...the result?

Hillman Imp:
(Acquired Autumn 1974) Originally a standard 1968 model with the 850cc engine, which I ended up fitting a radio; air-vents; tachometer; electronic ignition, wider tyres, wheel spacers. Over and above my means of transport this was also used for a few road rallies... the navigational kind.

Photo of model but not my actual car.

MG Midget:
(Acquired Autumn 1975) 1275cc A series engine; chrome bumper, 1970 model. Over the time I had this car I fitted uprated springs and shox, electronic ignition; Cooper-S distributor; polished & ported cylinder head with larger valves and uprated valve springs; Webber 45 DCOE with custom inlet manifold, Janspeed centre-branch exhaust manifold leading into larger bore straight exhaust, which terminated in a Peco straight through silencer; renewed the front brake disks, fitting competition pads and shoes; fitted brake servo (from a Hillman Hunter estate car so it really stopped!); spot lights; front air dam; Aerodynamic double bar roll-cage; wider tyres; additional gauges; radio cassette; head-rests; new soft-top; hard top; smaller steering wheel (made it far easier for someone 6'4" tall). This car was superb fun and until I got married was probably the love of my life! At this time I became the area Sec. for the MG Owners Club in Fife and Tayside and Elinor and I would take the car around the country to various events. The Midget was eventually sold to a close friend who subsequently sold it to another mutual friend so I was still assisting in servicing/modifying it for a number of years after it had moved on.

MGB GT:
(Acquired 1979) Jubilee limited edition in British Racing Green with gold flashes and the V8 steel and alloy wheels. A cracker. By this time I was married so there were limits on what could be spent on the car. However I ended up fitting the Leyland ST front air dam; uprated front shox; converting the rear shox to adjustable spax telescopic; fitting the V8 ST springs all round; replacing the front wings (metal moth!); fitting a kenlowe fan; electronic ignition; radio cassette; glass sun-roof; having the car re-sprayed. This one was brought up to a superb condition and was great fun to drive at home or abroad, easily accommodating Eli and I as well as our English Setter (not abroad!), whose basket fitted neatly into the rear hatch area. However a few years further down the road our daughter was on the way so a more family oriented vehicle was required. Hind-sight is a wonderful thing. I should have kept the MGB GT and laid it up and bought a cheap family car, however the B moved on.

Triumph Dolomite 1850:
(Acquired 1982) Bought from a friend this car went well, was very similar to the Triumph PI in its cockpit and with 4 doors was practical. Then I moved from beat policing to the Traffic Dept. and wanted something more like the company car (BMW 525i).

BMW 525:
(Acquired 1983) Not the injected model and probably a retrograde step going for a larger and older car, but nice to drive, plenty room for the family - wife, son, daughter & dog. But not the most economic car at around low 20's m.p.g. Virtually no mod's to this vehicle, just routine servicing and colour coding the front grill. Having been a fan of the Ford Fiesta when it first came out and liking the special models etc. We got the opportunity to buy a good condition XR2 at the same time a colleague wanted the BMW.

Ford Fiesta XR2:
(Acquired 1984) Standard non-EFI engined model, but the full XR2 spec' for its day. With the children up and into car seats/seat-belts the two door model gave some security - no doors for them to accidentally open. Quite a sporty drive and reasonably economic. Front Spot and Fog lights fitted and I think that was about it... other than wider tyres.

Ford Escort Diesel:
(Acquired December 1986) D-reg, our first new car. Really a family car but when the "company" are supplying BMW 525i, Rover SD1 3.5 V8, Ford Granada 2.8i, Vauxhall Senator 3.0i, why did I need a fast car! The Escort was a great wee car and was very very economic. However the children kept growing (in size, not numbers) so a larger car seemed to be the way to go.

Montego 2.0 Turbo Diesel:
(Acquired 1990) G-reg and bought as an ex demonstrator. A lot more lift and top end than the Escort and although a boot rather than a hatch, a lot of useful space. Fitted the rear boot spoiler to be able to see the rear of the car when reversing (and for looks). However as the children grew and required more bits and pieces for various activities an Estate was on the cards.

Citroen ZX 1.9 Turbo Diesel Estate:
(Acquired 1994) M-reg. The estate model had just been launched and the turbo diesel was only available in the top spec with alloys etc. so other than a tow bar there was nothing to add to this new car. Nice to drive, quick off the mark, not quite as economic as the Montego, but far more refined and capable of spinning the wheels in 3rd if you were not careful. Purchase of my E-Boat gave a requirement to have something more substantial to pull the boat rather than relying on friends (BETH E-160) so...

Land Rover Discovery TDiS:
(Acquired January 1998) Having latterly had new / almost new cars this was a case of trading in a M for a M, but the Disco had only 30k on the odometer and was in good condition. Certainly not as economic as the ZX but this car would go anywhere and pull anything, had 7 seats and with the seats folded away could carry almost anything. A few ventures with the Scottish Land Rover Owners Club confirmed the vehicles competency and the Disco moved the boat with ease. The joys of the low ratio box and the diff' lock. Having secured a pontoon mooring at Anstruther the need to move the boat regularly diminished. Lyndsey was away from home at University and Chris had his own car so the need for the big car decreased. So...

Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 SXi:
(Acquired October 2002)  Spring 2002 saw Eli getting a new Corsa and her AX went to Chris (who promptly followed the family tradition by putting on a full body kit from the GT model, inc' alloys and wider tyres). This wee car was not the most powerful car I had ever driven, but was nice to drive, got around 45 m.p.g. and had quite sporty road manners. So in October 2002 I copied Eli and changed the Disco for a new Corsa.

Completing my 30 years police service in September 2005 and no longer needing a commuting car at the same time Chris turned 21... Chris got the Corsa as a 21st present though I borrowed it back or used Eli's Corsa... when the weather or journey reason does not suit the bike.

Robin Hood 2B
(Acquired October 2003)  Full details on the Hood.

The Hood was the first answer to the "quest" I mentioned, above.  However a shortage of time led to only 550 miles on the Hood from MOT 2004 to MOT 2005, so after much thought I sold the Hood in January 2006 to Thierry Magot from nr St. Tropez.  I think the car will be best suited to the climate of the South of France.

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