Playwright Bernard Farrell tells Andrew Hamilton about his first car
What was your first car?
A mini 850 - red and with rust.
What did you pay for it?
£200 - it was 1969.
Was it reliable?
Yes, except on damp days. (In Ireland?). Then the distributor cap and the plugs had to be put into the oven to dry out - 10 minutes at Mark 5.
Any good or bad memories?
Being stopped at a garda check-point on a hot summer day. The windscreen wipers suddenly went into action - they used do that. And the angry garda and I then playing verbal tennis . . . Turn them off . . . I can't . . . Turn them off! . . . Honestly I can't. Eventually, as I drove away, he called: I hope it rains for you.
How did having a car change your life?
It became easier to impress girlfriends - previously I had had a scooter!
Did your first car give you a feeling of advantage?
No advantage for me. I suddenly became the late-night lift-home for all my bike-riding, bus-taking friends.
How long did you keep your first car?
Two years.
Did you sell it on for a better deal?
No - I traded it in for an another Mini 850, yellow, also with rust.