Careful on the gears, the gearbox is unsynchronized so you can't just switch from gear to gear, keep it in neutral in the middle of changing gears, release the clutch and then re-engage the clutch before revving up or down to your next target gear speed then move the gearshift and release the clutch (see 'double declutching').

Read up a bit on how to deal with manual spark advance, what it does and how to operate the lever, that's probably the biggest difference to running a modern engine, and of course you're going to have to manually operate the choke.

Make sure that you have the right gas for that engine, add lead replacement additive to ensure you don't wreck the head and the valves.

Starting it is a nice little job by itself, here is the 'short' checklist: (assuming everything works...):

- gear in neutral (better get this right or it will be an expensive day), roll the car a bit if you want to verify that worked

- ensure handbrake is on (just in case...)

- set the spark advance to the 'start' mark or if it isn't there to 'retard' or all the way up

- close the air intake to the carb ("choke") to let just a little bit if air in (open this up once the engine is running bit by bit)

- ignition to 'on'

- throttle about 1/3rd to half open

- open the tap to enable fuel to run to the downdraft carb

- wait a few seconds for some fuel to make it down

- next depends on whether you have an electric starter fitted, look for a button on the floor. If you do, it's like any other car at this point, if not:

- slowly rotate the engine until you feel backpressure on the starter crank, then whip it through that point and be ready to pull the crank rod out if the engine starts. This is the most risky bit, if the crank rod does not nicely disengage the 'u' will be more than happy to break your wrist so make sure that the starter hole is clean and that the rod moves in and out smoothly, and put some grease on the tip where it engages the crankshaft.

- in warm weather it should be a lot easier to start than in cold

- to shut it down: reverse the order above, obviously without the bit about the hand crank

If it doesn't start: prepare to learn a lot about this engine :) But that's time well spent.

After you've shut it all down double check that fuel stop because if it is even a little bit open you'll end up with an engine full of gas!

Take it easy, and seriously, very easy.

The reverse gear is a lot lower than 1st so if you can't go up a hill in 1st try doing it backwards, good chance that will do the job.

Also: it got to that garage at the top of the hill somehow so I'm assuming that it either got there under its own power or there was some means of transporting it there, that may still be around.

The engine in there is a flathead 4 cylinder, if you are nice to it it will last forever. Make sure you check the fluids before going on a trip and ensure that the brakes work, especially if you're going to start downhill, they could easily be seized if it has been sitting for too long.

Check your tires for any visible damage or drying out.

In driving: plan your breaking points on your calendar. These old drum brakes are nothing at all like modern disc systems so get a good feel for how good (or terrible) the brakes are before rolling to a stop behind someone else's car in traffic. And prepare to bang your nose on the wheel the next time you drive a 'normal' car ;)

Enjoy your fantastic car :)