Love affair started when he was just 6

When Chatsworth car mechanic Nazir Haniff was six, he fantasised about owning a Ford Anglia - just like his neighbour.

Today, Haniff, 49, is the proud owner of his dream car, a bright red 1959 Ford Anglia.

The British range was later replaced by the Ford Escort.

Haniff, a BMW mechanic, bought his Anglia from a desperate seller seven years ago.

Even though it was run-down and needed an overhaul, Haniff was a willing buyer and paid R7500 for the vehicle.

"It was an old dull red when I bought it. The guy needed money and I really wanted the car," he said.

Haniff started by redoing the undercarriage and rewiring the entire car.

"I redid the carpets and the seats. I changed the suspension and added in a Datsun 1400 diff (differential).

"I fitted the car with a Ford Sapphire 2l engine with a fuel injection dictator management system. It's all to enhance the speed," said Haniff.

"I also changed the whole braking system and added four-disc braking. I fitted in booster braking and 13-inch AJ wheels."

The car is now worth between R45 000 and R50000.

"I have wanted to build up an Anglia ever since I was a boy. I love the look of it. It has a strong, solid body. In the next 20 years there may not be any more Anglias, so I want to keep it looking good," he explained.

It was when he was six that Haniff's love for classic cars began.

"My neighbour had Anglias, Zephyrs and Opel Mantas. This is where my love for old cars began. As a little boy, I used to help out by passing tools. This helped me to develop my skills," he said.

The father of three had often been asked to sell the Anglia and was once offered R90000. But he refused, saying the car was not for sale because of the work he had put into it.

Haniff regularly enters his Anglia in the local Show and Shine competitions and it often emerges among the top three.

He said he wanted to keep the car looking original. "I'm trying to keep it as old-school as possible, just like a classic car.

"This is my weekend car. I use it when I take the family to the Blue Lagoon," he added.

Haniff also owns three BMWs - a 318i, 528i and 635 CSi. He plans to rebuild the 635.