Normans interest in all things mechanical naturally progressed to his first vehicle, a BMW motorbike and this developed to greater challengers with cars in need of total renovation. Norman once purchased five Hillman Minx's in order to create one road worthyish car with which to ferry friends to various destinations. All through his life, Norman never did own a brand new car, but the state he made of them with his tools thrown in, it was probably just as well.