THE FAMILY WAY
“We kids were allowed to have a Polo mint whenever we spotted a police car”
One day in 1973, Michael Binns received a letter from HMRC to say that he had overpaid his income tax by £970 and a cheque for that amount was enclosed. Michael's wife Anne remembers this like it was yesterday, saying: 'Our Triumph Herald was on its last legs and Michael always loved cars with a bit of power, so he went straight off to Godfrey Davis in Neasden and came home with a Capri 3-litre GXL.
'Michael worked first for de Havilland and later Rolls-Royce. As members of their motor club, we used to go off in the Capri on a Sunday afternoon armed with a list of clues on treasure hunt style rallies. Michael was always an enthusiastic driver and used to do the ton sometimes. I remember him being stopped by a police car on the M1. They said: “Nice car sir, but there is a 70mph limit, so you really need to keep it under the 80-plus that you have been doing.”
'I didn't drive the car often as I am rather short and could not see over the wheel. One day I really wanted to have a try, so I sat on a cushion from the couch and had a go. I'd never driven
