CHRIS BALE’S CAR CV

Based heavily on childhood influences, Chris has ranged from flux capacitor to rally limo.

BMW 316I E30

‘My first car, in 2004, because of my love of BTCC racing. I started looking for something sensible but that all went out of the window when I spotted a 316i at a local showroom. It was my daily driver until the winter off 2008 when I skidded off the road and hit a tree.’

DELOREAN DMC-12

‘Since seeing Back to the Future as a child I set my heart on owning a Delorean and in 2007 I made it happen. I’d joined the owners club and drove from Norwich to Sheffield to look at one only to find it had been sold. A couple of weeks later one came up for sale ten miles from home, so I didn’t hesitate to buy it. During the decade I’ve had it I’ve twice driven it to the Belfast factory where it was built.’

BMW 318IS BAUR CABRIO

‘I needed another BMW and in 2010 managed to find a 318is, which is a Baur conversion rather than a factory convertible. The roof can be a bit fiddly to put up but I prefer the look as it matches the Matchbox version I had as a child.’

BANGER RALLIES

‘I’ve had a share in three cars bought specifically to take on rallies across Europe: an Eagle Quest limo (based on a Vauxhall Senator) bought for £450 to do the Crumball Rally to Munich, a Volvo 850 estate to which we spent days fitting 1994 BTCC graphics for the Barcelona Bangers run, and a £350 220,000-mile Toyota Celica we drove through seven countries to Prague, including a lap of the Nürburgring.’