Rusty Relics Garage in Mount Barker, South Australia | aircraft & boat

Rusty Relics Garage

Locality: Mount Barker, South Australia

Phone: +61 417 819 521

Address: po box 11 5251 Mount Barker, SA, Australia

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• Automotive
• aircraft & boat

25.01.2022 The following story may generate an urban legend. It deserves to A tragic and romantic story was told to me one night four or so years ago when I was working b...ack late. Although not directly related, the image below reminds me of that story. That night, a well-spoken gentleman rang the office seeking my advice. The gentleman did not give his name nor was the calling number displayed. To help retell the story, ‘Charles’ is the name I am using here for my mystery caller. In the phone-call, Charles said that his father had recently died, and Charles had inherited his MG TC. Charles said I had to hear the story behind that car to understand his dilemma. ooo000ooo Charles’ father was an Australian pilot stationed in England during WWII. His father met a young English lass, and through the war they courted in an MG TA. Charles’ father survived the war and he returned to Australia with his war-bride. Before leaving England, they ordered a new MG TC to be shipped to Australia as a homage to the MG TA they had driven throughout their courtship. After they returned to Australia, Charles’ mother died in childbirth. Charles’ father was grief stricken over the loss of his young bride and was also now raising a baby alone. Eventually the MG TC arrived in Australia in knock-down form in a series of timber crates. Being grief-stricken, Charles’ father could not face the MG TC. He just stored the crates containing the knocked-down car in the back of his shed. Many years later, when Charles was in his teenage years, his father explained to Charles what the crates in the back of the shed were, and their poignant significance. The MG TC stayed in the shed for nearly seventy years until Charles’ father died. Now, without knowing what his father would want, Charles was faced the diabolical dilemma of what to do with a car that had so much emotional significance to his father, was symbolic of the mother that Charles never knew, and represented the courtship of his parents. The car also has historical significance being an original MG TC in knockdown form, probably sitting in the original grease-paper/oil-paper from the factory, with manuals and factory paperwork sitting on top. On so many human and historical levels, this car is undoubtedly priceless. ooo000ooo In the years after that night’s phone call, I have retold Charles’ moving and haunting story many times. Most recently I related the story to Leslie and Peter, who have emotionally reconnected with Leslie’s late father’s vehicle at Finch; Leslie in a blithering mess sitting in the passenger seat she remembered as a child. Leslie will not mind that description of her, but their story is for another time. That event occurred just yesterday. The strong emotions of yesterday are significant in both their own right, and because they are what has energised me to write Charles’ story here today. Over the years, I have also retold Charles’ story to various professionals including Cinematographers and the National Motor Museum. Please note that I am not suggesting the NMM are endorsing my thoughts here. If Charles were to ring me today, this is the advice I would give now ooo000ooo Your parent’s car ought to be assembled using only the original parts in those factory crates. Even the 70-year-old wiring with, probably, now perished insulation should be reused. The car should not go on the road. The opening of those crates needs to be filmed, photographed, and documented taking the manuals and paperwork from the top, carefully unwrapping the grease-paper, setting out and cataloguing the parts. Film and document the reassembly. The car should be on display in the National Motor Museum, with the empty crates as part of the display, photos of your mother and father during the war, and your father’s war service records adorning the vertical panels behind the car and crates. Video and photographic display telling the tragic-romantic story behind the car, and of the archaeological discovery from unpacking those crates, and assembling that original car. How much would this cost? It is likely to not cost you anything financially, but would likely be quite an emotional voyage. It is such a hugely moving and romantic story, that the assembly and archaeological costs are anticipated to be covered by commercial subscriptions to a TV documentary on the story and assembly. Charles, please forgive this public retelling of your anonymous story. ooo000ooo My own father died last year, and now there are ghosts everywhere. I already felt empathy for Charles’ story and that is only strengthened in me now, particularly after Leslie and Peter’s visit yesterday. I earnestly hope Charles might see this post, forgive me retelling his story in this manner, and re-establish contact with me (Peter on [email protected]). To everyone else reading this, please be respectful to this wonderful but also intimate story. I only hope I have done it justice. Please share; I hope it will help find 'Charles'. I also reiterate that the image below is not directly related. ooo000ooo Charles, please ring or email me. I have omitted your age when you learnt of the significance of the crates, in case needed for authentication. Regards, Peter (P1)

21.01.2022 when you dont have a dyno you do what you can

19.01.2022 Thanks to a total lack of faith in teenage wheel alignment techs at tyre stores and classic cars (trust me you dont want to know ) Rusty Relics has a bit of new second or third hand semi hi tech equipment

17.01.2022 now where did I leave my ratchet I know its around here somewhere'

17.01.2022 So here we have a car that in the last 18 months has been in 3 work shops in 2 states had the brake master cylinder and booster overhauled, all new brake hoses, the front calipers overhauled and even had a full roadworthy at our very own beloved Regency Park. Any body want to take a guess at when the rear brakes on this MGB were last checked much less worked. Just to add to it there was one worn out riveted brake shoe one rusty looking half worn shoe and two reasonably clean barely worn shoes. The mind really boggles at whats been happening to the poor thing. Goes to show regardless of whats been done to a car, who has inspected it and how neat and tidy it is, you never know what moron has been at it before you. So always check everything the first time you work on old cars.

07.01.2022 Hi tech meets no tech