CARS I HAVE OWNED

Photo	Model/Descr	Engine/cc	Comment	Year
	Convair Special link to Convair site	1100	I learned a lot about anticipation as it had no brakes. Self-built without any experience, this was undoubtedly the worst special ever made, but I had a lot of fun for little investment, and it looked ok!	1958
	Meredith Ashley Special	1488	Bought unfinished, this car was similar to a contemporary Tojeiro with an interesting chassis spec. Wishbone front and De-Dion rear suspension with inboard bi-metal drilled drum brakes. These let in water, and were totally unsuitable for road use. MG Xpeg engine was unsuitable for tuning, and broke crankshafts with monotonous regularity. More info here	1960
	Lea-Francis Special	1684	Pre-war special acquired unfinished and incomplete. It is still unfinished, I am ashamed to say, but a 'proper' restoration is now under way. Full details on site on this web.	1927
	Buick Special	3000	8 mpg flatout! Coil spring ifs., straight eight with exhaust horn. Carried twelve on one memorable occasion. Quite good fun, but had to go as I couldn't afford the petrol! Paid £20, sold for £30 and I thought I had done well!	1939
none	Mini-Moke	850	Hoplessly slow until I supercharged it, then it was good fun	1965
??	Ford Popular	950	The MOST UTTERLY HORRIBLE car I have had the misfortune to own - bought to see me through (financially) whilst I renovated the next machine	1952
	Lotus Elite series II	1100	Apart from being noisy, it was quite indescribable - more like flying a light aeroplane! Climax stage two with ZF all-synchro box. I wrote it off six weeks after completion.	1958
	Fairthorpe Electron Minor	1050	Stop-gap following demise of Elite. Had only one good point, namely exceptional lock which got me out of one scrape and enabled me to win a trials stage! It served its purpose. (picture of my brother, David at the wheel)	1962
	MGA 1600 Roadster dhc	1588	A very ordinary (sports?) car, not improved by poor shocks.	1960
	MGA Twin-Cam fhc	1800	An extraordinary and memorable true sports car with predictable handling and capable of high average mph on long trips. Ranks high on my list of desirable classic cars - does anyone have one for sale?	1958
	MG 1100	1100	I was trying to be sensible, and regretted it. Not too bad as a standard road car, but impossible to sell. Rather wafty suspension, if I recall.	1962
	Buick Invicta	5750	Boat on wheels; ghastly but a giggle. Made a profit, but brakes failed on way to new home. Mfgr. had not bothered to paint the inside of the bodywork, so it must be in car heaven	1958
	Lotus Cortina MkI	1600	Took this car on honeymoon to N Africa, and surprisingly, it was excellent, upsetting all the locals in their Mercedes! Lotus transformed a very boring example of Ford's wares into an exciting and quite quick, in its day, saloon. Much better than the Mk2.	1963
	Lotus Elan 2+2	1600	Kit car built with care: I always felt that the stretched Elan was never rigid enough, but it was a genuine 110mph car which could carry four at a pinch. But, oh those driveshafts!	1969
none	Lotus Europa	1500	Kit car sold on after delivery drive only - no real impression.	1969
	Lotus Seven Twin Cam	1600	Tuned engine from the Lotus Cortina built into this genuine (and rare) Mk III; took great care in assembly, resulting in, probably, the only waterproof seven ever built! 0-60 in 4.8 secs, but with typical back-bruising suspension. I can understand why irs was a significant improvement. Note reversed front wishbones to raise undertray for uneven drive!	1969
none	Mini	850	Bought for £175, run for seven years and sold for £125!!!!! Still used to pass people even when towing substantial trailer!	1964
none	Hillman Imp	950	Strange and fragile	1970
none	Humber Super Snipe Estate	3000	Bought for family transport and towing. Booked for doing twice the speed limit on motorway (towing a trailer!)	1965
none	Fiat 124 Sport	1600	Really quite nice. Engine transformed by rebuild.	1966

	Various Co. Fiats/Lancias		ie. 131, 131 Panorama (ok), Regata (ugh), Delta, Prisma etc.
none	Fiat Panda	1000	Out of work, so needs must
	Honda Aerodeck	1995	Carb. model, non-ABS. Makes a good tow-car. Very well built and still going strong. Adequate sensible motoring
none	Honda Civic ESi	1600	Lovely willing V-tec engine. Excellent practical transport. Does not like being pushed too far, but in it I attained highest average speed on journey to Gatwick of over 90mph (I was a bit late setting out)	1993

Cars I might like to own
	Lotus Type 30/40	4800	The most beautiful car ever built? Pity it's such a handful	1965
	Lotus Type 56	3500	Dreamer!	1969

I will complete this page when I have found the missing photos

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