Return of the Zodiac
A rare classic car has been restored by a Wolverhampton man about 35 years after his father stopped using it as the family run-around.
Former Goodyear worker Robert Bate imported parts from America for the Ford Zodiac which was one of a small number of models converted into an estate car by Abbots of Farnham in Surrey.
Robert, aged 53, of Fordhouses, was only nine years old when his dad John bought the 1960 Zodiac in 1962. He sold a plot of land at the bottom of the garden and used the funds to buy the car and build a garage for it.
The gleaming machine in two-tone pompadour and shark blue was their first car and soon became part of the family, ushering in an exciting new era by ferrying them, mum Peggy and brothers John and Roger to seaside holidays.
As the youngest, Robert used to travel in the rear estate compartment. He said: "It was great when we first got the car, so exciting. I remember travelling in the back and going to see new places."
He then used the car for another five or six years before putting it back into storage.
Now, after a second restoration costing £3,000 complete with white-wall tyres, his pride and joy is back on the road and even appearing at car shows.
Robert said: "It had a total, bare metal respray, new panels welded on and 2.25 white-wall tyres shipped over from the US.
"It's lovely to have something for so long. Things, including cars, are so disposable these days."
Robert's dad died in June of this year and he treasures the many happy memories they shared together in the car.
Today, having travelled just 86,000 miles in its long life, the car is valued at around £8,000 - but Robert wouldn't dream of parting with it.
