First powered wheels were a Honda 50 super sports complete with racing fairing cost £100 from Bill Hannah in great George St., Liverpool; better not say too much about that, but people from around here and of that period will know why. Would do all of 55 down the New Ferry by-pass with the wind behind and 40, if you were lucky, going the other way. Nearly came a cropper when going through the Mersey tunnel during the rush hour, with the impetuous of youth I switched to the third lane when the Tunnel police opened it, hit the raised centre marking at the wrong angle, wobbled all over the place but controlled it before I went under a wagon coming the other way, that still gives me the shivers even now to think about it. The was OK when it went but otherwise a load of rubbish; the old man once called it cruelty to small bikes when I was on it. It would take someone on the back but was extremely hairy when crossing Birkenhead docks especially in the wet. One large fellow only asked me once to give him a lift home, on another occasion Mike Storey, later leader of Liverpool City Council and prospective contender to be the Mayor of Liverpool was transport from Oulton Park back home one bank holiday in 1968 I think it was. I don’t suppose he would remember that now. (Or prefer not to anyway)
Next was a 1947 Beeza C11, an ex territorial machine with plunger back suspension, speedo in the tank and three speed box, Hell in the wet but what a difference when you opened the throttle compared to the Honda. But nevertheless, I learnt an awful lot with at machine. I stripped it down and rebuilt it giving me the confidence to be able to tackle much larger jobs on cars later one. I partly, to my Mothers absolute horror, did the rebuild in the living room over one winter. This resulted in a complete redecoration of the living room.
Throughout this time I was desperately saving to buy a new machine. I had set my heart on a Triumph Tiger 500, but the old man said there was no way I was going to have that, as the 350 was plenty big enough. I think I’m right in saying that at that time, 1967/8 the respective cost was £296 and £292. But the onset of rheumatic problems, bribery and common sense I suppose, won the day and I was steered towards a new camera instead which I still have BTW.
The old man, no doubt with the help a severe prodding from Mother, came up with a pretty neat solution to my transport problem though. His head of department at Liverpool University was wanting to dispose of his old car, so that is how I came to acquire my first set of four wheels. This was a 1959 Standard Vanguard MK111 Vignial (sp) estate, BKF 358. She had a broken back spring but we soon sorted that out, the back bearer holding the back of the gearbox up had gone at sometime and, in its place, was a scaffolding pole bent to the correct shape which, in turn, was held to each sill with a piece of hefty Dexion (sp). I took my first driving test (car) on Christmas Eve 1968. Apparently, I had the area inspector, it snowed, sleeted and rained the whole time and I forgot to put the lights on. I eventually passed in July 1969 which was quite fortuitous really, as the old man decided that we were all going off on our first continental tour in our respective vehicles, he had a Vanguard 6 automatic saloon, one of only six made I believe. Anyway, over the next three years my Vanguard, quite apart from the normal day to day running to work and going to rowing regattas, did two more trips abroad, to Spain in 1970 and Portugal and southern Spain the following year; how she survived those roads at that time I have no idea but she did with no real mishaps.
But time caught up with her and a new model was acquired. Since then I’ve had Triumph 2000’s still got my beloved TR6, a couple of Austins and now a Volvo. I still have the Old mans 1958 Moggie 1000 in the garage which is in need of a good home. The thought had crossed my mind to give it to my nephew for his first car, if he will restore it but, as he has no idea what a Moggie 1000 is I don’t think that’s a starter but, if he wants the TR, then will have to prove to me that he truly deserves it.
