1987 RGA competition.

[retroman81]

Just looking through some old Street Machine mags and found one with a competion for the best RGA Capri kit from March 1987. Ahh the good old days, stripes, headlamp covers, slot mags, glass pop up sunroofs and rear window louvres

The Black one in 4th place is my favourite.

[Andrew 2.8i]

Hi,
I agree, the black fourth placed car is the one that looks less customised than the others, which is probably why it's the most pleasing to the eye today!
Interestingly, CCI still sell the black headlight covers if you want that eighties look on your car, also rear and side window louvres seem to be quite sought after today.

Andrew.

[retroman81]

Hi Andrew.

They say fashions always come around again!

[Big Mike]

Street Machine! Talk about nostalgia.......

[Andrew 2.8i]

Street Machine! Talk about nostalgia.......

Aah, Street Machine and Custom Car magazine, I remember them fondly.
Even if it was for the semi-naked ladies that were draped over the bonnets in the pics!

On that subject, I seem to remember that TVR had a topless model on their stand at the 1987 (I think) Motorfair at Earls Court. How times change!

Andrew.

[retroman81]

Aah, Street Machine and Custom Car magazine, I remember them fondly.
Even if it was for the semi-naked ladies that were draped over the bonnets in the pics!

I always used to buy Street Machine and my mate would buy Custom Car, the latter was always full of semi naked girls but Street Machine was a bit more reserved.

I remember as a teenager going to a custom car show at the old Bingley Hall in Birmingham and seeing topless girls parading around Like you say 'how times change' It was a very male dominated scene back then, it's nice to see a fair few ladies involved in the car scene now

[Andrew 2.8i]

It was a very male dominated scene back then, it's nice to see a fair few ladies involved in the car scene now

Hi,
Well, there were plenty of ladies involved back in those days, but in a different way!

I remember as a teenager going to a custom car show at the old Bingley Hall in Birmingham and seeing topless girls parading around

That's what modern car shows are missing!

Andrew.

[retroman81]

I went to a car show at Doncaster a few years back which used to be a great custom car event, unfortunately it had now evolved into a Max Power chav fest, they did however have a big tent with naked girlies sliding up and down poles but you had to pay for the pleasure to watch, the other half told me to go and check it out if I wanted, being the perfect gent I refused

Sometimes the quiet life is the better option

[Terra-Kotta]

Fuckin awesome days when every bloke who wasn't into football (and many that were) was into modified cars (and there was at least two on every street).
Shove its, escorts cortinas and crapis, starlets, dollomites, sunbeams, hillmans, mantas and RWD cavaliers all fuck all to buy and everywhere, tuned the proper way with big carbs and cams and peco exhausts, Grayston lowering blocks and wheel spacers were in every motorist shop (most of them shops now long gone).
Trailblazers, Richard grant, rip speed, mountney, Kent cams....


Sorry, got carried away there....

[Andrew 2.8i]

peco exhausts

Hi,
Peco cherry bomb exhausts for a Fiesta 1.1! That takes me back.

big carbs and cams and peco exhausts, Grayston lowering blocks and wheel spacers were in every motorist shop (most of them shops now long gone).
Trailblazers, Richard grant, rip speed, mountney, Kent cams....

Yes, those sorts of motor accessory shops don't seem to be around now. Most just sell oil, airfresheners, cleaning products and not a lot else. Go into most Halfords and half the floor space is taken up with push bikes! What's that all about?

Andrew.

[retroman81]

Fuckin awesome days when every bloke who wasn't into football (and many that were) was into modified cars (and there was at least two on every street).

I remember those days Terra, everyone used to mess with cars where I grew up, some were good, some were bloody awful, but at least kids had ago at doing stuff themselves, there was always someone taking something apart and if they struggled the old man would get involved.

I miss those days.

[timfromull]

Donny custom show..........fantastic memories..
Before 'tinternet as a teen in the eighties, the once a month fix of Streetmachine, Custom Car and even Practical Classics couldn't come quick enough.
Never mind Escort or Fiesta (could never understand why those two didn't feature Fords!!)
Streetmachine was where it's at.... to this day I still have the bottle opener key ring on my key's after 25 years!
Swallowed up by Classic American I believe

[timfromull]

For the record, my money would have gone on the yellow mk11.
In 88 I had a black 13L with 13x8 Revolutions...........loved it, fitted an RGA body kit and instantly regretted it..... I hate 'em!
Sold it to a mate (who burned it out on the A63!) and bought my beloved (almost new) Nimbus Grey Laser..................... I was in love again