[Mothy]

Well its taken a lot longer than we thought to get it going - the body needed to come off and everything needed to be checked. The electric wiring needed replacing - now done and lots of the old trim pieces were beyond repair - so we needed to remake them using the old ones as templates.

Today, the engine was started for the first time since it was rebuilt by one of the previous owners in 1993. Lots of time spent doing a strip down and checks, but today after the wiring was finished and a friend who knows these engines well checked it all, it fired up first go - and the grins from everyone were worth the wait.

So there is light at the end of the tunnel - we will get the last bits re-attached and down to the authorities for a registration. Dad's even checked if original rego number was available - and it was. They are already made and waiting at the registry for us.

Best thing about it is that it has given my brother and I a good reason to take the time to make the drive and visit our parents at least once a month for the last year and a half. Spending quality time with your Dad when he is in his 80's has been great. And mum fusses over us like we are kids still.

Tim