Motors & Me: Pat McAuliffe - 1966 Ford Corsair

Pat MacAuliffe shows us around his 1966 Ford Corsair.

What are you currently driving?

My weekend car is a 1966 Ford Corsair. My everyday car is a Jeep Cherokee 2.5 turbo diesel — a bit like a jet.

Love at first sight, or just a means to get from A to B?

Love at first sight. I bought the car from Eddie O’Callaghan a well known collector in the locality who only parted because he had run out of space.

What’s under the bonnet?

A 1700 cc V4 — great power and torque but heavy on petrol.

Petrol head or Sunday driver?

Sunday driver, no matter what I drive I like to enjoy the moment.

What was your first car?

My first car was a Mini.

What else do/did you own?

After that I had a Mazda 818. Then I had a MK 3 Cortina, an Opel Berlina and then several VW Passats.

Dream drive in dream location?

Mizen Head to Malin Head, taking in all the Wild Atlantic Way, and back down the east coast over three weeks in August in my Corsair with my wife Maura.

Passenger you’d most like on a long journey?

My wife Maura who comes on all the vintage runs with me (queen of sandwiches). If not available, Jimmy McCarthy, there would be a great song at the end of it.

Passenger you’d least like?

Bob Geldof.

What’s on your playlist?

I am a musician so my playlist is endless, to name a few: Van Morrisson, Richard Thompson, Paul Brady, Neil Young, Muireann MicAmhlaoibh, Jimmy McCarthy, Damien Rice, Liam Clancy, Lisa Hannigan, Eddie Reader, The Saw Doctors, I could go on.