Mr Whippy
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 07:28 AM |
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Come on!! Lets smash up some rare classic cars!!
Seems to me a shame that old cars are being destroyed for very little purpose (TV ratings on TopGear etc), even if they are for some considered dull
or slow they still are historic cars that tell the history of the British car industry, when we had one.
If you go to classic car shows like I do, the thought that someone would come along and smash them up for fun is pretty much pure vandalism, something
you'd expect from some gang of thick mindless chav's.
Last weekend at the Alford show, there was a pea green Allegro in mint condition. I had one and even though it had to be the worst car I’d ever owned,
it was sure nice to see one that has survived and I hope its owner continues to look after it.
At this rate all that will be left is pictures, some car show that’s going to be
Sorry, bit of a rant there, but recently its been getting VERY annoying 
[Edited on 22/7/09 by Mr Whippy]
Fame is when your old car is plastered all over the internet
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slimtater
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 07:31 AM |
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Perhaps they were bound for the crusher via the scrappage scheme?
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balidey
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 07:41 AM |
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Oh, don't get me started on the scrappage scheme. Thats the government telling the general ignorant public that its ok just to smash up older
cars! Cars of a certain age need saving. Its not right that they are deemed uneconomical or un-eco-friendly. And the 1975 cut-off for 'classic
cars' (or is it 72? I can't remember) was a kick in the teeth, why hadn't the rolling years been kept going.
We need to save these cars*
*well except the Allegro 
[Edited on 22/7/09 by balidey]
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jeffw
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 07:45 AM |
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If they destroyed all the Marinas, Itals, Princesses and Allegros I wouldn't care....they where rubbish when new and they certainly
haven't got any better. Just my opinion 
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 07:47 AM |
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I think you'll find it was an MOT failure anyway and marinas are cheap enough atm.
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 07:48 AM |
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And don't forget the Maxi (much as you'd like to...). Undoubtably the worst car I have ever owned - and that's from a list that
included a Skoda Estelle!
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Staple balls
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 07:48 AM |
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Is the Morris Marina a classic now? 
Who decided that? Certainly didn't come up in the last 2 classics/modern classics threads I read on here.
Sure, keep a few about, to make sure people know why we don't make stuff here any more. no need for more than that.
I'm more concerned about the destruction of Pianos in Marina related incidents to be honest 
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balidey
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 07:50 AM |
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but you wouldn't go to the national gallery and set fire to the 'more rubbish' paintings or smash the statues that aren't as
nice as the Rodin's.
So why should we think its ok to smash up these old cars that aren't the most desirable.
Imagine in 25 years time top gear doing a road test on a 1996 Caterham but dropping a caravan on a 2003 luego. Would that be fair?
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cd.thomson
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 07:54 AM |
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just because something is old doesnt mean its worth saving. If a car is slow, ugly and unreliable why should it be saved?
This comes from someone who spends his hard earned cash looking after his 20 year old car.
balidey - these cars aren't one off pieces of art, they're mass produced pieces of equipment designed to fulfil a function.
If in 30 years time people start complaining about people smashing up kia picantos then ill have lost all faith in the human race!
[Edited on 22/7/09 by cd.thomson]
Craig
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Jasper
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 07:57 AM |
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It's the only thing that has always put me off TG, the way they think it's ok to smash anything up, drum kits, pianos, cars. Even if they
are all 'scrap' to start with, I think it sends out the wrong message and makes me want to turn over....
If you're not living life on the edge you're taking up too much room.
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Staple balls
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 08:01 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by balidey
but you wouldn't go to the national gallery and set fire to the 'more rubbish' paintings or smash the statues that aren't as
nice as the Rodin's.
That analogy doesn't really hold water in this particular case, it's more like burning prints of paintings, and crap concrete statues
that are copies of something original.
The analogy works much better for kit/locost/custom cars, where someone's time and effort has gone into it, but then, we don't save every
painting/photo done by some bloke, so I don't see why we'd save cars beyond their useful lifespan.
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minitici
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 08:01 AM |
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Some Caterham Sevens used the Marina/Ital rear axle
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 08:03 AM |
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Whether one person considers a particular car to be a classic or not is not the point and it isn’t a list that is voted on.
These are historic items, like an old television, steam traction engine or gramophone that help bring history to life (to steal a common phrase). They
should be persevered for the same reason we are preserving the concord or a humble 50’s twin drum washing machine, future generations are the ones who
will lose out in the end as their history is meaninglessly junked because we are too blind to appreciate it.
Fame is when your old car is plastered all over the internet
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balidey
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 08:08 AM |
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So mass produced items dont count then? OK, just going out to smash up my model T
What I was getting at was, oh never mind. its a pointless argument, some people would save things, some wouldn't regardless of whether its
important, mass produced, a one off etc etc.
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david4
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 08:54 AM |
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I was at the classic car show at the weekend at Newby and i have never seen so many old cars in one place even a 1977 escort estate in good nick too
and the pre war stuff wow will try and post some photo,s when i get some time!!
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 09:12 AM |
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To perhaps let you see how I view it -
Imagine if you will, Clarkson & Hamster running around a car museum or any kind of museum for that matter with a baseball bat smashing up any
items they consider not worthy in their opinion to be there, all the time with childish grins on their faces sniggering away filming it all to get
some ratings on some cheap tv show. Then in years to come a group of school kids stand round all that remains, a photo where there used to be an
exhibit. Do you think they will thank those vandals for what they did?
By destroying classic cars now they are preventing them ever having the chance to be preserved when their true historic value is finally appreciated.
Fame is when your old car is plastered all over the internet
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cd.thomson
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 09:20 AM |
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im now imagining a museum full of sh*te cars
"Now Johnny, this heap was in production for two years and was famous for its poor handling and sticky gearbox. Ooo this one had severe rust
issues and widely received below 2/10 in car reviews"
"Dad, this isnt quite the same as seeing historically important vehicles like big tanks and fast planes.. can we go yet?"
Craig
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balidey
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 09:22 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by cd.thomson
im now imagining a museum full of sh*te cars
But most car museums ARE like that. Have a look round Gaydon, Haynes, and some others I can't remember the names of, most of the
'exhibits' are just normal production cars. Thats what makes the 'nice' cars 'nicer', as they stand out.
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nick205
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 09:37 AM |
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OK, so changing tack a little....
What about last weeks TG where Clarkson comprehensively trashed a drug dealers tricked out Evo?
You could argue here that the impounded car could have been pu to good use in a college for example teaching kids about automotive engineering etc.
IMHO though it was a superb bit of television and a very gratifying result to see it obliterated. I only hope said former keeper was in his cell with
the TV (50" plasma no doubt) on and felt the full pain
As for the Marina..........well I certainly won't be losing any sleep over that one.
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balidey
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 09:40 AM |
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I don't think the dealer was loosing any sleep over it, I guess he just thinks when he's out he can deal again and buy another one.
But I had reallt mixed fealings about it. Yes its been sent to be crushed, so it got a bit of a reprieve before it was destroyed, but part of me is
thinking 'those wheels could come in useful, and the engine, and the seats etc etc, so why can't we strip these cars that have to be
scrapped, and just crush the shell. Then the parts can be used to keep others on the road.
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Shadowcaster
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 09:43 AM |
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Before I duck down into the trenches again I have to defend British Leyland. I worked for a BL garage in the 70's and although it's now
said that the Marina's Allegros's and Maxi's were crap. When judged against the the other manufactuers they stood up pretty well.
Anyone remember the Vauxhall Viva the Moskovitch the Chrysler Rancho the Hillman Hunter and lets be honest the Jap cars were nothing special then
either. I drove a Marina van for 18mts covering 80/90 thousand miles and can honestly say it never missed a beat and I drove a hell out of it
delivering part all over Cornwall and it was converted to run on LPG. A good mate had a Marina Estate in which he covered over 200 thousand miles.
During my employment I got to drive most of the cars of the 60's / 70's and the BL stuff wern't that bad. We used to howl with
laughter at some of the Jap cars with their cheap plastic and wafer thin metal. And remember there were some stand out motors back then like the Stag
and my favourite the SD1 the 2.5Pi Dollie Sprint and the loveable Mini Cooper's
I know some will think me mad I have to agree, we should be keeping these cars, bikes ect for future generations.
Cheers
Rich
[Edited on 22/7/09 by Shadowcaster]
Cheers Rich
The Roadster Blog http://richshaynesroadster.blogspot.com/
It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.
Confucius Chinese philosopher & reformer (551 BC - 479 BC)
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 09:55 AM |
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It’s not about preserving the best of the best or all you’d have in car museums are Roll Royce’s and Ferrari’s. A model T ford or Austin 7 are neither
fast nor good handling but historically are as important as any super or luxury car. If you want a true representation of the past you also need to
preserve the ordinary or in the future 100’s of years from now they’ll all think we went to work or to the shops in F40’s & Silvershadows
Fame is when your old car is plastered all over the internet
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DarrenW
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 10:09 AM |
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I have to agree with Whippy.
The beauty about being a car fan is that there are some you hate, some you love, and some you own / drive and dont give a 2nd thought about. Point
being that just because you may not like a particular car it doesnt mean its not a classic (or will be a classic) and shouldnt be preserved when they
start to get rare.
All cars have some place in history and perhaps do deserve to be in a museum, private collection or in regular use by a caring owner.
Some of the 20's and 30's classics that we occasionally see were probs once truly horrendous cars. However we now have a little smile when
we see them out and about. Whats to say the humble Marina's, allegros etc wont also be the same in 40 or 50 years time. I for one can appreciate
even the most humblest of cars that are a few years old when i see them still being used and looked after. Knowing the faults makes what the owners
have done even more appreciative.
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alistairolsen
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 10:14 AM |
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Someone said to me the other day, why the heck do locost have to use mk2 escort bits? Why not something no one wants!
I pointed out that in the 90s mk2 escorts were ten a penny in scrapyards and what we was proposing was suggesting to all mk3 astra owners that they
shouldnt scrap their cars in case someone wants them in the future.
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DarrenW
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| posted on 22/7/09 at 10:21 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by alistairolsen
Someone said to me the other day, why the heck do locost have to use mk2 escort bits? Why not something no one wants!
I pointed out that in the 90s mk2 escorts were ten a penny in scrapyards and what we was proposing was suggesting to all mk3 astra owners that they
shouldnt scrap their cars in case someone wants them in the future.
You see - even as far back as late 70's / early 80's kit car builders were the original green recycling warriors. Maybe we should get
cheaper road tax due to this
There will always be cars the reach the end of their life and need to be scrapped off. It is a valuable part of my youth scrabbling around scrap yards
to see what you can find. Its just a shame that the good useable old cars get mashed.
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