Judith Dale's first car was an Austin Ruby and, 54 years and a few house moves later, the now renovated 1936 car is still very much part of the family.

This is a picture of me with my first car – a 1936 Austin Ruby – which was bought for me by my mother for £20 in 1963 when I was 18 years old and I still have the car now!

I met my future husband, Martin, when I broke down on my way home one day and he towed me back and I managed to break the tow rope. Martin and I married in 1969.

I used the car regularly for many years but gradually less and less as I went on to more modern cars. However, we kept the Ruby and, when we moved house a couple of times, she came too.

Eventually about 30 years ago we decided to renovate the car to what it is today. We did a complete body-off restoration, mostly carried out by the Austineers company near Bath. However, I bought material and put in the roof and doors lining and all the other bits and pieces to put it all together again.

My Ruby is kept in our barn, wrapped up when not in use, and usually only comes out in the summer and when it is not raining!

I do not know how many miles it has done as the speedo has not worked for many years. I guess I do little more than 150 miles a year now, mostly down quiet roads as it is a bit scary driving on main roads with a car that struggles to get to 40mph and has no seat belts.

My Ruby rarely lets me down and, if it does, it is usually easy to fix as it is a very simple car to service and repair.

I drive often on the lanes around Cotleigh where I live with my husband, and memorably to a fabulous classic car show in Sidmouth last September.

I now belong to the Devon Austin Seven Club and enjoy many rallies and meetings with them.

I think the the Ruby is worth about £5,000, not a lot but then it is no Rolls-Royce but I love it!

Tell us about your first car – email your motoring memories with a picture of the car to motoring@archant.co.uk or post it to Andy Russell, Archant motoring editor, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, NR1 1RE.