Moss Motors, Ltd

I grew up in Britainland, and fondly remember the occasions (every 3 years or so) when we had a new car. No MGs, but I just remember, at age 5, we had our first really new car. A brand new Mini Clubman finally arrived and I remember Mum Dad and I riding out of the showroom in Nottingham, feeling just a little bit like royalty.... Of course, this was after the usual long wait due to delivery problems, industrial action and the first car being rejected by the dealer as there was something terminally wrong with it from the factory! It was, after all, Britain in the mid 70's .

Later cars, now much ridiculed examples of the Austin brand, seemed excellent at the time, and I remember my Dad loving the Allegro with its twin carb 1500cc engine, exotic 5 speed gearbox and front wheel drive.

My other favourite car then was my Grandpa's Morris Minor 1100, and I still have a huge fondness for them. I'd stay with my grandparents during summer holidays, and loved day trips in the Minor His was second-hand but practically perfect, and he kept it that way - after all he was a trained mechanic, and very meticulous. At times, I rather wish he'd been around to help me with the B - he'd have loved it.

If there's a point to my ramblings, perhaps it's this: Our cars still carry with them the spirit and character they did when they were contemporary (plus nostalgic value of course), even if our modern cars are so far ahead in design and development, they seldom have the outright character and, let's face it, basic feel of the older stuff. If the car is in decent shape you get 90%+ of what the original owner enjoyed - more if it's a good fresh restoration as has been said earlier. Chasing that ultimate newness will be costly, and it won't last very long.