‘Three Wheels on My Wagon’
Hearing that song recently brought back memories of a three-wheeler that I bought in 1979.
A workmate at the Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Co told me of a Bond for sale in nearby Howdon. The 1957 Mk D family soft top, registration number RJF961, was offered by the girl seller for £10. After an effort to kick-start it was a failure, she accepted £8.
As we were taking it home on
Bob Clarke’s trailer, going down Rosehill Bank, the hood shot up like a sail, not having been secured enough to the windscreen pillars!
The reason for the non-starting was soon discovered. It was coil ignition – the 9E engine was fitted with a Siba Dynastart! Normally it would have been fitted with two 6-volt batteries on the bulkhead but this one had a large 12-volt battery in the rear. The bodywork was aluminium with fibreglass rear wings. A single door was on the nearside for access to the bench seat. Two hammock-type seats were facing each other in the rear; to get to these, the kids would have to climb over the rear bodywork. The rear section of the hood lifted up for this.
A fellow member of the VMCC, the late John Rowland, undertook the metalwork repairs needed. The two outriggers that supported the dummy wings were replaced by salvaged shower screen frames from a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship that was in for a refit. From side to side beneath the alloy floor a rusted metal width was replaced by a section obtained by a yard manager who was a relative of another workmate.
John was not happy as it was stainless steel and he had dozens of holes to drill for the pop rivets.
The Bond’s headlights of 5½-inch diameter were frosted glass with a small clear circle in the middle. The dipping system was clearly pre-war – nearside dipped and offside went out. The headlights were replaced with two Tiger Cub units.
On starting and moving off, the bonnet lifted (oh, the sheer power!). In an attempt to get even more power, we fitted an Ajax
250 conversion. This had to be abandoned as it was too high and the bonnet would not close!
The car would run very well but stopping was another matter. The 8-inch wheel braking was by cable. After 100 yards observation of any hazard, braking was done by (1) changing down on the column, (2) applying the foot brake, (3) applying the decompressor and (4) applying the pistol grip handbrake.
I sprayed the car with red Tekaloid and it looked quite smart with its red vinyl hood and cream seats.
However, my daughter didn’t think so – when I picked her up from school she would pull her hood up to hide her embarrassment!
Mr Brown, please get in touch so we can return your photograph. Ed.