Old friends reunited...

Updated

A man has bought back his old car, 51 years after possessing it for the first time. Martyn Jarman, 72, was given the rare pre-war British Salmson by his father for his 21st birthday. The 1466cc two-seater had been abandoned in a car park for over a year when Martyn spotted it - his father tracked down its owner and bought it for £20.

However, Jarman had to sell the car three years later so he could pay for his wedding. He sold it to a friend and made a £5 profit: "I loved driving it but don't regret selling it because I needed the £25 at the time. Sadly my marriage didn't last but I never forgot the car," he said.

Martyn, aged 21
Martyn, aged 21



He bought another 1934 Salmson and a 1935 Austin before finding out his old motor was up for sale. He had to sell four motorbikes and his 1935 Austin to raise the cash to get his old love back.

He paid £10,500 to be reunited with the car - 525 times its original price - but Jarman insisted it was money well spent.

"I paid a lot of money for it but for me it's a much better investment than an ISA - and it means so much to me," he said. "It's just incredible that I've got her back. It's like being reunited with an old friend. I just had a great big grin on my face when I saw her again."

Martyn reunited with his Salmson
Martyn reunited with his Salmson


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