My first van purchased in 1978 for $500 with 12 months rego. It was original in the main, a light blue colour. Killer exhaust that dismembered itself after about a month. Apart from that no major problems.

Drove it for many years until I got engaged, then I stored it in the open always intending to restore it. In 1993 I had a look at it and the rust had worked on it. I decided to purchase another van.

The Datsun 240K was certainly different to the Morris -- five speeds and a six cylinder. Very smooth and a pleasure to drive. Bought it in 1979.

My second van purchased in 1993 for $1600. It was another which was original in the main, a matt black colour, no brakes to speak of and a gearbox that didn't have first gear. It came with a spare head, wide wheels and a sprite wooden steering wheel. I dismantled it and changed over the brakes to the Major brakes I had on the previous van as well as the suspension off the old car.

I started looking for a convertible when I realised  that fitting a passenger seat into the back of the van was going to be a poor substitute. I had a look at a few but eventually bought one from the Morris Minor Centre. It came unregistered but complete and in reasonable condition for $4500. I drove it for a number of years, until I made that fateful decision "I'll take it off the road and do a bare metal restoration". ---------------

While waiting for the restoration to be completed I brought a Mark 3 Spitfire from Adelaide in 2006. Had a great time driving it back, the Sturt Hwy and the Hay Plain are now my favourite bits of road.