The great car hunt

I do love old cars. I love the way they smell, the way they move and the way they look. They have bags of character and more importantly, they are great fun to drive.

As my circumstances had changed and it was about time a few others did too I started on a car hunt.  This meant my friends, thankfully, started the great car hunt too.

The first car was inspected thoroughly by a friend, a report written (and eagerly read by us all) and a few days later I was poised on the edge of my seat with another friend in front of the computer preparing to bid on ebay.  Friend was in charge of the buttons, I was in charge of the other buttons and all good sport needs a spectator and we had one sat watching us watching the auction.  At 10 seconds the bid was placed, at 7 it was registered and for 3 gloriously triumphant fantastic seconds I had won. Then I lost. Good bye Farina.

Then another friend and I went to look at a Morris – it wasn’t quite right so we consoled ourselves with ice cream in a petrol station car park at the back end of Birmingham before driving off into the distance with the Morris Minor at the back of our minds.

Who needs a Morris anyway.

But then another friend pointed out another Morris, not just any old Morris mind you – this one had a roof rack.

I happened to be passing the location and as I would be in the vicinity for the end of the auction I headed over.  My friend, myself and another appointed spectator/support team friend carried out a thorough inspection.  We went around the block a couple of times, confirmed everything worked at the front and the spectator confirmed the back seat was perfect for the all round bone rattling experience.  We decamped to the kitchen table, contemplated the car (and roof rack) and decided a price for the bid the following day.

Armed with laptops, back up lap tops, internet, back up internet, cups of tea and nerves of steel.  I poised my mouse over the bid button on eBay and at 10seconds things started to happen.  It was so interesting I nearly forgot to bid... but I did - just in time (prompted by the other eBay back up system on the sofa). Then we couldn’t work out whether I had won, or whether I had pressed the button in time.

I had.

I told everyone who would listen that I was the proud owner of the roof rack and we went off to get it.

Boots hated it.  He sat politely in the back as Dogs can be inclined to do.  When I stopped, I opened the door for his exit and he eagerly unwrapped himself and left the vehicle at warp speed. Later I decided to go out again so I whistled Boots announcing we were off on a jaunt.  He ran along the drive to greet me and then stopped dead – clearly remembering we now travelled under a roof rack and refused to come any closer.

Even the following day he had to have a bit of encouragement…

A good night of celebrations, of friends, things and cars and in the morning I was ready for the journey home.  First I needed some pre-flight checks  and preparations to ensure I would make it home.   So after more scrabbling on the floor, a trip to the shop, more scrabbling, some hoisting and then some driving off into the morning I made it all the way home. 

So, how many people does it take to buy a classic car?

3 mechanically minded friends, an entire back up team, a celebratory empire, a batch of marmalade and one dog.

Thanks guys! You are all the BEST!