Still the joy of my life!

The car, belonging to 87-year-old Bernard Freeman, was registered on March 3, 1960 - just months after the classic car first hit the road. Mr Freeman bought it for his wife, Joy, in 1970 for £30. He said: "She died 16 years ago this month and it has been in the garage ever since." "I should imagine one or two bits have seized up through lack of use and there is a little bit of rust on the body. But otherwise, apart from needing a good dusting and a polish up of the chrome, it seems to be fine." His wife was mad about Minis. The car is her favourite colour, pink, and has a personalised number plate JOY 86. The roof and interior are black. Mr Freeman said it has only 81,471 miles on the clock and still has the tax disc for when it was last driven, expiring June 1981. He said: "Joy used to love Minis because they are so easy to park. "We used to take it on holiday before we had a caravan and needed something bigger to pull it. It went all over Europe to France, Switzerland and Italy. It was a wonderful car." Mr Freeman said he would be reluctant to part with it because of the car's sentimental value. He said: "I've been offered £2,500 for the number plate alone . I wouldn't have a clue how much the car's worth." Mr Freeman only retired last July as Britain's oldest registered taxi driver. Until then he had worked for Brighton's Streamline Taxis. He still drives, but these days settles for a Ford Fiesta. Chris Cheal, secretary of the National Mini Owners' Club, said Mr Freeman's mini could be worth up to £4,500. He said: "Minis of this age are becoming very collectable now even though there are quite a few about. "It's still something special to own a Mini so old. Whoever you talk to, most people have had some memorable experience in a Mini. "In fact, there are not many people who have never driven a Mini at some stage of their lives. They are still great little cars."

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