Poole man takes 27 years to restore MG Midget for son's wedding

Design engineer David Townend, who lives in Broadstone, began restoring the 1974 MG Midget in 1994, the year his son Michael was born.

David originally paid £300 for the small red sports car, which he describes as “an old wreckage that had been parked in a field for years.”

He says that in those days “it was a thing that people did – pay stupid amounts of money for an old wreckage.”

As a classic, it would now be worth upwards of £5,000.

• Read more: Here's what is STILL going to change from June 21 despite lockdown delay

In what has become a labour of love, the British-made vehicle will get its first outing to Burley Manor for Michael’s wedding next month.

Michael says that the car has “always been in bits” in his dad’s garage as he works full time, juggling life and work.

The restoration was originally supposed to take two years, however, David said “the car sat there all the time but it wasn’t a priority as life gets in the way and the process of redoing the body had to be done properly.”

He faced a number of other challenges rebuilding the car, including rust and sourcing the right parts.

Michael says “a lot of work and a lot of heart” has gone into the restoration and it means even more as his dad will be best man at the wedding.

Despite the project taking 25 years longer than planned, David said the wedding gave him “the impetus that I needed to have it professionally sprayed.”

He said: “It cost a lot of money and I have been made redundant a few times over the years so money has always been a bit of an issue.”

The vehicle which is nearly finished, has been painted white for the wedding.

David says it is “great to have it done” and it is “time to move on to the next one” if he is allowed.

The wedding, taking place in four weeks, was postponed due to the coronavirus but this means the car will be ready in time.