The sweet aroma of freshly baked Maltese bread wafts invitingly in the early morning air as the baker does his rounds. The old delivery van stops at short distances, driven effortlessly along the streets of Qormi and Si??iewi, with the baker's son - still in his early teens and barely visible in the driver's seat - behind the wheel.
"Scenes like these were very common in the late 1950s and early 1960s," recalls Bastjan Grech, who for several years helped his father on the daily bread rounds. "Traffic was scarce, and for many youngsters, including myself, the progression from compulsory primary school was not necessarily to secondary school, but straight into the family business. This was also dictated by the size of Maltese families in those days: we were 19 children. I was number 18 in the pecking order."
The Grech family too had its own tradition: vintage cars. Father Anthony had a Ford V8 Pilot - the first post war "Big Ford" produced between 1947 and 1951 - which he customised to use for bread deliveries. Two sons also had old vehicles: John got around in a Chevrolet Impala, while Carmel drove a De Sato. It was no wonder then that old cars always held a fascination for the young Bastjan. Besides collecting the Matchbox Models series, he would make his own versions of old vehicles in wood. "One of the advantages of having a family bakery was the constant supply of wood," smiles Bastjan. "Another plus was that I was self-taught to drive the old delivery van well before my 18th birthday!"
While the young lad always ogled all old four-wheelers, his heart pounded whenever a Ford Cortina, and especially the Lotus model, came within his sights. He remembers that there were several in the Qormi-?amrun area. "The owner of the Hudson hi-fi establishment in ?amrun had a very sporty Lotus, and I would spend hours gazing lovingly at it".
In 1968, aged only 19, Bastjan decided to pack up for Australia, where two sisters and a brother had already settled. His love for classic cars continued Down Under, and during his three-year sojourn, he bought an old Holden and a Morris 1100. Returning to Malta in the early 1970s, he joined a nylon knitting factory as a machine operator, where he still works today. Soon afterwards, he bought his first classic locally - a 1964 Mini Cooper with a white body and a green roof. "It was in a very good condition, but we had to part company before long - when the heavens opened, the car stalled in the rain," he explains.
Still haunted by the childhood vision of the classy Cortina, Bastjan searched tirelessly for a suitable specimen. His efforts were rewarded in 1972 when he acquired a 1964 two-door Cortina de Luxe Mark 1. "It was a fantastic car, with an ermine white body complemented by a pair of Sherwood green stripes," Bastjan recalls with nostalgia. "It needed very little retouching and repair, and I enjoyed it to the full for 21 years." However, a growing family dictated the need for a newer vehicle, meaning that the Cortina had to be sold. He regretted the sale almost immediately.
"I was completely overwhelmed by the vacuum the car's departure left behind," laments Bastjan. "I went on the lookout for another two-door Cortina. It was not easy to find: while the four-door models are common, the two-doors are rare." He eventually spotted a parked Cortina while running an errand in Birkirkara. "I stopped instantly, asked around for its owner, plucked up courage, and knocked on his door," he remembers. "As luck would have it, the old owner was ready to part with it as he wanted a smaller car."
Before clinching a deal, Bastjan took a closer look at the Cortina, and saw that the body was rusty and deteriorating. Putting the brakes on his enthusiasm, he then sought the advice and possible involvement of two panel beaters, who both refused to have anything to do with it. His zeal was dampened, and tail between legs, and he moved on. Some time later, a relative of the owner ran into Bastjan, and told him that the Cortina was in a garage in Ba?rija, waiting to be scrapped. Sensing the challenge ahead, he threw all caution to the wind, and bought the car.
Not only was the Cortina in poor condition, but its original engine had also been replaced by a BMC diesel. Once in their garage in Qormi, Bastjan and his three sons - all keen old motors enthusiasts - discussed the restoration. They began to notice features such as the factory shell supports that extend to the boot floor, the A-frame link fixing points for the rear suspension, the hump over the differential, the 8,000 rpm rev counter, and the ratchet-type boot lid stand.
"Having had the other Cortina for such a long period, we realised that here was something very different," continues Bastjan. Further investigation revealed that the father, without knowing, had bought a genuine Lotus Cortina Mark 1. The chassis number was checked with the Lotus Cortina Register, and it was confirmed that this car was a genuine 1965 model imported from the UK in 1970. Bastjan and his boys were overjoyed!
The Lotus story is synonymous with the swinging Sixties. It started in 1961 when the best brains of Ford and those of Lotus got together. Developed by the legendary Colin Chapman of Lotus and manufactured by the Ford Motor Company between 1963 and 1968, the Lotus Cortina dominated the racing rallies of that halcyon era. With drivers like Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart, it won every award on offer.
"Only 2,994 Mark 1 models were manufactured in the UK," Bastjan remarks. But before the vehicle was restored to its present pristine condition, there were hurdles to overcome. In its poor state, finding a panel beater willing to undertake the restoration of the body was never going to be easy. Finally, a ?abbar enthusiast took up the challenge.
"Sadly, the restoration work was carried out at snail's pace and after three years, I was tired of waiting. I told the panel beater that I was taking it away in its unfinished state. Within two months, the job was completed!" The car was now ready for the paint job. But more delays were on the cards. "I engaged a meticulous sprayer to paint it in the original Lotus colours - ermine white with Sherwood green stripes. But it took him a whole year to prepare the bodywork further before the actual spraying. Admittedly, the final result left nothing to be desired."
During this four-year period, Bastjan was busy scouring locally, in the UK and in Australia, for other parts which needed replacement: the engine and gearbox, all rubber seals, gauges, and upholstery. "I was lucky to find an original Lotus engine," he admits. "I was told by a friend that there was one in Bir?ebbu?a, which was mounted on a Ford Fiesta Mark 1, and its owner wanted to replace it".
Once the car was back in their garage, the Grech clan embarked on the reassembly. "We took all the mechanical work in hand ourselves. My eldest son, Anthony, an engineer, deserves special credit. The end result was as close to the original as possible".
After more than four years under wraps, the now impeccable Lotus Cortina made its debut at the 2004 Mdina Glass Show. It has since become a regular attractive feature at Old Motors Club events. In May 2006, Bastjan took part in a local Ford show, where he placed second in the classic Ford category. Last August, the local Lotus was also featured in depth in the UK Performance Ford Magazine.
Bastjan's wife Salvina is very supportive of this other passion in life, and, as an old car enthusiast herself, she accompanies him to various activities, especially the OMC trips to Sicily. Bastjan's boys are already following in their father's footsteps: Anthony has a 1966 Cortina Mark 1; Omar a 1968 Hillman Hunter; while Andre drives a 1963 Anglia stationwagon.
"I cannot describe the feeling of finally being able to drive my own dream car," Bastjan beams proudly "It is a hard-earned pleasure to be behind the wheel after all that work and frustration". The Lotus Cortina Mark 1 is a rare and much sought after classic car. Many British tourists frequently tell him that the car would fetch a fortune in the UK.
But, as the Beatles once sang, money can't buy you love. Nor quite definitely, Bastjan's beloved beauty.
Mr Busuttil is PRO for the Old Motors Club: www.oldmotorsclub.com; info@oldmotorsclub.com
"Scenes like these were very common in the late 1950s and early 1960s," recalls Bastjan Grech, who for several years helped his father on the daily bread rounds. "Traffic was scarce, and for many youngsters, including myself, the progression from compulsory primary school was not necessarily to secondary school, but straight into the family business. This was also dictated by the size of Maltese families in those days: we were 19 children. I was number 18 in the pecking order."
The Grech family too had its own tradition: vintage cars. Father Anthony had a Ford V8 Pilot - the first post war "Big Ford" produced between 1947 and 1951 - which he customised to use for bread deliveries. Two sons also had old vehicles: John got around in a Chevrolet Impala, while Carmel drove a De Sato. It was no wonder then that old cars always held a fascination for the young Bastjan. Besides collecting the Matchbox Models series, he would make his own versions of old vehicles in wood. "One of the advantages of having a family bakery was the constant supply of wood," smiles Bastjan. "Another plus was that I was self-taught to drive the old delivery van well before my 18th birthday!"
While the young lad always ogled all old four-wheelers, his heart pounded whenever a Ford Cortina, and especially the Lotus model, came within his sights. He remembers that there were several in the Qormi-?amrun area. "The owner of the Hudson hi-fi establishment in ?amrun had a very sporty Lotus, and I would spend hours gazing lovingly at it".
In 1968, aged only 19, Bastjan decided to pack up for Australia, where two sisters and a brother had already settled. His love for classic cars continued Down Under, and during his three-year sojourn, he bought an old Holden and a Morris 1100. Returning to Malta in the early 1970s, he joined a nylon knitting factory as a machine operator, where he still works today. Soon afterwards, he bought his first classic locally - a 1964 Mini Cooper with a white body and a green roof. "It was in a very good condition, but we had to part company before long - when the heavens opened, the car stalled in the rain," he explains.
Still haunted by the childhood vision of the classy Cortina, Bastjan searched tirelessly for a suitable specimen. His efforts were rewarded in 1972 when he acquired a 1964 two-door Cortina de Luxe Mark 1. "It was a fantastic car, with an ermine white body complemented by a pair of Sherwood green stripes," Bastjan recalls with nostalgia. "It needed very little retouching and repair, and I enjoyed it to the full for 21 years." However, a growing family dictated the need for a newer vehicle, meaning that the Cortina had to be sold. He regretted the sale almost immediately.
"I was completely overwhelmed by the vacuum the car's departure left behind," laments Bastjan. "I went on the lookout for another two-door Cortina. It was not easy to find: while the four-door models are common, the two-doors are rare." He eventually spotted a parked Cortina while running an errand in Birkirkara. "I stopped instantly, asked around for its owner, plucked up courage, and knocked on his door," he remembers. "As luck would have it, the old owner was ready to part with it as he wanted a smaller car."
Before clinching a deal, Bastjan took a closer look at the Cortina, and saw that the body was rusty and deteriorating. Putting the brakes on his enthusiasm, he then sought the advice and possible involvement of two panel beaters, who both refused to have anything to do with it. His zeal was dampened, and tail between legs, and he moved on. Some time later, a relative of the owner ran into Bastjan, and told him that the Cortina was in a garage in Ba?rija, waiting to be scrapped. Sensing the challenge ahead, he threw all caution to the wind, and bought the car.
Not only was the Cortina in poor condition, but its original engine had also been replaced by a BMC diesel. Once in their garage in Qormi, Bastjan and his three sons - all keen old motors enthusiasts - discussed the restoration. They began to notice features such as the factory shell supports that extend to the boot floor, the A-frame link fixing points for the rear suspension, the hump over the differential, the 8,000 rpm rev counter, and the ratchet-type boot lid stand.
"Having had the other Cortina for such a long period, we realised that here was something very different," continues Bastjan. Further investigation revealed that the father, without knowing, had bought a genuine Lotus Cortina Mark 1. The chassis number was checked with the Lotus Cortina Register, and it was confirmed that this car was a genuine 1965 model imported from the UK in 1970. Bastjan and his boys were overjoyed!
The Lotus story is synonymous with the swinging Sixties. It started in 1961 when the best brains of Ford and those of Lotus got together. Developed by the legendary Colin Chapman of Lotus and manufactured by the Ford Motor Company between 1963 and 1968, the Lotus Cortina dominated the racing rallies of that halcyon era. With drivers like Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart, it won every award on offer.
"Only 2,994 Mark 1 models were manufactured in the UK," Bastjan remarks. But before the vehicle was restored to its present pristine condition, there were hurdles to overcome. In its poor state, finding a panel beater willing to undertake the restoration of the body was never going to be easy. Finally, a ?abbar enthusiast took up the challenge.
"Sadly, the restoration work was carried out at snail's pace and after three years, I was tired of waiting. I told the panel beater that I was taking it away in its unfinished state. Within two months, the job was completed!" The car was now ready for the paint job. But more delays were on the cards. "I engaged a meticulous sprayer to paint it in the original Lotus colours - ermine white with Sherwood green stripes. But it took him a whole year to prepare the bodywork further before the actual spraying. Admittedly, the final result left nothing to be desired."
During this four-year period, Bastjan was busy scouring locally, in the UK and in Australia, for other parts which needed replacement: the engine and gearbox, all rubber seals, gauges, and upholstery. "I was lucky to find an original Lotus engine," he admits. "I was told by a friend that there was one in Bir?ebbu?a, which was mounted on a Ford Fiesta Mark 1, and its owner wanted to replace it".
Once the car was back in their garage, the Grech clan embarked on the reassembly. "We took all the mechanical work in hand ourselves. My eldest son, Anthony, an engineer, deserves special credit. The end result was as close to the original as possible".
After more than four years under wraps, the now impeccable Lotus Cortina made its debut at the 2004 Mdina Glass Show. It has since become a regular attractive feature at Old Motors Club events. In May 2006, Bastjan took part in a local Ford show, where he placed second in the classic Ford category. Last August, the local Lotus was also featured in depth in the UK Performance Ford Magazine.
Bastjan's wife Salvina is very supportive of this other passion in life, and, as an old car enthusiast herself, she accompanies him to various activities, especially the OMC trips to Sicily. Bastjan's boys are already following in their father's footsteps: Anthony has a 1966 Cortina Mark 1; Omar a 1968 Hillman Hunter; while Andre drives a 1963 Anglia stationwagon.
"I cannot describe the feeling of finally being able to drive my own dream car," Bastjan beams proudly "It is a hard-earned pleasure to be behind the wheel after all that work and frustration". The Lotus Cortina Mark 1 is a rare and much sought after classic car. Many British tourists frequently tell him that the car would fetch a fortune in the UK.
But, as the Beatles once sang, money can't buy you love. Nor quite definitely, Bastjan's beloved beauty.
Mr Busuttil is PRO for the Old Motors Club: www.oldmotorsclub.com; info@oldmotorsclub.com