One that springs to mind: a farm I worked on had a 4-cylinder Massey Ferguson 35. They were/are well known for bad starting and this was no exception. It always needed a tow if it wasn't hot. One morning, I decided that it wasn't very cold and, as my tow man was busy, I'd use the heater (a glow plug on the inlet manifold that releases an amount of 2saved" diesel and ignites it.

Trouble is - I was 19 at the time (too near 40 yrs ago) and didn't know of the problem and why they insisted on towing. I turned the key to "Heat" and, after a second or so, a flame shot past my right leg! Apparently the pipe from air cleaner to manifold had burnt out last time someone tried the heater - and failed to start it.

shortly before that, I was workign at the son's farm, about 20 miles from home. I'd been attempting to change the Mini to twin carbs one weekend - and failed. Set off to work on Monday morning and got nearly to the farm when the exhaust started knocking on the inner UJ (it was a close fit). Turned round to come home and got half way, a long straight and I realised that, if I speeded up a bit, the engine moved and the knock went.

I was doing 60 when the nearside front wheel came off. The car did 125 yards on three wheels ( I walked the groove in the road) . Someone had slackened the front wheel nuts - not me, I hadn't touched them over the weekend! One bottom ball joint and four wheel nuts saw the car right again!