Edinburgh driver tracks down first car after 40 years - to find it's been turned into a barbecue

A NOSTALGIC Capital motor-fan on a quest to be reunited with his cherished first ever motor was stunned to discover it had been turned into a barbecue.

Derek Carroll, 61, posted a picture on Facebook of the classic 1965 Chevrolet Impala that he snapped up for £100 in 1976 in a bid to find its current owner.

Derek, who sold it in 1980 to fund his wedding, was left shocked days later when someone sent him a picture in response.

He was stunned to see the front end of the car complete with registration plate had been converted into a grill but the rest of it was missing.

Unfortunately the grill had recently been sold to someone in York and Derek, a board game creator, is now racing to track him down.

Derek, from Turnhouse, said: “I hadn’t seen the car since the day I sold it and I genuinely thought I’d never see it again, and definitely not as a barbecue.

“It was just so bizarre, it was a random Facebook post and somehow we might be reunited after 40 years.

“I couldn’t believe it, but the registration plates matched and it was definitely my car.

“I have so many great memories in that car, some things I can’t say but let’s say it was a has seen some things.

“I felt so cool in it, Saturday Night Fever was quite popular around the time and I wanted to be cool with my car, white t-shirt and leather jacket.”

He added: “Now that I know it is out there I have to find it.”

It was only by taking a punt 44 years ago that he got his hands on the treasured motor in the first place.

While working as a 17-year-old apprentice mechanic, Derek bought the car for £100 from an electronics company owner after spotting it on the street.

He slipped him a letter offering to buy it for £100 “as a laugh” but to his surprise he was given the keys the following day.

Derek and his dream machine proved inseparable over the coming years - before he found a new love.

He drove his “pride and joy” everywhere for nearly four years until he was forced to sell it to fund his wedding.

It was a bittersweet parting of ways as he sold it for £400 in 1980 - making a hefty 400 percent profit on the hot rod.

Derek, who has no children, said: “It was love at first sight as I’d always loved American cars and as a mechanic I was really passionate about cars.

“I had no money on me, so I thought I’d have a cheeky punt and offer the bloke £100 for it.

“To my surprise, he sold it to me and it was my car for a good four years before I had to sell it.

“It was gutting but I think the wedding was more important than the car, so I had to sell it to pay for it.

“I was heartbroken as it was the car I always wanted but it was the right thing to do.”

Derek is now hoping anyone who knows the location of his first vehicle will get in touch and help reunite him with it.

“But now I desperately want it back. I’m not normally one to do a lot of barbecues, the weather here isn’t really great for it, but I’d make an exception for my Impala.”

Lee Taylor, who converted the vehicle into a barbecue on wheels for an American car show, said he sold the car but has been unable to contact the buyer.

But Derek is still hopeful of being reunited with his first love.