The little car stirring up big memories

It was a little car, but it's stirring up big memories among our readers who actually owned one.

Our recent look at the Bond Minicar, a three-wheeler which spanned the territory between motorcycles and "proper" cars, has spurred some owners to share their experiences, latest of whom is Mel Checketts, who lives in the Ellesmere area.

"In the early 1960s my parents would not let me have a motorbike, but offered to buy me a Bond Minicar instead," said Mel.

"So in 1962 I became the proud owner of a C-type convertible in Ferrari red. This was purchased from a garage in Lye for £39. Coincidentally, the top speed of the Bond was 39mph.

"Note the go-faster stripes near the number plate. My Bond was a deluxe version with an electric starter, but still no reverse gear. You simply got out of the car and lifted the front to point in the required direction of travel.

"The brakes were never very efficient and I recall a lucky escape when I failed to stop in time at a T junction approaching the Bridgnorth road and went straight across into the opposite field.

"Persons of a certain age may have seen me cruising down the Birmingham New Road in the early 1960s on my way from Kingswinford to college in Birmingham.

"At least I was never caught for speeding above the 40mph limit on that road."