A 1972 Triumph 2000 Mk 2 destined to become scrap metal was saved from the junkyard by Mount Gambier resident Jason Smaling.
The originally blue British cruiser first belonged to a Dartmoor resident before it fell into the hands of Mr Smaling around 14 months ago.
After hours spent tinkering in the shed, Mr Smaling completed a full vehicle restoration on his own around four months ago, painting in its 1978 Ford Ivory Cream colour, retrimming its carpets, installing a new windscreen and carrying out general maintenance.
After speaking with a friend, Mr Smaling said he first heard about the car through his brother-in-law.
“My brother-in-law knew a bloke who had an old car and he wanted to give it to somebody that was going to do something with it,” he said.
“He had the car for a long time and had intentions of doing it up, but circumstances changed and he came to the realisation he was never going to do it up.
“They are not a very valuable car, so instead of sending it to the scrap metal yard, he wanted to just give it to somebody.”
Mr Smaling said at the time he was not looking for another project, but decided to inspect the vehicle.
“Two days later, it was in my driveway. I drove it home and started going through it and fixing things,” he said.
“It was a bit of a basket case, had been through a fence and had the usual old car rust and bits and pieces.
“When I started cutting things apart and began welding-up rust, I did not find much and I was actually surprised with how well the car was put together.”
Having still not met the previous owner, Mr Smaling said he planned to go for a drive once COVID-19 border restrictions had eased.
“I just have not been able to say hello and show him what I have done with the car,” he said.
“When the borders do open, I will try and slip over there and take him out for lunch.”
The car features a straight six engine with a twin carburetor and an automatic transmission.
Mr Smaling said the model was marketed as an executive daily driver and aimed towards a middle management demographic.
“It was a bit of a prestigious car in a way, somewhere between a Fairlane and a Jaguar,” he said.
“My father used to have British cars back when I was little, the first car I can remember driving around in as a family was a 1955 Rover which has the wood dash and everything just as this does.
“It is a very British thing to have wood gain on the doors and the dash.”
Although he said there were no standout features, Mr Smaling said he liked the car and all old vehicles which had character.
