Teenage memories: tin of the street

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When checking H and H's 18 May auction listings our focus was distracted from the high end cars to the ones we remember from our teenage years. Before the 18th birthday cars were a dream for your editor. Horizons for a new post-bicycle life. And for that we didn't read brochures, didn't visit concours (which didn't exist anyhow in the sixties in Holland). We looked what was available on the road and we read the small ads in the newspapers. Looking for realistic & affordable dream cars. The 1970 Ford Capri 2,0 litre for sure was totally unrealistic. It was brand new back then. The Capris needed to 'ripen' another 10-15 years to come into the right price range. Two real sports cars, both true classics nowadays came in view and both came into my possession. Yes, a fine Alfa 1750 GTV Bertone, nearly in the same condition as this Junior offered by H&H, yet mine with one minor setback, it came without engine and gearbox which proved to be an impossible to solve issue. (I still must have the registration somewhere). The Porsche 356 I owned back then did have an engine from Wolfsburg and not the correct Zuffenhausen unit. Also the bondo maintained body was beyond repair, but the steering wheel made me a nice profit over the investment. Typical cars that were to be found anywhere and at reasonable cost like this fine Vauxhall Estate, or a Triumph, relatively well priced was the exotic like this 304 Cabriolet. Finally when it became decision time - 2 months after getting our driving license - we chose the bright red Italian semi convertible 2/5 seater.  Never regretted that decision for a second.

(photos courtesy H and H Classics )

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