Very few cars make it into their roaring forties in a road-going state, but a Morris Minor has returned home after being snapped up by the very garage that sold it in the 1960s.
The 42-year-old Morris Minor 1000 model returned to T Wall Garages in the West Midlands after the son of its original owner had a flash of inspiration when reading an article about the establishment's 50th anniversary.
Peter Gregg took over the Cowley classic from father George, who had bought it new from the garage in 1968 for a mere £631, the Daily Mail reports.
While Peter initially started restoring the car - nicknamed, slightly lazily, 'Morris' - in the 1980s, his advancing years have recently meant that he was keen to see it go on to someone who would get more use out of the burgundy beauty.
After receiving an email from Gregg junior offering the vehicle for sale, staff were initially a little bemused - as they had not realised that their showroom once stocked the Morris marque.
But despite not admitting exactly how much they paid to get Morris back, the garage allowed that it was a four-figure sum.
Sales representative Craig Styles said: "We thought it would be in a bit of a state when we looked at it, but it was sat on the drive looking immaculate."
And it seems that the British classic invokes the spirit of a bygone age.
"Wherever you park up and stop, someone comes up and starts a natter. There is always someone who has a granddad or uncle who's had one or driven one in the past.
"It's a real conversation starter."
The long-lived car's tale calls to mind a similar story that emerged in January, when it was revealed that a 72-year-old man had bought back his 75-year-old British Salmson S4C - almost half a century after he initially parted with it.
