Brothers Richard and James Atwell were thrilled to be reunited with their father's car - an Austin Sheerline A125.

Their father Joseph Atwell originally bought the car new in 1951. Over the next fourteen years it was the family's daily transport, and Richard and James have fond memories of the car being used for a variety of purposes, including holidays down to Cornwall with their Grandmother. Joseph, a farmer at Roughleaze Farm, Stockley, near Calne, even used it to transport the hatching eggs.

Following the death of her husband in 1965 Mrs Atwell sold the car for £100 and eventually, over the years, brothers Richard and James lost track of the Austin Sheerline.

Pictured are Richard and James' mother and father with the Sheerline when it was new.

Their curiosity over the fate of the car grew and in 1983 they started a search to try and find out its whereabouts. Unfortunately the people who had bought the car from their mother had long since sold the car on and were unable to help trace it. They feared the car might have been scrapped like so many others of its day.

Last year through the help of the DVLA, they found with delight, that the vehicle was still being used on the road and with further assistance from the DVLA a letter was passed on to its owner asking if he would please contact them.

Richard explained, "We sent the letter out on the Sunday and the following Saturday we received a reply. The car was in Cornwall and by an amazing coincidence its owner was about to move house and wanted to sell it! We couldn't believe our luck - a month later and we might have missed our chance."

A few days later they headed down to Cornwall, chequebook in hand. The car had been restored and the brothers were delighted to find it in such remarkable condition.

The Austin Sheerline now has pride of place in the Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum in Calne, founded by Richard and his wife Hasell.

Richard is elated to have the opportunity to be driving a part of his family's history, and hopes the car will often be seen out and about as part of their wedding hire fleet. With its imposing headlamps and striking lines it's already proving to be a popular choice for today's bride and groom.

The Sheerline as it looks today in all its splendour.