Black Mini MNB 671P #1
Deathtrap on 4 wheels.

After writing off my first MK1 Escort after 3 weeks of ownership my dad gave me one of his crappy little runarounds that he'd traded in lieu of payment for works done or something.

Everything was well for a few months until the age of the vehicle started to cause problems.

The start of it all was shortly after I was enjoying a bit of 'is it in yet?' in a tent in a campside in Wales with the Girlfriend. The mrs popped her head out through the flaps (hee flaps!) to get her breath back after what was undoubtedly the best seeing-to she'd had all day.

"Seaman Gabber, where's the car?"
"Haha. It's outside the tent you wheeze."
"No. The car's gone!"
"Weak joke."

Of course it hadn't. Our squelchy bouncing game hadn't been that epic that I wouldn't have noticed someone robbing my car.

"The fucking car has gone, look!" as she opens the flaps wider (snort).

Yep. The car wasn't there any more.

Pulling me kecks on and popping out out of the canvas tent of love like a cork I was able to get a clearer view of the situation. After a brief scan I saw my car, it was 1/2 way down the field parked snugly inbetween 2 other tents. It was clear from the arc that it'd taken that the handbrake had come off the ratchet and with the steering locked the wee beast had arced its way down the field, probably gathering quite a bit of pace before coming to a halt a metre or so from certain disaster.

After surveying that there were no demolished tents in its path I casually walked to the car in my grundies, got in, started it up and drove it back to where it should have been all along. I'm pretty sure I double checked the handbrake that time.
( Airman Gabber Living life like a 70's BBC presenter, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 14:06, 4 replies)

Oooh another Mk1 Escort fan :D

( M o D, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 15:28, closed)

I wouldn't say fan...
It tried to kill me on a bend when the back end stepped out and I stuffed it into a wall. I was only doing about 40mph too.
( Airman Gabber Living life like a 70's BBC presenter, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 16:17, closed)

I dont know if thats a real story....
but if it is its hilarious *click*
(mpaz52, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 17:06, closed)

I once owned a Hillman Imp (I've had lots of cars) which had a dicky handbrake - it never rolled away because I always left it in gear in case of that very event. The habit has stayed with me, much to the disgust of anyone else who has ever used any of my cars. Always makes me chuckle to see the lurch/panic when they try and start up.
(Freakmandu, Wed 28 Apr 2010, 23:50, closed)