Epic Journey: Classic Car Travelled 10,000+ Miles for Reunion

An 86-year-old Dutch man, Hans Compter, recently completed an extraordinary international delivery of a 1970 Austin 3-Litre to Cathleen Hourie in Orkney, Scotland. Hourie, who had a cherished Austin 3-Litre in her youth, had searched for years to find another. She was thrilled to discover one online, though disappointed it was in New Zealand.

Compter, a collector, shipped the car from New Zealand to the Netherlands. He then loaded it onto his vintage Opel Blitz truck and personally drove it to the far north of Scotland. The journey involved significant travel, including a two-day drive from Newcastle to the Orkney ferry port, and a challenging moment when his truck became stuck.

Hourie expressed immense joy upon receiving the rare Austin, a model for which fewer than 10,000 were originally produced and only around 30 remain on the road. She paid a four-figure sum for the vehicle, including its remarkable delivery. Compter believes the car is in excellent condition and will provide Hourie with many more years of enjoyment.