A Perthshire couple are desperately hunting for an old friend, last seen 24 years ago.
Although Gordon and Lesley Venters accept that their former companion may be getting on a bit, they are willing to knock her into shape. However, their beloved Emily is not a pal who has hit the skids but rather a Citroen 2CV they brought home with them when they moved to Perth.
Bought new in London back in 1984, the car came to Perth via Motorail and spent three happy years with the Venters at Moredun Terrace in the Craigie area. The couple then decided to trade their family motor in for a newer model, as it was struggling to cope with their regular journeys to Edinburgh.
Gordon told The Courier: “My wife has always regretted selling Emily, ever since we traded her in for a new Renault 5. It was a tough decision to make but we just needed something with a little more power because we were visiting Lesley’s mum and dad so often.”
He added: “Sadly Emily just wasn’t really able to manage the hill leading into Perth without a struggle.”
Three years ago the couple, who now live in Auchterarder, invested in another 2CV which sparked their quest to track down their first love.
In an effort to find Emily’s owner, Gordon headed to the Inveralmond Industrial Estate in Perth to speak to the man who dealt with their trade-in in 1987. He was unable to find any record of the car, so the Venters tried their luck with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
This too led to a dead end and efforts by The Courier to track down the whereabouts of the 2CV have also proved unsuccessful, as details on the DVLA database can only be released under special circumstances.
However, Gordon is still determined to grant his wife’s wish by finding Emily and bringing the car back home.
“I have sent a few emails to websites for 2CV enthusiasts but unfortunately I haven’t had any response. I don’t even know if Emily is still in this area but I am really hoping that someone local will recognise her and be able to help.
“It may even be the case that the car has already been restored and the current owner is waiting to get her back on the road.”
Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of Emily, which has the registration B566 MLY, can call Gordon on 07970 518013 or email gordonventers2@gmail.com