Pam Clingan writes:
" I have had my Maxi - a 1750 - since before taking my driving test in 1982. The day of my driving test I had a lesson an hour before. But very shortly after we set out, the indicator unit failed and we spent the next 3/4 of an hour trying to find a new one. Duly found, we turned up at the test centre just in time for my test. We came to the end of my test and lo and behold the examiner asked.......'how would you indicate you were turning left if your indicators had failed on you?'. Not quite believing what he'd just asked, I grinned, rolled down my window and dutifully gave the correct signal. The examiner was none the wiser for my escapade.........I passed.
My parents who bought the car were second owners. "Bobby" as we call her - was my mum's car. Bobby gave up the ghost in 1993, just before my wedding. Unable to part with her I took her off the road and decided to restore her over a period of 5 years - owing to the fact that it was garaged 300 miles away. We called the restoration - 'Operation Maximum Bobby'. My husband Paul, and I had never dismantled a car before and so armed with a Haynes manual we set out to do the job. How many times does the manual say........ 'with a gentle tap - with special BL tool No#.......will come out easily!' We came to rely on a trusty 'block of wood' as a persuader (or forcer in some cases) - never be without one!
Both sets of parents said it would never run again - but - they were wrong. We had the engine re-bored and with tender loving care put it all back together again. We've also had all new panels on the front as they were completely rotten.
It is a continuing fight to keep Bobby on the road and a never ending battle against rust. I have had so many adventures in that car she would have to fall into little pieces before I ever let her go."
|
NUW 81P