There was no tradition of classic cars or any interest in anything mechanical in the family of John Drury, yet from an early age he was very fascinated by such cars and everything related to them.

“The fact that old, classic cars were so different to modern ones caught my imagination from a very early age. I was always very curious to look under a car’s bonnet to find out exactly how its engine worked”, John eagerly explains.

Fuelled by such a yearning, John spent a number of years studying at the Marsa Technical School. After completing his studies there, he found work with the British forces where, for eight years, he honed his skills in their mechanical section, right until their rundown and final departure in 1979. John then opened his own automotive garage, where he was still very active until recently.

Despite his strong attraction to classic cars, financial and family commitments meant that John wasn’t able to acquire one so easily. This however changed in 1992 when he decided to purchase a blue AC Cobra which he imported in kit form from the UK. Aided by his strong technical background, it took John all of two years to assemble the car, encountering absolutely no problems along the way.

Mini

The Cobra has an interesting history and a local connection. Way back in 1961, American auto designer Carroll Shelby asked British specialists AC Cars to build him a modified car with a V8 engine. The company agreed to supply it. Shelby first went to Chevrolet for the engine however they refused as they did not want to create competition for their Corvette. Shelby then knocked on Ford’s door and they obliged.

The Cobra was born in 1962. AC Cars handled the major build works, including painting and trimmings. The car, including its engine and gears, was then completed at Shelby’s Los Angeles complex.

Although the Cobra was a racing success, it was a financial failure, and in 1967, Shelby and Ford stopped importing the parts from England. AC Cars folded up in 1984 and sold its name and tools to Autokraft, a UK Cobra parts and replica cars manufacturer. A legal battle between the British and American operations ensued, with the eventual verdict giving the former the right to continue producing the car in kits, while the latter could go on producing continuation cars.

In 2006, AC Cars closed its UK factory and moved to Malta. The company’s stay here was short lived, and only three carbon fibre vehicles were manufactured before the local operation closed down and moved on to Germany, where it continued to produce the Cobra kits.

In 1998, while John was talking to one of his Old Motors Club friends, he got to know of a 1957 MGA that was up for sale in the United States.

“Aware of its significant history, this iconic car interested me in no small way. Similar to anyone purchasing an expensive vehicle online, I was rather apprehensive at first but eventually I decided to go for it”, John admits.

AC Cobra

Although the car was in good condition upon its arrival, John decided to restore it from top to bottom.

“The nut and bolt restoration work took me one year to complete. It was very challenging due to the fact that I had to bring out the best of me in order to restore nearly all the car’s parts to their original form. Hardly any new parts needed to be purchased, with the exception of some engine components and some new tyres”.

The car’s body colour was changed from blue to Olde English white, while the black upholstery and carpets took on a new red colour.

The MGA was produced by MG from 1955 to 1962. Hailed as the first of a new line, it sported a body-on-frame design and used a 1,500cc straight-4 B series engine from the MG Magnette saloon, driving the rear wheels through a four-speed gearbox. Eventually, it was replaced by the MGB.

Buoyed on by the successful restoration of his MGA, John decided to embark on a more ambitious project, namely, building a Lotus Super 7 from parts sourced from all over the island. This was a lengthy and demanding project, but one which provided John with lots of satisfaction. Powered by a Ford 1,600cc engine, the sporty Super 7 was a small, lightweight two-seater produced by Lotus Cars between 1957 and 1972.

The final classic car to make it to John’s garage was a 1972 green Mini, which he bought in 2000. “It is a strong and sturdy little car. I twice travelled with it to Sicily on trips organised by the Old Motors Club”, John proudly explains.

Clearly, his preference rests on the Cobra. “It is the only one that is still relatively brand new. All the car’s parts came out of the factory production line, and its performance demonstrates it. The same cannot be said of the other three. Something tells me they’re starting to feel a little bit tired,” he concludes.

A firm believer in the maxim that where there is unity, one finds strength, John is also a member of the American Car Club. His only lament is that this club has a preponderance of males. According to him, the local Old Motors Club is more gender friendly, though he worries that the club seems to be failing to attract younger members to its fold.

www.oldmotorsclub.com