"I wasn't going to fail this old beauty"

Anyone who has a passion for cars loves the old classics – and I'm no different. There's just something about the way they look, sound and drive. Mind you, they also need a lot of care and attention too, but that's all part of the appeal.

A few weeks ago I got called out to what we call a 'cut out non start'. Well, I couldn't believe my eyes when I got to the job. The car in question was an immaculate Triumph Vitesse convertible, one of the 'must haves' of the swinging sixties.

During a quick chat with the member, I discovered that the vehicle was having its MOT when it broke down on the ramp. The garage couldn't find what was wrong with the car, so they pushed it out of the garage into the street. Obviously the member was desperate for his pride and joy to pass, which is why he called the AA. And I was just as determined to get this beauty back on the road.

Unlike the garage, it didn't take me long to find out what the problem was – a fractured wire going to the ignition coil and a corroded connection to the coil. With a new bit of wire fitted with a new connector, I had her purring again. But the best part of the story is that the garage was happy to carry on with the MOT - and it passed!

Dave Harvey, AA Patrol