Buying journey
Ripped trousers, Minis aplenty and £18k of fuel spent on just one car feature in Richard Carter’s car history
RICHARD MAY HAVE A LOVE
affair with Minis, and British cars are clearly his main passion, but his car history also includes a smattering of more distant marques from Italy, Germany and Japan.
1. Rover 2200 TC (P6)
‘I started with my dad’s 1973 Rover 2200 TC. A lovely old thing in almond.’
2. Vauxhall Magnum Estate
‘Basically a Viva with a big engine. It taught me all about oversteer.’
3. Mini 1000 HL (Mk4)
‘ This car started a love for the classic Mini that has remained. I still have two.’
4. VW Golf GTI (Mk1)
‘It cost the most to insure of any car I’ve had – £1200. That was in the late ’80s.’
5. Suzuki Swift GTI (Mk1)
‘One of my favourite cars. Small, light and quick; way more agile than the Golf. It was also bulletproof.’
6. Alfa Romeo Spider 1750 Kamm Tail (Series 2)
‘I kept this car for ten years until I lost my double garage. I’d buy it again if I spotted it on the market.’
7. Alfa Romeo GTV6
‘Great to drive and made a wonderful noise, but it constantly went wrong. But on a good day it was still a favourite.’
8. Mini Cooper (Mk4)
‘I bought this new. It was Avonbar tuned to around 100bhp. Pretty bonkers and probably a bit too much for a Mini.’
9. Riley Elf (Mk2)
‘I restored this one with a friend.’
10. Lotus Elise (S1)
‘I took an S1 for a test drive as soon as one was available. I ordered one on the spot, then had to wait 18 months before I got it. The only problem was ripping trousers getting in and out of the thing!’
11. Jaguar E-type 4.2 Fixed-head Coupe (Series 1)
‘I traded the Elise and Alfa Spider for this. I still have it 19 years later. It’s been over the Alps a few times and I’ve had a top- quality restoration done.’
12. Jaguar XJR (X308)
‘Another great car. I ran it for 150,000 miles and put £18,000 of fuel into it while I had it, but it was very capable.’
13. Ferrari F355
‘I had to have a Ferrari in my life, so I got a manual F355. I still have it ten years on. It’s the cheapest car I have ever owned; even with a few cambelt services it’s still made money. A wonderful drive, and that engine at 8000rpm… amazing.’
14. Morris Mini Minor (Mk1)
‘A Mini at its purest.’
15. Morris Mini Cooper (Mk1)
‘A Mini at its most fun.’
16. Aston Martin V8 Vantage
‘I drove this every day for years and did 20,000 miles in it. It was a lovely thing. It had a few electrical issues, yet it was still a very special car. Astons make you feel great when all the dashboard lights are out.’
17. Triumph TR6
‘ This is a proper sports car. Like my E-type and F355, I use it and can’t see me selling it any time soon.’