Cars

When I was young hardly anybody I knew had a car.

Mum bought a Morris Minor when I was about 14 and tinkering with it was the beginning of a period of modifying, dismantling and repairing cars - not hers I would add!

My first car, bought from a work friend of mum’s, was a Morris Minor Series M that cost me £15. It was the early side-valve model. The friend’s partner rebuilt the engine for me while I looked on, further developing my interest in all things automotive.

After about a year I bought a Ford Popular 100E, also a side valve, and this time rebuilt the engine myself. I had a re-bore, new pistons, new crank bearings etc. My first major overhaul, which went a bit pear-shaped when one of the new valve springs broke. Replacing side-valve valve springs with the engine in situ is no joke.

Next was a Morris Mini that I had for years. Again I rebuilt the engine with a ‘tuned’ camshaft and reworked cylinder head; all the rage in those days of mini tuning. I also replaced the sub frames.

After the Mini I only undertook one more major rebuild (Vauxhall cavalier) as my cars, as listed below, were getting newer and more respectable.

Morris Marina 1.8L
Volkswagen Beetle (second car for my wife)
Ford Escort Sport 1600cc (Bought new!)
Vauxhall Cavalier CD (1800cc) (Rebuilt engine after cam-belt failure)
Vauxhall Belmont CD (1800cc)

In 1994 I effectively stopped messing about and started to buy new cars that went in to the main agents for service

Volvo 440 Si 1.8L
Volvo V40 1.8i SE (1998)
Mitsubishi Galant 2.5L V6 (2001)
Helen’s Renault Clio Sport 172bhp (2002)
Honda Accord 2.0L (June 2005)
Nissan Qashqai 2.0 Dci Tekna (2007)
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Volvo 440 Si 1.8L