The "what you've owned" thread

spurs fan in a coupe

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
3rd Party Trader
Joined
Dec 5, 2011
Points
175
Mini Mayfair 998cc
Fiesta 1.25 zetec
Proton Personna auto (slight accident meant I needed an auto!) (at v short notice!)
Z3 coupe 2.8 LHD
Saxo VTR track car
Clio 172 track car
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
The Persona, now there's a car. I used to work on these. I rated the Proton, really, against the other two brands at the dealership where I worked for 3 WHOLE months, which were TATA and LADA.
NUFF said?:(
 

FRANKIE

Zorg Guru (V)
American Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Sep 2, 2013
Points
193
Location
Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, USA
Model of Z
Z3
1976 Yamaha FS1E
1977 Harley Davidson SS125
1978 Yamaha XS 250
1977 Honda CB 550
1977 Honda GL 1000 Goldwing
1980 Kawasaki Z 1000 MK2
1976 Reliant Robin van
1977 Honda CB 750 Supersport
197? Ford Cortina MK3
1977 Ford Capri 1600 GL
1981 Ford Cortina 2.3 Ghia
1985 Ford Sierra 1.6 GL
1985 Ford Granada 2.8 GL
1985 Austin Montego 2.0 GLX
1988 Toyota Corolla 1.3 GL
1989 Toyota Corolla 1.6 GL Executive
1978 Kawasaki Z 650
1988 Ford Granada 2.9 Ghia
1985 BMW 218 E 30
1994 Vauxhall Calibra 2.0 (stolen after 10 days ownership)
1994 Vauxhall Calibra 2.0
1989 Honda CBR 400
1990 Toyota MR2 2.0
1993 Lexus Soarer 2.5 twin Turbo
1989 Suzuki GSXR 400
1994 Toyota Supra 3.0 Twin Turbo
2003 BMW Z4 3.0
2006 Chrysler Crossfire Coupe 3.2
2005 BMW Z4 3.0

I don't think I've missed any,lol
Was that 1978 Kawasaki Z 650 a two cylinder bike with both electric and kick start?
 

DavidM

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Apr 25, 2013
Points
208
Location
Ireland
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster
Steering rack went on the MG - nightmare to work with. Bodywork wasn't too good either - but then most cars had problems with metal and paint then!
 

Russ59

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2014
Points
22
Location
Mansfield Woodhouse
Model of Z
Z4, 3.0
Was that 1978 Kawasaki Z 650 a two cylinder bike with both electric and kick start?
It was 4 cylinder 4 stroke and did have kick and electric start.
It was the mini version of the classic Z900
 

Nifty Fifty

Zorg Legend
British Zeds
Joined
Jun 26, 2014
Points
74
Location
Wylye
Model of Z
2.0
Sounds like we've all had some duffers in our time. Here goes my list!
Ford Cortina mk3 1300 (first car - complete rust bucket)
Ford Cortina mk3 2000E
Rover SDI 2600 (became the deposit for our 1st house)
1959 mk1 Mini (950 engine with 1300 gearbox went like stink 0-30mph, collapsed at 40mph and went no faster than 50mph. Good fun though)
Honda Accord
Ford Sierra 2.0 Ghia
Mercedes 190E
Mini Metro 1.1 Kensington (total junk - fell apart weekly and parts came in denominations of either £50 or £100)
Ford Fiesta 1.4 Ghia (1st new car ever bought - great car)
Ford Fiesta 1.4 Silver (not as good as the Ghia)
Volvo C70 (most expensive new car ever bought - currently still own)

Numerous company cars - currently Volvo V40( must be an age thing)

And lastly my 50th birthday present to myself, my new toy - BMW Z3 2.0 (the missus thinks I'm nuts but what joy!!)
 

FRANKIE

Zorg Guru (V)
American Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Sep 2, 2013
Points
193
Location
Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, USA
Model of Z
Z3
It was 4 cylinder 4 stroke and did have kick and electric start.
It was the mini version of the classic Z900
I used to own this Kawasaki 650 two cylinder. I can't remember exactly what year it was, maybe a '76? I saw it for sale in a small local news paper. Didn't give it much thought at first because I thought it was some junk bike. But I went to take a look at it anyway. It was at one of the small shore communities near Atlantic City. The guy was asking $350. for it. That's why I thought it must have been trash since if it was any good, at that time, he would wouldn't consider anything less that a thousand. When I went to the house, to see it, the owner explained to me as we were walking to the garage to see it, that he had removed the ends of the exhaust pipes to buy better ones and had never replaced them and couldn't find the original ones he had taken off. It also needed a battery. I was thinking:"O God, a basket case, its all in pieces. That's why he's asking so little." When he opened the garage door and turned the light on, I thought he must have been joking. The bike was missing the ends of the exhaust pipes as he said, but the rest of the bike looked brand new. In almost perfect condition. It just sparkled in the light. I looked at the odometer and it showed 2100 miles!!!! I asked him why he hadn't ridden it much and he told me that he had wanted louder pipes soon after he bought it, took off the old ones, misplaced them and never got the new ones. I don't think he had ridden a bike that big before and he gave me the impression he was actually afraid of it. He had quickly lost interest and let it sit for a few years. As you might remember, bikes of that era hadn't quite made the complete transition to electric start only, and still had a kick start. I had twenty dollars on me and gave it to him right away and told him I was going around the corner to the bank machine to get the rest of the money. I did this as fast as I possibly could because I knew anyone else coming to see the bike would give him a thousand in a heartbeat. I can't remember exactly what year this was, maybe 81 or '82 but it was November. I got the bike home, which was at that time a ground floor apartment in Brigantine. The bike was so clean, I just put a few pieces of newspaper on the living room carpet and wheeled the bike into the corner of my living room. All winter long, I kept looking at it, hardly able to believe what perfect condition it was in. Before the spring, I got new pipes and a new battery. On the first good spring day, I wheeled it outside and started it up. In the back of my mind, I kept thinking that something just had to be wrong with this bike, I can't be this lucky to pay so little for a bike in such new condition. But no, everything was just perfect. The electric start worked well, and so did the kick start. Driving it down the street, I felt as if I had just pulled out of the motorcycle showroom.
There were two things I needed to get used to. Being only 2 cylinders, there was a lot of compression. The first time the kick start
'kicked back" it almost flipped me over the bike. But the second thing was far more dangerous. All the bikes I had up to that point locked up the front forks when you turned the key in the ignition to the "lock" position. This bike had a different lock on the lower part of the front fork. The first day I had taken it to work, when I got out of work, I just stuck the key into the ignition, turned it to "on" and started it up and began to drive away. One second later I was on the ground as it was impossible to straighten up the front wheel, it being still locked. I did this again about a week later at the post office in Atlantic City. I was parked on the street on the left side, it was a one way street. As I got to the bike, I noticed that the traffic light at the end of the street was turning green. The lights in AC are the longest lights I've ever seen. So I jumped on the bike, started it up and roared away. The wheel in the locked position was facing in the right position to pull out of the parking spot but when I went to straighten out, of course, I couldn't. Then, over the handlebars into the street again!!! OTHER THAN THAT, I loved the bike and drove it for several years. Frankie
 
B

badman gee

Guest
I love your replies Frankie!

Never a short one!

Skype soon?
 

Russ59

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2014
Points
22
Location
Mansfield Woodhouse
Model of Z
Z4, 3.0
Nice read FRANKIE
I think it would have been older than 1976 for it to be a twin cylinder.
Was it this style? I Apologise for pic quality.

 

Russ59

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2014
Points
22
Location
Mansfield Woodhouse
Model of Z
Z4, 3.0
This was mine.


 

Boysie

Zorg Guru (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
M Power
Joined
Dec 6, 2011
Points
94
Location
West Chiltington, West Sussex
Model of Z
M Roadster S50
I have seen a couple of these bikes they are very desirable and worth a few bob these days
When i take the Harley out to the local cafe, i see plenty of bikes i wish i had kept and cars
A MK1 Escort twin cam or Mexico fetch £25-30k+
 

FRANKIE

Zorg Guru (V)
American Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Sep 2, 2013
Points
193
Location
Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, USA
Model of Z
Z3
I love your replies Frankie!

Never a short one!

Skype soon?
I'd like to call you now but I'm ready for bed. Just got back from Plymouth Meeting, Pa. where I had some laser surgery done on my right eye. Everything's ok now. I was able to drive home myself but I'm really tired. Have to get up early tomorrow. I'll call you soon. Frankie
 

FRANKIE

Zorg Guru (V)
American Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Sep 2, 2013
Points
193
Location
Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, USA
Model of Z
Z3
Nice read FRANKIE
I think it would have been older than 1976 for it to be a twin cylinder.
Was it this style? I Apologise for pic quality.

Unfortunately, I seldom take pictures of my bikes. However, I've always saved the registration cards. Tomorrow I'll go look in the file cabinet for the registration. The way my memory is going, it was probably a Yamaha. I have a 2 cylinder 650 Yamaha outside now. I bought it from a guy that couldn't get if running properly. Has both kick and electric start. I'd like to have it on road soon. I have a honda 450 nighthawk that I'm working on, just needs two cables. I bough these two bikes because they are lighter that the 700 Yamaha Maxim I just sold, I lost my balance leaving a sandwich shop trying to catch a sub I was holding, fell over, was trapped under the bike for 5 minutes before I could free myself, while it was leading gas, had to have help getting it up off its side, then went to get 16 stitches in my leg. Too much bike for an old guy. I'll try to get a pic of the bikes. Frankie
 

Russ59

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2014
Points
22
Location
Mansfield Woodhouse
Model of Z
Z4, 3.0
Unfortunately, I seldom take pictures of my bikes. However, I've always saved the registration cards. Tomorrow I'll go look in the file cabinet for the registration. The way my memory is going, it was probably a Yamaha. I have a 2 cylinder 650 Yamaha outside now. I bought it from a guy that couldn't get if running properly. Has both kick and electric start. I'd like to have it on road soon. I have a honda 450 nighthawk that I'm working on, just needs two cables. I bough these two bikes because they are lighter that the 700 Yamaha Maxim I just sold, I lost my balance leaving a sandwich shop trying to catch a sub I was holding, fell over, was trapped under the bike for 5 minutes before I could free myself, while it was leading gas, had to have help getting it up off its side, then went to get 16 stitches in my leg. Too much bike for an old guy. I'll try to get a pic of the bikes. Frankie


I was wondering if it was a Yamaha 650 you were talking about.
 

TaffZee

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Dec 5, 2011
Points
183
Location
Near Llangollen North Wales
Model of Z
Z4 3.0 SE
Honda CB175
Yamaha RD250

Viva
Taunus
Anglia
Gazele
Vouge
Triumph Herald Vitesse (wish I owned this now)
Victor
Wolsey 2.2
Corsair
Fiat 132 Mirafiori (quick motor Just couldnt stop it)
Escort Mk1
Escort Mk2
Escort Van
Mini 750cc Auto:( Long story.
Mini 1275GT
Various Minis
Austin 1800
Allegro
Number of Cortinas mrk 1,2,3s including a Lotus
Trans Am (Bought on a whim owned it for 6 months and sold to dealer in London and yes it was black and had the eagle on the bonnet)
Hunter
Lots and lots inbetween not worh noting.
Peugeot 405(hated it)
Celica Gen6 (loved this car)
Z3 1.9
Z3 2.8

Not everything I have owned but only the ones that had a story to tell or two.LOL
 
Last edited:

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
Miafiori, very quick car, brakes were an optional extra and apparently not needed in Italy so long as the horn worked. I had this on authority of a couple of Italian guys I knew at the time.:ymdevil:
 

TaffZee

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Dec 5, 2011
Points
183
Location
Near Llangollen North Wales
Model of Z
Z4 3.0 SE
Bought the Fiat with 8000 miles on the clock only 2 years old, as you say the brakes were rubbish, had it for three years, and it still looked good (Then) I broke the key in the ignition one morning and tried to get it out with a pair of pliers, but failed. in my temper I threw the pliers at the car, they hit the rear wheel arch, which fell off in a pile of rust, Bye Bye Fiat. Drove it to the scrap yard which had a hump back bridge on the road to it:ymdevil: Took off doing around 60mph, my mate who was following me reckons the car went at least ten foot in the air, nearly lost it but it was great fun doing it.
 

McZee3

Dedicated Member
British Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Aug 15, 2014
Points
29
Location
UK
Model of Z
1.9 Auto
here's my list:
cars:
Escort Mk2 1.3L
MG metro (mistake)
Opal Kadette (Astra Mk1)
Vauxhall Astra GTE Mk1
Volkswagon Golf 1.5 Mk1
Fiat X19 1.5
Ford Escort 1.6 cabriolet Mk3
Toyota MR2 Mk1
Opal Monza 3.0 E
Vauxhall Cavalier CDi Mk2
BMW 325i E30
Rover 800 Vitesse sport Mk2
Rover 800 Sterling 2.7 Mk1
Opel Monza GTE Coupe (rally prepared)
Opel Manta GTE Exclusive Coupe (Rally prepared)
Rover Metro 1.4 GTA (mistake - didn't learn from the 1st one)
Audi Coupe 2.2 (used it as a road car then it was Rally prepared)
Vauxhall Tigra (for the wife)
Audi A4 2.5 TDi
Vauxhall Corsa (for the wife)
Toyota Rav 4 Mk1(for the wife)
Ford Mondeo ST25
Jaguar XJR (XJ40)
Mitsubishi FTO Gx
Mitsubishi FTO GP version R (for the wife)
Vauxhall Signam 2.2 Direct
Mercedes CLK Cabriolet (for the wife)
Subaru Impreza WRX (present)
Hyundai Coupe series 3 (present - for the wife)
BMW Z3 (present)

Bikes:
Honda H100
Honda CB125T
Suzuki GT185
Kawasaki KH250
Suzuki GT185
Yamaha RD350 YPVS
Kawasaki GPZ305
Kawazaki GPZ 750R
Suzuki GSXR 750L (streetfighter)
Honda VFR400
Honda VTR1000 Firestorm
Honda VTR1000 SP1
Suzuki GSXR 750L
Honda CBR100xx Super Blackbird (the bike that i was riding when someone decided to drive a car into me and terminate my biking forever!)
 
Top