When was the first time you remember being in a car?

Must be the mid 1950's in my Dad's Singer, with a pre-selector gearbox, I somehow remember that vividly!
A trip to Blackpool to see the illuminations. Broke down on the way home, haven't a clue what the problem was but I remember we were stuck all night in the middle of nowhere, no motorways then to use for that trip, until help could be summoned.
The second was probably the late 50's, again my Dad's car, a 1937 Rover 14. That broke down too. The mechanical fuel pump drive failed (a cam driven lever). An AA man, with a dripping nose (it's strange what one remembers), rigged up a wire from the pump priming lever into the car so that my Mum could operate the pump by by hand with that wire. That got us the remaining miles home.

oldagetraveller wrote: »

Must be the mid 1950's in my Dad's Singer, with a pre-selector gearbox, I somehow remember that vividly!
A trip to Blackpool to see the illuminations. Broke down on the way home, haven't a clue what the problem was but I remember we were stuck all night in the middle of nowhere, no motorways then to use for that trip, until help could be summoned.
The second was probably the late 50's, again my Dad's car, a 1937 Rover 14. That broke down too. The mechanical fuel pump drive failed (a cam driven lever). An AA man, with a dripping nose (it's strange what one remembers), rigged up a wire from the pump priming lever into the car so that my Mum could operate the pump by by hand with that wire. That got us the remaining miles home.

Reminds me of the time we came home from the lake district back to the NE of England in my dads Standard 12,the fuel lift pump cam was bent and to get home we had to run till engine stopped,lift bonnet and prime fuel pump by hand then drive on,took ages,dad said with hindsight could have rigged wire into car and done the same,happy days.:rotfl:

Summer of 1957. I was with dad in the Fordson E83W van he used for his business, waiting for my mum to visit my grandad in hospital. He died not long after which is how I know when it was.
I remember dad saying "look under the seat" and there was a bar of Toblerone there. Not much else though really.

Ganga wrote: »

Reminds me of the time we came home from the lake district back to the NE of England in my dads Standard 12,the fuel lift pump cam was bent and to get home we had to run till engine stopped,lift bonnet and prime fuel pump by hand then drive on,took ages,dad said with hindsight could have rigged wire into car and done the same,happy days.:rotfl:

That's what my Dad was doing initially, opening the bonnet, hand priming the pump until the carburettor bowl emptied again. Rinse and repeat until reaching a phone box to call out the AA.:p
I don't fully remember what the problem was but an exchange reconditioned pump did the trick, about 5 minutes to change, two nuts and two fuel hose clips. It was possibly too much wear on the cam operated lever. Now, on a modern car, not so basic with the l.p. pump probably in the fuel tank.:rotfl:

DoaM wrote: »

Not my earliest memory, but ... 10 of us in a G reg (original G reg, with the G at the end) Cortina going to Beamish Museum. Configured like this:

Dad driving
Mam in rear with me on her lap
Mr neighbour in rear with my older brother on his lap
Mrs neighbour in rear with her son (my age) on her lap
Neighbour's Dad (Grandad) in passenger seat with granddaughter and my younger brother on his lap



Elfin Safety? What elfin safety!

We walked to Lyme Regis from Seaton and realised only then that there were no buses back. I ran, fetched the car while the others walked back. 7 adults in a Chevette, 2 in the front, 4 in the back, and one in the boot.

The same Chevette where dad was in the middle of London and went to change gear and was left clutching a detached gear stick, somewhat reminiscent of Saving Private Ryan's opening scene.