A man has finally revealed the real reason a car has been left to rust on his grandad's drive for more than 30 years, dispelling the stories told by local residents. The rusting Ford Capri has been a topic of curiosity amongst locals, who often wondered why the car was left untouched since the 90s.
A recent stir arose after the famous local landmark was finally removed from the driveway it sat on for 32 years. Jordan Davis, 22, was surprised by the mounting interest in his Grandfather's story and decided to finally reveal the mystery behind its origins.
His late-grandfather, Noel Jones, was well-known and passed just earlier this year at the age of 81. The grandfather-of-three bought the Capri in 1972 and travelled in style for 18 years, until he was forced to stop driving because of a slipped disc.
It was then left parked and untouched on Deacon Street, in Swindon, for three decades. Jordan, who works as a civil servant, said: "Grandad paid more for the car than he did his own house and he got it brand new out of a show room.
"It was his pride and joy and he didn’t want to get rid of it. The reason it was left for wear and tear for such a long time was for a completely different reason than what everyone thinks.
"Everyone had come up with a million stories, from saying it was Grandad's late wife's car who died to his missing son's - but none were true. The main reason was because he didn’t want anyone reversing on his drive because there’s no parking in the town centre - as funny as it sounds.
"It was literally that simple - quite amusing really".
Noel worked as a builder and was well-known figure - often found in local pubs and in the bookies. He was an avid traveler and drove his MK1 Capri sports edition Ford around Europe.
Jordan added: "I'm sad that the car is gone but it's been really nice seeing the output from the entire community. Everyone has been saying such lovely things.
"I am very proud to call him my grandad as he was a amazing man and a legend. I inspire to have a mindset like his and love life as much as he did.
"He was a very friendly person and would always quote nice comments like 'happiness is the best medicine' and he would always wish people good luck".
Sadly, Jordan claims the long-standing car has fallen into disrepair and is unable to be restored. The renowned Capri has now been sold for "spares and repairs".
Jordan said: "It will not only be missed by his family because it has been there so long, but also by all the people of Swindon".
