What to take from my car to remember it by?

[Gabiabbi]

Ok, firstly - I acknowledge this is a ridiculous question 😂

However, my car died this week. It's going to have to be scrapped.

I've had it for nearly 13 years, and it's symbolises so much more than a set of wheels for me. I'd not long split from daughter's dad, and had just got a new job, one that enabled me to have the funds to buy my first decent car - the rest I'd owned were bangers from day 1 😂 one that I felt safe driving all over in with my daughter - and we did! Many miles driven all over and that car never let me down, until this week. Numerous carseats installed - this car has saw my daughter from a baby to a teenager, and it's been a symbol of independence for me.

So, if you can get past my ridiculous over-sentiment of my post - I'm wanting to take something from the car before it goes for scrap, but I've no idea what! Any artsy types or anyone have any ideas? No engines or anything like that 😂

Remove the distributor cap, turn it upside down, and use it as the base for a display of dried immortelles?

Spare tyre? Fill with compost for a mini flower bed.

I just have some photos of my old cars. Although the one thing I do regret not taking from last car, is the automatic tyre pump. It would've saved me a fortune with the car I have now. It was a sad day watching the tow truck guy having to drag my poor car onto the back of the truck cos everything had seized up on it. I too kissed my car goodbye, and then stood waving goodbye to it as it disappeared from sight. What a sad git 😅

How about getting a little die cast car replica of the old car?

I was going to suggest the knob on the gear stick if it unscrews. Some do.

I was massively sentimental about my first car. Didn't occur to me to take anything from it. Although with hindsight, I wish I'd taken the space saver spare wheel. As my new car didn't have one!

Or a hubcap if it's a nice one?

I always get sentimental when I change cars, some of them more than others. I once sold a car in part exchange and, as XH drove it away, he squirted the windscreen washers as if the car was crying 😭. How to finish me off completely! 😭😂

Can you not use use the old car's registration plate/index number for your new(er) car?
I thought when people had a 'cherished' plate eg ABC 100 on a car they could transfer it onto the next car they own.

I always keep the owners manual and the service history file. I also kept the steering wheel from my old MG, a reminder that I made a huge mistake scrapping that car. Two years later I went out of my way to buy another one, as close to my old one as I could find. I still have her but she hibernates over winter in a nice dry garage and only comes out to play when the sun is shining.

You can apply to have the number plate transferred to your next car?

Apparently the hub cap/centre of the alloy wheel is a good one.

I kept the reg from my dad's car and hung it like a picture. I remember there being some seats in the garage for a long time as there was talk of making them into actual chairs. Never happened.

Or badge from the front or back.

You could take a picture and hang it or there is an artist that does caricatures of cars. They're always at car shows. That could be quite cool.