Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) The Decline of Car Dealers?...

Tim, word of caution for your mate, please warn him to use some additional physical security like a steering wheel cover lock, as since Ford (I still don't get why ?) stopped production, they have become a huge attraction to nick and break for spares

I tend to think we forget that the reason why so many of us became 'hands on' were because cars back in the 60's/70's weren't really that reliable, they may have been easier to maintain, but they certainly were far more maintenance intensive than modern cars, even from new. From memory my TR7 required an inspection service every 3 months, I couldn't imagine doing the kind of miles back then I do between services in a modern car without ever lifting the bonnet between services with the exception of washer bottle refills.

Yes modern electrics are a pain, but I'll take them over much of the older cars electrics especially Lucas any day. Simple things like tyres have moved on some much, I remember one holiday my father had a puncture in the Wolsey 6/90 on the way to Barmouth. He got the inner tube patched as the garage didn't have a new tube, 8 times my father had to stop to re-glue the patch as it was really hot and the glue just would not go off and the patch just continually peeled away. They maybe now be fond memories, but at the time my father didn't bless the opportunity of a flat tyre presented to him repeatedly.

Kids today will have to do what many did back then when they couldn't afford a car and either use mates or shanks's pony. Unfortunately today people have to usually commuter further for work than in my day.

I seem to recall my uni friends and I had an old Ford Prefect/Popular/Thames van in about 1966. It was a £25 heap with fablon sides keeping the rust together. Would ths have had the 100E engine? It certainly did not last too long..
All I know is that it struggled,to keep up with a friends Morris Minor Van, that had more gears and more Horsepower ? The other issue but don’t know if true, did the wipers work off some air system and slowed down to a stop as you accelerated..lIt made racing the Morris van always tricky.
Best MM
PS We used to race to various places but one was popular - Studley women’s farm sec (retary) college. Think it’s a Warners Hotel now. Happy days….
PPS used to buy cars through brokers but the Volvo came via a big multi Dealership. Hated all the suits, finance director nonsense, Nespresso and crèche but I did get a stonkingly good deal. Never went back but they have now bought my local Volvo dealers premises/business

Correct. My first car was a Ford 100E compete with sidevalve engine and 3 speed box. At 17 a pal and I tool it to the continent - we broke down 3 times between Bradford and Dover. The car might have been simple but it was also totally unreliable and given half a chance it rotted overnight almost.

I reckon there is a sweetspot somewhere around the 90s. By that time cars were way more reliable but they were still made of bits that could be serviced and bits that someone with interest in cars could understand. Long before things like sat nav, lane assist etc. But even then, people with no interest in cars were manna from heaven to the garage trade as many people still are to the plumbers and electricians etc.

Correct. My first car was a Ford 100E compete with sidevalve engine and 3 speed box. At 17 a pal and I tool it to the continent - we broke down 3 times between Bradford and Dover. The car might have been simple but it was also totally unreliable and given half a chance it rotted overnight almost.