A chance visit to Auberge de Castille in Valletta many years ago when it was still the admin­istrative hub of the British forces in Malta instilled in Joseph Busuttil a lifelong fascination with old cars.

“I was brought up by my grandparents on a farm on Rabat Road on the outskirts of Attard, not far from the then still operational Ta’ Qali airfield”, Joseph recalls.

“One fine day, my grandfather Carmelo and his horse drawn cart were involved in a traffic accident with a military motorcycle near the airfield. He escaped unhurt. The cart was significantly damaged but the poor horse had to be put down unfortunately”.

There was a period of mourning on the farm, especially since Carmelo depended heavily on his horse to earn a living and maintain his large family. Recognising this, the British authorities soon made amends and Carmelo was summoned to Castille to receive adequate financial compensation.

“I accompanied my grandfather to Valletta for this important occasion. I distinctly remember going up a long flight of stairs, and finally entering a large room with an enormous ceiling. We were led to a table behind which sat a smiling British officer in a khaki uniform. A Maltese interpreter acted as a middleman since my grandfather’s knowledge of English was very limited.”

As the three men talked over his head, Joseph scrutinised the officer’s table. His eyes finally rested on a model car perched on a pile of documents and acting as a paperweight. He became totally fixated with this small car, later identified as a rally Bentley in British racing green. Joseph sat still in his chair while the adults around him concluded their official business.

“The officer could see that I was utterly fascinated by this miniature sports car, and as a sort of sop to Cerberus, he picked it up from the top of the heap of papers and gave it to me. I just couldn’t believe my eyes as I handled it with yearning yet trembling hands. I was only five years old at the time, yet every single detail of that memorable morning has remained firmly etched in my mind. I still have that Bentley”.

During his adolescence in the then rural village of Attard, Joseph spent most of his time with his best friend John Ciantar.

“Although John did not have a driving licence at the time, we still used to sneak out in his father’s old Ford Eight for clandestine rides in the countryside”, chuckles Joseph. “And when Victor Bruno, a member of my small group of friends, finally got his licence, we would join up together on special occasions like the village feast or Christmas and we would rent an ‘ancient’ Hillman Minx from Percius Garage in nearby Lija. We would then spend the entire time driving around in it”.

While his young heart was hell bent on buying a classic car at the time, his head and financial responsibilities dictated otherwise. Always a restless person, Joseph eventually decided to study mental health rehabilitation in the United Kingdom.

Long periods of working in Malta were interspersed with various stays abroad, including a three-year period in Jordan. The highlight of his career were the two stints in Kuwait as a short term consultant with the World Health Organisation, helping out in rehabilitation services for post traumatic stress disorder following the first Iraqi war in 1991.

When he finally settled in Malta in 1995, Joseph embarked on a search for his old love, a classic car.

His eyes fell on a 1967 red MG Midget, which belonged to a staff member of the German embassy who was about to return home. A deal was soon concluded. Proud of his purchase, Joseph restored the car and made it road-worthy. He also became a member of the local Old Motors Club (OMC). However, as he began to participate in car shows, he started to notice that a couple of cosmetic alterations which the previous owner had carried out on the Midget did not go down too well with OMC purists.

“At static car shows and other similar events, I used to be placed at the back of the pack. I soon started to question the overall quality of my red Midget. Was it proving to be some form of embarrassment to the fold? I quickly understood the subtle message. It was time for something different”.

Joseph’s search started again. This time, he was determined to find an original classic vehicle from bumper to bumper. His choice once again fell on an MG Midget, which he spotted parked in a Hamrun street. Its owner was very glad to sell it.

This was a 1967 white Mark III model and it happened to be in good condition, although the 1275cc engine required a number of repair tasks and adjustments. The body also needed repainting, for rust was setting in.

However, being told by various sources that a thorough spray job would mean taking the car off the road for more than a year, he hesitated – until developments forced him to opt for it.

“One Sunday morning in April 2012, I was taking part in an OMC run to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the MGB. At the University roundabout, I was involved in an accident with an Arriva bendy bus – still in service at the time. Half of the Midget’s body was completely crushed. There and then, I decided that a nut and bolt restoration project was necessary.

“An OMC colleague, John Magri, agreed to undertake the task and he did an excellent job. My beloved car was laid up for 18 months. Many engine parts were replaced and new upholstery was installed. The original white colour was retained during the re-spraying process’’.

Despite time and many task constraints, Joseph makes it a point to enjoy a ride in his Midget for at least a couple of hours every Sunday. “I am overwhelmed by a strong feeling of nostalgia when I am behind the wheel”, he admits.

In the last couple of years, he has been joined on the Sunday run by his sole five-year-old grandson, Kane, who is developing an uncanny affection for old cars.

“He keeps me in touch with the present. As to the future, many classic car owners worry what will happen to their beloved old motors when, for some reason or other, they are unable to continue driving them, and there is no interest in other family members to take over. However, with Kane around, I do not think I will have to worry about that particular problem”.

Joseph’s 1967 red MG Midget.

The Midget was a small two-seater sports car produced by the MG division of the British Motor Corporation. When it was launched in 1961, there was a ready and enthusiastic market yearning for a fun car, befitting the mood and trend of the Swinging Sixties. It was small, inexpensive, fast and safe. Four models – Mark I to Mark IV – were manufactured. The Midget grew old gracefully until it sadly died a natural death in 1979.

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