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My First Car

My first car was a beige eight year old mini, which I had in May 1976 - SAL 694F. She took me loads of places and I really enjoyed her like no other car. I suppose it's always the same with your first one. Somewhere I have a photo, but I have not got a clue where.
 
I had mentioned my 1st car earlier in this thread but with no pic, but I had put a pic in a Birchfield Rd thread so its easy to drag it here.
I bought the Hillman Imp new from showroom, it broke down after 2 miles. The kind dealer came out and towed me back, took a carburretor out of another new car, fitted it in mine and I drove to Sutton to put some petrol in, slammed the door on my thumb and got a painful black nail - it was an interesting day !
The car was 4 years old in the pic.
 

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My first car cost £5 and was a ford prefect,(sit up and beg), 3 forward gears, no heater, and windscreen wipers you had to help in heavy rain, and just a small dashboard light for the speedo and petrol gauge which did't light up much, in winter you had to keep the side light windows open to stop it fogging up, really cold, but did the job and I loved it. The half shaft snapped at the 5 ways lights at about 2am in the morning I was going in the Army next day so just left it at the side of the road.
paul
 
Split wind screen 1955 Morris Minor bought 1971 for £18. It was a great little car, except that when you opened the drivers window, it fell down to the bottom of the panel, and I had to carry a knife to get it back up again. Sold it to a mate for £55 and within a week the front axle collapsed. I did feel a bit guilty

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Another older thread which I had not seen. I did trawl through it in case I had already posted here.

My first car, which I got whilst in the RAF in 1956, was an old 1935 Austin 10. It was very basic, compared to modern cars but it served me well for almost a year and took a few of us many places. We were never stopped by an authorities - which was just as well. I sold it on to an airman when I was posted.
 
This was my first car bought from a Rootes Dealer on the corner of Wellhead Lane and Aldridge Road.
I had mentioned my 1st car earlier in this thread but with no pic, but I had put a pic in a Birchfield Rd thread so its easy to drag it here. I bought the Hillman Imp new from showroom, it broke down after 2 miles. The kind dealer came out and towed me back, took a carburretor out of another new car, fitted it in mine and I drove to Sutton to put some petrol in, slammed the door on my thumb and got a painful black nail - it was an interesting day !
The car was 4 years old in the pic.
index.php
 
My first car was a mini - bought new in 1976 - savings plus a bank loan. Total £1500. I kept it for 13 years until it needed too much doing to it. My only complaint was the boot was too small to hold a full grocery shopping. If my memory serves me correctly the tank did not hold £5 of petrol.
 
My first car was a Mk1 Ford Escort, metallic light blue. Bought it of a guy from Rednal, it was completely clapped out. He must have filled the cylinders with molyslip or some other gunge to bring the compression back up so it would start. Proper sawdust in the gearbox stich up, it was every penny I had.

I did manage to fix it and ran it for quite a few years.
 
My first car was a Mk1 Ford Escort, metallic light blue. Bought it of a guy from Rednal, it was completely clapped out. He must have filled the cylinders with molyslip or some other gunge to bring the compression back up so it would start. Proper sawdust in the gearbox stich up, it was every penny I had.

I did manage to fix it and ran it for quite a few years.
I remember buying a car from Moseley once, I paid him £42 for it, mind you I was only earning about £7 a week, before I got home to Stirchley the near side front wheel seized up. I fixed it with my mate Bill, painted it gold, ran it for a couple of months then scrapped it.
 
Yes I was over the moon, every morning with my hands bleeding, cranking it with a starting handle try to get it started, and the time going over Breedon bridge with it on fire.
Some great memories though eh, those old cars really make us appreciate the newer ones.... or do they
 
I never owned a car in Brum, when I left to go to the USA I did finally get to own an 1956 Oldsmobile a real rocket V8 automatic. had dzens since then. My Dad in Brum drove Rovers in the 1950s I now drive a Boxster with the top down most of the time
 

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John,

Very nice, and I've just given up driving due to a combination of factors. That second picture looks a bit like Howard Rumsey's old place down at Hermosa Beach.

Maurice
 
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