Once Stung . . .

We're driving down the highway and spot this banger along the roadside. Looks like it's seen many better days.

In its prime, this Corvette Stingray 350 must have been a real beauty. Now it's a shabby wreck waiting for a loving owner. It's worth between $300 and $1,000, plus whatever a buyer needs to fork out to get it on the road.

Will that be us? Er, no. We have a little history . . .

Along with our motor dealer son-in-law Jeff, who rebuilds Mustangs, we bought one a few years back. 1982. Bright white body. Red leather interior. It had - really - one lady owner from new and she didn't want to sell - nostalgia! Smooth-talking Jeff persuaded her to part with the 'vette, assuming we'd make a killing reselling it. I coughed up the cash . . .

The bloody car sat on our lawn for months. Prospective buyers (mainly pimply teenagers and their dads) sat in the driver's seat, turned on the engine, closed their eyes, imagined they were on the open road with their best girl by their side, then coughed politely and left.

Six months later, we got rid of it, made a slight profit and vowed never to touch another Corvette. Ever.

Looked nice, though . . . but Jools never did get to try it out.