I've just filled up the Mr.Fusion with garbage, so we can set off on another journey into the past. It's April 1985, if you could pull yourself away from your new Tetris game then you might well be popping to your local newsagents for a copy of the popular car modification magazine Street Machine:
Once you'd stuck your new tax disc holder in the windcreen of your radically designed Ford Sierra you might have been wishing you'd gone for that front-driven Cavalier instead, then you could fit some of the fantastic new 'GMS Bodystylers' bodykits available from your neighbourhood Vauxhall dealers. Not only could you get the kits, there were 'wheel trims, graphic striping and tailblazer rear reflectors' too:
Stylish. I know what you're thinking; this is the April issue, and that's some kind of joke? Sadly not, but this is:
The monthly custom profile was on the newly released (January '85) Sinclair C5. This example had a steering wheel fitted in place of the standard under-knee handlebars - suggested motivation was a fork lift truck powerplant. Oh, how I laughed (actually, as a thirteen year old at the time I was confused rather than amused). Elsewhere in the issue the SM team slipped a peculiar entry into their review of 1985 kit cars:
Although it was a joke at the time, they probably didn't realise there might actually be a market for such a thing in 20 years time...especially if it was a two door...and based on a Mondeo.
Turning to the classifieds, now is the time we really need to get the DeLorean to 88! Hmm, 1960 gullwing (that's the bootlid, not the doors!) Chevy Impala, MoT'd and taxed, good condition for eight-hundred notes? I'll take two!
I know, you saw the cover and you want some of that V8 action...how about this Minor from the back page? The stance is a bit 70's but bodywork like that will never go out of fashion. Even today, with a mildly raised front end and some skinnier front rubber (for the 'gasser' look) that car could be a show winner. That's all from me for today, I'm off to find Biff's Almanac so I can change the future!
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