Still in the Garage
For all the cars that have come and gone over the years, there are a few that are still very much part of the story.
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Put aside the daily drivers, the workhouse that gets you from A to B.. some cars you just keep around, without really knowing why.
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These are the cars I still own today, and in different ways, I am a bit sentimental it has been said and some cars I just struggle to let go.
When they've been with you that long, it kinda feels wrong to let them go..
BMW E36 Convertible (UK)
This silver BMW 3 Series Convertible is one of the constants, I just can't let go... Even though I should have sold the old girl years ago!
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I have pretty much owned it from new, which makes it very different from many of the other cars that have passed through my hands over the years.
When you keep a car that long, it stops being just another vehicle and becomes part of the background to life itself. It is familiar, dependable and full of its own history.
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It may not be the rarest thing in the garage, but it is one of the most personal.
BMW 328 Convertible (Spain)
This old BMW 328 Convertible lives in Spain and feels exactly right there.
Roof down, sunshine out and a completely different pace of life, it is one of those cars that suits its surroundings perfectly.
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I know, like the previous BMW, it's not the rarest or wildest thing I’ve ever owned, but it has charm, style and that lovely easy-going BMW character that makes it such a pleasure to keep.
Austin Healey Sprite Mk 1
This is the emotional heart of Brett’s Garage and there's a huge backstory!
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This little car even inspired my Little Blue Car books so she is definitely a part of the family.
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The Austin Healey Sprite means far more to me than just being a lovely little classic. It carries family history with it. My dad’s connection to the car makes it truly special, and being able to bring that story full circle is one of my proudest memories.
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It is also the sort of car that seems to make people smile wherever it goes.
Tiny, characterful and completely unforgettable, it is proof that sometimes the smallest cars leave the biggest mark.
Jaguar XJS Convertible V12
The Jaguar XJS Convertible is one of those cars that represents everything I love about classic motoring.
Elegant, smooth and unmistakably British, it has real presence without needing to shout about it.
There is something wonderfully glamorous about an old XJS. It belongs to a different kind of motoring era, long-bonneted, stylish and full of occasion.
Mercedes SL55
Then there is the Mercedes SL55, which brings a completely different flavour to the garage.
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Where some of my older classics are about nostalgia and charm, the SL55 is all about presence, performance and effortless style.
It is a serious car with real punch, but still has that grand touring feel that makes it special rather than just fast.
Why these vehicles matter..
I’ve always believed that the best cars, and, in truth, the best vehicles generally, are the ones with a story attached to them.
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Some remind us of family. Some remind us of a chapter of life. Some are tied to places, like Spain. Some are projects that took time, effort and patience.
Some are simply things you dreamed of owning and somehow managed to make happen.
That is what Brett’s Garage is really about.
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Not just a list of cars, but a collection of memories, mistakes, projects, proud moments and things I still look back on fondly now...