1979, Datsun, 120A 3DR

It was, without question, the slowest car I ever owned — a Datsun 120A with a modest 1200cc engine and a three-speed automatic gearbox that struggled to keep up with traffic. Driving it was a lesson in patience. But despite its lack of speed, that little car gave me one of the funniest experiences I’ve ever had.

Not long after I bought it, I got a flat tyre on my way to work. I pulled over, popped the boot, and started searching for the jack. I checked every corner, every compartment — nothing. It simply wasn’t there. Since I had purchased the car second-hand in the Middle East, I figured a previous owner must have removed it.

As luck would have it, a kind gentleman stopped to help. He loaned me his jack, and together we managed to change the tyre. I thanked him and went on my way, making a mental note to buy a replacement jack before I got another flat.

A few days later, while wandering through the market, I spotted a shop window displaying car parts. There it was — a scissor jack, exactly what I needed. I walked in and told the shopkeeper I wanted to buy it.

He asked, “What car do you drive?”

“A Datsun 120A,” I replied proudly.

The shopkeeper shook his head. “I’m sorry, sir. This jack is for a Toyota.”

I laughed, thinking he misunderstood. “They’re all the same,” I said. “It’ll work just fine.”

But he refused. No matter how I tried to explain that a scissor jack was universal, he stood firm — he would not sell me the jack meant for a Toyota. I left the shop, puzzled and slightly amused, realising that in some places, logic doesn’t always win.

About a week later, I found myself in the same part of town and decided to try again. The same shopkeeper was there. This time, when he asked what car I drove, I smiled and said, “A Toyota Corolla.”

Without hesitation, he sold me the jack.

Back home, I went to store it neatly in the car. The spare tyre sat under a little shelf in the rear, but the jack didn’t seem to fit anywhere. I checked the sides, the boot panels — no luck. Finally, I decided to slide it under the front seat for safekeeping.

As I pushed it in, I heard a dull clunk — something was already there. I reached underneath and, to my surprise, pulled out… the original Datsun jack.

It had been hiding under the seat the whole time.