KEEPERS SPECIAL
We speak with five owners to find out what it’s really like to live with a dream car – first spotted at the cinema or on the small screen
In common with many classic fans, our love affair with cars was sparked by the glamour of television shows and films.
From the suave John Steed in his vintage Bentley and the ‘so-cool-it-hurts' Thomas Magnum in his Ferrari 308GTS, to the hilarious antics of Kenneth More and the Doctor in Charge team chasing around London with a kidnapped gorilla in the back of a Lagonda Rapide, and Sid James and Charlie Hawtrey in Carry on Cabby.
Perhaps it was Tony Curtis and Roger Moore cruising the French Riviera in their Ferrari and Aston Martin that lit a fire of desire to own such a car ourselves one day?
Here though, we meet CCW readers who actually made their screen dreams come true...
1972 RELIANT REGAL
Firefighter Daniel Baverstock is no stranger to classics: ‘I’ve owned Minis, Beetles, a VW T2 camper van… Classics always put smiles on faces, and I love hearing people reminisce about cars they remember from the “old days” and the fond memories that they unlock.’
For Daniel, ‘the old days’ are back when he was only six years old: ‘I used to visit my nan and grandad every Saturday. And after Grandstand on TV, we all settled down together to laugh at the hilarious Only Fools and Horses.’
In the 30 years since the show’s launch, Only Fools and Horses has won countless awards and remains one of Britain’s most-watched and best-loved sitcoms. ‘Owning the Del Boy van brings back such wonderful memories,’ explains Daniel. ‘One weekend I went to a local show that had an arena for live demonstrations and I was approached by a chap who wanted to jump his stunt motorcycle over my van.
I readily agreed and thankfully both the stunt rider and the van survived. That was fun and it seemed to make everyone happy, which is what I’m all about!’ Daniel even uses the car to go shopping. “I love to see people’s faces light up with smiles as I drive by. Wherever I park, people come up to chat, reminisce, and get their photos taken with the van. I often see posts and photos on Facebook saying as ‘Del Boy spotted!’
“I recently installed a device so that at the flick of a switch I can now make the car smoke like an old banger when I make an entrance, and people love that. Although, in truth, I’ve thoroughly overhauled the van since I bought it and brought the mechanics up to the best condition possible. Obviously I absolutely love this car!”
