mph and could accelerate 0-60 mph in 9.3 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 17 to 34 miles per gallon.

BMW 750iL  E32  V12 1987 to 1994

The BMW 750iL E32 V12 was the Flagship Luxury Sedan. It had a 4988cc petrol V12 cylinder engine and a 5 speed automatic gearbox driving the rear wheels via the traction control system producing 296 hp.  It had a top speed of 155 mph and could accelerate 0-60 mph in 7.4 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 14 to 32 miles per gallon. My car was 2 years old right hand drive but it really was the ultimate driving machine that I reached 130 mph in on the way to Basel in Switzerland, the fastest I have ever driven and yet it was so smooth. However, at that speed it was very thirsty!! The image below is my actual car BMW 750iL at Basal in Switzerland doing a presentation of ‘Computer Based Training’ to the EASA organisation for the worlds Airlines. The number plate reflects “Hogg for Computerised Training Systems Ltd (CTS) (my own company) H 4 CTS.

Mercedes 320E W124 1993 to 1996

Image: Johannes Maximilian / Wikimedia Commons

Although the BMW 750iL was a super car it just used too much petrol for normal driving around town. I therefore swapped it for a Mercedes 320E W124 model which was light and dark green as the image. This was the top of the range luxury car with typical Mercedes very high quality interior and right hand drive. It had a 3199cc in line 6 cylinder petrol engine with 5 speed manual gear box or a 4 speed automatic gearbox like mine. It had a top speed of 146 mph and could accelerate 0-60 mph in 8.2 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 26 miles per gallon.

Peugeot 306 1993 to 2002

Image: Rudolf Stricker

As I now started to work in Singapore where purchasing a car was very expensive I leased the Peugeot 306 Phase 1 car which was a front wheel drive car with basic interior design. It had a 1587cc 4 cylinder petrol engine with 5 speed manual gear box. It had a top speed of 113 mph and could accelerate 0-60 mph in 13.1 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 36 miles per gallon.

Rover 75 1999 to 2005

 Image: Kieran White

As I was now working in Singapore and Malaysia and I again leased the Rover 75 to replace the Peugeot 306. The Rover 75 was an Executive luxury car with wood-veneer dashboard and trim and leather seats. It had a 1798cc 4 cylinder petrol engine with 5 speed automatic gear box. It had a top speed of 118 mph and could accelerate 0-60 mph in 12.3 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 30 miles per gallon. It was a joy to drive especially on long journeys.

BMW 520i E34 1988 to 1996 (Actual car)

I was now living and working in Singapore and Malaysia. This was  my actual 12 year old BMW 520i E34  that I bought in Singapore which was originally dark green that I had changed to the colour you see.  It had a 1991cc 6 cylinder petrol engine with 4 speed automatic gear box. It had a top speed of 134 mph and could accelerate 0-60 mph in 10.4 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 30 miles per gallon. Being 12 years old I did have problems with the gearbox which was changed but most difficult of all the timing belt broke requiring a full engine overhaul due to two of the valves penetrated the pistons. However still a comfortable car.

Ford  Granada Mk III 1985 to 1994

Image: Unknown

I returned to the UK for a special project for 14 months so I bought an old Ford Granada for £600 colour dark green as the image but it needed a lot of cleaning inside and out. However once I had done it looked very good just like the image and it was a very comfortable car. Unusually it had front headlight washer wipers. It had a 1991cc V6 cylinder petrol engine with 4 speed automatic gear box. It had a top speed of 140 mph and could accelerate 0-60 mph in 8.1 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 30 miles per gallon. However I only had it 6 months and a lorry backed in to the front of my parked car behind the lorry which I had to write it off. So saddening as it was a very good and comfortable car .

Ford Mondeo  Mk II 1993 to 2000 (actual car)

As my Ford Granada had been written off I bought a Ford Mondeo Mk II 1.6i GLX. This was the actual car that I bought for £900. It had a 1597cc with a manual 5 speed gearbox. It had a top speed of 112 mph and could accelerate 0-60 mph in 12.7 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 37 miles per gallon. This was a very good car fitted with a tow hook and lasted me until I left the UK  a few months later.

Hyundai / Inocom Matrix  GL 2001 to 2010

I bought a one year old Hyundai (Inocom) Matrix a small Silver colour Inocom MPV when returning to Malaysia to live in 2004.  It had a 1795cc engine front wheel drive with a 4 speed automatic gearbox. It had a top speed of 106 mph and could accelerate 0-60 mph in 12.7 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 27 miles per gallon. Although small it was roomy inside and it was very comfortable to drive with large windows. I enjoyed having the Matrix as it was good in the town and on the expressway.

Honda Accord 2.4 2006 to 2007 (actual car)

After the Matrix in 2006 I decided to buy a Executive Asian car in preference to a BMW or Mercedes which were better suited to the Malaysian climate. I bought the new 2006 Honda Accord 2.4 (actual car) a high quality modern car all round having wood-veneer trim and leather seats and smooth external lines.  It has a 2354cc iVTEC engine with 5-speed gearbox (with 2 overdrive gears) provides for a very smooth ride and gear changes are extremely smooth and picking up speed is effortless. The road holding and ride is excellent. It has a top speed of 124 mph and can accelerate 0-60 mph in 7.4 seconds. The fuel consumption is around 33 miles per gallon. I have had this car from new in 2006 and 16 years later keeping it well maintained with a complete paint respray it still looks as good as new. This has been the best all round car I have ever had and likely to be my last as I’m 82 but I still love having and driving it.

Some of my Fathers cars I used to Drive

Riley 1.5 RMA 1945 to1952

The Riley RMA was a luxury car which had a 1498cc 4 cylinder engine and was equipped with hydro-mechanical brakes and an independent suspension using torsion bars in front. The body frame (not to be confused with the chassis) was made of wood in the English tradition, and the car featured traditional styling. The car was capable of reaching 75 mph (121 km/h). The RMA was produced from 1945 until 1952 when it was replaced by the RME.

Armstrong Siddeley Lancaster 18 1945 to 1953

Image: charles01

The Armstrong Siddeley Lancaster  that my father had was the same colour as the Image and a luxury interior for that time. We lived in the country in Norfolk  England and my father found the car in an old friends garage not being used for years. It had a 2309cc 6 cylinder engine with a manual 4 speed pre-selector gearbox. It had a top speed of 80 mph and could accelerate 0-60 mph in 24 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 19 miles per gallon. Driving this car was a bit heavy and its braking system had hydraulic front and cable rear brakes. We had to take it a special garage Appleyards in Leeds England for servicing. 

Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire  346  1952 to 1958

Image: charles01

The Armstrong Siddeley 346 Sapphire  that my father had was the same colour as the Image. It had a 3435cc 6 cylinder engine with a manual 4 speed pre-selector gearbox. It had a top speed of 100 mph and could accelerate 0-60 mph in 13 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 19 miles per gallon. Driving this car was like driving a Rolls Royce with the quality to go with it. It was very powerful and responsive for this period and size  of  the car. We had to take it a special garage Appleyards in Leeds England for servicing. Armstrong Siddeley produced cars until 1960 when the company was merged eventually with Rolls Royce.

Austin A60 Cambridge 1961 to 1969

Image: charles01

My father bought a new Austin A60 Cambridge  coloured Blue as above which used the modern Italian Pininfarina styling. It had  front independent suspension using coil springs and a rear live axle with anti roll bars front and rear. It had a 1622cc 4 cylinder engine with a manual 4  speed gearbox. It had a top speed of 80 mph and could accelerate 0-60 mph in 25 seconds. The fuel consumption was around 29 miles per gallon . The interior was well equipped  for a family car with wood grained panel, thick carpet and leather seats . It was also very comfortable to drive and a very smooth ride.

Volkswagen (VW) Beetle 1200  1965 to 1966

Image: Vwexport1300

After some time my father changed his A60 for a new VW 1200 colour as the image but right hand drive. It had a 1192cc 4 cylinder  air cooled engine with a manual 4 speed gearbox in the rear of the car. It had a top speed of 72 mph, however other performance details are not readily available . The VW 1200 had two major advantages especially during winter in Great Britain when it was freezing or snow covered. It had an air cooled engine avoiding frozen engine water and the internal heaters were almost instant and the other, was its road holding abilities due to a low centre of gravity and relatively wide wheel base. The VW 1200 was great to drive in all weathers.

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