It’s a bright sunny morning but cold as I reverse my X1/9 out of the garage to do some maintenance. Jobs done and a cup of coffee later and I should put it back into the garage but the low petrol light is flashing so time to buy some petrol.
The engine fires and settles into a smooth tick over, I reverse out onto the road and drive off keeping to second gear and 2500 rpm which I stick to until the gearbox oil is warm, it is a long time since I last drove it in cold weather. The engine sound reverberates off the parked cars as I thread my way down the narrow roads to the garage staying away from the salt laden gutters.
I start filling the tank with 99 Octane and a garage employee stops work to admire the car. I tell him that I have owned it over 40 years and we chat about cars, as he departs he says “cheaper than a Ferrari” I reply “but much rarer”.
I take the long way home with the windows open to try and blow away the cold I have had for the last six weeks, too weak to remove the top.
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