Michael James Ford, actor and director, waxes lyrical about his first car, a 1965 Volkswagen Beetle
What was your first car and why did you buy it? A 1965 Volkswagen Beetle - I loved the look of it.
Was the car new or second-hand? Second-hand.
Did you know how to drive when you bought it, or did you learn to drive in it? I knew how to drive - had learned as a teenager.
What did you know about cars when you bought it? I knew a little. I'd been an enthusiastic motorcyclist some years previously, so I knew roughly how things worked. But I wasn't a good mechanic.
What advice did you get when you were looking for a car? Buy something Japanese with good electrics, good fuel economy and efficient heating.
How much did you pay for it - and what impact did running a car have on your pocket? £200 - running a car made an immediate impact on my pocket. It was a very thirsty car.
Was it hard to get insurance? Yes. But thanks to the car's advanced age, I managed to get "classic car" insurance from a company in Britain at a very reasonable rate.
How reliable was it? Initially a very unreliable starter. It required frequent pushing, until I discovered the feeble 6V battery was wired the wrong way.
How did the car change your life? The bronchitic throb of the engine was a constant pleasure. I felt connected to some mythical "golden age of motoring".
What was the longest trip you ever took in the car? Several return trips to Galway from Dublin.
What was your best memory or most memorable moment in the car? Touring Connemara in the summer of 1987 with just the sweet sound of the engine for company.
. . . and your worst memory? Being pulled over by gun-toting members of the Special Branch while on a golfing trip in the Dublin Mountains with friends.
How long did you keep the car and why did you decide to get rid of it? Just over a year - questions were asked about the legality of my insurance.
Did you sell it on for a better deal? I sold it to a woman in Malahide who promised to care for it lovingly. I was offered a good deal on a small Japanese car with reliable electrics, good fuel economy, etc.
Michael James Ford is currently appearing in See You Next Tuesday at the Gate Theatre. His production of One Too Many Mornings runs until October 26th at lunchtime in Bewley's Cafe Theatre