Car of the Month

September 2018

Owners name: Mike Starnes

Owners location: Cambridge, GB

Model: Midget GAN5 Round Wheel Arch 71 - 74

Engine size/type: 1275cc

Year of manufacture: 1973

Colour: Bracken

How long owned: 43 Years

History of Car and any work or modifications carried out: I have owned "Bracken" since 1975. A few weeks after buying her I drove her down to Monaco in a day (and night)where I did a trip round the F1 circuit, cruised around the South of France and Alps for a week (occasionally with 4 passengers) before returning via Paris. The car behaved perfectly until the clutch decided to give up the ghost going around the Arc de Triomphe. I cant imagine why?!! but we (Bracken and girlfriend/future wife Jane) still managed to limp home.

For 8 years Bracken was my only car and was used for a daily commute across London and regular camping holidays to Devon. Amazingly we always fitted two weeks camping gear in even if it did mean sitting on the sleeping bags! In the '80's Bracken moved to Germany with us for 5 years. Soon after returning, and with a growing family, Bracken went into storage awaiting my time to start a restoration. This finally came in April 2014 when I commenced a bare shell restoration and full mechanical rebuild bringing her back to original spec (except air filters). She passed the MOT at the first attempt almost exactly a year after I removed the first bolt. The first picture shows the stripped shell before commencing on the bodywork.

Nickname of Car: Bracken