In October 1997, after 20 lessons, I passed my driving test. Considering I mounted the curb during my exam, I was fortunate to pass on my first attempt, why is another story.

Three days later, I bought my first car. It was a 1966 Triumph Herald, baby blue with a red stripe and matching blue leather interior, all for £700. However, I soon discovered it was a money pit and a complete dog.

I knew next to nothing about cars, all I was interested in was the classic style and the colour. The vehicle itself was full of rust, had a gaping hole in the floor, broken gearbox, leaking clutch master cylinder, needed new tyres, new exhaust, the list was endless. It didn’t even have an oil filter but more to the point, I didn’t even know what an oil filter was! But, it was my first car, and I loved her.

It was my first car, and I loved her.

I learnt a lot from that first purchase, and from each and every car I’ve  owned since. Also, as an ex-manager of a motoring website, I’ve had my time in plenty of other cars too, from mass market Euro boxes to exotic £200,000 super cars; all have excited me in different ways.

I’m an office worker, with a great job running a successful online business, a trade I’ve been honing and perfecting for years. But ever since I put down that cash on my 1966 Triumph, cars has remained one of my great loves and petrol is in my blood.

I know a lot about owning, buying and the driving of cars, and I’m starting to delve in the black art of car servicing, maintenance and mechanics.

The Car Monkey