It has been 26 years since Dave Norris first set eyes on his beloved MG, after it travelled thousands from miles from the UK to America and back again.
It would seem the 1949 MG TC is finally home to stay, and the IT consultant who lives in Bieldside has no plans to part with it.
Indeed if Dave had to choose between the MG and his 1957 Aston Martin, it would the latter to be given the boot.
From its stunning, almost iconic look which evokes nostalgia of times gone by, to the raw driving experience, the MG has brought plenty of happiness into Dave’s life.
It also has a fascinating past and although Dave has been unable to verify, he has it on good authority that the MG was once owned by Michael Crawford who has made no secret of his love for the model.
A pre-war marque, Dave has found parts with surprising ease and learned on the job when it came to mechanical work.
“I’m quite a practical person but the MG was actually the first classic I got to work on, people are always surprised at the ease with which you can get parts off the shelf despite the fact you’re going back to 1936.
“I had been on the lookout for a classic car when I came across the MG, a massive factor for me was the fact that I could see it locally and have a good look.”
Once the deal was done, Dave quickly realised that the MG had made quite the journey to come into his keeping.
According to the log book, it was originally delivered to Birmingham before travelling to Somerset, and it was then shipped to America.
“I was contacted by one of the previous owners a few years ago, whose name was actually in the log book,” said Dave.
“He put an appeal out in one of the MG magazines and luckily my friend saw it and put us in touch.
“He told me that he owned the car in the 1950s before he sold it to a friend, but the car sat in a garage for ages after an accident.
“By the time the former owner decided to buy it back, it had been shipped to America where it was restored and stayed till the late 1980s.”
The MG then made the journey from Connecticut to Scotland and it is now enjoying life as a much loved car which is regularly in use.
“I’m an IT consultant for Marathon Oil so I travel with work, I suppose you could say that the MG is my relaxation,” said Dave.
“Much of the work I’ve done has been mechanical so it can’t really be seen by the naked eye – although the car had been restored it still needed bits and bobs doing.
“I did some work to the axle, engine, steering, suspension, and brakes which has all turned out OK.
“Obviously I try not to drive the MG when it’s wet weather although that sometimes can’t be avoided.”
Dave regularly drives the MG to work where it always raises a smile and a wave, and he has also met fellow enthusiasts after joining MG clubs.
“The social aspect is very enjoyable and a group of us go to the Highlands or Skye for the weekend.
“We met thanks to the Octagon Club which is named after the shape of the MG logo, MGs are one of the more common classics so it’s very easy to meet fellow owners.
“That makes a big difference and some of the friends I’ve made I’ve now known for a long time.”
Although Dave has owned many modern cars over the years, he prefers the drive which the MG delivers despite the exposure to the elements.
“You could say it’s a bit like driving a mountain bike or a motorbike in that you’re actually connected to the landscape around you.
“It’s a completely different experience to driving with the window up, and it’s one I much prefer.”