1978 Vauxhall Chevette

This little car was graciously given to me by my Grandfather when he found himself unable to drive any longer. Like most Chevettes it was turning into a rot box, although this one had lasted longer than most. I didn't have the time, money or inclination to do anything about it, so I drove it until its MOT certificate ran out.

It was lime green, had an asthmatic 1.6-litre straight four coupled to a three-speed SlushMatic™ that, depending on the direction of the wind, phase of the moon etc. may - or indeed may not - decide to transmit at least some drive to the rear wheels while expending at least 60% of the energy put into it as heat and noise.

On a good day on a run, it might just graze into the low 20s for fuel economy.

Specs:

• 1.6-litre, overhead valve straight 4
• 3-speed "automatic gearbox" (although that's stretching the definition a bit!)
• Independent front suspension
• Solid beam axel with coils at the rear
• Brakes (usually)
• Ability to start (sometimes)
• Green in colour only. In fact, I think it's responsible on its own for an entire chunk of glacier melting, such was the rate at which it consumed fuel