Later, back at the Old Motors Club’s HQ, I chat with Oliver Attard, the club’s general secretary, about the plethora of vehicles on the island. “Take this club as an example,” he says. “There are approximately 400 members with around 2,000 cars registered. Most members have at least three vehicles.” Attard, 49, owns six cars himself, including a 1964 VW Samba and 1936 Mercedes 170V.
But I sense from talking to him and other club members who’ve gathered that there are frustrations in owning a historic car on Malta.
“We live on an island where we don’t really have the space to enjoy our cars – it’s extremely frustrating,” admits Attard, who estimates there are around 30,000 classic cars on the island. “Thankfully, though, there are some country roads and places we do drive, usually on Sundays, with other club members.”
One of those members is Michael Maliia, 72, who has brought along his 1969 2.0-litre Triumph GT6. Among the best features, according to Maliia, is the engine’s simplicity. “It’s six cylinders, very well balanced and has overdrive – the engine is a dream.”
