Family's long search for vintage vehicle pays off

But with family life came responsibility, and he ended up reluctantly selling the vehicle in 1959 after almost 20 years.

Despite having to let go of his treasured car, Mr Moon kept an Express & Star cutting of the car, one of only three made in Germany with a right-hand drive, when it was bought by another motorist. And he tried desperately to find and track it down in the years leading up to his death in January.

Now, 54 years since the sale, his son Bryan has fulfilled his father's dying wish to track down the vintage motor, now fully restored in Slovakia and being paraded at car shows around the globe.

Mr Moon, now aged 60, used old pictures of the car, as well as this paper cutting, to search out its new owner on internet message boards.

He now plans to go out and visit the new owner in Eastern Europe to relive happy memories of being driven in the vehicle along the lanes of Dudley, Wordsley and Kingswinford.

He believes the car, which was purchased by his father for £250 from a RAF serviceman returning from Germany following the war in 1942, is now worth £80,000.

Mr Moon lived with his parents Arthur and Miran first in Brierley Hill Road, and then New Street in Wordsley.

The warranty assessor at Mercedes Benz, who now lives in Surrey, said: "I don't think I can still believe I've found the car. It's just upsetting my father is not around to see it again.

"He loved the vehicle and would often spend days driving it around with friends. It was his real pride and joy and we, as the family, would be told stories about it continually following its sale.

"Towards the end of his life he began to search for it. After he died it spurred me on a bit to find if for him, although I didn't know it would be in Slovakia."

Using pictures and the newspaper cutting, Mr Moon put out an appeal to vintage car owners for information of sightings of the rare vehicle.

Motorists, keen to help his search for the car, replied with requests for more details on the car such as the exact model, which side drive and noticeable marks.

Mr Moon said: "My father used to have a mascot attached to the front radiator of the vehicle. With it gone I thought it could have left a mark where it had been, so I posted that.

"Next, a man called Marian from Slovakia got in touch and sent me pictures of the vehicle – the very same one."

The pair have since been swapping details of the car and he is now trying to arrange a visit to see it. The car was shipped to its new owner three years ago and has since been restored.

This year, it appeared at a prestigious car show in India.

Arthur Moon, who owned a bus company called Moon's Coaches, lived in Wordsley all his life. As a child he attended Audnam School. He died aged 91 and is also survived by his wife, who still lives in the borough.

The 1936 Adler Triumph Junior cars were built in Frankfurt. About 7,000 of them were built making up about two per cent of the German cars on the road at the time and had a maximum speed of 63mph.

Mr Moon is hoping to speak to anyone who can remember the car in the Black Country for memories and pictures.

He said: "The new owner is also keen to build up the history of the car, so if anyone remember it, please get in touch."

The cars also had many racing successes, including in the famous Le Mans race.

The Second World War left the company's offices and production facilities mostly untouched, but despite this a decision was made by Adler not to continue construction of the cars.

Motorbike construction did continue from 1949 however, and in 1953 the firm launched a new line of mopeds and motor scooters.

By the mid-1950s the firm started production of the new Triumph typewriter, called the Matura.

Anyone who can help with information should call him on 02086 851325.