History
My first car was a 1939 Hillman Minx - it was terrible worst car I've ever owned! I discovered that mechanical brakes don't work too well when reversing as I hit FOUR cars trying to reverse down a hill. They were all extensively damaged however the Minx did not have a scratch on it due to mud guards made of some sort of rubbery substance. They were probably replaced during the war so that the metal could be used for other purposes (like making bombs).
I foolishly drove it up the newly opened M1 (in the UK London to Birmingham) about half way up, all of 50 miles (80ks), I hear a strange sound coming from the area of the motor then a huge bang and hot metal was flying around my feet. On inspection I could see the effects of a connecting rod exploding through the side of the block and of course the engine was merrily blazing away however help was at hand as a vintage 3 liter Bentley pulled up behind me and the intrepid motorist announced 'Don't worry old boy, we'll soon have this out.' He grabbed handfuls of grass from the side of the road and stuffed them into the flames and the hole in the block. Sure enough the fire was out but it would have been better had the thing burnt to the ground as the cost of the tow was equal to the scrap value of the car!