I recall someone suggesting a "stoopid contest" some time back, but I haven't
seen much action on this. But, then, I don't seem to be able to keep up with
the daily flow, so there may be offerings on my B drive I haven't looked at.
Anyway, upon reading the suggestion of such a contest, I immediately
remembered my first British car, which was actually two British cars. 'Twas
back in 1962 and I was 'bout 14 years old or so. For fifty bucks, I bought
two Austin A-40s. One was a green 1948 model that had actually once belonged
to my dad and in which I had experienced my first rallys at age 5 or so. The
other was a black '52 model. The '48 had a very straight and rust free body,
but a siezed engine. The '52 was in running condition but had a badly bashed
right rear door and door pillar. Any half wit would have repaired the '48's
engine, or at least dropped the '52's engine into it for a fast fix. But
noooo, not me. I liked the '52 because it had parking lights and the '48
didn't. Parking lights!!! (Gawd!) The '48 was a very early model and did
not have this Americanization. It also had smaller (than the '52's
American-sytle sealed beam) headlights. These features alone would make it a
very desirable collector among Austin fans today. After stripping off handy
parts from the '48, I called the local junk yard and had its beautiful,
straight, rust free body hauled off. For the next three or so years I drove
the '52, dented door and all, until one day I spotted a slightly wrecked
Morgan +4 for sale. But that's another story!
|