Classic Austin powers Peter's true dedication to decades of car restoration

A MAN from Stamford has spent almost half a century behind the wheel of a classic car, and says he would 'feel lost without it."

- BY LAYCIE BECK

He says the car has travelled more than 60,000 with the family, and that it's been great but says the car is slower now than it used to be thanks to an interaction with a neighbour.

Peter Jibb had been riding to work on a moped when he decided to move onto four wheels to get out of the rain, when around the same time in 1979 a colleague of his was selling a '57 Austin A35.

Mr Jibb could see the potential, and told Forever Cars: "I began to think 'well, hang on a minute, this is worth saving. I wasn’t necessarily thinking I would keep it for a long time..."

However, nearly 50 years later he’s still behind the wheel of his classic Austin and says he "will never let that one go."

The 79-year-old added: "I would be a bit lost without it. I don’t want to spend all my time gardening, I like to be able to do things with the car."

He fell in love with cars in his teens and by the time he got the Austin, he had experience with working on them. Although it was not in terrible shape, after a few months Mr Jibb decided to take it off the road and get to work.

Describing the process, he said; "I put two new wings on the front because at the time you could still get them, although they are wings from the A35 van."