Brought back memories of all the money I've spent - frightening.
1957 Ford Popular - Working at a holiday camp and this was the 'camp car'. bought for £5. 3 forward gears, vacuum wipers and about 40 mph top speed - an added reverse light fitted that would have done justice to a 747.
1973 Ford Escort 1.3 HC Van - actually my fathers firms van, but was a suitable 'passion wagon' for a 17 yr old, as long as the girl didn't mind sitting on starter motors and alternators.
1974 Daimler Sovereign - again my fathers, but he lost his license so I had to drive us to work so couldn't stop me using it for personal use. 17 years old, 4.2 litres and an 8 track stereo!! Collecting a bird in that - ah bliss.
1976 Mini 850 - back to reality as I had left home and had to live within my means. A crap car that turned me against Minis for the rest of my life. Strangely enough my 18 year old daughter has just bought an '85 Mini 1000 and the revulsion is still there on sitting in it.
1979 Vauxhall Cavalier 2.0 [i think the GTS] - boring, anodyne with no memories at all.
1983 Cavalier SRi Mk 1 - First car I ever really loved. A stunning beast for it's day. Collected my daughter from hospital in this - aaaaaaaahhhhh. Driving it on the day of collection from the garage and obviously not having listened to the rep when he had told me what the buttons did. Stopped at traffic lights doing the man thing of pushing any button in sight and the boot flew open - embarassed man getting out of car to shut it.
1987 Ford Granada 2.0i Ghia - Bye bye Cavalier as logistics of moving a wife, child and paraphanalia around hit home. Actually a nice car, but a big mistake not to buy the 2.8.
1985 Toyota Celica 2.0 GT - Divorce just through, expensive cars a thing of the past again, but a chance to get a credible car again. Nippy little thing that never let me down.
1985 Nissan Prairie - Money low, new woman in the life who owned dogs. Head turned by new found love so 'we' got something to carry us and the dogs in. What a disaster - Car and woman gone very soon.
1987 Citroen BX GTi - new job, more money and time to refresh the boy racer image. This was an absolute beauty until the cambelt went at 110 mph on the M11. Lots of mangled silver looking things when the engine was removed. Replaced engine, but never really trusted her again.
1990 Toyota Supra 3.0 - This being single again thing is great. This white stunner called to me from the forecourt as I was driving by and I could not resist. I must have been the only person in Britain who did not know about the head gasket problems they had and sure enough she did not let me down. It blew in Coventry - 2 reasons to be depressed.
1996 Alfa Romeo 2.0 GTV - working for myself now so obviously a man needs a sensible company car. This was an absolute money pit, but the feeling of driving this BRG beauty for 120,000 miles in 2 years will remain with me for ever. Constant fights with new wife on whether she could borrow it. The biggest head turner I have ever owned [apart from the Prairie, but that was in disbelief].
1994 Mercedes 500 SL - first attempt at trying the 'businessman' image. Hated this from Day 2 - Wondering what the hell I had been thinking on day 1.
1996 LS400 - After attending a meeting I got a lift with someone who owned one and love blossomed - went and bought one the next week. One look from the new wife 'it's like a tank, I can't drive that' - a warm glow inside. Owned her for nearly a year now [the car] and have got used to the 'how much?????' syndrome for repairs and parts.
Probably bored everyone to tears with the memory lane stuff, but I've enjoyed it...........................