Morris Mini Clubman

The first car I bought - real one - was a '74 Mini Clubman 1000cc, exactly this model. I was fond of it but it was a very flawed car. The twisted rubber suspension just did not work, the build quality was awful - it just rotted away and it was less than three years old when I got it. The driving I did at the time was all long distance motorway work and this car could not be less suitable. Once you hit 60mph the radio was inaudible and the rear view mirror vibrated so hard it was un-useable. Those little seats broke your back too.

Mind you the very first long road trip I did in it was to San Tropez and Monaco, returning via Geneva, which was quite impressive for the first month of ownership of my first car, having never been abroad before.

This model is pretty good - but..... the casting is poor, especially on the base, that should never have passed inspection and the modelling of the interior is very bad. Compare it to the Corgi Mini Magnifique from a couple of years earlier.