Could be a good thread to start, I'm sure many interesting stories will come up 
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Many years ago my Grandad got me working on his old Mk1 Cavalier, hey gave it to me after passing my driving test. Various things kept going wrong over the next few months, like the clutch, brakes, exhaust. I always liked an Opel Manta, there was one near by going cheap as it had an accident. Was going to use it for parts to fix the Cavalier as alot of parts are shared. It turned out the Opel manta was actually in better condition. Done up the opel manta, painted it bright yellow, tinted the windows, twin 15 inch subs in the boot.
Owned this for about 7 months, when I drove past a car sales place in Purbrook. Saw this very low aero dynamic looking car. A 'F' reg, 7 year old car. Looked great, sale price of £3750. Spoke to the bank, got the cash in an envelope, went to buy the car. Never test drove it, never knew it was left hand drive. I just wanted that car. Paid for it, and had the challenge of getting it home. A mechanic greind that helped me get the Manta back on the road saw it. Said it is the same shape as the Knight Rider car. Mine was only a 2.8L, but it was my first American car 1989 Pontiac Firebird.
Owned this for around 7 years, saw a photo of a Purple 4th gen Trans-Am in 2000. The colour of the purple over the bonnet, just looked such a great colour. People in the car club were teasing me about my girley V6 powered car. so eventually wanted to change. I couldn't afford a 4th gen.
Below is the actually picture I saw back in 2000 and really wanted one like this, a new dream hard started to get a Purple T/A,
Well i knew it was well out of my price range. So while the g/f was on holiday I got the 3rd gen painted.
This was from the Thorney Island show 2002. People were offering my £4k cash for the car there and then. I had no plans of selling it. So had to decline the great offers. It did cost £1600 for a respray at the time. Had had the car around 7 years by this point. Many year of happy memories.
Well it did put the idea into my mind. I could sell this and get a 4th gen. So with that I went on eBay searching while at work. Saw a Red 4th Gen in Pensacola Floria. Starting bidding, kept getting outbit so stuck down $20k, it actually went for $17100 in the end. One of the original eBay photos.
Next challenge was getting it home, they didn't want anytihng to do with shipping. Called a few shipping agents, some took 3 months to get back to me. $700 shipping, 2 days across land to Jacksonville then 2 weeks on water to Southampton docks. All going well do far. Then needed to find £4k for the import tax, I had some savings for a deposit on a house, this cause some issue with the g/f, not alot i could do, the car was on a boat on its way.
Car was great, no issues. for a year I actually have both cars. Went to the Thorney Island show in 2003, not with a V8 powered monster (was a monster to me, doubled the engine size)
Put the 3rd gen on eBay, it sold for £3750 (same as what I paid for it 7 years before), went to a chap in Slovenia, it was actually englich, from Manchester i beleive, working out in Slovenia on aircraft engines. He drive the car all the way back to Slovenia. he made it back safe.
Eventually over the years the paint on the T/A was getting tired, lacquer on the hood peeling off.
In 2019 the car needed new paint. Is this the time to change colour too. Well after thinking about it. I had to go for Purple.
Very pleased with it. That 20 year dream of owning a Purple T/A I had finally done it.
Almost 200k miles on the clock now, around 400 miles to go.
Not planning on changing the car any time soon.
Got a bit carried away with the writing, starting out as a quick conversatiopn starter. You dont need to write much at all. Anything you have will be interesting to read. Feel free to add photos.
.Many years ago my Grandad got me working on his old Mk1 Cavalier, hey gave it to me after passing my driving test. Various things kept going wrong over the next few months, like the clutch, brakes, exhaust. I always liked an Opel Manta, there was one near by going cheap as it had an accident. Was going to use it for parts to fix the Cavalier as alot of parts are shared. It turned out the Opel manta was actually in better condition. Done up the opel manta, painted it bright yellow, tinted the windows, twin 15 inch subs in the boot.
Owned this for about 7 months, when I drove past a car sales place in Purbrook. Saw this very low aero dynamic looking car. A 'F' reg, 7 year old car. Looked great, sale price of £3750. Spoke to the bank, got the cash in an envelope, went to buy the car. Never test drove it, never knew it was left hand drive. I just wanted that car. Paid for it, and had the challenge of getting it home. A mechanic greind that helped me get the Manta back on the road saw it. Said it is the same shape as the Knight Rider car. Mine was only a 2.8L, but it was my first American car 1989 Pontiac Firebird.
Owned this for around 7 years, saw a photo of a Purple 4th gen Trans-Am in 2000. The colour of the purple over the bonnet, just looked such a great colour. People in the car club were teasing me about my girley V6 powered car. so eventually wanted to change. I couldn't afford a 4th gen.
Below is the actually picture I saw back in 2000 and really wanted one like this, a new dream hard started to get a Purple T/A,
Well i knew it was well out of my price range. So while the g/f was on holiday I got the 3rd gen painted.
This was from the Thorney Island show 2002. People were offering my £4k cash for the car there and then. I had no plans of selling it. So had to decline the great offers. It did cost £1600 for a respray at the time. Had had the car around 7 years by this point. Many year of happy memories.
Well it did put the idea into my mind. I could sell this and get a 4th gen. So with that I went on eBay searching while at work. Saw a Red 4th Gen in Pensacola Floria. Starting bidding, kept getting outbit so stuck down $20k, it actually went for $17100 in the end. One of the original eBay photos.
Car was great, no issues. for a year I actually have both cars. Went to the Thorney Island show in 2003, not with a V8 powered monster (was a monster to me, doubled the engine size)
Put the 3rd gen on eBay, it sold for £3750 (same as what I paid for it 7 years before), went to a chap in Slovenia, it was actually englich, from Manchester i beleive, working out in Slovenia on aircraft engines. He drive the car all the way back to Slovenia. he made it back safe.
Eventually over the years the paint on the T/A was getting tired, lacquer on the hood peeling off.
Very pleased with it. That 20 year dream of owning a Purple T/A I had finally done it.
Almost 200k miles on the clock now, around 400 miles to go.
Not planning on changing the car any time soon.
Got a bit carried away with the writing, starting out as a quick conversatiopn starter. You dont need to write much at all. Anything you have will be interesting to read. Feel free to add photos.
. Strange.
I used to go to scrap yards with my old Dad when I was a kid. That was part of my growing up around cars really.
