Under the Bonnet

Confessions of a 1970s and '80s Car Mechanic

By: Brian Cunningham

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Paperback | 22 October 2025

At a Glance

Paperback
160 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
27.4 x 17.1 x 5.1

Paperback

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The adventures (and misadventures!) of a 1970s and '80s car mechanic.

A Ford Anglia with a fist-sided rusty hole in the front wing and no tax or MOT, a Vauxhall Viva with a self-healing cylinder head gasket and a mechanic who is paid to fix cars quicker than the manufacturer says is possible. What could go wrong? This is the life and times of car mechanic Brian Cunningham in the 1970s and '80s, when fixing a car was one thing, and it staying fixed was something else entirely! Packed with nostalgia and revelling in the forgotten details of a bygone age when cars were simpler (though more dangerous by far!), Under the Bonnet reveals how the cars worked, how they got fixed and the many secret scams of the motor trade.

About the Author

Brian Cunningham worked as a car mechanic from leaving school until his thirties, the period of his life covered in this book, then continued a career in the car industry, in training, management and sales distribution. Since retirement he has worked in finance and retail, and spends his free time with his 5 grandchildren, as well as writing, fishing and playing chess, and has previously self-published two well-received books. He lives in Norwich.

18 b/w illustrations

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