Freddie Flintoff and Top Gear stars test out dads’ old motors… and wasn’t it nostalgic

WE all enjoyed a bit of nostalgia on Top Gear the other week.

Freddie and co trying out their dads’ old cars.

Well, listen up, because soon YOU can do it too.

You can test drive all sorts of ordinary-yet-extraordinary cars from your childhood which you just don’t see any more.

I’m talking about Capri, Escort, Sierra, classic Mini, Astra, Cavalier, Viva, Marina, Maestro, Avenger, Allegro, TR7, Imp, MGB GT and more.

Ha, yes. I said Allegro.

That car was properly naff but it sold in big numbers in the Seventies and early Eighties nonetheless, which means it’s a time capsule for many people.

You can also try an old Jag, a classic Roller, a wonderful 1935 Austin 7 and one of my favourites, the lilac 1961 Minor Million.

A good friend of mine called Richard Usher has been working hard on this project for some time.

Now, with Covid finally in retreat, he’s planning to open his toy box to the public on May 22.

Richard has acquired 32 iconic motors for hire from £49, plus 125 display cars charting the history of the British car industry, all at a lovely old foundry in Ambergate, Derbys.

He said: “This isn’t a random collection of cars ‘because I like cars’. They have all been bought for a reason. They all represent something.

A LOOK UNDER THE DUST SHEETS

“Britain played a pivotal role in putting man behind the wheel and we’re celebrating some of the great pioneers, like Herbert Austin and William Morris, and their star designer Sir Alec Issigonis.

“We’re trying not to call it a museum. We’re calling it an attraction because cars were built to be driven and you can drive 32 of our cars on the Drive Dad’s Car experience.

“We have our own private road route on-site and we have everything from the Austin 7 — the car which got the working man behind the wheel — right up to the Ford Sierra and Vauxhall Cavalier, which have now pretty much disappeared.

“The indoor bit is called the Great British Car Journey and it tells the story of British car manufacturing, chapter by chapter.

“Every car has a QR code you can scan to delve further into the history, if you like.

“We’ve also managed to source some cars with special stories, some with low mileage and some owned by interesting characters.” 

I’ll butt in here. I’ve had a good look under the dust sheets and can tell you Richard and his partners have accumulated some truly fascinating kit.

Instagram gold.

Movie legends like the DeLorean and Lotus Esprit will always catch the eye but other cool stuff includes a 1954 Daimler owned by “Mr Wembley” Sir Arthur Elvin, a fibre-glass Gilbern Invader built in Pontypridd, a Jensen Interceptor (the West Bromwich Ferrari) and an adorable unregistered 30th-anniversary Mini in cherry red.

Richard said of that one: “I feel guilty every time I move it because it’s got 14 miles on the clock.”

Then there’s the Humber Hawk estate once owned by the judge who jailed Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, plus an ex-Elton John Bentley Continental T.

Richard said: “It’s got the most crazy stereo system in it, which is a bit of a giveaway.”

Awesome but ordinary stuff includes the last-ever MG Metro and a Chevette from Vauxhall’s own heritage fleet.

Next to that is a Vauxhall Victor estate, then an Austin Princess with lovely black velour seats.

Beside that is a Triumph Acclaim, followed by a Reliant Robin, an Austin 1300GT (the best-selling car of 1965), Austin Atlantic Convertible, Land Rover Series I, Rover SD1 Vitesse, 1961 Sunbeam Rapier Convertible, Fiesta Supersport, Austin 16, Mk1 Granada (the car from The Sweeney) and the colossal Mk3 Escort. That car ruled the road in the Eighties.

I should really stop listing cars now or I’ll give all the secrets away.

But I’ll finish by saying Richard and his team have created a little slice of automotive heaven just six miles off the M1.

Everywhere you look puts a smile on your face. We used to make some cool stuff. Father’s Day?

Ford Capri

I’M an Eighties kid and I walked past a Ford Capri 1.6 Laser on the way to school every morning. Absolutely adored it. Still do. Spoiler, stripes, manual sunroof, four-spoke alloys, absolute pulling machine. Drives sweetly too. Just remember to bring a cassette for the stereo.

Granted, it’s not a Tickford Capri or a 280 Brooklands but so what? It was an affordable, sporty-ish Ford.

Morris Minor

THE Morris Minor was the first British car to sell a million . . . hence this Minor Million special edition from 1961.

Lilac paint, white leather, pull starter switch, quirky 1000000 badge at the back; it’s simply two Minor 1000 badges stuck together – minus the second “1”.

Fewer than 60 of the 350 Minor Millions survive today and you can drive one of them. We loved trying this little gem.