Porsche 911 Turbo Convertible

We still own this Porsche 911 Turbo that we bought new from AFN in Guildford. Great spec and the colour chosen by the wife. The car is now over 4 years old and done around 12,000 miles, hardly run in. It is a fantastic car that can idle along at low speed and then turn into an absolute monster. 4 wheel drive, great looks, great balance, power and style. The perfect car.

Bentley Continental GT Convertible V8

This is the 5th Bentley Continental GT i've owned and the first V8. Only time will tell if it is the best version. Immediately obvious is the better mpg; but is that really the point of a Bentley? I need to put more miles on the car to give this a fair appraisal. Regardless, the GT is a fantastic looker and a great vehicle to travel long distances in. I suspect that is the point of the GT.

MGC GT

My MGC GT, simple heavy straight 6 engine and four speed gearbox. I've had the engine, suspension, brakes and steering rack sorted, although it still needs power steering to consider it a pleasure to park. On the road its very good for its age. Probably the best classic I've had for everyday use. Long legged and it keeps up with traffic. With the original Webesta sunroof it is very open and useable. Hot inside without air conditioning and therefore much more comfortable to drive with the windows and roof open.

If you cant afford an Aston Martin buy the very best MGC GT you can find and enjoy it.

Daimler Dart V8

Daimler SP250 Dart. I always wanted a Dart as I had heard about the magnificent Turner designed V8 and what a great engine it was. I bought mine from an auction and it was absolutely mint. Too good to use really and it sat in the garage for most of the time I owned it. Terrible steering, far too heavy even for me.

Sold it for cash and a reasonable MGC GT that I have now made very good. More about that one later in the sequence.

Ferrari 456

Getting a bit more serious now. A 456, what an engine, it never failed to impress when back in the garage from a run, the engine noise, a tingling ticking was awesome. Apart from that car was a disaster. Wind noise came in from the rear of the front windows; normal for a 456 Sir, came the dealer reply! I realised why the test drive was undertaken with the windows open after I got it home. Paid £99,999.00 as I told Maranello that if Spurs only paid that for Jimmy Greaves, why woud I pay more for a car. It worked so don't knock it.

Didn't keep the car long, but should have had the windows fixed and kept faith with it a bit longer.

Ford Escort CBD 561X

This Ford Escort was a brilliant car. The new model brought Ford right back to the top of the league for this range of cars. Hatchback convenience and a radical new look. It was the must have vehicle of its type at the time.
Note the Avon sticker in the back, those were the days.
The car is parked outside our first house in East Grinstead. The year c. 1982.

BMW 518i

When I ran this car it was provided by my company (Alphameric Broadcast Solutions Limited - now defunct). I had just started a new job with them and really wanted a Renault 25 Monaco that had lots of extras thrown in. The BMW was a basic car (not the Lux) but went ok. In the long run I think it was a better choice than the Renault.

Reliable, efficient, boring but built well. Not much more to recommend it.