"MY first car was a 1931 Morris Minor with the registration VK4243.

I was an 18-year-old apprentice motor mechanic at Minories in Chestnut Street in about 1953, and I bought this car from a workmate.

It had an aluminium body, was two ton blue and grey, had wooden floorboards and the petrol tank was in the car and you had to open the bonnet to fill it. There was a tap near your foot to turn in onto reserve.

It had spoke wheels and I fitted whitewalls onto the tyres and chrome hub caps to the wheels. The propshaft had canvas couplings. It was an eye-catching little car and I enjoyed driving it.

I had it for about two years before selling it on.

Being a mechanic, I have always been interested in cars and must have had at least 40 plus as well as company cars when I was service manager in the trade.

I have been retired now for about 14 years but still love cars.

The Northern Echo:

FIRST LOVE: Ralph with his Morris around 1953.

I have a Nissan Almera Tino 1.8 which I have had since new in 2004.

It is one of the best cars I have ever driven and does everything I want from it. Being retired now this car has only done 38,000 miles and I won't part with it!"

  • If you want to take part, email matt.westcott@nne.co.uk or call 01325-505064. You must have a photo of your first car and be willing to be pictured in The Northern Echo.