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What was your first car?
We all have fond memories of our first car.Was it a rust bucket for twenty quid or a brand new one?.Let me know- e-mail gedffleming@hotmail.com
My first car was a 'B'Reg 1964 'Sunbeam Rapier'.It cost a pricey £25.It was owned by a Dutch sea Captain who rented a house in our road and he used it to go back and forth to his ship.
To say it was a beauty was a little exaggeration seeing as it was cross eyed and the indicators were wired to the side lights so when you drove in the dark the indicators did not work.One night on the way to work on nightshft at Corus I had to stop at a level crossing inside the works.As I sat there with the engine running the barrier came down and sliced off the chrome headlight rims which rolled across the road only to be run over by the loco.So there was I with two headlights dangling on their electric wiring.Luckily I had some electricians tape in the boot to fasten them up again.The horn worked ok and the seats were comfortable.When I say cross eyed one light shone on the ground and one in the sky but Florry's in Middlesbrough put it right and they must of felt sorry for me because they only charged a couple of quid.After I had had it six month I noticed smoke drifting up from the footwell and this got worse every day till I had to drive with the windows open.Family and friends would not sit in it and the massive oil leak below the car told it's own story.A quick calculation of the repair bill told me it was time to part company reluctantly with my first car. |  |
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A Bargain Buy
 "How much do you want for your mini"I asked a lad from work who just happened to be a motor dealer in his spare time."£100 with the radio,£75 without""I will give you £75 with the radio""Deal" said the lad.So that was the start of a five year ownership of a car that I made exclusively mine.It very nearly did not happen because most transactions those days were by cheque. "Cash only" said the lad.So up and down the street I went in search of this elusive £75.£60 I collected and my father-in-law paid the rest.The driving seat was not as good as I wanted so I bought a much larger seat from an Austin 1100 and fitted it to the mini.When it was time to take my test(I forgot to tell you I had not passed my test) the examiner asked me to do a turn in the road using forward and reverse gears in a safe and proper manner.Because it was a wide road I did a U turn and he let me off with it and I passed.For those drivers who loved their old mini's you will remember it had a starter button on the floor and you always carried a hammer in the boot because the petrol pump electrical connections were always jamming shut so a sharp tap with the hammer allowed the petrol to flow to the carburetter.
Another quirky thing was the subframe which was always corroded on the test.It was always the back one, the front one was always lubricated from the oil leaks from the engine or gearbox.The mobile mechanic or your mate would come, put a matress on the road and turn the car on it's side,strip the brake shoes and brake pipes and handbrake cable,uncouple the exhaust,undo the holding bolts and lift the subframe clear.He did everything then in the reverse order and hey presto the job was done and the car was as good as new if you did not spot the tons of cataloy holding the body work together. One night as I was driving along I heard a big bang and the car went down one side.I managed to drive it to work and into our workshop,opened the boot and found the rear shock absorber had broke through the casing.An emergency repair was called for which took up most of the night.Luckily it was on the other side to the petrol tank which would have meant dismantling that.On another occasion the battery had run flat and at work we had a multi charger on a bogie to start difficult diesel engines so I coupled that to my battery on the mini and turned on the ignition.The starter motor nearly took off it spun that fast but the engine started.Heading home one night from work a water hose broke so the engine overheated.I was driving a bucking bronco.I managed to fill the radiator which got me so far.On reaching a set of traffic lights I found they were not working and a traffic cop complete with cycle boots was directing traffic.He pointed to my little car, then to his foot and repeated this instruction.As I moved forward in a cloud of steam it took me all my time not to knock him over.On one occasion the car would not start so Margaret my wife agreed to push it off with me.I turned on the ignition and ran alongside.When I thought I had enough speed I jumped in slammed it in second gear put my foot hard down on the clutch then released it and the car started and I was away.I drove it for about a mile to get some juice into the battery and came back to get my lunchbox.Margaret was laid on the settee with both knees bloodied and her tights torn saying "Didn't you see me fall over behind the car".All I could do was apologize and sneak sheepishly back to the car leaving her licking her wounds. |
My Fiat 128
 This car had a peculiarity which I never got to the bottom of and that was it let in water.When it rained the glove compartment would fill up.One day after work I was giving a lift to a mate and we were going through the works after a heavy shower.I drove over a rail track and the glove compartment door dropped down and all this water gushed out soaking my mate who was not too happy.The Fiat's biggest claim to fame was taking the family to Great Yarmouth.All went well on the outward journey but coming home was another story.If you knew Great Yarmouth in the seventies you will remember the bridge which crossed a river and was one way traffic causing miles and miles of tailbacks near Kings Lynn.Well the Fiat decided to overheat while sitting in the jams.I pulled into a layby and filled the radiator with water and found the thermostat wires had broken so the fan wasn't being activated and got back into the line of traffic.After a while it started to overheat again.Behind me was a driver towing a caravan and he must have noticed the steam because he came to my window during a lull and said for me to pull in at the next parking space.After a while I pulled off and he pulled in behind me.He lifted the bonnet and pulled up two wires,one positive one negative from the thermostat and connected them to the battery.The fan burst in to life and we ran it like that till we were home with no need to fill the radiator.Needless to say we were very grateful to our caravanner.This was the car that was always getting bashed either from the side front or rear.One day it decided to fight with the gate on a windy day and came off worst.I took it for it's MOT and left it overnight.There was some repairs to do to pass but when I went to collect it the chap in the garage said it had been in a slight accident which had caused a small dent above the front fender.I looked at it and nodded and he offered £20 off the repair.I jumped at the chance because I knew I had done that when I rode over the spade in the garage and it had bounced up.The car finally bit the dust when the body work fell to bits. |
I only went to meet Ken Barlow.
It was a very hot and sticky day when the family drove to Redcar Racecourse to meet and greet William Roache aka Ken Barlow from Coranation St who was opening a new market.Thousands had the same idea and yes we should of left the car at home.The kids were getting tired clutching their prized scribble on a torn envelope of William Roache's autograph.Just outside the main entrance were roadworks which were about 40 yards from a roundabout.I indicated to turn left but the Policeman on duty controlling the traffic wanted everyone to turn right and take a left or right at the roundabout.I did not realise this as he was busy talking to someone so I went left.He shouted to me to stop which I did.He took his cap off and went to undo his coat and in quite a loud voice said "Hey Mate I have been here for the best part of two hours,I am sick as a parrot sweating like a stuffed pig,if you think you can control the traffic better than me here's my cap and my coat have a go if not TURN RIGHT AND LEFT AT THE ROUDABOUT,OTHERWISE I WILL RUN YOU IN FOR OBSTRUCTION".
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How my Cavaliar ended up a Concertina
One night in November quite a few years ago my daughter asked me to drive her through from Redcar to Staithes so she could spend the weekend with her boyfriend and his family.I asked her mother to come with us as company on the way home.
When we set out it was quite a pleasant night but after we had driven up through Apple Orchard and onto Skelton High St.,it started to snow heavily.As we drove up the High St a Fire Engine and Ambulance turned in front of me and went speeding off,with lights flashing and klaxons blearing.
On reaching Loftus Bank we found this closed because of an accident so we were diverted through Skinningrove,a place I had never driven before.I made my way very slowly through by now a flurry of heavy snow.I drove across a bridge and up the other side.On reaching the end of the road I thought there was a give way sign ahead so I stopped.Just at that a car drove into the back of me.The driver apologised exchanged insurance details and we were on our way.
We stayed at Staithes enjoying a cup of tea and it was suggested,we leave the car till next day but I wanted to get it home,to find out the extent of the damage.When we set off back it was still snowing and Loftus Bank was still closed so rather than going back through Skinningrove,we decided to go onto the Moor road.
As we drove past the Waterwheel Pub,a chap was in the middle of the road flagging us down.I stopped and he explained his son had been in an accident on Loftus Bank and they were on their way to Middlesbrough General,in a borrowed car.Out of the corner of my eye,I spotted a very distraught lady sat in the snow and a car with it's lights still on in a ditch.I agreed to take them so we were on our way,albeit at about five mile an hour in the blizzard that was raging.
We got as far as Birk Brow and found this closed and we were directed through Stanghow and Lingdale.We hadn't gone far when all I could see was a set of headlights heading straight for me in my path.With cars parked both side there was nothing I could do but brake gently and hope for the best.When the other car hit me there was a loud bang,my bonnet flew up and the lady in the back,screamed and fainted.I asked my wife Margaret if she was ok,she said she was but had a gash on her leg.
The bang brought residents out of nearby houses, who opened the back of the car and the lady,still in a deep faint,fell out into the snow.She was carried into one of the houses to recover.Meanwhile we went to another house for a welcome cup of tea.Whilst we were there the other car driver came and apologised as it was his fault and again insurance details were exchanged.Not long after,a very irate man came to the door and accused me of damaging his car.I replied that as far as I knew,only one car had hit mine and said "Yes well when he hit you he also hit mine".The other driver said he would handle it.
Shortly after,a knock came to the door and this chap said I could not leave the car as it was, because no one could get past,so it was decided to turn the stearing wheel into the kurb,release the handbrake and because of the snow,when I felt the car mount the kerb I was to apply the handbrake again.This we did but little did I know there were six men pushing and the car was on a bank.When I released the handbrake the car shot off down the bank with me running alongside in BEDROOM SLIPPERS.When I felt it hit the kurb, I pulled on the handbrake as hard as I could.The wheels locked but the car slid across the pavement and CRASHED INTO AN OLD LADIES DOOR.The door just caved in and landed with a crash inside the house.We just stood there gob smacked and it took us all our time not to laugh and see the funny side.We pulled the car away from the house and propped the door back up.When we returned to our good Samaritans they just could not help but laugh.We were reasured not to worry as the old lady,a retired school teacher was very deaf and would not of heard anything.I wrote a note and went along and pushed it through a very old and rusty letterbox which caused the door to fall in again with another crash,so I propped it up again with the help of her next door neighbour who had been woken by all the commotion and promised to keep an eye on it.We phoned a taxi from our new found friends which cost thirteen pound.What with that and the car a write off when we got home I found I had left my cigarettes at Lingdale.Luckily we had another car so I went to the allnight filling station and when I got home a couple of stiff Whiskies were just what I needed
Next day we received a phone call from the old lady saying the bill would be five pound.We sent off a cheque for ten pound and arranged for flowers to be delivered to both the old lady and our new found friends.The old lady phoned again and complained because we had given her too much.
We found out later that the couple who we had tried to help,made it to Middlesbrough General where their son,although badly injured made a full recovery and the family wrote a letter of appreciation from their home in Mylton Keynes.You may find this like a scene from the Keystone Cops but it certainly was a night to remember or perhaps to forget.The car was in a sorry state in the salvage yard.
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The Red Cavalier
 I bought a red Cavalier cheap and found a few rust spots so it needed a respray.Our local garage had an offer on you could not refuse.I booked it in and after a couple of days took delivery of a spanking brand new car!!.It certainly looked the biz-.Everyone in the road came to have a look at it.I was so proud I cleaned the garage out of tons of junk and carefully parked it in the garage making sure I did not bash the sides or the front in such narrow space.Unfortunately it was very windy and hung from nails from the roof trusses were two fold up picnic chairs and yes they came crashing down onto the newly sprayed car roof causing a couple of dents and chipped paintwork.It had only been finished a matter of hours. |
Two Wheels on My Wagon
 One night I was walking back to South Bank from Grangetown in the early hours,in the pouring rain.I came across a chap changing a wheel,on his Reliant Robin.I asked him where he was going and he said he was going to Cargo Fleet,so I asked him for a lift.He continued changing the wheel and asked me to hold his torch.I crammed myself in the passenger side and we set off 'bumper de bump'along the road,we hadn't gone any distance when THE WHEEL FELL OFF and we turned over with the driver on top of me.He asked if I was ok and then opened his side door and managed some how to get out.Just as I was getting out I noticed the blue lights.The Policeman said "HI HI WHAT'S GOING ON HERE THEN"? then he turned to me and said " WHERE DO YOU LIVE MATE?"so I told him and he said"WELL YOU'D BETTER BE ON YOUR WAY THEN".Just my luck and me on 6 till 2 |
I'm not drunk Officer
For a few years I went to a Camera Club in Middlesbrough which finished at 10 o'clock.I would drive to a pub in Redcar to enjoy a drink and read the Evening paper.When leaving the pub one night I was pulled over by Police in a 4by4.They asked me if I had had a drink to which I replied I had and they said would I follow them and take a seat in the back of the 4by4.They offered me a breath test which I knew I would pass and they opened the door for me and bid me good night.Me having short legs and me forgetting it was a 4by4 I FELL OUT.The Policemen raised their eyes as I went back to my car.It was a good job it was dark to hide my blushes. |
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