This is my new kettle. Smart, eh? Why am I showing you a picture of my new kettle? Well, it's linked to my old car. Which is why I insisted on having this blue one - the display model - and not any of the other boxed ones in various other appealing shades.
Not a perfect colour match but near enough!
Basically this is the story of a Clio 172 Cup that became a kitchen. When exactly I passed that milestone in life where the latter becomes more important than the former I'm not entirely sure - must've been snoozing at that point or something. And before anyone weighs in with the 'she made you sell your car to buy a kitchen?' misogynist outrage it's only fair to point out that only half the Clio was actually mine and, effectively, the other half was subsidised for my pleasure. A great deal of which I had at the wheel before I gallantly (I can say that now) declared it wasn't really fair to be exploiting the deal like that. And went and
bought my Eunos
Still, if the Clio was to become a kitchen my one rule was that there should be something there to commemorate its sacrifice. Some feature, some flash of Mondial Blue or something relevant to my ownership. One mate, who witnessed the Cup's ability to bite the unwary (ie, me), commented I should perhaps have a small gravel trap in the corner. Very funny. But I thought the kettle would do the job, so there it is. And every time I go to make a brew I can reminisce about OV52 OVM and the fun (and fear) we shared together.
Rare facing right way on track moment
It was a cracking little car too - properly fierce and unforgiving and brutally fast for a hot hatch. For my money that was the perfect meeting point in the hot hatch evolution where proper performance met a half decent chassis before things got too civilised and computer assisted. The Cup is new enough to feel like a 'modern' car but much more raw and involved than anything on the market today, 200 Cup included. I remember reading about it when it launched and thinking 'that's my kind of car' and, sure enough, it proved itself exactly that. And now whenever I make a cup of tea I get a little chance to celebrate its part in my life.
Steve's Clio outpaced Caterhams in the wet
Maybe I should feel sad that my Clio has morphed into a kettle. But it was the right time to part and I feel no bitterness. And the new owner looked chuffed to bits with it when he drove off. Not that it stops me
browsing the classifieds
from time to time of course... I'm still loyal and, weirdly, felt a surge of pride at 172 Cup owner Steve McMaster putting one over the Caterhams at the
Goodwood sprint
at the weekend too. Well done that man!
So, anyone else got a little shrine to a long-lost automotive love? Share! You're among friends here...