A FATHER and son were saying "who do you think you car" after being reunited with a four-wheeled piece of family history.

Graeme and Timothy French travelled all the way from Australia for a spin at the Black Country Living Museum in a 1925 Bean 14 car after discovering the vehicle once belonged to Graeme’s grandfather Thomas.

The car has been at the Tipton Road museum since the 70s and attracted the attention of a family member after being pictured in the press back in the 90s.

The majority of the family had emigrated to the other side of the world but Graeme, aged 77, asked a cousin still in the UK to verify the history of the car and recently he and Timothy finally made the long journey to be reunited with the historic vehicle.

Graeme French said: “I recall my grandfather saying it was one of two cars on the street at the time he purchased it. I have memories of sitting in the car as a boy over 70 years ago now.

“I had always wondered had become of it – it means a lot to be able to ride around in the car. I had very much hoped I’d be able to see it one last time.”

Timothy French added: “I never met my great-grandfather but it’s just been brilliant to ride around in his very first car at the museum, as I’ve only ever seen it in photographs.

“We’ve thoroughly enjoyed the experience – it’s great to see the family still has roots in the area in this way.”

Thomas Woodall, who was managing director at ironworks John Elwell and Sons, bought the Bean 14 for £395, the equivalent of £20,000 today, straight from the manufacturer.

The car was built in Dudley and was acquired by the museum in the mid-70s where it is in their Bradburn & Wedge garage as an example of Black Country manufacturing.

It was left in a garage in Smethwick for a decade or so when Thomas became ill in the ‘30s and it is not known how the car came to be in the possession of the museum but it had been significantly restored before its arrival.