probably the two best cars my dad has had were:
allegro estate
a roof rack was added, canoes transported to remote fields in wales, yorkshire and other rural places, it was driven up tracks that land rovers had got stuck on and generally dragged about the place before my brother and I were born, canoes were replaced by baby stuff in the boot until a lorry driver 'didn't see' the above colour Allegro estate and drove into the back of it.
it was traded in without the dealership having seen it, with smashed in back end and leaning to the side (hydrogas leak)
a dodgy red escort built in liverpool was had for a few years unitl replaced by a german built one:
ours was G reg, was the family car from 1989 until it's replacement in 2000, ten years good service, including a few trips to the continent, including a tour of france with the air box and carb held together by only one bolt (ford servicing was great in the early 90's) It did a fair few rough track trips fully loaded with a scout troop's kit each year, towed a sailing boat from time to time and my brother learnt to drive in it
it even passed an MOT with it's boot lid held on by gaffa tape
He'd got his money's worth and £250 for it after buying it's replacement.
