Push start of a 50 year love affair.

• 
• 

"Early in March 1961 I bought my first motorcar, a non-running 1925 Austin 7. The cost was £10, all the money I had, but a working example would have been unaffordable at £25-35. We actually pushed the Seven the mile or so home on the 11th of March 1961 - which was a Saturday! I was just 17, still at school, and had not passed my car-driving test. My father helped me re-build the engine to his exacting standards -- replacement parts coming from 'Clares for Spares' in Guildford -- the Seven finally taking to the road in March 1963. From then on I used it as everyday transport including commuting between Surrey and Durham at the beginning and end of each University term.
In 1974-5 my wife and I comprehensively restored the Seven, after which it continued to be used regularly until we bought our 1912 FN in 2002. The Austin sulked in the garage, but then for its 85th birthday last year it was re-fettled and we went motoring in it again.
I know of  others who have owned the same car for 50 or more years, but their first car for a similar length of time -- not so many. There's nothing really remarkable about my 1925 Austin 7, other than that we have spent most of our lives together!"
  
Malcolm Jeal
Send your congratulations to Malcolm!
 

Kommentar abgeben...