A four year wait, some ace detective work, a 300 mile drive and a ferry across The Solent has seen an Islander reunited with his long lost vintage motor!

NHS worker Tim Day first owned the classic Vauxhall Sportshatch 'Droop Snoot' more than four decades ago, in 1976.

A rare demonstrator model, it was one of just 197 ever made.

At the tender age of 21, it was Tim's first ever new car and it was the one he was driving when he met the woman who later became his wife.

What could be a better gift to mark Tim's retirement...if only son Edward could track it down, some 44 years later?

Putting his love and knowledge of vintage cars to good use, he discovered that Tim's former pride and joy was still on the road - nearly 300 miles away in Hull!

The question was, was it for sale?

Tim Day's dad (Edward's grandfather) was Stephen Canning Day - formerly the Isle of Wight's Vauxhall and Bedford dealer.

That's how Tim came to own the classic car.

It wasn't a smooth relationship. He managed to write it off after just two months, forcing a rebuild.

Fast forward four decades and although Edward's detective work paid off, it has been a four year wait since his original call to the Droop Snoot's owner before the car came up for sale.

So when he was offered first refusal a few weeks ago, Edward was primed and ready!

He arranged for the car to be brought all the way to Portsmouth - more than five hours south.

Then was onto an Isle of Wight-bound ferry, on the hottest day of the year.

Edward said: "I wish it had air conditioning, I can tell you! After a ferry ride and a short drive, I parked it at the back of my parents' house in Ryde.

"I asked dad to give me a hand to get some plants out of the boot of my car.

"When he walked out, there it was!"

Edward said his dad burst into tears and was silent for some time.

Since then he's been pictured with this brand new, old, motor on Ryde Pier.

Edward told the County Press, "Dad is retiring from decades of working for the NHS. I couldn't think of a better present for a such wonderful father and best friend!"