Cars your father may have driven in his youth

Father’s Day is fast approaching and you may not know what to do to show your appreciation to your beloved dad. If your old man is a car lover, find out what ride he was driving when he was younger and take him on a trip down memory lane.

Below is a list of cars that your father may have driven in his youth. Some of these cars are also in Carmudi’s inventory:

Volkswagen Beetle

The beetle was dubbed the “people’s car” in European markets because it was an affordable car that could be owned by many. In the Philippines, however, car enthusiasts called it a variety of names- pagong (turtle), pendong (bald) and kuba (humpback) because of its curved body frame. This car was very prominent during the 1970s and 1980s, and it is considered one of the bestselling car models in the world with more than 23.5 million units sold since it was released in 1938.

Today’s average price: Php 80,000

Mitsubishi Lancer Box Type

The Mitsubishi Lancer Box Type is now one of the most restored car models in the country. This car was a popular choice during the onset of the 1980s as the Corolla and the Ford Laser, two of the most popular sedans during that time, were discontinued. The only other option was an Owner Type Jeep. The Lancer Box Type’s very simple mechanics makes it very affordable to maintain. However, its car parts are very rare today.

Today’s average price: Php 70,000

Mazda 323 Familia

The Mazda 323 Familia was positioned to be a family car as early as the 1960s. This discontinued model comes in a sedan and wagon variant. Other nameplates used on the 323 Familia were the Lantis, Astina and 323 (popular taxi during that day). It ceased production in 1998, but owners who want to maintain or fix their 323 Famila can take parts from the Ford Lynx as they share the same platform.

Today’s average price: Php 105,000

Toyota Crown

This mid-size luxury car was the leader of the pack for Toyota cars and went head-to-head with the Benzes and BMWs of its time. Much like the Camry, the Crown easily captivated the early 1990s car market as Mitsubishi and Nissan were not able to release their own models in that segment. During its time, this affordable car already offered rear climate control, power seats and beverage coolers. The late president Cory Aquino owned this car.

Today’s average price: Php 120,000

Daihatsu Feroza

This 5-seater mini-SUV was a status symbol during the 1990s, looking much like the Honda CR-V only smaller. If your dad is into off-roading, he is likely to have driven one of these. This car can transform into an open top roader from its ordinary two-door SUV façade. This compact off-roader can easily traverse any unpaved roads and a number of harsh terrains easily.

Today’s average price: Php 140,000

Mitsubishi Minica

Remember the tongue twister: “Minikaniko ni Moniko and makina ng Minica ni Monica?” There is a car there- it’s the Mitsubishi Minica, which was a 2-door, 4-seater kei (small car) popular during the 70s and 80s. They were also used as public utility taxis during the day despite their small cabins, especially in Davao city .

Today’s average price: Php 150,000

These cars are just some of the vehicles that can bring back those forgotten memories this Father’s day. Here is the good news- a used car today only costs at around Php 120,000 or less.