I've only just become a follower and seen this post. If anything, that scar adds to your interest and beauty, I find it fascinating like the rest of you, even more so when I learned the reason. Shame I'm in the UK or I'd be tempted to ask to come and visit you.

What would happen for the first three years when a car doesn't need an MOT?

Trouble is we've got some tough fixtures coming up so we really need something from this.

Call it the Daily Fail, or perhaps the Daily Heil, but whatever name you give to the thing it really is an odious little rag.

No such thing as a three door marina. They were two door and had a boot

Lazy reporting. You are actually exempt from the need to wear a seat belt 'when carrying out a manoeuvre that includes reversing' not just 'when reversing'. There is a significant difference.

I think it is black tulip. If the photo was taken in 1972 it couldn't have been aconite. That only came out the following year, replacing black tulip.

Aconite is a fantastic colour. But I'm biased, my MGB is aconite.

I read my collection of 70s and 80s car brochures in bed before going to sleep

Parking on the pavement may not be illegal, but driving on the pavement is. How do they get there, other than by being driven onto the pavement?

Of course it was actually called 'miniMETRO' then, capitalised on the tailgate as I have here.

I'm starting to think the metro was the first. I'm pretty sure they had it from launch, on all models except the base one.

There were earlier cars with a 50/50 split rear seat (Chrysler Sunbeam for example) but I can't think of an earlier one with a 60/40 split.

I think the idea of badge engineering was probably introduced to BMC by William Morris. As you suggest, the wolseley 6/80 (and similar but smaller 4/50) predate the formation of BMC.

Idiot

You're right on both counts. Also the hot tiger model was available in two colours. Wardance red and Sundance yellow.

Typing in capitals is the written equivalent of shouting.

Typing in capitals is the written equivalent of shouting.

Why are you shouting?

We've got to aim higher than 17th. As the saying goes, aim for the stars and you might reach the sky.

The HL had twin carburettors and more performance than other models. It also had things like a sporty steering wheel, fancy wheels, and a rev counter. As such it is an early hot (well warmish) hatch. I think it came out in about 1972.

It would grate with me too

I agree. I've lived my whole life in England and I only ever hear that phrase when watching a non native English speaker on TV.

The TR7 had the block of the dolomite sprint but lacked the 16 valve cylinder head, instead having the 8 valve head of the ordinary dolomite.

Possibly, certainly the time frame is right and getting something French fits the bill, but I wonder if it was simply a case of the Peugeot dealer doing the best sponsorship deal. Either way, I'd have been happy with a 504. They were good cars in their day.

Let's should say left.

Definitely peugeots. Most are 504s but there are a couple of others. Behind Joe Jordan is a 304 cabriolet and a couple of cars further let's is what I think is a 304 saloon.

Are you sure they used a unique bumper? I thought they just used a back bumper on the front. The hole for the rear fog lights was then used for the front indicators and sidelights. The higher spec cars had a front bumper without holes as the indicators were then beside the headlights.

Is this the same Gabby Agbonlahor who said a few months ago that Leeds would miss out on promotion?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the Seat version of the Fiat Panda was actually called the Seat Marbella. I recall it being a bit cheaper than the fiat version.