Old English Classic Cars!

The first car I bought when I left High School was a 1966 TR-4a with IRS.

After that, a number of other Triumphs followed, then Porsches, where I remain today.

Those first cars introduced me to sports cars. The TR-4s were economical and very reliable for me. Most of my tinkering was for fun.

'48 Plymouth business coupe was a wreck and my first car, Dad said if I can fix it I can drive it. Took me six monts but I did it at 15 yrs old.

Next was my '57 TR-3 -- followed by a '64 TR-4. Loved my TR's -- at 65 yrs I still have the Triumph key fob on my key ring.

I learned many lessons and was inspired to understand things from my first cars. Questions like why do crankshaft bearings have plain inserts compared to roller elements in wheel bearings? Or how do valves in an IC engine seal without an elastomer (to hot anyway)? These kinds of things led me to engineering so I could later apply sound principles to design.

My first cars were not English but I have owned some since. In retrospect, I to have a soft spot for the simpler cars and motorcycles, where I tinkered with the mechanics and electromechanics.

I have fond memories of my MG-TD because it was sporty and attractive. I was not impressed with the engineering that went into it, but the construction was wonderful. I eventually had my experiences with V8 Porsches. Wonderful engineering, but inferior construction. I have settled on Corvettes as an adequate compromise in both respects. As a tribute to British engineering, I still have my Velocette Venom with its Amal carb and Lucas electric system.

I often look at cars nowadays with almost a sense of sorrow! The majority of the cars all look the same! I remember when I was young, I could name a car at a glance, by the curves, the tails, the lights, you know, all the design that went into something new! Unfortunately we came across the aerodynamic shape! Yes, the cars are more economic, more smooooth and more ozone friendly but, where is the style? I could shell out on a supercar, but that is only in dream land for me! I always liked the Sunbeams, and the little Lotus Elan 2+2 maybe one day if I'm lucky! How about the Austin Healey frog eye! Any votes for that?

Like the Bike!

I met a lovely girl about 30 years ago when I was working for Beechams in Worthing who owned a frog eye sprite which was always in need of being repaired luckily I could repair cars quite well. So was always tinkering with it never got to tinker with her though (much to my regret) as she was attached. Only new her for a few months then she moved up North somewhere.

I saw a fantastic James Bond looking car parked at a restaurant .I was so intrigued I hunted down the owner and he agreed to sell.

It turned out to be a Triumph GT6 that began a long love hate relation with British machines .I had spitfires and went to MGB I even had a Norton 850 Commando .

Those days I had the tenacity to work on those thankless products of the Prince of Darkness.

Why do Englishmen drink warm beer? answer They have Lucas refrigerators

get it , they break down Ha Ha

Oh! The infamous Lucas wiring looms! That caused me more grief than I care to remember!

An Austin 1300 Estate, automatic, 1972. When acquired it was fitted with cross-plies, one of which was a remould; the pits! About 6 months after acquiring it, 3rd gear disappeared, never to return, which wasn't a problem as it would drive quite happily on the preselector. About 18 months later, and 11000 miles, it got sold to a friend, who used it for about a year and sold it on. It finally expired in a green stain of hydraulastic fluid (liquid-based suspension on this thing) and was last spotted covered in road grime at the side of the A312 in Yeading.

Happy days!

Yeading, Yeading, Where's Yeading? I know a place called Reading, Thats where the control box on my Herald decided to give up the ghost in the middle of the night!

I started with a Mini then worked my way through a variety of cars until I started a 20 year run with a succession of Rover SD1s, mainly the V8s. I haven't lost the interest & the picture here is of a Vauxhall Vectra that I acquired a few weeks ago.