Drive Shaft

Three gears, 1100cc engine (although the guy in the Esso station told us that 'Ford has never produced an 1100 cc Popular' - what a dick. Mark insisted on arguing the toss) and all he had to do was point at the car.

One night, We (Mark Gaskill, Dave, Pete Benjafield and myself) drove down to Southend or Canvey Island in it - not sure which, but it rattled like hell at about 50 MPH - I can remember the mind numbing resonance of the thing as we encroached over the magic limit. Next day I got underneath it and discovered there was only one half-undone 3/8" bolt holding the drive shaft on (in an elliptical bolt-hole, at the gearbox connection) - luckily we never pole vaulted through the air!

There was always a problem with the electrics. It wouldn't charge the battery so we replaced that - in fact I believe we replaced every damn electrical device on the bloody thing and it still wasn't right (This was fine though, Mark was providing all the bits from his dads garage) it also provided many excuses for not getting to Harold Hill training centre on time.

To end a frustrating chapter it almost burst into flames one day as I turned the ignition key and the wiring loom almost evaporated into space, filling the interior with acrid grey smoke. Too many replaced electric parts by young apprentices increased the potential for direct shorts by a hundredfold...