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« on: 27 February 2012, 00:08:01 »
Apart from my current miggy, and the one previous to the one I've got now, I have to say that my most favourite motor was a 1978 VW Scirocco. It went like stink, looked cool, and was a quality bit of german engineering. Only problem was, by the time I had sold it, it had had a new engine, new gearbox, complete new braking system, new front wings, new suspension and ...oh yes a new back end after some twit slammed into the back of it two days after I bought it.
The most fun car was a 1966 Triumph Vitesse Convertable. It was a heap, it smelt of damp carpet, the engine noise was intrusive, you couldn't lock it (no point - a Stanley knife through the roof gives you access) and it rattled so much that the wing mirrors - yes mirrors actually bolted to the front wings - were useless. but my word, it was truly great fun to drive, and the Triumph fraternity was like a huge extended family. We seemed to generate a common dislike to MG owners, especially MGBs which were basically a two seater Marina.
The honour of being my worst car is jointly held by two hideous examples of 1970's manufacturing disasters. The first was a Morris Ital which I had for about ten days, It was a sort of off white/cream colour. I never could be certain what colour it was supposed to be, but thankfully it died before I had driven it too far, so the neighbours never actually got used to it being parked in our street, which was a relief to my credibility. Unfortunately the other car lasted much longer, and I was spotted quite regularly sitting in it. and that ladies and gentlemen was the car of the year 1975 (Which means that it was definately rubbish) a 1978 Chrysler Alpine Hatchback. It was red with a cream vinyl roof, had white fibreglass bumpers, electric windows and little wipers on the headlights. It was big, uncomfortable, hard to drive, thirsty, definately uncool and was a pig to get spares for, as Chrysler UK was on the brink of going bust at the time and it was made from whatever parts were lying around in the factory.
I remember going to my local spares factor and asking for a set of points and a rotor arm (Remember those?), and I had to take in the old parts so they could identify what sort of distributor was fitted to my particular car - no looking up the chassis number with that car!
On the face of it, I have always had an affinity for Vauxhalls, The first car I ever drove was a Vauxhall Velox, my first ever car was a 1966 HA Viva. and since then, I've had Five Cavaliers and two Omegas, and my wife drives a Corsa.
Sorry that I've gone on for so long, I got a bit carried away with nostalgia. - This report is also available in Hardback from all good bookshops!
