Senator David Norris tells Andrew Hamilton about his first set of wheels
What was your first car?
My first car was an Austin Mini.
What did you pay for it? £499.
Was it reliable?
Yes.
Any good or bad memories?
Had an unexpected encounter with a Hiace van in Buckingham St. When the guards arrived I was sitting in the Mini in a state of shock. The guard asked me the registration number. I told him I couldn't remember. He took something off the roof and said would it be MND455? This sounded familiar all right, and I certainly recognised it when he handed the numberplate in through the window and said "You should put that somewhere safe".
Did it greatly affect your social or business life?
Meant I could get down to Brittas Bay under my own steam and also take my elderly aunt for drives - to church on Sunday.
How long did you keep your first car?
About 18 months.
Did you sell it on for a better deal?
No, I just repeated the dose and got another Mini.
Did your first car give you a feeling of advantage over other friends who relied on the bicycle or public transport?
No. It just brought me back up to their level as we hadn't had a car at all since my father died.