‘Robert Plant gave it to Phil Collins as a present’

1958 Austin Metropolitan, Stan Mcgee, Herne Bay

What a great looking car, how did you come to own it?

‘The story starts with my other Metropolitan, a 1957 convertible I’d always wanted one since I was a kid. About 35 years ago I contacted the Metropolitan Owners Club and chairman Nick Savage said there was a member with a convertible near me.

I ended up buying that car even though it was in a garden broken in half – a wreck only held together by the propshaft. But I got it finished, so when this coupé turned up in 1992 Nick phoned me to see if I was interested in buying another Metropolitan.’

What’s the coupé history?

‘It’s a good one! Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin gave it to fellow musician Phil Collins as a wedding present in 1984; I have the wedding card he wrote warning him not to go into corners too fast and the logbook signed by Collins. When I got the car it was mostly OK but it had sat in Collins’ barn for about six years. Nick pulled the Austin out with a tractor and got it registered, then I bought it.’

What did you have to do to get it back on the road?

‘The clutch was seized but otherwise it was good. I think it’s likely the car was gone through mechanically at some time in the past. I’ve barely touched the engine beyond normal service items and it’s proved perfectly reliable. The car was repainted in the original Berkshire Green and Frost White. I also had the wheels painted and a company rechromed all the brightwork.

I got it back on the road in 1996. Paperwork shows it Moted in 1983 with 28,330 miles, but even now it only has 29,713. These cars can suffer from vague steering but this one is perfect, which convinces me that the low mileage is genuine.’

Why so few miles even today?

‘When I bought the coupé I was very busy with work and the convertible got most of my attention. I did bits and pieces when I had the time or the money but, frankly, the coupé sat in my garage for around 12 years without being used much. As I improved the convertible with things like a leather interior any usable parts went onto the coupé.'

How do people react to the car?

‘Years ago Metropolitans were seen as a bit of a joke but now most people love them. They usually draw a crowd at shows.'