What was the first thing you ever drove?

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netman

Veteran
I think I was about 14 and my Dad was between jobs so was working nights on security at the local bus station - one night I went to work with him and he showed me how to drive one of these which I moved between two parking areas about 300 yards apart!

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Accy cyclist

Legendary Member
Me driving my first car. I'm on the right,as you look at the photo,taken about 1964 at 'Olympia' in Blackpool. The look of terror on my face says 'i just do not like going fast'!!:ohmy:

My brother doesn't look too happy either!:smile:



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MontyVeda

a short-tempered ill-controlled small-minded troll
I think I was about 14 and my Dad was between jobs so was working nights on security at the local bus station - one night I went to work with him and he showed me how to drive one of these which I moved between two parking areas about 300 yards apart!

View attachment 545922
After leaving school, I embarked on a YTS as an apprentice fitter at the local bus depot, so the first thing i ever drove was one of these:

Lancaster%20205%20Lancaster%20290691g-L.jpg


...over a maintenance pit (thankfully not into it). As a non-driver, it's pretty much the last thing i drove too.
 
Location
Rammy
A Land Rover series 2A 109 which had range rover axles under the leaf springs (giving it the effect of being lifted suspension) with big wheels, I was about 15, had a RR V8 in too.

First car I drove legally was the driving instructors Fiat Punto,
First car I owned was a Mk1 Fiesta Ghia
 

Smokin Joe

Legendary Member
First was a Thames van my older cousin was repairing for someone. Neither of us had a licence.

First bike was a mate's BSA Bantam, a bike which was a two wheeled history lesson on how the British motorcycle industry flushed itself down the toilet.
 

Pale Rider

Legendary Member
A farm Land Rover.

I recall some kangaroo progress because I couldn't control the throttle in the bumpy field.

The first tractor I drove at about the same time was a dual fuel little grey Fergie.

Tractor Vaporising Oil was already in short supply, so we ran ours on paraffin and petrol.

It would only start on petrol, so you had to remember to switch over a minute or so before stopping.

Either that, or drain the fuel filter before starting again.

A neighbour had the luxury version - it had footplates rather than steel rods.

Nice little tractors, although they didn't have a lot of grunt.

Some are still doing light duties today at market gardens and the like.
 
When I was a schoolkid, still learning to drive, I got a summer job on a building site, and was given a job driving dumper trucks with rear wheel drive around the site.

Some very interesting moments and uncomplimentary comments from my workmates.
 

Slioch

Guru
Location
York
Dolomite Sprint, learned to drive in one, very nice.
View attachment 545883

They were nice. Mates dad had one and he used to drive us to cricket. It had a wee button thingy on the gearstick. I think it was for overdrive or something. I used to expect the car to take off like the Batmobile everytime he flicked it, but nothing much seemed to happen :sad:
 

Accy cyclist

Legendary Member
After leaving school, I embarked on a YTS as an apprentice fitter at the local bus depot, so the first thing i ever drove was one of these:

View attachment 545931

...over a maintenance pit (thankfully not into it). As a non-driver, it's pretty much the last thing i drove too.
What does a fitter do? My dad was a body builder (he made the wooden frame of the bus....i think) at East Lancs Coaches in Blackburn,Lancs for 49 years. If you mention body builder,folk think you mean weight training and stuff.:rolleyes:
 

Accy cyclist

Legendary Member
Apart from the kiddie car ride in Blackpool,my first drive was in the BSM Austin Allegro i learned to drive in (1977-78) and took my test in. The first time i drove on my own (and i still say you'll never beat that experience,no matter how naff the car is,of driving alone for the first time) was in the 13 year old Austin Mini i bought for £90
 

Pale Rider

Legendary Member
They were nice. Mates dad had one and he used to drive us to cricket. It had a wee button thingy on the gearstick. I think it was for overdrive or something. I used to expect the car to take off like the Batmobile everytime he flicked it, but nothing much seemed to happen :sad:

Yes, overdrive, which a few Triumphs had at the time.

The gear sequence was 3rd, overdrive 3rd, 4th, overdrive 4th, giving six forward gears.

It had some use in overtaking because you could click seamlessly into overdrive just as you drew level with the other car.

Assuming you'd judged the revs correctly, that did give you a small acceleration boost over and above what you could have got by snatching the next gear with the stick.
 

Bazzer

Setting the controls for the heart of the sun.
I suppose it depends on how you define driving.
On journeys to see his family in Lincolnshire, I would often be asked by my Dad to steer the car from the passenger seat while he filled and lit his pipe. Not quite sure why that was considered safer than me filling his pipe for him and lighting it, or even better still, stopping. This would have been from around 8 years of age to around 13 and when he had a Mini countryman.
The first I had access to all of the the controls was a Ford Escort.
 
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