As they are growing up, many children tend to start displaying traits, characteristics, idiosyncrasies, likes and dislikes, which they have gradually imbibed from their family and the surrounding environment during their crucial formative years.
To the pride of their doting parents, basking in the reflected glory, as well as to their own self satisfaction as model offspring, these emerging adolescents and eventual adults are serenely sucked into the manufacturing process of chips off the old block.
There are isolated exceptions to this general rule. From an early age, a few individuals nurture tendencies off the illuminated and beaten track, distant from the confirmed family creed and culture. Despite no parental encouragement, nay, sometimes even being frowned upon and negatively reinforced, such children persist in realising their dream against all odds!
Joseph Cassar belongs to this latter category. As a young boy, he developed an innate affection for old cars, an overwhelming drive springing from sources unknown. Moreover, in the Cassar household, the automobile was anathema.
His father Gerald had absolutely no interest in cars, and never owned one. According to his son, Gerald used to put motor cars down, describing the four wheeler as "a piece of melting ice".
"I remember that one of our neighbours, a British serviceman named Ron, had an Austin 7 for sale," Joseph recalls. "It was a real beauty, and he only wanted Lm7 for it. I pleaded, pestered, cajoled, went into tantrums, and turned on all my varied childhood persuasive skills in order to convince him to buy it for the family.
"But my father sternly pointed out that not even his weekly salary tallied to that amount. And that was the end of the discussion!"
Not one to be easily sidetracked or discouraged, the young Joseph decided to direct his boundless energy towards acquiring the next best thing - starting his own collection of models of old cars. "That was not easy either, as my parents were far from keen to get me such cars, even as presents," Joseph confesses.
"So I had to skimp and save every penny I earned through my own endeavours." Necessity is the mother of invention, and Joseph, who from an early age was blessed with an enterprising spirit, which was always readily reinforced by a creative ability for skilled technical and mechanical tasks, soon put his talents to good use.
"It was the start of the booming tourist industry, where visitors coming to Malta were looking for that authentic, hand-made local souvenir, as opposed to being made in Hong Kong or Taiwan. So I began producing wooden traditional Maltese boats, from start to finish, and selling them to a leading outlet in Valletta.
"It was a lengthy, laborious manual operation, including detailed fretwork, but I was determined to succeed. With the little income I made, I would rush off to get another Matchbox model of yesteryear," states a proud Joseph.
In line with his talents and calling, Joseph underwent a technical education, and was soon serving out an apprenticeship with the John Cassar mechanical establishment in Pietà. Alas, this experience lasted a mere six months, and old cars were at the root of this untimely termination.
His usually smiling and beaming face saddens as he starts on another story. "At one time, the firm had two vintage Rovers for sale. There they were, glittering in all their splendour in the repair yard at the back, with an asking price of Lm12 each. An idea crossed my mind, and I plucked up courage and approached the director to propose a deal.
"As a young teenager, my weekly wage at the time was the princely sum of 14 shillings (70c) a week! I asked him whether the company would sell me one of the Rovers, and whether I could pay for it by hire purchase through my regular income. But my suggestion was instantly shot down on the spot!
"To add insult to injury, the cars were sold the next day to two Royal Navy sailors who came over from HMS Ford, berthed across the road. I was totally devastated to see them go, and I cried my heart out," says an emotional Joseph, with tears welling in his eyes even now.
Deeming this decision as disloyal and a personal affront, Joseph packed up his tools and left. Another apprenticeship in catering beckoned, and he went for it. After some time in this field, he joined the civil service, and spent many years working for the Gas Board.
On a part-time basis and in conjunction with his supportive wife Margaret, he later opened a jewellery business, producing many of the intricate items himself, which he sold not only at their own outlet, but also distributed to a number of main jewellery shops.
How did he manage to be so successful in so many a versatile field, I asked Joseph when I met him recently at his sprawling, spick and span garage at San Gwann? "Put it down to an inquisitive mind, a fertile imagination, long hours of hard work and dedication to a vision," he answers promptly and honestly.
"I didn't know anything about jewellery, for example. But doing the meter reading rounds, I used to stop at jewellery shops and ask leading questions to the skilled workers, who were more than willing to stop and talk, and to go into the details of their job.
"I followed this up with evening courses at the former Msida Polytechnic and the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce in Valletta. And, as they say, the rest is history!"
Once reasonably settled in life, and with his two young boys James and Sinclair growing up, Joseph started looking around to finally realise his long-standing dream - that of owning an old car. "It was in 1991, and I was going around Msida when I spotted a Triumph Spitfire in a showroom. I am not one to rush into hasty decisions," explains Joseph, "and so I contacted my good friend Gaston Mifsud, who is a well- respected old motors connoisseur, for advice and guidance.
"He told me that if I wanted to buy a good classic, he knew of a 1971 MGB for sale. We went to see it: it was in perfect condition, and I was attracted to it instantly. Originally in old English white, but now in black, the vehicle needed no attention, just regular maintenance. The next day the car was in my garage."
As often happens with classic car collectors, dust rarely has time to settle on the first purchase before it is joined by a companion. According to Joseph, this second car came into his possession either through a twist of fate or sheer coincidence, as he recounts the tale.
"Thirty-five years ago I used to live in another part of San Gwann. A neighbour's relative had a very old car, and he frequented his next of kin often. When this car was parked nearby, I used to spend hours with my eldest son James going around it, and I frequently told him that one day we'll have one similar to it."
In 1992, looking for a stablemate for the MGB, Joseph asked a friend whether he was aware of anything on the market. This person took him to a Zejtun resident, who had an old car, which unfortunately he refused to sell.
But before burning all bridges, the man directed them to another classic car oasis in the area, where Joseph feasted his eyes on a 1934 Fiat Balilla. "It had been garaged for a number of years, but it was in a fairly good condition," he explains.
"The deal was done without any hiccups. The engine was in good working order, and little maintenance was required. However, rust and rot had prevailed in some areas, especially on the wooden frame. The required tasks, which included removal of the black colour, took me two years to complete."
Sporting a maroon body and black mudguards, this attractive Balilla nearly departed from our shores since, before Joseph purchased it, it was bought by an American, who however was refused an export licence by the local authorities as the car had gone well past its 50th birthday!
And to crown his achievement, Joseph got to know from the grapevine, as he was restoring the Fiat, that this vehicle was actually the same one which he used to ogle with his small son near his neighbour many moons ago!
Although he likes all kinds of old cars, Joseph has a soft spot for Jaguars, especially the 2.4, a car which he always wanted. In 1993, he saw a 1954 MG Magnet, which has a very close resemblance to the Jaguar, parked in Fleur-de-Lys. He tried to buy the MG, but his offer was initially refused. As usual, Joseph persisted in his efforts, and was eventually rewarded.
Although still in working order, the vehicle was in a very bad condition. "My son James used to drive it for a couple of years, but then we had to garage it for restoration," sighs a resigned Joseph. "We opened a Pandora's box, as a nut and bolt rehabilitation job was definitely required. The car was completely dismantled, and it required new flooring, rust cutting and removal, soldering and so on."
Joseph had been working for more than a year on the MG, and then something else loomed invitingly on the horizon...
It was sometime in 1996, and Joseph was having another chat on classic cars with Gaston Mifsud, whose erudite opinion on the subject he greatly respects. In the course of the conversation, Gaston disclosed that there was a 1964 Jaguar Daimler on the market.
The very name struck a chord close to his heart, for he had been on the lookout for such a car for years! Joseph needed no further prompting, and in a jiffy both men were on their way to St Julian's to view this vehicle. An agreement was reached, and the Jaguar soon found its way to San Gwann.
"The honeymoon period, however, was soon over. When looking at it more thoroughly later, I realised it was in a disastrous state, especially the engine. At one time I thought I had bitten more than I could chew," says a reflective Joseph.
"But little by little, as I began to concentrate fully on its reconstruction, the challenge appeared less insurmountable, and I could see it taking shape anew." Many parts, including the engine and leather seats, were imported from the UK.
As he takes me round this latest project, Joseph explains that he puts in a full day's work on the Jaguar. He meticulously carries out all the work, like rust cutting and soldering, himself. "Although I listen to technical advice from others, as well as give counsel to people who ask, I prefer to labour on my own," he admits.
One of his favourite aids is procuring DIY videos of classic cars and their restoration, and then following them faithfully. The work on the Jaguar has been going on for nearly two years and, with the co-operation of the mechanic required for setting the engine, it will hopefully grace our roads in a year's time.
Joseph has been a member of the Old Motors Club for the past 15 years, as he finds it an oasis of relevant information, as well as a place to make friends. He prefers the static shows rather than runs and rallies - "I love cars but I hate driving, it gives me the creeps," blurts out an enigmatic Joseph.
"This has always been my Achilles heel; in fact I got my driving licence when I was well into my twenties."
With two old cars on the road, and two more well on the way to recovery, I ask him about future projects. "Were I younger, I would pull down my six-car garage, excavate underground, build a complex and fill it up to the ceiling with old cars. Alas, time is not on my side," rues Joseph.
"Besides, I have my large collection of model cars, which gets bigger at regular intervals." A little while later, he takes me upstairs to view a large room, panelled with floor-to-ceiling glass cabinets brimming over with a vast array of models of old vehicles.
Although not so enthusiastic about old cars herself, his wife Margaret fully supports him in his hobby, and joins him regularly in OMC activities. One son, James, is keen on classics, but the other, Sinclair, is lukewarm. A granddaughter, Celine, 7, has caught the bug from an early age.
"It gives me tremendous satisfaction when she is around, and she starts asking intelligent questions about the old cars," purrs Joseph with pleasure. "Young people are the hope for the future; in fact, some evenings a group of youngsters from around this area regularly comes over for a chat and an inquisitive look at what I am going. It gives me great joy to pass over to them my knowledge and experiences."
In fact, what really strikes him in the local classic car scene is the growing, genuine interest of the younger generation in this field. The old order yieldeth, giving rise to the new; with people like Joseph around, youngsters attracted to classic cars have a generous role model on whom to base their future bearings.
• Joseph Busuttil is PRO of the Old Motors Club, e-mail: info@oldmotorsclub.com; Website: www.oldmotorsclub.com.
To the pride of their doting parents, basking in the reflected glory, as well as to their own self satisfaction as model offspring, these emerging adolescents and eventual adults are serenely sucked into the manufacturing process of chips off the old block.
There are isolated exceptions to this general rule. From an early age, a few individuals nurture tendencies off the illuminated and beaten track, distant from the confirmed family creed and culture. Despite no parental encouragement, nay, sometimes even being frowned upon and negatively reinforced, such children persist in realising their dream against all odds!
Joseph Cassar belongs to this latter category. As a young boy, he developed an innate affection for old cars, an overwhelming drive springing from sources unknown. Moreover, in the Cassar household, the automobile was anathema.
His father Gerald had absolutely no interest in cars, and never owned one. According to his son, Gerald used to put motor cars down, describing the four wheeler as "a piece of melting ice".
"I remember that one of our neighbours, a British serviceman named Ron, had an Austin 7 for sale," Joseph recalls. "It was a real beauty, and he only wanted Lm7 for it. I pleaded, pestered, cajoled, went into tantrums, and turned on all my varied childhood persuasive skills in order to convince him to buy it for the family.
"But my father sternly pointed out that not even his weekly salary tallied to that amount. And that was the end of the discussion!"
Not one to be easily sidetracked or discouraged, the young Joseph decided to direct his boundless energy towards acquiring the next best thing - starting his own collection of models of old cars. "That was not easy either, as my parents were far from keen to get me such cars, even as presents," Joseph confesses.
"So I had to skimp and save every penny I earned through my own endeavours." Necessity is the mother of invention, and Joseph, who from an early age was blessed with an enterprising spirit, which was always readily reinforced by a creative ability for skilled technical and mechanical tasks, soon put his talents to good use.
"It was the start of the booming tourist industry, where visitors coming to Malta were looking for that authentic, hand-made local souvenir, as opposed to being made in Hong Kong or Taiwan. So I began producing wooden traditional Maltese boats, from start to finish, and selling them to a leading outlet in Valletta.
"It was a lengthy, laborious manual operation, including detailed fretwork, but I was determined to succeed. With the little income I made, I would rush off to get another Matchbox model of yesteryear," states a proud Joseph.
In line with his talents and calling, Joseph underwent a technical education, and was soon serving out an apprenticeship with the John Cassar mechanical establishment in Pietà. Alas, this experience lasted a mere six months, and old cars were at the root of this untimely termination.
His usually smiling and beaming face saddens as he starts on another story. "At one time, the firm had two vintage Rovers for sale. There they were, glittering in all their splendour in the repair yard at the back, with an asking price of Lm12 each. An idea crossed my mind, and I plucked up courage and approached the director to propose a deal.
"As a young teenager, my weekly wage at the time was the princely sum of 14 shillings (70c) a week! I asked him whether the company would sell me one of the Rovers, and whether I could pay for it by hire purchase through my regular income. But my suggestion was instantly shot down on the spot!
"To add insult to injury, the cars were sold the next day to two Royal Navy sailors who came over from HMS Ford, berthed across the road. I was totally devastated to see them go, and I cried my heart out," says an emotional Joseph, with tears welling in his eyes even now.
Deeming this decision as disloyal and a personal affront, Joseph packed up his tools and left. Another apprenticeship in catering beckoned, and he went for it. After some time in this field, he joined the civil service, and spent many years working for the Gas Board.
On a part-time basis and in conjunction with his supportive wife Margaret, he later opened a jewellery business, producing many of the intricate items himself, which he sold not only at their own outlet, but also distributed to a number of main jewellery shops.
How did he manage to be so successful in so many a versatile field, I asked Joseph when I met him recently at his sprawling, spick and span garage at San Gwann? "Put it down to an inquisitive mind, a fertile imagination, long hours of hard work and dedication to a vision," he answers promptly and honestly.
"I didn't know anything about jewellery, for example. But doing the meter reading rounds, I used to stop at jewellery shops and ask leading questions to the skilled workers, who were more than willing to stop and talk, and to go into the details of their job.
"I followed this up with evening courses at the former Msida Polytechnic and the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce in Valletta. And, as they say, the rest is history!"
Once reasonably settled in life, and with his two young boys James and Sinclair growing up, Joseph started looking around to finally realise his long-standing dream - that of owning an old car. "It was in 1991, and I was going around Msida when I spotted a Triumph Spitfire in a showroom. I am not one to rush into hasty decisions," explains Joseph, "and so I contacted my good friend Gaston Mifsud, who is a well- respected old motors connoisseur, for advice and guidance.
"He told me that if I wanted to buy a good classic, he knew of a 1971 MGB for sale. We went to see it: it was in perfect condition, and I was attracted to it instantly. Originally in old English white, but now in black, the vehicle needed no attention, just regular maintenance. The next day the car was in my garage."
As often happens with classic car collectors, dust rarely has time to settle on the first purchase before it is joined by a companion. According to Joseph, this second car came into his possession either through a twist of fate or sheer coincidence, as he recounts the tale.
"Thirty-five years ago I used to live in another part of San Gwann. A neighbour's relative had a very old car, and he frequented his next of kin often. When this car was parked nearby, I used to spend hours with my eldest son James going around it, and I frequently told him that one day we'll have one similar to it."
In 1992, looking for a stablemate for the MGB, Joseph asked a friend whether he was aware of anything on the market. This person took him to a Zejtun resident, who had an old car, which unfortunately he refused to sell.
But before burning all bridges, the man directed them to another classic car oasis in the area, where Joseph feasted his eyes on a 1934 Fiat Balilla. "It had been garaged for a number of years, but it was in a fairly good condition," he explains.
"The deal was done without any hiccups. The engine was in good working order, and little maintenance was required. However, rust and rot had prevailed in some areas, especially on the wooden frame. The required tasks, which included removal of the black colour, took me two years to complete."
Sporting a maroon body and black mudguards, this attractive Balilla nearly departed from our shores since, before Joseph purchased it, it was bought by an American, who however was refused an export licence by the local authorities as the car had gone well past its 50th birthday!
And to crown his achievement, Joseph got to know from the grapevine, as he was restoring the Fiat, that this vehicle was actually the same one which he used to ogle with his small son near his neighbour many moons ago!
Although he likes all kinds of old cars, Joseph has a soft spot for Jaguars, especially the 2.4, a car which he always wanted. In 1993, he saw a 1954 MG Magnet, which has a very close resemblance to the Jaguar, parked in Fleur-de-Lys. He tried to buy the MG, but his offer was initially refused. As usual, Joseph persisted in his efforts, and was eventually rewarded.
Although still in working order, the vehicle was in a very bad condition. "My son James used to drive it for a couple of years, but then we had to garage it for restoration," sighs a resigned Joseph. "We opened a Pandora's box, as a nut and bolt rehabilitation job was definitely required. The car was completely dismantled, and it required new flooring, rust cutting and removal, soldering and so on."
Joseph had been working for more than a year on the MG, and then something else loomed invitingly on the horizon...
It was sometime in 1996, and Joseph was having another chat on classic cars with Gaston Mifsud, whose erudite opinion on the subject he greatly respects. In the course of the conversation, Gaston disclosed that there was a 1964 Jaguar Daimler on the market.
The very name struck a chord close to his heart, for he had been on the lookout for such a car for years! Joseph needed no further prompting, and in a jiffy both men were on their way to St Julian's to view this vehicle. An agreement was reached, and the Jaguar soon found its way to San Gwann.
"The honeymoon period, however, was soon over. When looking at it more thoroughly later, I realised it was in a disastrous state, especially the engine. At one time I thought I had bitten more than I could chew," says a reflective Joseph.
"But little by little, as I began to concentrate fully on its reconstruction, the challenge appeared less insurmountable, and I could see it taking shape anew." Many parts, including the engine and leather seats, were imported from the UK.
As he takes me round this latest project, Joseph explains that he puts in a full day's work on the Jaguar. He meticulously carries out all the work, like rust cutting and soldering, himself. "Although I listen to technical advice from others, as well as give counsel to people who ask, I prefer to labour on my own," he admits.
One of his favourite aids is procuring DIY videos of classic cars and their restoration, and then following them faithfully. The work on the Jaguar has been going on for nearly two years and, with the co-operation of the mechanic required for setting the engine, it will hopefully grace our roads in a year's time.
Joseph has been a member of the Old Motors Club for the past 15 years, as he finds it an oasis of relevant information, as well as a place to make friends. He prefers the static shows rather than runs and rallies - "I love cars but I hate driving, it gives me the creeps," blurts out an enigmatic Joseph.
"This has always been my Achilles heel; in fact I got my driving licence when I was well into my twenties."
With two old cars on the road, and two more well on the way to recovery, I ask him about future projects. "Were I younger, I would pull down my six-car garage, excavate underground, build a complex and fill it up to the ceiling with old cars. Alas, time is not on my side," rues Joseph.
"Besides, I have my large collection of model cars, which gets bigger at regular intervals." A little while later, he takes me upstairs to view a large room, panelled with floor-to-ceiling glass cabinets brimming over with a vast array of models of old vehicles.
Although not so enthusiastic about old cars herself, his wife Margaret fully supports him in his hobby, and joins him regularly in OMC activities. One son, James, is keen on classics, but the other, Sinclair, is lukewarm. A granddaughter, Celine, 7, has caught the bug from an early age.
"It gives me tremendous satisfaction when she is around, and she starts asking intelligent questions about the old cars," purrs Joseph with pleasure. "Young people are the hope for the future; in fact, some evenings a group of youngsters from around this area regularly comes over for a chat and an inquisitive look at what I am going. It gives me great joy to pass over to them my knowledge and experiences."
In fact, what really strikes him in the local classic car scene is the growing, genuine interest of the younger generation in this field. The old order yieldeth, giving rise to the new; with people like Joseph around, youngsters attracted to classic cars have a generous role model on whom to base their future bearings.
• Joseph Busuttil is PRO of the Old Motors Club, e-mail: info@oldmotorsclub.com; Website: www.oldmotorsclub.com.