Tracing my African Routes

The Little Car That Could!

In 1970 a young Peter W. Hills hears of a rusty wreck hidden in dense bush in Africa. He has to have this 1929 Morris Tourer and breathe life back into it.

He recounts a fascinating story of the two-phase restoration project – first in Zambia and later in the UK. Life intervenes but after 22 years the Morris is up and running and attracting much attention as only one of nine known vehicles of that vintage in the world on the road.

Peter has a dream to return his little car back to Africa to retrace its former life in the two Rhodesias (now Zimbabwe and Zambia). Over the years he has managed to piece together rare details of the car’s owners and their history.

When Peter and his wife Sandy retire to become summer swallows living between the UK and South Africa the dream suddenly seems achievable. A plan is set in motion. Again, there are setbacks, not least the Covid pandemic and a broken crankshaft 20 days before departure.

Social media plays an important role as Peter builds up a following of people from all over the world who contribute additional scraps of information about the car and its owners.

If at first you don't succeed try, try and try again! In May 2023 the 94-year-old car completed its 1,509 mile mission. The book contains a blow-by-blow account of the adventure, as well as details of the meticulous restoration and challenges along the way. It has over 500 full-colour photographs that bring the story of the journey to life and give some history of the towns and countries visited.

This book will have general appeal, covering travel in Central Africa, nature and bygone times. It will be of particular interest to car nuts – the vintage car community will appreciate the detailed technical guides to car restoration in the appendix.

Demobbed after the end of WW2, Peter’s uncle and father went to work in the former protectorate of Northern Rhodesia now Zambia. In 1950 the family moved from Essex in the UK to Kitwe where Peter did all his schooling. He was recruited by Anglo American Corp and trained as a measurement and process control engineer. From 1965 to 1980 the land-locked country was surrounded by warring nations that affected imported supplies and services. To overcome some of the industry’s many challenges Peter developed and introduced a range of technologies by creating teams of forensic engineers to support both the copper mining and private sector. Peter is proud that several Zambians were developed to sustain these specialist support services that continue to this day.

During 1970 he rescued a 1929 Morris Minor tourer from the jungle outside Kitwe. By 1984 he was head hunted to the UK so he took the Morris chassis as part of his personal effects to Chester England. Researching the Morris’s history was as exciting as its restoration identifying all its ten owners and some of their history. He subsequently worked around the world while undertaking an honours degree and then an MBA. By 1992 the Morris was restored to Concours condition but in 2004 Peter and Sandy relocated to Mumbai India to turn-around an ailing industrial electronics company. With the job done, by late 2013 they returned to the UK and now follow the sun spending time in London and Cape Town South Africa. This enabled the realisation of a dream to return the Morris to Itimpi outside Kitwe. In 2023 despite huge challenges the car was driven 1,509 miles from its initial place of registration in Zimbabwe via the addresses of all listed owners back to where the car was rescued 53 years ago. While there was a perceived risk in this audacious adventure, Peter’s determination, focus and project management has resulted in a lifetime achievement that rewarded not only Peter but also those of his team, Graham, David and Wayne. In addition to Peters’ vintage car hobby, together with Sandra, they undertake bird photography wherever it takes them. His photo collection is published in WorldBirdPhoto.com rated among the best 100 web sites in the world with images in many publications.