When a thief stole Doug Marchant’s 1977 vintage Mercedes Benz 300D from his Port Lincoln home he never imagined it would lead to an adventure and new friendship.
Now, the 94-year-old retired mechanic and farmer has two vintage Mercedes cars in his garage and a new friendship based on a shared love of mechanics.
“It’s been a silver lining,” he said.
Mr Marchant was over the moon when his cream Mercedes Benz was found almost three weeks after it was stolen last month bogged in scrub in Port Lincoln with a tyre blown out but not too much damage.
“Did I think I’d get it back? Never,” Mr Marchant said.
“I thought if mine was found it would be burnt or something like that.
“We didn’t ever expect to see this one come back in one piece. It’s a miracle really.”
Broke down twice far from home
Meanwhile, as Mr Marchant’s hopes faded, his daughter, Jill, had found a green version of his 300D in Melbourne.
Her father set out to drive it home to Port Lincoln, with his two adult grandchildren, but the vintage car broke down in the Macedon Ranges, about 70 kilometres northwest of Melbourne, with fuel filter issues.
More than 1,300 kilometres from home, he was rescued by RACV mechanic Melinda Tairi who twice attended Mr Marchant’s car, initially getting him started again but later towing it to Gisborne for more extensive repairs.
Ms Tairi was so impressed with Mr Marchant’s mechanical knowledge that she volunteered to fix the car for free after hours.
“I just knew he was a car enthusiast and he was so happy when we got his car going the first time and then when it broke down again he was so upset,” Ms Tairi said.
“So I was like ‘I’ve got to help Doug’, so I did everything I could to get the car here.”
Ms Tairi spent three weeks repairing the clogged fuel filter and other parts of the car and drove the 16 hours from Gisborne to Port Lincoln to deliver the green Mercedes to Mr Marchant on the weekend.
Ms Tairi, a diesel mechanic for 15 years, said she had learnt a lot from Mr Marchant’s 80 years of experience in mechanics.
His agility at age 94 was also impressive.
“When we were in Gisborne town on the main strip, me and James (a mechanic friend) were under the car having a look and I looked to my side, Doug’s underneath the car,” Ms Tairi said.
“I’m like, ‘What are you doing?’ and he’s like, ‘I’m just having a quick look, I’ll be alright’.”
Daily repair updates
During the repair of the green car, she had daily diagnostic calls with him.
Mr Marchant’s friend Rodney Hirte, who has a smartphone, helped text photographs and advice to Ms Tairi.
“He’s taught me a lot about it over the phone,” Ms Tairi said.
“He gets a post-it note and puts notes on the manual and then Rodney sends me a photo of the notes of what Doug thinks is wrong with the car.
“Rodney says he’s (Doug’s) always under the car or over the bonnet – very fit.
“He’s been a mechanic for 80 years, so that’s really impressive.
“He’s a beautiful humble person and I just wanted to help him.”
Ms Tairi delivered the car to Port Lincoln on Saturday.
“He actually wanted to fly back to Melbourne and drive it back himself but I said, ‘No, I’ll do it for him’,” Ms Tairi said.
“I was a bit worried and some people were like, ‘What are you thinking driving that far 14 or 15 hours?’.
“But there were no hiccups whatsoever, the engine ran perfectly well.”
She ran out of petrol at one stage due to a faulty fuel gauge but was prepared.
“I had my tools in the back of the car so I just bled the car on the side of the highway.
“I had a 20-litre jerry can so I was back on the road within half an hour.”
Grateful for support
Mr Marchant said having his car stolen turned out to be a good thing.
“Otherwise, I’d never have met Mel – that’s important. I wouldn’t have had the trip over to Melbourne, all the problems and things like that, which I don’t regret.
“The most generous lady I’ve ever met.
“I’m very grateful that with all the people that helped me and been concerned for me for losing my beautiful old car. I’ve got it back now and I’m very pleased.”
He’s not sure what he’s going to do with the second car but will keep tinkering under the bonnets of his cars in the garage which now has upgraded monitored security.
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