History
My very first car was this Austin 8 Tourer...purchased from an elderly gent in Brisbane on 16th. April 1963 for the grand sum of 15 pounds (I still have the hand written receipt)..it was sitting in his backyard with a worn out clutch as he had a crook left leg and always had to rest his foot pressing on the clutch pedal..said he went through a few clutches..
A mate towed it about 20 k's home with old rope to my parents house (No problem from police in those days for such towing)...
A slight hill in the road outside our house so we stopped at the top of the hill, undid the tow rope and I proudly sat in the drivers seat and my mates gave me a push in the direction of home..my Dad had his old Vanguard parked outside and in my excitement I jumped on the non workable clutch pedal instead of the brake..swerved away and just gave Dad's Vanguard a glancing blow..he was not impressed to say the least..
I got stuck into it and learned at an early stage how to replace the clutch...and then the red paint job..and a few white stripes to set it off (All racing cars had stripes in those days didn't they?) and of course a few stickers..Amoco etc..the wheels came up well with a spray of silver...was my pride & joy for around 2 years..
