Old Cars.

[Maywalk]

We had a four door column change Ford Classic for 36 years.
She was the only car we had apart from a Triumph Herald that we used while Betsy had a complete overhaul and respray when she was about 16 years old. 

We paid £435 for her in 1962. We had her when she was 6 months old off an insurance man who thought she was TOO heavy to handle because she was all steel.

She became a talking point as she got older and there was always some youngster who was interested in her and thought it was great to get behind the wheel.
DONT mistake this car for the Ford Anglia although they had similar backs to them, the Classic had a massive boot.

As the years passed we joined the collectors club and went to many rallies all over the country.
I wrote the poem below to put on the bonnet for folks to read because while hubby went off to talk to the other members.
I used to be left to tell folks about her so the poem told them most of what they wanted to know to save my breath.

Betsy was still in pristine condition when we had to let her go because hubby had developed a deformed foot over the years through rheumatoid arthritis. It was like losing one of the family. Our lovely outings were finished but never forgotten.

Before we let her go to a new owner my son asked if he could replace the number with another one because he wanted to keep Betsy's original number. It was sorted out and now my son has the number transferred to any new car that he gets.




Ode to Betsy,

A few details of my history may be of interest to you.
I came into existence in 1962.
I'm a four door Ford Classic 315
With a very large boot and a column drive.
I have been with my family for 36 years
Sharing good times and bad as well as their fears.

They christened me Betsy from the very first day
When they chose me as theirs and drove me away. 
Curiosity from youngsters wondering what I could be
Conversation with the elderly who could remember me.

And I may say with all modesty and very much pride,
Three times I was chosen to carry a bride.
I have eased up with age now, I dont go like a jet,
But my get up and go has not left me yet.

I grumble a bit when started but I haven't got a knock
This is to be expected because I've gone right round the clock.
I might be a never was and well past my sell by date
But I have always made it well on time and never ever late.

[bromers]

In November 1959 i left school and went to work for  the Cooperative Society, i worked in the order dept. putting up grocery orders . The manager had a black Ford consul , after i had been there about 6 months he treated himself to a brand new Ford classic he loved that car. Then one day he called me to is office gave me a bucket, sponge, polish and a chamios leather, i've got a job for you he said. Every friday afternoon i cleaned his car for 4 years until i was moved to work on a mobile shop. But they were happy days.

[Maywalk]

Hi Bromers
Lovely to meet you on the forum.
That must have brought back some pleasant memories by the sounds of it.
I wonder if that old manager of yours was in the car club that we belonged to. 

[Hugh]

My first car cost me £15 a sit up and beg ford popular. Would do 70 mph flat out but very difficult to keep in a straight line at that speed.

[Maywalk]

Yes I remember them well Hugh.
Have you got a photo of it?

[Wrinkles]

My first car was also a Ford prefect, of indeterminate age, an E434  (or something like that) the one with the long "Crocodile" Bonnet. I got it free when it shed 2nd gear outside our house. I knew the driver and he asked if he could park it on the drive until he got it recovered.  A few hours later he returned and said he was going to scrap it, I offered to take it off his hands and he gave me the log book there and then. It was great fun although you had to thrash it mercilessly in first to enable you to get into top (3rd) I had it for quite a while until one night it committed Hari kari by diving into the local quarry. A young lady and I had been parked for some time on the edge of the quarry, a well known local Courting spot. We of course were looking at the stars, doing our astronomy home work, when we decided to get some air. We walked about 30 yards from the car when 25 yds of the quarry edge, and the car disappeared. 2 minutes earlier and we would have been inside it.

[Maywalk]

WOW Wrinkles someone was watching over you both at that time. Glad to know that you made it and the young lady.
Did anything become of the romance. ?

[Wrinkles]

I guess whoever it was is still doing a good job.  As for the young lady, I ceased to be a desirable asset once I was car-less so we both moved on.

[Maywalk]

Ah Well!!! Thats life, as the say.  

[cheddar-caveman]

My first car was when I joined the Navy back in 1955. An old, white Comma van, with a large mattress in the back

[Maywalk]

Sounds as though you were prepared CC with having that mattress in the back 

I wonder what for. 

[cheddar-caveman]

Well, on a long journey one could get a bit tired

[Maywalk]

I believe you CC.    Thousands wouldn't.

[Thesheriff]

Cars were my passion for the first 40 years of our married life - once we had owned it for two years it got boring and was time for a change - sometimes having 4 at the same time.

Over the years we have owned  36 private Cars  / 2 Motorcycles / 4 Caravans / 2 Motorhomes / 2 Lorry Tractor Units.

Our first Car in 1962 was a Morris Traveller  and our last 3 have all been Spanish registered Cars.

Amongst the 36 have been 4 American Cars - the first of these was a Large Saloon Car with bench seats and a column 3 speed shift  - it was a Ford Galaxy - Daytona Special Edition - and it had a warning sticker on the windscreen immediately in front of the driving position - ' It is advisable not to exceed 70 mph in First gear '

The first lot of petrol I bought was  1 shilling & 2 pence per Gallon - the equivalent of approx  1.5 cents / pence  per Litre in to days terms.

[cheddar-caveman]

Goodness, that's a heck of a lot of cars! Mind you, when one thinks back, I've had a few. As stated, my first was a Commer van (with mattress). Then, after a long period carless as I was at sea most of the time, a Morris Traveller for many years. In Singapore I found an old Austin 7 Ruby on a scrap heap and got that working. In the ME I had several American cars including a '60 Chevvy Convertable! Also a Landrover Discovery (Monday morning version!) and a Buick. Here I've had Volvos and currently a Saab 95 Estate (to carry the rubbish to the tip) while my wife has a Smart Brabas Roadster and a Fiat 500 for when it rains