6) IN A FLAP

If this is not the most famous bit of parts-sharing, it’s certainly one of the most long-lived. Knowing that the door handles (interior and exterior) from the Morris Marina were used on dozens of other British cars, and continued in use until surprisingly recently, won’t save you much money but it’s one reason why these parts are still widely available and the list is quite staggering. As well as the Marina’s contemporary stablemate, the Allegro, the ‘Marina Flap’ found its way onto the Triumph TR7, the four-door Range Rover, the first-generation of the Land Rover Discovery, the Reliant Scimitar and the early models of the Lotus Esprit. Speaking of Marina parts, if you own a Lamborghini Diablo and the column stalks give trouble (and you find the £210 price tag for the Lamborghini ones a bit steep), you’ll find the same items at any autojumble, exMorris Ital, Austin Ambassador or Land Rover Defender, for a tenth of the price!