In 1999 an extremely rare two-seater 1928 MG MK 1V sports car was discovered having been buried beneath a cowshed somewhere in Gloucestershire possibly going back as far as the second world war. The owner, Fred Body, has now been presented with a Best Vintage Car award.

The parts to this vintage car, including the original number plates and Guarantee plate, had been dismantled very carefully and placed below two inches of concrete in the ground beneath the cowshed on a farm. They were discovered when the cowshed was knocked down.

For over twelve months, Fred Body, who lives in Cheddar, Somerset has spent considerable time in rebuilding the car.

The Early MG Society said that there were just 135 examples of this MG MK 1V sports car manufactured in 1928 and, furthermore, it is the only model of its kind in the UK that has kept the correct coachwork.

Fred Body stated: “It’s weird really – most of it was there and most of it was as sound as a pound.”

“When it was found it was completely taken apart, laid out flat and covered in gravel and one or two inches of concrete,” commented Mr Body. When the parts were offered for sale by the owner Mr Body, who is a car enthusiast, jumped at the chance to purchase them.

“I think what must have happened was the war was coming and someone thought ‘they’re not taking my car for scrap’.

“They carefully took it apart and buried it thinking they would come back and put it together again.”

Mr Body said:”Some of the original leather from the seats and paint work was there so we could colour match it as near as possible,”

“But some of the aluminium had corroded where I think the concrete had cracked and urine from the cow house had got in.

“And all the instruments were missing – they probably adorned someone’s fireplace – so they were the most difficult to find.”

The MG was displayed at the Bristol Classic Car Show in April where it was given the Best Vintage Car award.

An Early MG Society spokesman commented: “There is no history on this car until 1999 when it was miraculously ‘discovered’.

“It is now one of the few genuine MGs that has come to light in the last 25 years – it’s been a real “from the ground up” restoration.”

In view of this special car also coming with such an amazing history, that would no doubt impact positively on its value, we trust that Mr Body has got adequate classic car insurance in place.