Mister Cheapy

August 23rd 1977
Ford Transit Van.
Registration number : I don't think I ever knew the answer to that question.

Cost : One hundred and fifty quid. From a dealer called Mr.Cheapy in the East End of London. (Would you buy a used Van from a guy called Mr.Cheapy?) He sold it on the understanding that it needed the clutch replacing. When I drove it back to our flat in Romford I realised he wasn't kidding....I also realised it drove like a van.
1500 cc engine. 4 speed manual. Blue paint. Vinyl seats.

This was a shed. It was bought for one reason only - to move our belongings from A.(Romford) to B.(Skelmersdale) - We'd tried to hire a van but no-one in their right mind would do it with a 20 year old unemployable apprentice.

I took the van to the Ford garage (Johns of Romford) and asked for a quote on the clutch. Then, as time was important, (we had to get out of the flat by a certain date) we put it in that afternoon. Fords also replaced a part of the exhaust manifold, which although very nice of them, was not really in our budget - I think the clutch + manifold + applicable taxes came to about eighty quid. Super!

Well, it was taxed, Insured and roadworthy...

We were ready for the big move.