|
During the late 1960s in Zambia I owned a Ford Prefect that I used to go into work and back (of course). It started via a handle - easily, by the way. I had a three speed gearbox and the gears were so low that I was able to put it into top gear within 50 yds (from cold). I could run into work like that, down to 5 mph round corners if I slipped the clutch a bit. It was a very relaxing car to drive.
It was the 1950s pattern with transverse leaf spring front suspension and the shock absorbers were non-existant, so the spring broke several times while I owned it. I dismantled it and had the spring welded at the local engineering works. Every time it was welded it shortened fractionally and to refit it I had the whole family to sit on the bonnet to flatten the spring before I could slide in the pins.
I taught my wife's friend to drive in it. She was very nervous and thought that the aeroplane shaped handle at the front that secured the bonnet was pointing the wrong way and was a distraction, so I adjusted it for her so that it looked as though it was pointing straight down the road.
|
