Four Wheel Fetish

By John Dyble

I could never understand whatever induced me to buy a car purely on the basis of economy; a car that is far too small, practically not drive-able, nearly wobbles over from a puff of wind or cornering at 5 miles an hour and is the butt of endless jokes. You need to have the constitution of a rock lizard to live with a car which proclaims to be smart but isn’t...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley
• Release date: Aug 31, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463531341

John Dyble

John Dyble emerged into this world in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk in the Summer of 1951. Following a successful career in the civil service he decided on retirement to use his extensive memory to write his first book on his favourite passion – motor cars – focusing on the many interesting experiences he has had. And he has had quite a few over the years...

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About the author

John Dyble emerged into this world in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk in the summer of 1951. Following a successful career in the civil service he decided on retirement to use his extensive memory to write his first book on his favourite passion – motor cars – focusing on the many interesting experiences he has had. And he has had quite a few over the years…

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Deducation

To my lovely partner, Susan, who sadly recently passed away.

FOUR-WHEEL FETISH

Published by Austin Macauley at Smashwords

Copyright 2018 John Dyble

The right of John Dyble to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the

Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All Rights Reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with the written permission of the publisher, or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1956 (as amended). Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is

available from the British Library.

www.austinmacauley.com

ISBN 9781788482516 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781788482523 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781788482530 (E-Book)

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd.

First Published in 2018

AustinMacauley

CGC-33-01, 25 Canada Square

Canary Wharf, London E14 5LQ

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Contents

The Craving

The Minis

The VW Era

The Peugeot Period

PCP

Enter the Wolf

Convertible Craze

Back To Reality

Mini First

Smart Decision?

Polo Power Returns

Mini Mania Strikes Again

The 500 and Abarth

Vroom Vroom VX

TT Time

Mini Marvel And Beyond

Looking Back

And Next

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The Craving

There I was at my cousin’s farm in deepest Cambridgeshire in the late summer of 1975, attempting to drive a battered, faded white Ford escort van; when it dawned on me that this was the way to travel. At the advanced age of 24 I was a latecomer to four-wheel mobility, but there seemed to be a profound joy in throwing this metal box around a piece of wasteland. Gear-crunching was a regular occurrence, but this was my first attempt at driving, and it in no way detracted from the fun. In fact, in a strange kind of way it merely enhanced the experience. Little did I know at that stage that I was about to embark on a long, expensive journey.

However, my early experience of cars was not a pleasant one. When I was in my mid-teens in the late 1960s, we often used to go to my stepmother’s family in March for Xmas. I loved it when we were there, but the 80-mile journey from Great Yarmouth to March and the way back was nothing short of torturous. My uncle from March would cram all four of us in his Ford Anglia. Now this car was not endowed with a spacious interior, which meant that I was shoehorned between my brother and stepmother in the back, with my father up front with my uncle. Ventilation had not yet evolved to a stage where fresh air entered the car, other than through opening the front windows. That never happened as it was so cold outside. So I sat there slowly expiring, inhaling my fellow occupants’ spent breath and losing the will to live. Fortunately, enforced stops each way allowed me to gulp in fresh air and serious illness was averted. It was the same awful, nauseous sickness you would encounter at the dentist, following a tooth extraction. Anaesthetics were rather crude in those days: the gas inhaled used to send you into temporary hibernation. I’m sure it was full of carbon monoxide.

In late autumn that year I made a decision. I was going to get a car. And there I was, looking at bank account with nearly £1500 savings in it. Wow, £1500! In those days, that was enough for a deposit on a house. But was I interested in buying a home? Of course not, I wanted a car. A car meant you could go anywhere at any time, which you can’t do in a bus, and you can choose you own company and have solitude whenever you want. A car gave you independence. A car meant you were in control. It was a mobile piece of home. But more importantly, it was a few square feet which belonged to me.

At the grand old age of 25 I was quite a late newcomer to the joys of motoring. It finally hit home after a few frustrating years that dating via bus and cycle transport was not going to work. I can even recall the dates that would have been if I had my own wheels. Can I give you a lift home on the crossbar of my bicycle? would never have the allure of a car, would it? Looking back, it was my cousin Alan’s fault that led me to buy a new car. At