THE story of a Billinge author’s lifelong battle to rescue his late dad’s classic car is set to be published at the end of the month.

Maggie, A Lifelong MG Love Affair, chronicles Tom McCooey’s restoration story, in every sense of the word, as he races against time to resurrect his parents’ wedding car after a 36-year hibernation.  

To celebrate the book’s launch, both the writer and the car will be at The North West Museum of Road Transport, on Hall Street, in St Helens town centre, on Sunday, November 3.

The event starts at 10am and copies of the book will be available to buy.

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Told through the view from the passenger and driver’s seats of the cars throughout Tom’s life, this love affair with the road - and Maggie - has not always been smooth.

While acknowledging the project may not have made sense from a purely practical perspective, its "sentimental value" motivated Tom to complete the restoration and honour his late dad Will, who died from heart failure aged 58 in February 2014.

Will was a massive car enthusiast with the MG described as his pride and joy. 

Will, pictured with the MGWill, pictured with the MG (Image: Submitted)

Tom, formerly a reporter at Wigan Today, said: “It made no sense to take the project on from a practical point of view, it was too far gone.

“But I was desperate to honour my dad, and this is a story of restoration in more than one sense, as it is about relationships and finding perspective from those around you. 

“I started writing about the MG as a way of processing losing my dad, never intending to have a book, but we ended up with a lasting tribute.”

Tom, a lecturer in journalism at Liverpool John Moores University, Tom turned his attention to motoring journalism shortly after inheriting his dad’s MG. 

Tom McCooey restored the classic carTom McCooey restored the classic car (Image: Submitted)

David Simister, Editor of Classic Car Weekly, said: “Tom’s resurrection of an MG that’s been in his family for generations is a story that should inspire all budding classic car nuts. 

“His enthusiasm for Maggie shines through the many highs and lows of this huge undertaking, which he writes about with a deft honesty that chronicles the many challenges of a first-time resto.

"It’s a delight to see this wonderful piece of ‘50s history firmly back on the road, where it belongs.”

The book will be available via Scratching Shed Publications from October 31.

A launch event for the book is to be held on November 3A launch event for the book is to be held on November 3 (Image: Submitted)

Scratching Shed co-director Phil Caplan said: “This is more than just a memoir. or a story of restoration of a classic car, something that has become more popular since the advent of programmes like Bangers and Cash. Combining the two elements, it’s about the diversions of life that get in the way of and delay passion projects, a son paying homage to his father.

“It’s about relationships, dealing with grief and finding perspective and true value, not of the monetary kind.

“It will appeal to those who love MGs as much as readers who can relate to a project that saw each small victory uncover another seemingly insurmountable problem.”