Paint is still pending

1960 AUSTIN A55 CAMBRIDGE ‘FARINA’

The Cambridge has still not received the repaint I promised it after it was vandalised 22 years ago, and it’s getting to be a bit of an embarrassment now. Despite this, however, I suddenly had an overwhelming desire to take it to the joyful entravaganza that is the BMC BL Rally in Peterborough.

Several people told me that they really wanted to see the Cambridge, warts and all, and the consensus of opinion was that I was silly to even think about leaving the car at home. The old horse was even invited to make an appearance on the Cambridge Oxford Owners’ Club stand, something that last happened, as I recall, back in 1993. If nothing else, I was sure that it would benefit from spending an afternoon with other BMC Farinas. It must get lonely all on its own in the garage…

Well, the car was duly presented and thanks must go to everyone who expressed interest in it, and empathised with the fact that its Repaint Fund has been decimated several times by other financial needs.

After the show, I had to keep another appointment – a local radio show in which I participate ( Sunday Supplement, HCR 104fm, hcrfm.co.uk). There was no time to swap cars, so the Cambridge found itself heading down the A1M at a steady 63mph. It did it a world of good, I think, but then classics do appreciate regular exercise.

Afterwards I decided it was time for some more pictures, so I drove to the village of Alconbury, where I lived from 1995-2002. It struck me that the car had never been here as it was in postvandalism storage throughout that period. It definitely looked at home in those surroundings; I couldn’t resist taking it through the village ford – of the watery rather than vehicular variety – and photographed it against the backdrop of the ancient bridge across Alconbury Brook.

A day of overwhelming excitement and just a little nostalgia, then. What international jetsetter could equal that heady mix?

Meanwhile, there might be a new addition to the fleet by the time I pen my next report. More on which anon…