Everyone has a special place in his heart for his first set of wheels. Well, Debbie was my first car, a 1979 Austin Mini Mk.4 which left the factory in the shade of Powder Blue.

When I first saw her, in 1997, she was a rotten heap, and needed some drastic action. So, with new floor panels, a new front end, new A-Panels and new sills, and a repaint in a more respectable British Racing Green with an Old English White roof, complete with Cooper bonnet stripes, the bodywork was sorted.

The 998cc engine was souped up with a 266 cam, flat-top pistons, a ported 12G295 head, twin 1 1/4 SUs, K&N filters and a centre oil pickup.

Next to be upgraded were the brakes, with MG Metro-sourced front disks, braided hoses all-round and MG Metro wheel cylinders on the rear drums.

The front suspension was brought into check using adjustable tie rods and negative camber bottom arms.

The interior was retrimmed in classic Cooper colours - red with grey centres, adapted on old Diahatsu Charade seats. A woodrim Astrali steering was fitted, and a set of alloy pedals completed the retro-roadracer look.

By 1999, she was ready to hit the road...