Classic emails, letters, tweets, posts & threads
LETTER OF THE MONTH
Fishy business
Searching through some old photos, I found this one of my Mini, taken in 1965 on the driveway of my house in Thundersley, Essex. I loved this little motor, in which I commuted to London every day – and it never let me down.
On the evening of my wedding day in July 1965, I was due to drive home in the car, but some of my ‘friends’ purloined the car keys to dress the car up in the traditional tin cans and ‘just married’ signs, and fill it with balloons and confetti. However, what I didn’t expect was that the old fish head they’d placed on the exhaust manifold.
I drove up the road and removed the tin cans, but there was smoke and an awful smell coming from under the bonnet – I lifted it, only to discover the fish head. For months afterwards the interior of the car still had an awful smell of rotten fish.
By this time I wanted to sell the car and so, in desperation, I telephoned the friend in question. His reply was shocking: ‘Haven’t you found the fish head in the webbing under the driver’s seat?’
If any of your readers remember buying a Mini with a fishy smell, now you know how it happened.
A CLASSIC LIFE KEEPS YOU GOING
My response to Martyn Davidson’s letter (PC, February 2024) is to urge him to hang on in there. I had surgery and chemotherapy in 2006 for testicular cancer, then more chemo in 2018 for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. I turned 74 in August. I’m fit and active again, enjoying life and it all looks promising. Over that time, I've immersed myself in a Lomax kit-car build from a 2CV donor and several motorcycle rebuilds. A positive mindset, a focus on classic vehicles, the great mates in the old vehicle scene and planning your future will carry you through.
Sincerest wishes for a full recovery. I am just one of many cancer survivors enjoying life to the full again.
Pandamonium
I’ve just seen Danny’s request for ideas to raise money for charity in his newly acquired Fiat Panda 100hp.
I advise him to keep his eyes open for the ‘Panda to Pandino’ event – a run to the Italian town of Pandino organised for Fiat Pandas of all kinds. Paul Humphreys Ed: Count me in! This is how I will raise money on behelf of Prostate Cancer UK.
Quick posts
I aquired my April 1970 Chevrolet Camaro RS Z28 in 1977 and still own it now. Forty-seven years of ownership, and still love using it for pleasure and for charity (with the Sporting Bears Motor Club).
I’ve had my E46 M3 for 17 years. This is the sweet spot of the 3 Series for me –lots of power but not overloaded with tech.
Had my Hornet since 1990; it was with my grandparents from six months old. She took up modelling in PC last year at 58 years old!
