5 Minutes With Mick Wood

Old Ford Autos’ Mick is surrounded by projects, but he can’t get enough of them.

How did you get into cars? 

When I was still at school, my uncle and cousin used to drag race Minis and I used to go with them, so naturally, I got hooked! Those were the pre-Santa Pod days when we mainly raced at Blackbushe Airport. We travelled around quite a lot — Snetterton, even Silverstone once where they used the long straight.

And your first Ford? 

My first car was a Riley Kestrel which I drove that into the side of a coach, so I needed another car. My mate had a 107E so I bought that. It was in good condition, in Imperial Maroon and grey and went through many guises as I was an apprentice in a Ford dealership and there were loads of custom Fords about at the time.

How did you get into working on classic Fords? 

At the Ford dealership we were allowed to work on our own cars and we had the key to the workshop, although everything you did, you had to do in one day so you got used to being efficient and getting it done. Being into cars, it was ideal and my Dad had Fords, too — an Anglia van in grey primer. He was always messing about with them.

How did Old Ford Autos come about?