A little car has taken a sentimental journey halfway around the world to be finally reunited with its family in Canberra.
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Built in England 59 long years ago, the Morris Minor was first delivered out to the far reaches of the former British colonies to its first home in Northern Rhodesia, now known as Zambia.
Promoted at the time as "the world's biggest small car", the Morris Minor was bought by the manager of the Rhodesian milling company Bernard Carnegie in 1961.
At the time, the Morris Minor had just become the biggest-selling vehicle the British had ever produced, with over 1 million built. It was an international success and exported all over the world.
Designed by the same man who later produced the legendary Mini, the Morris was sturdy, practical, economical and affordable.
When Mr Carnegie's daughter Jennifer turned 19, he generously gave her the Morris as a birthday present.
The car hugely influenced Jennifer's life. She drove it every day and it remained in her safe-keeping for decades, going with the family when they fled the violence preceding Zimbabwe's transition to independence and resettled in Durban, South Africa.
Jennifer's grandson, Nathan, well remembers trips in the car as a young boy, with his grandmother driving him to preschool.
"My grandma just loves this car; she calls it the Bug because it looks like one," Nathan said.
When Nathan turned 19, his grandmother rekindled a family tradition and gave him the Morris.
But sadly when the family migrated out to Australia in 2015, the four-wheeled heirloom had to be left behind.
"I was just a uni student so I couldn't afford to bring it out with me but I couldn't part with it, either," Nathan said.
Meanwhile, the salt-laden coastal air of Durban had taken its toll on the old car, rusting the chassis, doors and boot. Dramatic steps were required.
A specialist Morris restorer grafted on a full new chassis and carefully repaired all the neglected panelwork, followed up by a full engine-out body repaint in the original factory Yukon grey.
"To have such a full restoration done here in Australia would cost a fortune but because it was done in South Africa and the exchange rate is so favourable for us, it only cost $6000," Nathan said.
The little sedan, still with its original all-leather interior and hilarious flag-type indicators which pop out from between the doors, attracts lots of attention as it beetles around Canberra.
"People are always stopping at the traffic lights and taking photos of it," Nathan said.
"The president of the Canberra Morris club came and looked it over. He said it was a beautiful example, so that was a really nice compliment."
The well-travelled Morris Minor is already in demand for special occasions, starting with his younger sister's year 12 formal.
