Thread: The most unusual car you've ever owned...

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

Aluminium body by Jensen, twin SU carburettors. Last one I saw was abandoned in Clay St. New Farm sometime in the 60's or early 70's. The ally body made them even less durable than the normal A40. Had all the other A40 built in problems.

1200cc of raw power eh Brian?

Correct is a Jensen design. It did not give me small problems, just before my return to Oz the crankshaft break in two and I run out of time to repair it an bring it to Oz

Originally Posted by d3syd

Another Niva owner here. Gave it to my brother who uses it as a paddock basher. It is slowly rusting away, but still runs.

And another Niva.

Except we replaced the standard "motor" with a Fiat 2L DOHC.

I had a Nissan Cedric.

Originally Posted by Hymie

I had a Nissan Cedric.

I'm impressed with your frankness Hymie, if I'd had one I wouldn't be admitting it.
Crowns were much better.

My first car was a 63 Beetle. Awesome little car, got caught by dad doing a donut on Authurs Seat (Vic). Bad move,, but a lot of fun, would love to have it now, they fetch big dollars these days.
Ex FIL did up an old Ford Prefect to original condition, used to get me to drive it around for him,, top little car to drive, had nice soft suspension, probably very dangerous in the hands of a 19 year old,, but very smooth ride in her.
Also had a Fiat 132 (?), looked like the old square Datsun 1600's,, double overhead cam from memory with twin carbs. Went fast and chewed through the juice like a V8

Renault 10 and fiat 600 van very similar to a Mazda drongo but much much better

Originally Posted by Chucaro

Correct is a Jensen design. It did not give me small problems, just before my return to Oz the crankshaft break in two and I run out of time to repair it an bring it to Oz

That engine used to regularly run No.2 bigend bearing. Probably something to do with your broken crank. Other endemic problems were blowing head gaskets with monotonous regularity, making gudgeon pin tracks up No.3 bore in spite of the pin being clamped in the rod, short exhaust valve life.