The classics you love, drive and restore
‘It was left in Rome as the Nazis retreated’
This was found near Rome by US troops after the Germans retreated. They used it for a while before abandoning it again. A local then claimed it and kept it until he died in 2019, although it hadn’t been used for 18 years. I bought it from the owner’s son.
The colour isn’t original, because it was repainted sometime in the Seventies for a film – it has appeared in two films, and a TV advertisement – but the gearbox cover has the original colour on it. It has been restored slightly over the years, but it’s 90 per cent original. I love it; it’s part of our history.
‘The Mini has a big following in Italy’
The ‘T’ stands for ‘Traveller’. They were built at the Lambretta factory under licence and were very popular.
I’ve owned it for 12 years, and it’s still in its original condition. I found it in Rome, where it was owned by an old man who sadly had to stop driving. He had given it lots of attention over the years.
I use it a lot in summer, and it attracts attention wherever we go. I love the way it drives… very Italian! I always like to make a show of it too – the Mini has a big following in Italy.
‘As featured on TV’s SalvageHunters!’
This Minor was rescued by Drew Pritchard from the TV programme Salvage
Hunters. It was featured on the very first episode of the first series.
Drew thought he was on to a winner – but it was so rusty, he ended up selling it for just 50p more than he paid!
Luckily, it found a new owner who had it restored. Fast-forward a few years, and I’m the very happy owner.
In fact, my firs-tever car was a Minor bought for £50.
It wasn’t in the best condition, to say the least, so it didn’t last long. However, I’ve never been able to forgive myself for scrapping it, so I’m delighted to be a Minor owner again.
There’s plenty of beautiful countryside here in Wales, obviously – which means plenty of lovely roads on which to enjoy the benefits of Moggy ownership.
‘I can fit a double bass in it’
When this one came up about ten years ago with just 6000 miles on the clock, I couldn’t resist it. I did buy it blind, though – which is always a risk, isn’t it?
The car didn’t have a registration document – it had been in a museum in Ireland and they’d lost it.
