Bike cops rule!
Driving my lovely old green mini (yes, I was a hippy) back from the centre of London, I had a problem. There was no clutch. Thankfully, my dad had taught me to double de-clutch, so changing gear wasn't a problem, either up or down the gears. The only issue was getting it going from a full stop. So every set of lights had me jumping out of the car, pushing it till it was up to speed, then jumping back in and getting it into first.
I made it as far as Putney in this manner, where I was watched, then tugged, by a bike cop. Ignoring the lack of tax disc, he asked me to pop the bonnet. After a minute of having his head under it, he said it was the clutch slave cylinder. He pointed me in the direction of a motor factors, just 30 yards away.
I got the part, while he waited next to my car to make sure it didn't get a ticket! Then he went and fitted it for me in the rain no less. I can only assume he was impressed at my clutchless skills, or just took pity on a barefooted hippy making his way back from Whirlygig (back in the good days).
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank this London bike cop again for his help. (Are bike cops really a different breed?)

Apologies for the saccharic thanks, Mr bike cop- YOU ROCK.
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 15:41, 7 replies)

I used to carry a boot load of spares in my old Mini's
Starter motors, distributor caps and bypass hoses mainly. Plus oil. Lots and lots of oil.

A few days before selling my last old-style Mini a young lad was having trouble starting his car in a car park I was in.

I jumped out and treated him to a new starter motor - MiniMates have to look out for each other. Maybe your nice policeman was an ex-Mini owner too!
(Kliper Filllets Getting noticed by twats on the internet since, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 15:51, closed)

Wouldn't suprise me in the slightest.
It seemed to be de rigeur for green mini owners to wave furiously at each other on passing. I even pulled a nice young lady in this manner!
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 16:27, closed)

Result!
:-)
(Kliper Filllets Getting noticed by twats on the internet since, Fri 23 Apr 2010, 7:55, closed)

If the clutch had gone, how would double de-clutching (i.e. engaging the clutch twice as much as in a normal gear change) help? Are you sure you don't mean clutch-less gear changing?
(Titanix, Fri 23 Apr 2010, 19:30, closed)

Double de-clutching is all about matching the engine revs to the road speed
on gearboxes without synchromesh. If you're unable to use the clutch to change gear, your synchromesh will be ineffectual and you'll need to match the engine speed exactly in order for the gear lever to go into gear.
(WillI'mNot logs in twice a year, every year, Sat 24 Apr 2010, 18:55, closed)

You should have knocked it into neutral just before you stopped, then switched off the engine.
Put it in first gear with the engine off and start the engine when you want to go. You'll lurch forward about half a car length until the engine fires up, and hey presto you're doing 5mph in first gear.

A starter motor is powerful enough to pull the car along in first gear for short distances, although if you do this a lot the starter motor will overheat eventually. Gets you out of a tight spot though.
(WillI'mNot logs in twice a year, every year, Sat 24 Apr 2010, 18:51, closed)

Good point,
I'll remember that one for the next time!
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Tue 27 Apr 2010, 13:03, closed)