We moved to Malaysia in 1966 as dad was flying and training the RMAF.
Mum learnt to drive on the RAF base in a FIAT but I think it was the 600 not the 500. The lack of syncro on the gearbox box and rod brakes made it a few times worse than just basic learning and so it had to go after she lightly rear-ended a station jeep. It was replaced by an Austin of some sort. It was always fun being the back when Mum was taking lessons from Dad. Given he was teaching RMAF guys to fly early helicopters at the time he just about managed to keep it together with Mum when teaching her to drive but you could hear the tone changes alongside the gear changes.
I always admired the base commanders Humber Super Snipe. The smell inside that thing on the way to school was remarkable. Mind you the leather was not built for the heat and heavy mid-day rain of Malay and so it rapidly started to go ripe and gain more of a moss than a patina. I guess it leaked like our other favourite cars.
