
My first British vehicle was from the last couple of years that MGs were still being brought into the United States. It was a good looking, low mileage MGB. It wasn’t long before I realized why it was a “low mileage” vehicle: I couldn’t keep it running. I once pushed it close to a mile back to the house after it wouldn’t start at a convenience store.
Working 60 hours or more a week and not being very electrically inclined, I gave up. The car has been sitting in a friend’s garage all these years, still not running. One day it will be one of those low mileage “garage finds” for somebody.
Next came a couple of Midgets, a Sprite and an Austin Healy 3000. The Midget and Sprite continued my British frustration. One Sprite I swapped for an old Honda motorcycle, and the other I sold while it was still running. But it sold for noticeably less than I had spent on it.
I sold the Healy and a few other toys for the down payment. Later, I was able to sit in my new townhouse and watch the boats sail by in the Intracoastal Waterway.
I ran the ad for the 3000 in a national magazine. Someone I worked with read the ad and purchased it from me. It was his wife’s favorite car of all time. A win-win situation, I had my down payment, made a little money, and he had a happy wife.
My old 3000 still sits in that friend’s garage. All these years later, it’s still never being driven. One day it will be another of those very cool garage finds for somebody.
This year’s show was once again held at Mead Garden. It’s a beautiful setting, with vehicles displayed under the shade of the ancient oak trees.