The first car ever to be registered in Malta stuttered back to life today and was taken round the streets of Victoria, Gozo.
The 1904 Siddeley, originally having the registration number 1, was recently brought back to Malta after having been taken to the UK 44 years ago.
The car’s early history is still being researched. In 1907 the Siddeley found itself in Gozo where it terrified the Gozitans, who named it “il karrozza tan-nar”, the car of fire. It was the first vehicle, other than that of the horse-drawn variety to be seen on the neighbouring island.
The car was eventually stored in a windmill and forgotten for almost 60years until it was rediscovered again by David Arrigo and Brian Mizzi in 1968. It was bought by a British collector and taken to the UK but Mr Arrigo has finally managed to bring it back to Malta.
The car is seen above, with the Minister for Gozo in the back seat.