My first car was also an Austin 1300 - great car, but rust in the rear subframe eventually killed it. It was superb in the snow!
Then a white Mini 1275GT, bored out to 1340ish, LCB exhaust and annoyed neighbours. A bit of "enthusiastic driving" and a big tree in the road outside Windsor Davies' house killed that one
Then a 1980 Dolomite Sprint with twin Webber 45s and a Janspeed exhaust - at trackdays I would demolish Escort Turbos.
After that I had motorbikes but also inherited my dad's 1980 standard Dolomite Sprint in Brooklands Green. Really, really wished I'd kept that as it was totally original (apart from the rear spoiler) and they are fetching decent money these days.
I eventually got fed up getting drenched going to and from work on motorbikes (I had my first GSXR750 at the time) and bought a 1990 Rover Vitesse for £150. It died 3 years later (cambelt went) but it cost me a pittance in the interim.
And then I bought my big, blue Lexus GS300 which I have to this day. 8 years and all it has cost me is some tyres, brake pads and one rear brake light lamp. And the battery is STILL going (just) despite Snoopy's warning a couple of years ago
