I'm currently being bombarded with questions about what I think of this or that car - all within the financial means of a 21-year-old - just? Of course, I'm delighted by this enthusiasm, especially as so few of today's 16-25 year olds see cars as I did: freedom, excitement, beauty. Some young people are positively hostile - probably a result of not enough bus time growing up 😊?
My own enthusiasm was nurtured by my late grandfather. He didn't get his driving licence until late in life, but that never stopped him enjoying all things mechanical. A watch repairer, he was equally adept at dismantling motorcycle engines and then rebuilding them in places, and times, most likely to infuriate my nan. Fortunately, he was quite deaf, so simply turning off his hearing aid saved him the ear-bending he probably deserved!
One of his favourites, was a single cylinder, 247cc, two-stroke Villiers motorcycle engine mounted under the bonnet of his Bond Minicar.
This 247cc ‘scooter slayer’ superseded the 197cc engine originally supplied with the car, and was good for 12hp. It could get the three-wheeler up to 55mph faster than my nan could discover Grandad was letting me drive again (at age 11)! And weighing less than 150kg, 70hp/ton made it was quite sporty up to 30mph 😊.
Legally a motorcycle, my grandad could drive this on the public highway - much to my nan’s dismay. As a passenger, she knitted to distract herself from the constant threat of serious injury (fibreglass, no seatbelts, and a ‘cyclist’ at the wheel). What she needed was Dr. Miles’ Nervine - unfortunately not available in the UK at the time 🙁.
Apart from its amazing turning circle (in its own length), and an ability to start the engine backward, the thing I remember most about the Bond was its terrible 4-plate wet clutch. Maybe Grandad was unlucky, or perhaps our numerous attempts to break the 0-30mph record exacerbated things, but the slightest hill would often demand another rebuild by the side of the road. It is amazing to think that such a complex task could be routinely carried out in a gutter.
I remember one day we were stopped at a T-junction on a slight incline. As a hill start was required, my grandad enquired if there was anyone behind us. There was - a police car! Releasing the brake and hoping the clutch would pull us from the clutches of the law was typical of the excitement my grandad gifted me.
Hated that Bond. When Dad started it the bonnet seemed to rear up as though it was going to launch into space.
Brian's dad thought he might buy it and nearly wrote it off on a test drive.
You have ignited lots of wonderful memories. Thank you so much.
Love you
😂