Pisani’s classics: 1969 Mercedes 220.

In the make-believe world of children, Aaron Pisani had his first classic car at the age of seven – a Vauxhall Victor parked outside his home in Sliema. He used to pretend to drive it and regularly used to get a bucket with water and soap to wash it.

Recalling the history of the 1962 FB Super model, Pisani states that the Vauxhall Victor has been in his family for more than 50 years.

“My grandfather Charles Grech, who was a police inspector, bought the white-with-honey-creamed roof classic car for Lm850. After his death, it was passed on to my mother Carmen.”

The Vauxhall was used for many years by his mother, and eventually by his father David in his marble business, which brought the car down until it was abandoned outside his house.

1979 123 diesel 200.

To Pisani, the Vauxhall became a much-sought-after refuge. At 15 he taught himself how to drive it in their large garage in Sliema.

In 1995 the family bought another new car, and they seriously thought of selling or scrapping the Vauxhall, and nearly did.

“We even took farewell photos. But at the 11th hour my grandmother Virginia thought otherwise and the old car was kept in the family. She even offered to pay the licence fee herself.”

Eventually the Vauxhall passed on to Pisani, still in working order. He says that plans are at an advanced stage for a full restoration project, with all the major parts needed already in his possession. While surfing the net looking for parts, he came into contact with a former UK Vauxhall employee who was in charge of dynamo install-ation on Vauxhall vehicles exported to Malta.

The Vauxhall Victor.

Some time later Pisani visited England to meet him, and bought brand-new items like bumpers, front grilles, back and front lights, as well as engine and brake components. Another highlight of this meeting was a visit to the Vauxhall Museum in Luton, which is opened to the public only twice a year. It was closed at the time, but on the recommendation of his contact, he was given a tour.

The museum traces the history of the car manufacturer Vauxhall Motors, the British subsidiary of General Motors. Obviously, Pisani’s eyes were glued on the Vauxhall Victor models, especially the solidly built and well proportioned, flat front and turtle deck rear FB, that came off the line from 1961 to 1964.

Pisani is now hoping to find some time to initiate the rehabilitation project, especially since the last stumbling block – sets of rubber seals that were previously hard to find – were sourced in Australia by his wife Alexia, who bought them for him as a present.

1970 Fiat 850 Berlina. Photos: Tony Vassallo

Old cars rule the roost in the Pisani family, for even their aptly-named 18-month-old son Bentley Ron is already tinkering along with his father in his four garages situated in Għargħur, Balzan, Sliema and St Julian’s. His father-in-law, Ronald Birmingham, who is a panel beater and spray painter, has also been very supportive of Pisani’s classic car projects.

In 2009 Pisani bought a 1969 blue Mercedes 220 petrol which was on its way to the scrap heap. It was in a sorry state, with many engine parts missing, rusty and lacking brakes. He talked with a mechanic friend, and after getting a new battery, water pump and radiator, it came to life.

A full restoration project was eventually embarked on, involving the mechanic and the panel beater. The project was long and arduous and there was a timeframe – because Pisani wanted to feature the Mercedes for his pre-wedding video and photos in May 2011.

Come the day, it was still lacking the chrome as well as the classic car registration, so it was towed on a trailer to the site in Buskett. The restoration was completed five months later.

With one Mercedes in the bag, he heard of another model from the same brand – a 1979 orange 123 diesel 200 – that was on the market. Although rust had attacked the body, its engine was in perfect condition. Pisani used the same panel beating services as in the previous project, and earlier this year it reappeared on the road.

In-between the work on the two German vehicles, he also purchased two Italian classic cars. The first one was a 1970 Fiat 850 Berlina. Found in Siġġiewi, the navy blue car had a functional engine but the body needed attention.

Some body panels from another 850 were cannibalised in the restoration task. At around the same time, he saw a Fiat 1100 for sale and bought it. Later he thought that he had acted too quickly, nearly scrapped it, then put it on the internet, but no-one was interested. At the same time, he saw another Fiat 1100 in a much better condition, and bought it too.

The body of the 1961 maroon vehicle with a black roof was in a good condition, but there was a problem with the engine, which had been replaced. Pisani found the original engine and restored it. It had to be dismantled, and parts like the camshaft, pistons, oil, petrol and water pumps were replaced. The vehicle underwent a lengthy restoration process and was ready in 2013, before the birth of his son, as he wanted to dedicate his time to him.

As to the local old motors scene, Pisani – who has followed his father in the marble business – is thrilled to see so many classic cars being rehabilitated, and being harnessed especially at the weekends. His only disappointment is when crowds fail to turn up for events and activities involving these vehicles.

Pisani adores Alfas, and he yearns for a Giulia model – but at the moment he has to content himself with a number of modern Alfas that he drives regularly.

Never a man to sit still, he has quite a lot on his hands besides the old cars in his spare time. In a special place he has walls adorned with glass cabinets featuring 7,500 model cars, besides 4,000 mugs and glasses.

And on top of that, he keeps exotic animals.­­