Malta’s first registered car to be unveiled this Saturday in Gozo

Malta’s first ever registered car, a 1904 Siddeley, originally having the first local No 1 number plate, has finally repatriated and will be unveiled in Gozo this coming Saturday 20 September.

The long awaited repatriation of Malta’s first registered automobile takes place after the vehicle’s forty-four year absence from the island.

The 1904 Siddeley was brought back to Malta from the UK by Express Trailers due to the company’s experience in handling the transportation of fragile rare and vintage collector cars.

The car’s early 1904-1907 history is still being researched and will prove to be fascinating and important to historians of Melitensia and motoring once confirmed. What is known is that in 1907 the Siddeley found itself in Gozo where it terrified the Gozitans, who named it “il karrozza tan-nar”, the car of fire. It was the first vehicle, other than that of the horse-drawn variety to be seen on the neighbouring island.

The car was eventually stored in a windmill and forgotten about for almost sixty years until it was rediscovered again by David Arrigo and Brian Mizzi in 1968. Its discovery, at the time was and is still considered to be the most important ‘Barn Find’ on the Maltese Islands to date. Although in a dilapidated state, it was complete, making it an exciting and much sort after restoration project.

The public is being invited to attend to the unveiling of the restored Siddeley 1904 in St Francis Square in Victoria Gozo this coming Saturday 20th September at 10.00am.