Bright idea means Joyce can see her old pal
WHEN Henry Garson and wife Joyce spotted a sunset yellow Honda in the showroom window, they just had to have it.
It was a rare model – one of only 500 Civic Jordans in tribute to the Honda Jordan Formula One racing team, led by Eddie Jordan. And its eye-catching colour certainly made it unique.
On September 9, 1999, the couple, from Helensburgh, bought the car as Joyce’s new runaround.
And over the next 17 years, it became part of the family.
Joyce drove her whacky wheels all over the country – 91,000 miles to be precise.
And the rare roadster certainly attracted lots of attention.
People admired it everywhere she went and on numerous occasions she was followed home by honourable Jordan enthusiasts, looking to find out if she would consider selling her marvellous motor. Of course, she never would. To her, it was priceless.
As the years went on, the Civic became a collector’s item. Of the 500 that were manufactured, several were claimed by accidents, others by wear and tear.
And Henry’s research led him to believe it was just one of only a handful remaining that hadn’t been modified.
Just a few weeks ago, Joyce’s pride and joy was due its MOT. Henry dropped it off at the local showroom as he has done every year and returned later to collect it.
But he was stunned to discover the car didn’t pass – and would need a bit of mechanical work before it was roadworthy again.
Henry and Joyce agreed it was time to trade the Jordan in for a younger model – but hated the thought of the “yellow pearl” ending up on the scrapheap.
So they explained to the staff about the car’s background, and reached a deal. Honda would keep the old car in the showroom to preserve a little piece of its history – and help find glamorous gran Joyce something equally unusual and sporty to replace it.
On the September 9, 2016 – 17 years to the day since they bought it – Henry and Joyce handed over the car. And collected the keys for Joyce’s new Honda Jazz – in bright yellow, of course!
The couple negotiated the added bonus of popping in to see their old banger whenever they like.
And couldn’t be more delighted that their racing car has found the perfect pit stop.