READER ADVENTURES
Six extraordinary journeys in six magnificent classics – inspirational ambitions beyond the horizon
The world is there to be explored and, as classic car owners, we are better placed than most to do it. That classic in your workshop, or on your drive, is your ticket – ready, willing and able to transport you to where you need to go. The summer is on its way – the gloom will lift at some point. All you need is the inspiration and maybe a few brave pills and you could be building some life experiences, you and your classic. So, why not start planning. Read on, and gather inspiration… remember, science has shown that any journey in a classic is 87 per cent more enjoyable than a one taken in a modern car. *We made this bit up, but it is still very much true.
READER'S STORY ONE
Barry Nicholson’s daily driver is his favourite link with home
We have been using classics as our daily transport for quite some time, both in the UK before we emigrated and now in Panama. While in the UK, I fell in love with classics during my ownership of a not particularly good example of a 1978 MGB Roadster, then later a 1966 Daimler V8 used for my commute between Glasgow and Aberdeen.
When we moved to Panama a few years ago, I rather quickly discovered that modern cars with all of their electronics were all well and good until something went wrong… at that point, it was at best a 50:50 chance that they would ever work correctly again. After a couple of particularly disastrous encounters with a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban and a 5.6-litre, supercharged V8 Nissan Titan pickup, I decided upon an ex-army 2.5NA Land Rover 110. An announcement of pregnancy put paid to that one and, for various reasons (some of which I can't even remember), we ended up with a 1996 ex-London LTI Fairway black cab.
This actually turned out to be a good option, too. The Nissan diesel means that getting parts locally is no problem at all, there are no electronics to worry about, so it makes a spectacularly useful family car – especially with the single front seat and the closing, glass division – and so far has been extremely reliable. The fact that it was the first one ever seen in Central America did cause one or two slight issues with clearances, but it is funny how everybody recognises what it is instantly and it does generate a lot of smiles.
As part of a plan to offer wedding hire, we then brought in another Fairway and a TX1. That never really came to fruition, but the TX1 now serves as my wife's daily driver on my daughter's school run and the 1997 Fairway is always there as a spare car whenever one of the others is in for maintenance!
READERS STORY TWO
Tom and Rob Galloway drive to Macedonia in a very special Landcrab
