Pete
I see you had an Austin Maxi, mine was Mk 1 with the cable system from gear-lever to gearbox. I don't think I ever had five gears and reverse at the same time, the garage would adjust these so I could get the missing one but that would mean losing one of the others. I think they changed to a lever system for the Mk 2. In my twenties I made full use of the fold down into a bed configuration of the seats!!!
You also had a IMP, on mine the engine would seize up when hot, you would just pull over to the side of the road let it cool down and away it would go again, Aluminium engine was the problem with rad in the front. Easiest car ever to get the engine out just remove the rear panel and push the car forward!!