What a fantastic thread!
My dad was a car nut. Not a mechanical genius by any means, but he had en eye for the eclectic. Family transport included a Renault 4, a couple of Simca 1100s, a Fiat 500, a 2CV, along with some more prosaic transport. I was fascinated by the engines from a very young age: my mother reminded me a while back that my very favourite book was the Ladybird "How It Works: The Motor Car." I could probably still re-draw most of the graphics in that from memory! I suspect that had a strong subconscious influence on my decision to take my undergrad degree in mechanical engineering.
While waiting for delivery of his Morgan (ordered in 1978 and delivered in 1985) he acquired a 1930 Austin 7 Chummy in the early 80s. That was a convenient (for him) few years before I was able to drive, so I became the co-driver/mechanic on several lengthy journeys, mastering such old-fashioned techniques as soaking a rag in a nearby stream and wrapping it round the carburettor to prevent fuel from evaporating on a hot day, or posting a small quantity of fullers' earth in through the access hole in the top of the clutch housing to soak up the oil that had leaked past the seals...
Once I was able to drive (passed my test in a BSM Metro), dad thought it would be very good for my road sense and powers of observation/anticipation to learn to drive the Austin. Advance & retard on a steering wheel quadrant, uncoupled cable-operated brakes (footbrake=rear, handbrake=front), no synchromesh on the three-speed box, no indicators, very "approximate" steering: turning right across traffic going downhill required three feet and five arms to get everything completely smooth, unless it was all planned a long way in advance. He was right, too: I believe I'm much more road-aware as a result of that eye-opening experience!
After that my own vehicular history was boring by comparison: a Herald (sadly scrapped after a catastrophic MOT failure report), a Hillman Hunter, Mk I Golf, Peugeot 106, Polo, another Golf, a pair of Citroen Picassos, then over the pond for a Honda Odyssey minivan and a Hyundai Accent for a daily commute. Plus, of course, the Morgan that I had first ridden in as a spotty teenager. That's parked outside the office right now. Dad died a month ago; it was very touching that a few members of New Forest branch MSCC turned out in their Morgans for his funeral, and that my nephews (on car park duty to keep them busy!) arranged for them to be parked in pride of place outside the church. My mother was really very moved by that gesture.
So, thanks, Ladybird. It's all your fault...
