Back in the days when the ratio of local registered cars was far from three to every four members of the population, and streets were safe for children to play in, it was common to see groups of happy children running around in pedal cars. Many adults who now have a keen interest in old motors can pin down their enthusiasm to these nostalgic childhood experiences.

Victor Dalmas is a case in point. A fervent classic car aficionado, he traces his passion back to when he was a boy racing his pedal car with other children in the then quiet streets of his hometown, Żejtun.

“Even at that young age, I could appreciate the hard work carried out on these small replicas to emulate even the intricate details of their larger models,” he explains. “And no wonder, as many pedal cars were produced by seasoned and experienced retired British car workers, given something constructive to do by the industry at the end of their full time career.”

Being technically and mechanically oriented, Dalmas followed a successful apprenticeship at the Malta Drydocks, where he was to spend all his working life. Although he did not look down on modern cars, he always had a soft spot for old motors, so much so that aged 17 and without a licence, he bought a 1946 blue Hillman Minx Mk 1.

“I saw it in a scrap yard and fell in love with its pointed bonnet and free standing headlamps on the mudguards. So I bought it and drove it to Żejtun. I parked it outside our home without telling my parents, and the next morning, my mother was loudly complaining that someone had parked a junk car outside. Actually, it was not all that bad, and I kept it for one year before selling it.”

Dalmas was very close to his late brother Pio, and when the latter purchased a brand new 1300cc Ford Escort Mark 1, he followed suit. However, old motors were never far from his mind and after getting married and settling down, his eyes fell upon a 1953 Ford Popular 103E, which was abandoned near the old airport. He reached a deal with the owner, and owing to its condition, decided to embark on a nut and bolt restoration project.

Before taking up the challenge, Dalmas, perfectionist as ever, joined the UK Ford Side Valve Owners Club as well as the Old Motors Club for advice and guidance, as well as for procuring required parts.

“The vehicle had a number of problems, including the dynamo and the carburettor. The project took me three years to complete, on and off, but I was motivated, this being my first major restoration. Moreover, I had promised my only daughter Vanessa that I would drive and give her away at the altar in the Popular. The original fawn colour was changed to black, while I kept all the original brown upholstery. All work was done by myself and my late brother, who rewired the vehicle before passing away, never seeing the restored car on the road. My friend Joe Pace also helped quite a lot in rust and body repairs.”

Dalmas had a close friend, Julio, who besides being a neighbour, was also an old motors buff with three classic cars, including an Austin 8. Unfortunately Julio was found dead in his garage when he was just 39. Sometime later, one of the deceased’s sons went to talk to Dalmas, and told him that the family wanted to see the Austin 8 in his hands.

I had promised my only daughter Vanessa that I would drive and give her away at the altar in the Popular

“I went to the basement, and what stood facing me was not a vehicle but a chicken coop. Missing parts galore – front grille, headlamps, no seats or upholstery, no wiring, windscreen or running boards. However, the body and an incomplete engine were all there.”

It was time for another major nut and bolt restoration case on the 1946 Austin 8, and the confident Dalmas rolled up his sleeves for a big job that took him five years to finish.

“I bought the missing parts from the UK, as well as with the help of my friend Guzi Delia, who owns a similar vehicle. The vehicle was finished off in British racing green complemented with brown upholstery.”

One day, Dalmas was having a nostalgic conversation with Ġuże Delia about his early pedal car days in Żejtun. He confided that he used to drive an Austin Devon model, and that he would love to own the real thing. A few days later, Delia phoned Dalmas to inform him that Dun Anton Ebejer, a priest from Lija, had a basement full of old cars, including an Aston Devon, for sale.

“I bought the car, which on the outside, appeared in a good condition, nothing was missing and everything still original. However, on closer inspection, quite a lot of hard metal was found, and being finicky, another major restoration project was on the cards.”

Again Dalmas sought refuge in an official publication, the Austin Counties Car Club, as well as the internet, in order to procure needed parts, which came from the UK, Australia and New Zealand. As usual, he did most of the work himself, including the restored dashboard and the glass surroundings of the doors, which were faux painted by hand, faithful to the original. He removed and repaired all rusted areas, and also credits Joe Pace with the sandblasting and final body tasks in the Austin project, which lasted five years.

His wife Maria supports him in his hobby and also involves herself in old motoring events. In 2007, the couple went to London to visit Maria’s sister. While at Victoria Station, he picked up a classic car magazine from WH Smith, and leafing through it, his eyes picked up a Rover P2 for sale.

“Maria egged me on, and I phoned the owner. It was Saturday and we made an appointment for Monday. Come the day, we were off to Huddersfield for a closer look. The 1946 green Rover 1500cc was in a very good condition, with the first owner being an army officer who on posting to South Africa, took it with him and later on completion of duty, returned to the UK with the Rover”.

Chemistry struck, a deal was done, and the classic car was soon in a container on its way to Malta. The vehicle needed very little seeing to, except some small repairs and a repainting. Sticking to his true colours, he also became a member of the Rover Sports Register for advice and guidance before touching anything.

Dalmas, who also owns a 1955 unrestored Lambretta scooter, as well as dozens of model classic cars, can be best described as a self-taught jack of all trades, and master of many. Besides his mechanical and technical skills which he has harnessed on his four restoration projects, he has a deft hand, among other things, in painting, woodwork, and ironwork.

He sees a great resurgence in local interest in old motoring, with more people importing classics from abroad, as well as other owners taking hitherto unseen vehicles out of the garage. Dalmas finds great enjoyment when he has two classic cars on the road at the same time, one of them obviously driven by his son in law Thomas.

Having found the seed of old motoring in pedal cars, Dalmas has been quick to build an impeccable red pedal car, complete with twin bonnet, for his two grandchildren, Thomas and Julienne, who although young, are already attracted to classic cars.

www.oldmotorsclub.com