Auto trivia

[guest7]

I was speaking to my car mechanic mate today and he told me that so many XR3is and Astra GTEs got stolen 'back in the day' that Sykes Pickavent used to sell a double sided tool to reform the damaged door panel around the (screwdrivered) lock. Use it one way and it would work for the Ford, turn it around and it would do the Vauxhall.

I find that quite scary... how many of the bloody things did get nicked? 

GC

[Richard]

Back when I was working in Llanelli there was a kid living in Neath that would only steal Astras.  Every week, sometimes twice.  He would rather steal an Astra than catch a bus, he said it was easier to get home from Llanelli to Neath that way.

Richard

[Andy M]

Ah, the good old days. I never used the skill in anger, but while at school at was shown how to get the radio out of most locked Fords or Vauxhalls in about two seconds. I wonder if two wire coat hangers, a large bent screwdriver and a pair of tin snips still counts as "going equipped"? You probably need a laptop now.

Andy

[Richard]

Half a tennis ball ?

[guest7]

LOL, oh yes, the old tennis ball trick, that was how you could wipe the smug smile off the faces of the early adopters of central locking 

GC

[Steve Lake]

I used a strip of plastic banding for a key on my (or any other) cortina....quicker than a key 

[Mark]

I used a strip of plastic banding for a key on my (or any other) cortina....quicker than a key 

And used an elastic banding for drive....quicker than the engine.

[guest27]

Friend of my Mum had a Ford Mexico with special Ford security locks.  No other Ford key would open the doors or do the ign.  At a time when there was probaly all of 3 different Ford keys in general use.  However, having boasted to all and sundry about these wonderful locks, my Mum tried her Austin 1300 key - got in and started it, as did a Mini key and any other key - apart from Ford that they could find.  Even to the extent that they managed to open and drive off the car with a wardrobe key from the accommodation block.

Oh well at least another Ford Mexico driver could not accidentally drive it off.

R