“MY first car was a 1938 Austin 10, two-door, four seater, with soft top and “pram-style” hinges. It had the registration YG 4666.
This was an early 21st birthday present and cost £55 in Bradford about 1955.
The car was comfortable and was very good on hills - the “old bank” at Runswick Bay being a good example.
One day, in Leeds, I was giving a girl from the office a lift home when I noticed smoke coming – apparently – from her hands. I asked her if she had started smoking and she said ‘no’.
John Hurlstone, of Denton, Darlington today. Picture: STUART BOULTON
I realised that the smoke was coming from the floor and that there must be a fire under the bonnet. I pulled into the kerb, lifted the side of the bonnet, and flames and smoke greeted me. The driver of a fuel delivery vehicle told me to “stand back” as he had a fire extinguisher. We did so, but despite his efforts the damn thing did not work and we eventually put the fire out with clumps of grass and soil.
The carburettor bowl had come loose and petrol was dripping onto the exhaust pipe, hence the fire. Since the paintwork to the nearside of the bonnet was severely damaged, I eventually painted the whole car fire engine red.
I had the car for a number of years after that, doing quite long trips to see my girlfriend at Birmingham University etc and it was extremely reliable."
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