My first car was a Honda Scamp!
And I loved it.
It was given to my sister as her 21st birthday present, but she didn't want it. I couldn't afford a car, so I put my hand up and got it.
My two best mates both had Minis - Leyland, 998cc, bog standard - and they used to blow me into the weeds.
The Scamp was great for a cash-strapped student - air-cooled, 50mpg on a bad day.
It had some of the attributes of a Mini - small enough to park anywhere, er.....well, it had one of the attributes of a Mini.
Unfortunately, it's top speed was about 80kmh, down hill with a tail wind, it handles about as well as a really well-sorted EH holden (so, badly) the heater was a fan in a box on the back of the engine, so the cabin always stank of oil in winter (although the heater did work very effectively) and the spare tyre and battery were both under the bonnet, along with the little 360cc two-cylinder engine (so it was a little front heavy).
As a result, whenever the three (sometimes four) of us would go away for a road trip, the Scamp stayed home and we went in the two Minis - some great adventures.
Finally, I decided that I'd join the other two and buy a Mini - then one of my mates turned up in a Moke. He had bought it on a spur-of-the-moment decision, traded in his Mini on it. He and I travelled much together in the Moke over the next 12 months - more great adventures - so when I finally had enough brass to buy a car, and the Scamp had given up the ghost, then, against my parent's wishes, I went out and bout my Moke.
More great adventures followed.
I still own that Moke (in the same way that English people would accept that it is the same car) - and can say it was the first car I actually bought myself - although it has changed a fair bit over the years.
Memories.........
Cheers,
Watto.
